Miss Mattytakes readers back in time to Montreal during the Second World War where they will find young women who despite different circumstances are remarkably similar to themselves With patience and care Edeet Ravel builds a story that encompasses not only the uncertainties of wartime but friendship desire betrayal sacrifice ambition loyalty and classall imbued with youthful determined hopes for the future Joan Barfoot author ofCritical Injurieslonglisted for the Man Booker Prize

A brilliant novel Memorable engaging with deftlydrawn distinct characters The settingJewish Montreal in 1942is evoked with extraordinary fidelity and determines the characters lives in multiple ways Young adult readers ofMiss Mattywill find in it reflections of their doubts their aching desires and their struggle to understand the complex flawed humanity that defines their own lives and the lives of othersNigel H Thomas winner of the Canadian Molson Prize for lifetime contribution to the Arts

In this richly detailed story of Montreal in wartime Edeet Ravel deftly explores girlhood and friendship A joy to read and an inspirationClaire Holden Rothman author ofThe Heart Specialist