Although not even a teen yet, Gerlinda carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. Between her drunken abusive father and a negligent mother, she had to fend for herself and her siblings, and often act as a buffer between them and the father, even if this meant her taking the beating whenever he threw his drunken tantrums. Unfortunately, things were not any better at school where she was always treated as a misfit by her classmates and an object of constant taunting by the school bullies. But Gerlinda had learned to hide her emotions and not let her circumstances get to her or get in the way of her dreams. The fact that she excelled at both class work and other activities just made the students hate her more, and this was made even worse when she decided to sign up for the swim team. Just when she thought she would never catch a break, a kind stranger offered her a shoulder to cry on and a chance at a friendship that would change her life.

Gerlinda by Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a deeply touching story of various social issues, especially focusing on how they affect kids, including poverty, bullying, diversity etc. Gerlinda's story echoes the pain of countless kids growing up in unsafe environments, both at home and away, who suffer in silence or even worse while society looks on with no intervention. However, it is also a very inspiring read that send a strong message to all kids living in the same situation to never let their circumstances stop them from dreaming or allow anyone to prevent them from going after their dreams. Hopefully, Gerlinda's resilience will be a source of inspiration for others. Emily-Jane Hills Orford portrayed the main character in a way that defied stereotypes, showing her as a witty, strong persona who would never let anyone push her around just because they are more privileged. I found that to be really remarkable.

We all know the story of what happened in World War II, and how the Allied forces defeated the Nazis. Many Americans have grandfathers, or great-uncles who fought in the war, who have been cornerstones of North American patriotism for decades. But what about the other side? Germans were caught up in Hitler's ambition and brainwashed from a young age by the requirements of the Hitler Youth programs. Those women and men thought they were doing the right thing, and that didn't stop after the war. Devastated families, jobless and held in contempt by the world around them, struggled to get by. This is the life that Gerlinda has known. Her father, a dedicated Hitler Youth member, has transplanted the family to North America to seek job prospects, but the family sinks further into alcoholism, depression, and abuse. Gerlinda tries as hard as she can to succeed in school, despite the mean kids picking on her for her dress and occasional German outbursts.

Gerlinda by Emily-Jane Hills Orford was strongly crafted and, as a reader, I felt as though I was there with Gerlinda as she struggled. I wanted to fight off her abusive father, to yell at the mean kids in school, and mostly give her a bath and a clean set of clothes. I did feel that a stronger ending would have been appreciated. There are several shocking revelations and plot twists that will change Gerlinda's life and outlook forever, yet they were done so quickly that I barely had time to process these. Still, Gerlinda by Emily-Jane Hills Orford was a very thought-provoking book. The author explores family dynamics not only historically, but in looking at an alternative picture to what is normally portrayed.