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Recommend this book:
Shadows We Carry
A Novel
Meryl Ain
2023 Silver Medal
296 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
A sequel to Meryl Ain's award-winning historical fiction novel The Takeaway Men, Shadows We Carry follows the life of the daughters of Holocaust survivors Aron and Judy Lubinski, who migrated to the United States after the war. Fraternal twins Bronka and JoJo Lubinski chase their dreams of becoming a journalist and an actress, respectively. But an unexpected pregnancy causes JoJo to marry her longtime boyfriend, Bruce Stern, and settle down. Amidst the political turmoil and societal unrest of the 60s, Bronka pursues her career in journalism but struggles to form meaningful romantic relationships with men of her faith. When the father of one of her coworkers turns out to be a Neo-Nazi, it opens her eyes to the Nazis hiding in the general populace in post-World War II America. Finally, Bronka meets a kindred soul whose interests align with her modern beliefs.
Author Meryl Ain takes readers on a nostalgic trip through the 1960s and 70s, a time of monumental societal changes, anti-war rallies, and civil rights movements in America. Shadows We Carry tells the tale of two young twin sisters and descendants of Holocaust survivors navigating religion, love, and family legacy while coming to terms with a rapidly changing society. Ain's characters are fully fleshed-out and feel like real people going through life trying to overcome the odds they were born with. Each character is layered, and Ain's moving prose creates an immersive atmosphere and setting so that you can almost see late-60s Manhattan in your mind. Overall, a gem of a book for historical fiction lovers.
A sequel to Meryl Ain's award-winning historical fiction novel The Takeaway Men, Shadows We Carry follows the life of the daughters of Holocaust survivors Aron and Judy Lubinski, who migrated to the United States after the war. Fraternal twins Bronka and JoJo Lubinski chase their dreams of becoming a journalist and an actress, respectively. But an unexpected pregnancy causes JoJo to marry her longtime boyfriend, Bruce Stern, and settle down. Amidst the political turmoil and societal unrest of the 60s, Bronka pursues her career in journalism but struggles to form meaningful romantic relationships with men of her faith. When the father of one of her coworkers turns out to be a Neo-Nazi, it opens her eyes to the Nazis hiding in the general populace in post-World War II America. Finally, Bronka meets a kindred soul whose interests align with her modern beliefs.
Author Meryl Ain takes readers on a nostalgic trip through the 1960s and 70s, a time of monumental societal changes, anti-war rallies, and civil rights movements in America. Shadows We Carry tells the tale of two young twin sisters and descendants of Holocaust survivors navigating religion, love, and family legacy while coming to terms with a rapidly changing society. Ain's characters are fully fleshed-out and feel like real people going through life trying to overcome the odds they were born with. Each character is layered, and Ain's moving prose creates an immersive atmosphere and setting so that you can almost see late-60s Manhattan in your mind. Overall, a gem of a book for historical fiction lovers.
Recommend this book:
The River Remembers
Linda Ulleseit
2023 Silver Medal
360 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The River Remembers is a work of historical fiction, interpersonal drama, and cross-cultural themes. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by Linda Ulleseit. In this poignant and compelling historical drama, we find ourselves in the early 19th century with our three central protagonists: Samantha Lockwood, Day Sets, and Harriet Robinson. White, Native American, and Black narratives intertwine on the frontier as these very different women search for love, companionship, and a better future for their children in a rough world where men rule all and the boundaries between races and their chances in life are harshly set.
Linda Ulleseit brings together her triple-stranded narrative incredibly well to create a novel about the American frontier that is unlike anything I have encountered. There is something quintessentially feminine about the work, which is rooted in motherhood and sisterhood. This gives the story a deep emotional grounding, yet it extends far beyond the realms of typical women’s fiction and offers a universal message about society, culture, acceptance, and banding together for a better tomorrow. I particularly loved the dialogue and found it deeply compelling to hear the different perspectives and how the narrative skill of the author molded itself to each woman to speak accurately about her experience and heritage. I think that perhaps Day Sets was my favorite of the three central women, although every reader will find something touching to cling to in this rich tale. I would not hesitate to recommend The River Remembers to historical fiction fans everywhere. You won’t regret it.
The River Remembers is a work of historical fiction, interpersonal drama, and cross-cultural themes. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and was penned by Linda Ulleseit. In this poignant and compelling historical drama, we find ourselves in the early 19th century with our three central protagonists: Samantha Lockwood, Day Sets, and Harriet Robinson. White, Native American, and Black narratives intertwine on the frontier as these very different women search for love, companionship, and a better future for their children in a rough world where men rule all and the boundaries between races and their chances in life are harshly set.
