*Shortlisted

Review by Abid, Riverside School 
I loved Lobster Blues. I loved the way the book wasn’t divided into chapters, yet by times of day. It enabled me to help piece together different events and give me a better idea of the flow of events within the story. Jacqueline King’s work provides an authentic insight into the struggles of not only the citizens who had to struggle under German occupation of the island of Jersey, but also the Russian prisoners. Reading about the gruelling and inhuman conditions that the prisoners were forced to go through completely shocked me. The book is set, as I mentioned earlier, in Jersey, England, in 1942. It focuses on the lives of many children and adults, particularly the life of Clem, Joe, Spinner, and Ginger and how they rebel against the rules placed against them and find any way possible to help those who need it. I expected the German soldiers to be portrayed negatively, and most of the time they were. However, what shocked me was the positive portrayal of some of the German soldiers. The several complex relationship dynamics within the story kept me engaged, and the character development throughout had me unwilling to put down the book. There are moments where the plot progression or dialogue feels unnatural and washed down to feel like a children’s book, however overall, it does an excellent job of leaving a feel-good sensation in your chest, whether it be the initial wholesome interactions between Clem and the prisoner he helped or between the rest of the family, the book left a lasting impression on me, not only of war, but also one of growth and compassion. 

Review by Harry, The Thomas Hardye School 
Parts of this book are sad and others made me laugh. 

It was interesting to learn about the island and history of Jersey during the Second World War and its culture. I liked the characters and my favourite was Auntie Vi, especially when she stood up to the solider when he shouted at her for hiding potatoes. When Ginger had to leave at the end it was very sad. I would have liked to know what happened to him. It was also sad that Clem and Joe left but I hope that they made it safety to England. 

It was good to hear that the Islanders were helping people and showing resistance against the Germans. There was a good community spirit 

I am glad that I read this book, it was a good read. If you enjoy learning about what happened to normal people during WW2, then I would definitely recommend it. 

Review by Eva, Cleethorpes Academy 
The time the book was set in made it interesting to me because I have learnt about World War II in history and the book gave me information I didn’t already know. I found Clem the most interesting character because he went against the Nazis and helped the prisoners. I don’t like the Nazi soldiers because they mistreat the prisoners and were very mean. 

I’ve learnt that the Nazis had very strict rules for the people on the island, for example not being able to post letters to England. The thing that stands out from the book is the different characters perspective on the war. I would recommend it to others.