From Stella Street to Amsterdam and everything that happened by Elizabeth Honey
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781865084541. 424pp.
(Ages: 12 - 15) Highly recommended. This story is the very welcome
return of Henni Octon but this time she leaves Stella Street and
accompanies elderly and feisty Willa to Amsterdam. The neighbours of
Stella Street have raised funds so that Henni can undertake this
important role on their behalf. Willa has not been back to the
Netherlands since the end of WW2 and is returning for a family
wedding and also to contend with unresolved family issues. After a
frightening flight to Dubai Willa behaves strangely and alludes to
important secrets. Henni loves bike riding back home and soon buys a
bike on which she can escape but also explore Amsterdam. This is the
area where Anne Frank hid away in WW2. Henni learns more about
Willa's family involvement in hiding Jewish people and she battles
with the responsibility of knowing this secret information. At times
she feels unwelcome by the family, however she also makes a good
friend who introduces her to the world of younger people in the
town.
Honey has created an admirable 3D character in Henni who is often
wiser than adults and cares about a fairer world. The book serves as
Henni's journal and in this way we understand Henni's self-doubts,
humorous observations and emotional growth. Also, since Henni
(Elizabeth Honey) is a poet and illustrator, there are great
sketches, jottings, poems and photos. Emails and text messages bring
conversations from family and friends back home in Stella Street.
There are very sad poignant scenes and a few amazing coincidences in
the plot, but that's fiction! You get to learn a about Amsterdam's
cobbled streets, canals, red light district and architecture. You
also learn how to pronounce many Dutch words. Readers who enjoyed
the Morris Gleitzman Once series or Anne Frank's Diary
of a Young Girl, may enjoy this book. It is quite long but a
compulsive read. This is suitable for young adult readers because of
its more mature emotional themes. Teacher's
notes are available.
Jo Marshall