Linda Ulleseit brings together her triple-stranded narrative incredibly well to create a novel about the American frontier that is unlike anything I have encountered. There is something quintessentially feminine about the work, which is rooted in motherhood and sisterhood. This gives the story a deep emotional grounding, yet it extends far beyond the realms of typical women’s fiction and offers a universal message about society, culture, acceptance, and banding together for a better tomorrow. I particularly loved the dialogue and found it deeply compelling to hear the different perspectives and how the narrative skill of the author molded itself to each woman to speak accurately about her experience and heritage. I think that perhaps Day Sets was my favorite of the three central women, although every reader will find something touching to cling to in this rich tale. I would not hesitate to recommend The River Remembers to historical fiction fans everywhere. You won’t regret it.
Recommend this book:
Blue Sky Gone
J.S. Farmer
2023 Bronze Medal
357 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
Audrey is the sister who remains at home in Connecticut, struggling through the police academy as the only woman among many men who believe she should not be there. Hannah has moved to New York and works on the 84th floor of the South World Trade Center, has just met Travis, the man of her dreams, and loves her life. Travis is totally in love with Hannah and works on the 104th floor of the North Tower. On the morning of September 11th, Hannah is looking out the conference room window and is horrified to see a plane come crashing into the North Tower - her life will never again be the same. Against her boss's wishes, she immediately heads for the stairwell and begins the long journey down the stairs. Shortly after plane number one, another crashes into the South Tower. Hannah fights to make it to ground level. Audrey learns of the tragedy and joins a group of policemen who will be traveling to New York to help in any way that they can. The survival, the damage, and the aftermath take years for both sisters to understand.
Blue Sky Gone by J.S. Farmer is a unique real-life story turned into an excellent fictional book; taking the events of the bombing of the Twin Towers and weaving it into the story of Audrey's and Hannah’s experiences. Blue Sky Gone hit a very personal note for me as my husband had been working in the towers only a short time before and we were blessed that he had moved on to another job at another location. I found myself fully immersed in Blue Sky Gone and felt for both Audrey and Hannah. J.S. Farmer has written an amazing book incorporating a great plot, characters that were impossible not to like and root for, plus a beautiful tribute to a time in history ‘We Must Never Forget’. I cannot say enough good things about Blue Sky Gone and urge everyone, young, old, male, and female to put this book at the very top of their reading list. This book must be read for you to feel the pain, the agony, the joy, and the sacrifices; there is no way I can express these themes strongly enough in a book review.
Audrey is the sister who remains at home in Connecticut, struggling through the police academy as the only woman among many men who believe she should not be there. Hannah has moved to New York and works on the 84th floor of the South World Trade Center, has just met Travis, the man of her dreams, and loves her life. Travis is totally in love with Hannah and works on the 104th floor of the North Tower. On the morning of September 11th, Hannah is looking out the conference room window and is horrified to see a plane come crashing into the North Tower - her life will never again be the same. Against her boss's wishes, she immediately heads for the stairwell and begins the long journey down the stairs. Shortly after plane number one, another crashes into the South Tower. Hannah fights to make it to ground level. Audrey learns of the tragedy and joins a group of policemen who will be traveling to New York to help in any way that they can. The survival, the damage, and the aftermath take years for both sisters to understand.
Blue Sky Gone by J.S. Farmer is a unique real-life story turned into an excellent fictional book; taking the events of the bombing of the Twin Towers and weaving it into the story of Audrey's and Hannah’s experiences. Blue Sky Gone hit a very personal note for me as my husband had been working in the towers only a short time before and we were blessed that he had moved on to another job at another location. I found myself fully immersed in Blue Sky Gone and felt for both Audrey and Hannah. J.S. Farmer has written an amazing book incorporating a great plot, characters that were impossible not to like and root for, plus a beautiful tribute to a time in history ‘We Must Never Forget’. I cannot say enough good things about Blue Sky Gone and urge everyone, young, old, male, and female to put this book at the very top of their reading list. This book must be read for you to feel the pain, the agony, the joy, and the sacrifices; there is no way I can express these themes strongly enough in a book review.
