Reviews & Interviews (printed and podcast)
- Littsburgh Literary newsletter of Pittsburgh – interview and excerpt from Chapter 1 https://www.littsburgh.com/start-reading-magda-standing-by-christine-fallert-kessides-set-in-pittsburgh/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Rock Paper Write Podcast https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-82zva-17c8413- https://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2025/01/q-with-christine-kessides.html
- IndieReader
- Let’s Talk with Scott Ellis
- Becoming Your Best Version
- Sunday Tea With V https://open.spotify.com/show/2aIWHeBOIhqgjjhwxiunfC
“Magda, Standing was such an encouraging story of resilience, determination, and the sheer power of self-confidence.” -Rabia Tanveer, Readers’ Favorite Blog
“Does a great job of incorporating history of the era in a natural and engaging way.” -Kate Szegda, award winning author Pharmacy Girl
“…Magda is an appealing protagonist,…she’s revealed to be resourceful and understanding–a person upon who no experience is lost. As a result, readers get a good, detailed sense of place…An impressive first novel that effectively draws on the author’s family story.” -Kirkus Reviews
“Hard to believe this was the author’s debut novel! Excellent historical fiction!” -StephBookWorms, Goodreads 5-star Review & “Best of 2023”
“A really compelling read and immersion into a less explored time in American history. Beautifully detailed with historical fact and tragic truths and a vivid window into the challenges facing German-Americans as we came immersed in WW1. Love the many quietly feminist women and role models.” -L.M. Elliott, best-selling author
“The story is multi-faceted with history woven in and out of the main plot of a young woman following in the footsteps of relatives to make her own life choices. Family is so important in this story and the theme of a vocation in service is highlighted, all set within the era of the Great War. Fantastic story-telling…” -GoodReads 5 Star Review
“Christine Fallert Kessides has crafted a meticulously researched and impressively detailed family saga with its roots in her own history for her debut novel, MAGDA, STANDING. Many facets of Magda’s story that are so compellingly constructed in this period novel are mirrored by problems that society faces today…wonderfully rich young adult novel, MAGDA, STANDING, includes period details which are convincingly evoked and a fully realized protagonist in all her emotional complexity.” -IndieReader
“Magda, Standing by debut author Christine Kessides a truly remarkable YA read…This was a well written debut with great world building and character development.” -Adriann H., NetGalley 4 Star Review
“Christine Kessides does a beautiful job in creating a historical fiction novel. I enjoyed the time-period and that the characters felt like they belonged in this universe. I was invested in the story and thought it had a great feel to modern world.” -Kathryn M., NetGalley 5 Star Review
“…One of the book’s notable strengths is its well-crafted characters, who feel authentic and true to the time period…The novel’s prose is well-written, and the author’s storytelling is engaging…” -Morgan Ehnert, NetGalley 5 Star Review