While the revolution was unsuccessful, it just showed the strength that people can have in the face of adversity and danger. It was the moment when the Hungarians revolted against the Soviet Communists in power, following the Polish people. My favorite part of this book was learning more about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, as it's something that hasn't been touched on in any of the history classes I have taken. It wasn't horrible but it also never had me desperately turning to the next page. There were some redeeming qualities about this book that make me put it right in the middle of my rating scale, but overall I felt really meh. It wasn't hard in the sense of the content really, though looking at trigger warnings for that is extremely important, it was just the pacing and the content. This book was honestly very hard for me to read, and it's supposed to be a young adult book. Thank you Knopf Books for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! With queer representation, fabulist elements, and a pivotal but little-known historical moment, This Rebel Heart is Katherine Locke's tour de force.3/5 stars, this had important history and diversity, but I didn’t know what was going on a lot of the time

As the protests in other countries spur talk of a larger revolution in Hungary, Csilla must decide if she believes in the promise and magic of her deeply flawed country enough to risk her life to help save it, or if she should let it burn to the ground. But her carefully laid plans fall to pieces when her parents are unexpectedly, publicly exonerated.

Now Csilla keeps her head down, planning her escape from this country that has never loved her the way she loves it. Before Csilla knew things about her father's legacy that she wishes she could forget. Before her parents were murdered by the Soviet police. But that was before the Communists seized power. During WWII, the river kept her family safe when they needed it most-safe from the Holocaust. In the middle of Budapest, there is a river. “A haunting, beautiful read that centers queer Jewish characters.” - BuzzFeed A tumultuous tale of the student-led 1956 Hungarian revolution-and an all too timely look at the impact of Communism and the USSR in Eastern Europe-set in a fabulist, colorless post-WWII Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

This rebel heart by katherine locke