Author: Katie Thibodeau
Publishers: American Book Publishing
ISBN: 1-85982-237-4

The following review was contributed by Mary Simmons. To read more of Mary’s Reviews CLICK HERE

It can be a painful experience to enter the mind of a young woman who is
slowly destroying herself under the guise of wanting to be thin.
In Katie Thibodeau's 'Prisoners of War,' the experience is also a beautiful
one.
Exploring the parallels of her protagonist's war with bulimia and the tragic
occurrences faced by the girl's grandmother during the Second World War,
Thibodeau spans the generations to tell the story of two strong women who
have let their personal demons control their lives and close their hearts to
love.

As we first enter the pages of this heart-wrenching book, Alice has just
been released from the hospital and is returning to her grandmother's home.
Her illness and struggles are evident throughout the book, providing an
insight into the minds of the countless people who suffer with eating
disorders every day.

Alice has been raised by her grandmother since she was a baby, after her
mother killed herself. She has never felt loved by the intimidating woman
who took her into her home and the sense of resentment oozes through her in
an underlying current.
Through flashbacks, Thibodeau relays that this was not Alice's first stay in
a hospital. She lets us in on group sessions with other patients and Alice's
experiences with the nurses and doctors who are trying to help her win her
battle.

When we first meet Alice's grandmother outside of the girl's memories, she
seems weary and frustrated by her granddaughter's condition and her
inability to fix it. She wants to open up her own heart and let the girl see
all the hurt and pain inside, so she does what she has never been able to do
in the past: she shares a piece of her heart with her granddaughter by
giving her a box full of memories from the happiest and most tragic time in
her life.

As Alice explores the contents of the box wrapped in red ribbon, she finds
flower petals, pictures, letters and her grandmother's journal from 1940.
Thibodeau effortlessly transports us from the present day to the 1940s and
back again until both the readers and Alice have a true picture of the past
and how it has affected the present. And in the end, she gives us a glimpse
into what we can only hope will be a happier future.

As I reached the last page of 'Prisoners of War,' I found myself rooting for
both Alice and her grandmother and hoping their love for each other will be
the enduring weapon they need to conquer the demons which have been holding
them back.

In an enthralling tale of disease and depression, Thibodeau weaves a thread
of hope, resulting in an emotional read that can be painful at times, but is
ultimately beautiful and satisfying.