Julie Berry is a Printz Honor-winning author, and her most recent novel, Lovely War, is an inventive and engaging read for young adults and adults alike. At first glance, it’s World War I historical fiction, but the intriguing format is what really makes this novel shine. The story opens in 1940s New York City, with a confrontation between the gods Aphrodite, Ares and Hephaestus. Hephaestus has caught his wife, goddess of Love, and his brother, god of War, in a compromising situation and demands an explanation. Aphrodite begins to make the case for why Love and War are so drawn to each other by recounting her proudest work: the love stories of two young couples caught up in World War I. As Aphrodite and several other notable gods slowly unfold the tale, readers will find themselves immersed in the fascinating and emotional details of life during the Great War.
Raela Schoenherr is an editor at a Minnesota publishing company. She loves to talk books and writing on Twitter at @raelaschoenherr.
