S.L. Roman’s One Year, One Night is a captivating novel that transports readers to England in 1960. The story centers around Annie, who returns to her hometown for a commemoration event in remembrance of World War II. The event, which features popular actress Suzie Bell, is meant to honor young Ben, one of the evacuees who stayed with Annie’s family during the war.

As Annie navigates through Millside, her hometown that was bombed 20 years prior, she is haunted by memories of the war. While visiting her old room at Mrs. Bassett’s home, where she had sought shelter after her family’s house was bombed, Annie stumbles upon her diary, a gift from her father. As she reads through the pages, she relives her experiences during the war, including her aunt Betty’s unexpected stay at their home, the customers at their hardware shop, her best friend Peg, and her love for Remy.

Through Annie’s character, readers are exposed to a strong-willed and humorous protagonist. Annie’s diary entries reveal her outspoken nature, endearing her to readers. Furthermore, the well-developed characters provide readers with an insight into life during the war, exploring themes such as scarcity of food, families displaced from their homes, propaganda, and the government’s control of the media.

Despite the book’s discussion of serious themes, it is an easy and entertaining read with a subtle touch of humor. The characterization is top-notch, and the storyline is amazing, straight to the point, and kept me engaged throughout without being overwhelming. I highly recommend One Year, One Night to young adults looking for a short and interesting fictional story.

Pages: 152 | ISBN : 978-1947159815