Recommend this book:
Return To Hardscrabble Road
George Weinstein
2023 Bronze Medal
316 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Return To Hardscrabble Road is a work of fiction in the historical and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and contains some scenes of violence and the use of explicit language. Penned by author George Weinstein, the story centers on the same initial group of characters as those of Hardscrabble Road, the author’s previous novel, but the work can be read as a standalone as the MacLeod brothers return home from military service when their father dies. Far from a heartfelt family reunion, the appearance of Papa’s siblings sparks a violent new era for the family and a fight for the central protagonist Roger to rise above it all and become the man he wants to be.
This was an emotionally charged work that really elevates the family drama genre with its brutal honesty and no-holds-barred narrative style. It is never overly graphic or sensationalized, but the emotions and experiences that Roger and his family undergo at the hands of evil-minded relations really hits hard on the reader’s psyche and make for harrowing and highly engaging reading. I also felt that the dialogue was a particular triumph of this work as it served to bring important events to the fore without the need for huge chunks of prose, and kept readers engaged in the present moment. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Return To Hardscrabble Road for fans of the previous novel, and newcomers to the accomplished emotional storytelling skills of author George Weinstein.
Return To Hardscrabble Road is a work of fiction in the historical and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and contains some scenes of violence and the use of explicit language. Penned by author George Weinstein, the story centers on the same initial group of characters as those of Hardscrabble Road, the author’s previous novel, but the work can be read as a standalone as the MacLeod brothers return home from military service when their father dies. Far from a heartfelt family reunion, the appearance of Papa’s siblings sparks a violent new era for the family and a fight for the central protagonist Roger to rise above it all and become the man he wants to be.
This was an emotionally charged work that really elevates the family drama genre with its brutal honesty and no-holds-barred narrative style. It is never overly graphic or sensationalized, but the emotions and experiences that Roger and his family undergo at the hands of evil-minded relations really hits hard on the reader’s psyche and make for harrowing and highly engaging reading. I also felt that the dialogue was a particular triumph of this work as it served to bring important events to the fore without the need for huge chunks of prose, and kept readers engaged in the present moment. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Return To Hardscrabble Road for fans of the previous novel, and newcomers to the accomplished emotional storytelling skills of author George Weinstein.
Recommend this book:
Doolittle's Men
A Novel of the Air Raid on Tokyo
Paul D. Burgess
2023 Honorable Mention
370 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Lexie Fox for Readers' Favorite
Doolittle’s Men is a historical work by Paul D. Burgess. It follows several pilots and their support crew as they take part in the Doolittle Raid, an immediate retaliation by the USA against Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbour during World War Two. Using vivid descriptions of the conditions of the raid and the constant feeling of danger felt by all crews throughout the operation, this story brings this historical event to life with a visceral and immersive narrative that closely follows its historical reality. From the launch of the USS Hornet to the attack to the desperate bid to escape back to the Allied territory, it authentically portrays the risks the flight crews undertook for today's modern audience.
The secret to getting invested in a dangerous mission like this is to bring each of the characters entering the lion’s den to life, a feat that Paul D. Burgess accomplishes in spades. Characters such as Thatcher, my personal favorite of the ensemble, face the realities of prolonged exposure to life-threatening danger and constantly evolve and struggle to keep going. All the characters feel fleshed out and as real as any of the men who flew the mission. The danger they subsequently expose themselves to for their country strikes one so much harder because of it. Doolittle’s Men is a treat of historical fiction that handles the source material with respect in sharing an important part of US history without compromising on the suspense, action, and thrills.
Doolittle’s Men is a historical work by Paul D. Burgess. It follows several pilots and their support crew as they take part in the Doolittle Raid, an immediate retaliation by the USA against Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbour during World War Two. Using vivid descriptions of the conditions of the raid and the constant feeling of danger felt by all crews throughout the operation, this story brings this historical event to life with a visceral and immersive narrative that closely follows its historical reality. From the launch of the USS Hornet to the attack to the desperate bid to escape back to the Allied territory, it authentically portrays the risks the flight crews undertook for today's modern audience.
The secret to getting invested in a dangerous mission like this is to bring each of the characters entering the lion’s den to life, a feat that Paul D. Burgess accomplishes in spades. Characters such as Thatcher, my personal favorite of the ensemble, face the realities of prolonged exposure to life-threatening danger and constantly evolve and struggle to keep going. All the characters feel fleshed out and as real as any of the men who flew the mission. The danger they subsequently expose themselves to for their country strikes one so much harder because of it. Doolittle’s Men is a treat of historical fiction that handles the source material with respect in sharing an important part of US history without compromising on the suspense, action, and thrills.
