The coming of age story with some difficult base - not just the typical teenage angst, but THE idea that went wrong.

1978. Teenager Jess and her mother are passionate in their fight for all things socialism from their British home. With enormous dedication, they give their all to THE fight. Then the opportunity occurs for the summer stay in the socialistic East Germany, and all the fight is more personal from then, as Jess meets the first friend in her life and her mother meets the love of her life. But machinery wirks too well on the both sides - but the very thing what is the bother on the Western side, is the oppression on the socialistic side.

From the personal point - of course all went wrong! Coming from the post-communistic country, I can only smile sadly and knowingly when anyone not from here is singing the praise for the idea of communism. And more sadly, some of the characters are smiling with me now, when all is said and done.

From the literary point - the authoress is skilled with the words, vividity and emotions, but less with the plot. The book is infused with feelings, but unfortunately lacking any real depth and going to nowhere. The personal sadness is truly very small when compared to all the loss of people living in the socialism. Hurt feelings compared to oppression? There is no real conclusion, no real ending, just the feelings. I, as a reader, like to gain more for the time spent reading. Like could not the book end with Jess and Martina meeting again, as the new generation? The end of the socialism is not far from the last chapter.
But I was left just with the feelings of THE tragedy - and this is not the satisfaction I has hoped to gain.

Ms McMillan is skilled writer. Fingers crossed next time with more in-depth attitude!