"A Poppy in Remembrance" by Michelle Ule

 


One of the reasons I love historical fiction is that it gives me the chance to learn things about our world that I never knew before, or perhaps didn't retain if I ever did know them. In A Poppy in Remembrance, Michelle Ule brings to life some sides of The Great War that I have not seen explored in fiction - specifically the African campaigns and the work of the YMCA. In addition, real life historical figure Oswald Chambers is a prominent secondary character, giving the novel extra draw for those who - like myself! - have been blessed by Chambers' legacy.

Our heroine in this story is Claire Meacham, a young woman having grown up in her journalist father's shadow who now desires to become a foreign correspondent herself. Though journalism is a male-dominated field, the war is taking all the young men off to fight, leaving Claire an opening to assist her father and grow in the craft of writing. She works tirelessly and faithfully, longing for the day when she can see her own byline in print.

Duty calls them to Egypt, where Claire's father had been stationed once before. The demanding climate and family history in the area make it a challenging stay, but allows Claire and her mother to assist Oswald and Biddy Chambers whenever they have opportunity. Claire's burgeoning faith begins to grow.

This story opens in 1914 and stretches all the way to the signing of the armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. It covers many different settings - not just Egypt but also London, Paris, and even the front line trenches. I could tell this novel was well-researched and thorough in its presentation of The Great War and how it affected the citizens of the world, specifically those in Europe.

Although Claire is in her twenties during the whole novel, it often reads like young adult fiction. I wouldn't hesitate to hand this over to any history-minded youngster. The emotions of the characters were harder to access, leaving me feeling disconnected and puzzled by their reaction to things around them. I couldn't predict whether Claire would be sad, angry, or happy at events as they unfolded. Overall, however, this book taught me a lot of history that had escaped my notice before, and I appreciated that about it.