Recommend this book:
If Someday Comes
A Slave's Story of Freedom
David Calloway
2023 Honorable Mention
427 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Andy Hutchings for Readers' Favorite
Few concepts have left such hideous scars on world history as slavery, with the wounds caused by centuries of kidnapping and selling human beings still being healed around the world. In David Calloway’s debut novel, If Someday Comes: A Slave's Story of Freedom, I was given an insight into the life of a slave that added humanity and a sense of hope to the tale of George Calloway as he lived under the eyes of the people who owned him and his family. The events in George’s life were extraordinary, from his participation in rescuing fellow slaves to his role in the Civil War.
I’m profoundly grateful that George’s story has been shared in this way so that the oral history passed down through the Calloway family can be read by the whole world to deepen their understanding of the lives of slaves in the 1800s. George is an inspiring figure, and the lines that David Calloway blurs between fiction and fact throughout this book create a fascinating mythology around a very real experience without ever letting us forget the brutal truths behind it all. If Someday Comes chronicles an incredible life that showcases the horrifying evil of the slave trade as well as the complex sense of bravery shown by the men and women living under it. Works such as this which highlight an individual's journey are powerful tools for understanding our history. This book uses stunning and gripping prose to take readers on an unforgettable experience into a time and place that we must never forget about.
Few concepts have left such hideous scars on world history as slavery, with the wounds caused by centuries of kidnapping and selling human beings still being healed around the world. In David Calloway’s debut novel, If Someday Comes: A Slave's Story of Freedom, I was given an insight into the life of a slave that added humanity and a sense of hope to the tale of George Calloway as he lived under the eyes of the people who owned him and his family. The events in George’s life were extraordinary, from his participation in rescuing fellow slaves to his role in the Civil War.
I’m profoundly grateful that George’s story has been shared in this way so that the oral history passed down through the Calloway family can be read by the whole world to deepen their understanding of the lives of slaves in the 1800s. George is an inspiring figure, and the lines that David Calloway blurs between fiction and fact throughout this book create a fascinating mythology around a very real experience without ever letting us forget the brutal truths behind it all. If Someday Comes chronicles an incredible life that showcases the horrifying evil of the slave trade as well as the complex sense of bravery shown by the men and women living under it. Works such as this which highlight an individual's journey are powerful tools for understanding our history. This book uses stunning and gripping prose to take readers on an unforgettable experience into a time and place that we must never forget about.
Recommend this book:
A Distant Horizon
The Distant Series Book 1
AnneMarie Brear
2022 Gold Medal
302 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
A Distant Horizon is a work of fiction in the historical, interpersonal drama, and women’s fiction subgenres. It forms the opening installment of The Distant Series and was penned for the general adult reading audience by author AnneMarie Brear. Set during the intensely difficult Irish Potato Famine of the mid-nineteenth century, we meet our protagonist Ellen Kittrick after many years of strife, when she is struggling and at her wit’s end. With a family to support and her husband out of work, Ellen makes a series of bold moves to elevate her family and ensure survival, but these moves are not without danger, difficulty, and discrimination.
Author AnneMarie Brear has crafted a sweeping historical saga with atmosphere, emotion, and drama aplenty that will surely satisfy any fan of the genre. Ellen Kittrick’s life is filled with all the cinematically-described hardships of poverty, unemployment, and starvation that you’d expect, but this novel goes beyond the simple sympathy vote and paints Ellen as a woman of character, intellect, and ingenuity at a time when women were not expected to rise up and be bold decision-makers in their families. Then, when the scene changes to life in an Australian colony, a whole new series of well-researched historical troubles crop up, which Ellen once again battles with the audience right on her shoulder. Brear’s intense narration and emotive dialogue really help you get into the heads of the characters and understand the period better, making A Distant Horizon a spectacular series opener that ticks every box for historical saga fans.
A Distant Horizon is a work of fiction in the historical, interpersonal drama, and women’s fiction subgenres. It forms the opening installment of The Distant Series and was penned for the general adult reading audience by author AnneMarie Brear. Set during the intensely difficult Irish Potato Famine of the mid-nineteenth century, we meet our protagonist Ellen Kittrick after many years of strife, when she is struggling and at her wit’s end. With a family to support and her husband out of work, Ellen makes a series of bold moves to elevate her family and ensure survival, but these moves are not without danger, difficulty, and discrimination.
