Postcards From No Mans Land

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Todd is about to discover himself. His plan is to go to Amsterdam to explore the city and honor his grandfather who died there during World War II. But nothing goes as planned. Jacob isn’t prepared for love—or to face questions about his sexuality. Most of all, he isn’t prepared to hear what Geertrui, the woman who nursed his grandfather during the war, has to say. It seems that in the midst of terrible danger, Geertrui and Jacob’s grandfather’s time together blossomed into something more. Geertrui and Jacob live worlds apart, but their voices blend together to tell one story—a story that transcends time and place and war. This extraordinary Printz-winning novel, now available in a deluxe edition with French flaps, rough-front paper, and bonus material including a new forward by the author, will be treasured for years to come.

...truly memorable novel: teens may remember not only that they read it, but also where and when they read it. (The Horn Book, starred review)

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Todd is about to discover himself. Jacob's plan is to go to Amsterdam to honor his grandfather who died during World War II. He expects to go, set flowers on his grandfather's tombstone, and explore the city. But nothing goes as planned. Jacob isn't prepared for love--or to face questions about his sexuality. Most of all, he isn't prepared to hear what Geertrui, the woman who nursed his grandfather during the war, has to say about their relationship. Geertrui was always known as Jacob's grandfather's kind and generous nurse. But it seems that in the midst of terrible danger, Geertrui and his grandfather's time together blossomed into something more than a girl caring for a wounded soldier. And like Jacob, Geertrui was not prepared. Geertrui and Jacob live worlds apart, but their voices blend together to tell one story--a story that transcends time and place and war. By turns moving, vulnerable, and thrilling, this extraordinary novel takes the reader on a memorable voyage of discovery.

A powerful novel, told in dual narratives, takes readers on an unforgettable journey through history, as seventeen-year-old backpacker Jacob Todd travels through Amsterdam to honor his grandfather, a soldier who died in a nearby town in World War II, while in 1944, a teenage girl named Geertrui meets an English soldier named Jacob Todd, who must hide with her family. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Reissue.

Aidan Chambers is the author of such highly acclaimed novels as Breaktime and Dance on My Grave and was the recipient of the 2002 Hans Christian Andersen Award. He lives in England.