Review Detail

It's 1939 in Romania. War has come to Europe. Rieke and her older sister Astra make a vow never to fall in love after their father leaves them. Their Opa comes and takes them to live with him. While living with their grandfather, Rieke loves going to his jewelry shop and dancing with Astra at the local dance studio. Later though, Astra falls for the dashing older doctor while Rieke watches in horror as her beloved town is invaded first by the Soviets and then by the Nazis. All the while she vows to survive.

What worked: Powerful, stirring account of a teen's experience growing up during the Holocaust in Romania. What I loved about this story is readers see not only the Nazi invasion but also the Soviets invading and taking over their town. Things are hard and difficult for Rieke and her family, but more so due to the fact they are Jewish.

Heartwrenching portrayals of the horror of war that affects everyone. The author doesn't flinch at the harshness of this time. Rieke sees friends, family, and acquaintances being taken away by both the Nazis and the Soviets. The long lines of rations. The ugliness of hate. There's one scene where Rieke goes with her family to the countryside and a woman in a yellow dress frowns at her and says a racist comment under her breath. That experience doesn't leave Rieke, who doesn't understand why anyone would hate someone just because they were Jewish.

Another huge plus is this novel shows the complexities of war and how it brings both the best and worse of someone to the surface. Astra is the strong-willed sister and the descriptions of their relationship felt authentic. Astra isn't one-dimensional at all and shows her own vulnerabilities during this horrific time in history.

There's also mention of rape by a family acquaintance and brutality during the time period. But there's also mention of courage, sacrifice, and even hope. The ending of this novel I felt was perfect!

I love stories that are based on family history! As a teen, I used to beg my own Italian grandfather to share stories of his youth and the time he served in the Northern African campaign during WWII. The end of the novel goes over the family members this story is inspired by. Plus, there are numerous books and websites to visit for more information.

Gripping, painful at times historical based loosely on the author's nana's experience growing up during the Holocaust in Romania. A must-add to any school library. Perfect for book club selections for books dealing with the Holocaust.