And Both Were Young

This poignant young adult novel follows Philippa "Flip" Hunter, an American teenager sent to a Swiss boarding school in the late 1940s after her mother's death and her own injury. Isolated and bullied, Flip grapples with grief, a difficult relationship with her father's new love interest, and the challenges of a new environment. She forms a deep connection with Paul, a French war orphan suffering from memory loss due to concentration camp trauma. Through their friendship, and the guidance of her art teacher, Madame Perceval, Flip discovers her artistic talent, builds confidence, and helps Paul on his path to recovery, ultimately finding belonging and new family. It explores themes of loss, resilience, first love, and the healing power of connection.