Author AnneMarie Brear has crafted a sweeping historical saga with atmosphere, emotion, and drama aplenty that will surely satisfy any fan of the genre. Ellen Kittrick’s life is filled with all the cinematically-described hardships of poverty, unemployment, and starvation that you’d expect, but this novel goes beyond the simple sympathy vote and paints Ellen as a woman of character, intellect, and ingenuity at a time when women were not expected to rise up and be bold decision-makers in their families. Then, when the scene changes to life in an Australian colony, a whole new series of well-researched historical troubles crop up, which Ellen once again battles with the audience right on her shoulder. Brear’s intense narration and emotive dialogue really help you get into the heads of the characters and understand the period better, making A Distant Horizon a spectacular series opener that ticks every box for historical saga fans.
Recommend this book:
Captain Sedition
The Death of the Age of Reason
K. C. Fusaro
2022 Gold Medal
347 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite
In Captain Sedition by K.C. Fusaro, expatriate Joethan Wolfe, raised in England and now a courier for the power brokers of England, returns to America, the land of his birth, to find and secure the release of his father who has been charged with sedition. He has a pardon signed by the King. It's 1774 and the American Revolution is right around the corner. Wolfe negotiates a dangerous path between the Crown's military, loyalists, and American rebels. His friendship with Benjamin Franklin helps, but it's his own wits, dueling skills, and keen sense of timing that must see him through a variety of situations, from danger to intrigue to love.
From page one, author K.C. Fusaro establishes a sense of presence and pace for the reader that is at once undeniable and inescapable. Across the board, from character to location to dress, language, personal mannerisms of individual characters, and customs of pre-revolutionary America, verisimilitude--a sense of reality--abounds. A sense of historical urgency and fact keeps the reader enthralled by this rousing story of early America. Fusaro writes with authority, attention to detail, and the all-important spellbinding momentum that carries the lead character Wolfe through a myriad of disparate characters and situations. This includes a rendezvous with Prudence, a childhood friend and playmate now grown into a beautiful and unpredictable woman. Thoroughly captivating is an understatement for this magnificent story that doesn't end with Captain Sedition: The Death of the Age of Reason, but continues with book two, The Wages of Glory. Mr. Fusaro has a new fan here and I'm confident many, many more will follow.
In Captain Sedition by K.C. Fusaro, expatriate Joethan Wolfe, raised in England and now a courier for the power brokers of England, returns to America, the land of his birth, to find and secure the release of his father who has been charged with sedition. He has a pardon signed by the King. It's 1774 and the American Revolution is right around the corner. Wolfe negotiates a dangerous path between the Crown's military, loyalists, and American rebels. His friendship with Benjamin Franklin helps, but it's his own wits, dueling skills, and keen sense of timing that must see him through a variety of situations, from danger to intrigue to love.
From page one, author K.C. Fusaro establishes a sense of presence and pace for the reader that is at once undeniable and inescapable. Across the board, from character to location to dress, language, personal mannerisms of individual characters, and customs of pre-revolutionary America, verisimilitude--a sense of reality--abounds. A sense of historical urgency and fact keeps the reader enthralled by this rousing story of early America. Fusaro writes with authority, attention to detail, and the all-important spellbinding momentum that carries the lead character Wolfe through a myriad of disparate characters and situations. This includes a rendezvous with Prudence, a childhood friend and playmate now grown into a beautiful and unpredictable woman. Thoroughly captivating is an understatement for this magnificent story that doesn't end with Captain Sedition: The Death of the Age of Reason, but continues with book two, The Wages of Glory. Mr. Fusaro has a new fan here and I'm confident many, many more will follow.
Recommend this book:
A Small Hotel
Suanne Laqueur
2022 Silver Medal
514 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite
Astrid Virtanen visited Martha in Clayton as part of her journey to see the world before making one final decision. She was Martha’s cousin, a housekeeper to the Fiskares who owned a hotel on the island. The firstborn Fiskare, Kennet, fell in love with Astrid through a picture, even before he saw her in the flesh. The duo hit it off and enjoyed a summer romance until her mother arrived and ruined everything. Astrid had family commitments caused by financial difficulties and a dependent, manipulative mother. Circumstances separated Kennet and his lover, and he reeled from the heartbreak until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Kennet joined the army, where he knew a different love that changed him, but something was missing. Is there hope for Astrid and Kennet? A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur has the details.
A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur is a heartwarming story that started on a slow note before sucking me in. I was hooked until the end, as it showcased two kinds of love, both revolving around family. This novel also explored romance, stigmatization, marriages of convenience, parental love, and more. I loved the plot and storyline because they were brilliant and unique. It pained me how parents mortgaged their children’s lives for financial benefit. The year 1941 was such a memorable year, and I loved how Laqueur transitioned the action from a cute island love affair to the war front, effortlessly blending fact and fiction. The same-sex affair stigmatization, near-death experiences, loss of comrades, and the hell of concentration camps were some of the most defining moments in this novel. Veterans suffer their trauma for life. Ingrid and Emil deserve a story. A Small Hotel was captivating, emotional, and inspiring.
Astrid Virtanen visited Martha in Clayton as part of her journey to see the world before making one final decision. She was Martha’s cousin, a housekeeper to the Fiskares who owned a hotel on the island. The firstborn Fiskare, Kennet, fell in love with Astrid through a picture, even before he saw her in the flesh. The duo hit it off and enjoyed a summer romance until her mother arrived and ruined everything. Astrid had family commitments caused by financial difficulties and a dependent, manipulative mother. Circumstances separated Kennet and his lover, and he reeled from the heartbreak until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Kennet joined the army, where he knew a different love that changed him, but something was missing. Is there hope for Astrid and Kennet? A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur has the details.
A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur is a heartwarming story that started on a slow note before sucking me in. I was hooked until the end, as it showcased two kinds of love, both revolving around family. This novel also explored romance, stigmatization, marriages of convenience, parental love, and more. I loved the plot and storyline because they were brilliant and unique. It pained me how parents mortgaged their children’s lives for financial benefit. The year 1941 was such a memorable year, and I loved how Laqueur transitioned the action from a cute island love affair to the war front, effortlessly blending fact and fiction. The same-sex affair stigmatization, near-death experiences, loss of comrades, and the hell of concentration camps were some of the most defining moments in this novel. Veterans suffer their trauma for life. Ingrid and Emil deserve a story. A Small Hotel was captivating, emotional, and inspiring.
Recommend this book:
The Last Daughter
Based on a True Story of One Girl's Courage in the Face of Evil
Belle Ami
2022 Bronze Medal
400 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is the harrowing story of the author’s mother during World War II in Europe. Dina had always lived comfortably in the loving embrace of her family. However, when Germany invaded Poland, all of that changes. Forced to leave her beloved home, her family is relocated into the Glinice ghetto. Gone are the carefree days of her childhood, replaced by fear and hunger, and hard work. Still, Dina’s family never gives up, even when they are deported to camps, bit by bit, their fates unknown. As Dina strives to survive the unthinkable, will she be able to keep her faith and make it through hell on earth?
A fantastic tale of perseverance, The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is an inspirational retelling of survival. So much is put on Dina and her family and she never gives up, constantly wishing for a better future. The novel is a stark account of her experiences during the Holocaust, without shying away from the horrors around her and all the other victims of the Nazis' atrocities. Yet, in the darkness, elements of hope keep Dina going. I particularly admired how Dina reflected back on the inspiration of her parents, using their strength and wisdom to survive, along with the unexpected kindness of strangers. It’s so important we never forget these parts of history and Dina’s experiences in the face of pure evil. I have read many memoirs of people who survived the Holocaust and The Last Daughter definitely is worth checking out for historical readers.
The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is the harrowing story of the author’s mother during World War II in Europe. Dina had always lived comfortably in the loving embrace of her family. However, when Germany invaded Poland, all of that changes. Forced to leave her beloved home, her family is relocated into the Glinice ghetto. Gone are the carefree days of her childhood, replaced by fear and hunger, and hard work. Still, Dina’s family never gives up, even when they are deported to camps, bit by bit, their fates unknown. As Dina strives to survive the unthinkable, will she be able to keep her faith and make it through hell on earth?
A fantastic tale of perseverance, The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is an inspirational retelling of survival. So much is put on Dina and her family and she never gives up, constantly wishing for a better future. The novel is a stark account of her experiences during the Holocaust, without shying away from the horrors around her and all the other victims of the Nazis' atrocities. Yet, in the darkness, elements of hope keep Dina going. I particularly admired how Dina reflected back on the inspiration of her parents, using their strength and wisdom to survive, along with the unexpected kindness of strangers. It’s so important we never forget these parts of history and Dina’s experiences in the face of pure evil. I have read many memoirs of people who survived the Holocaust and The Last Daughter definitely is worth checking out for historical readers.
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