I purchased both this book and audiobook for my own collection.
Publisher: Berkley Books / Penguin Audio
Published: September 13, 2022
Summary:
A poignant and ultimately triumphant novel based on the incredible true story of children who braved the formidable danger of guarded, wintry mountain passes in France to escape the Nazis, from the acclaimed author of Courage, My Love.
In a remote corner of France, Jewish refugee Ella Rosenthal has finally reached safety. It has been three years since she and her little sister, Hanni, left their parents to flee Nazi Germany, and they have been pursued and adrift in the chaos of war ever since. Now they shelter among one hundred other young refugees in a derelict castle overseen by the Swiss Red Cross.
Swiss volunteers Rösli Näf and Anne-Marie Piguet uphold a common mission: to protect children in peril. Rösli, a stubborn and resourceful nurse, directs the colony of Château de la Hille, and has created a thriving community against all odds. Anne-Marie, raised by Swiss foresters, becomes both caretaker and friend to the children, and she vows to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.
However, when Germany invades southern France, safeguarding Jewish refugees becomes impossible. Château de la Hille faces unrelenting danger, and Rösli and Anne-Marie realize that the only way to protect the eldest of their charges is to smuggle them out of France. Relying on Rösli’s fierce will and Anne-Marie’s knowledge of secret mountain paths, they plot escape routes through vast Nazi-occupied territory to the distant border. Amid staggering risk, Ella and Hanni embark on a journey that, if successful, could change the course of their lives and grant them a future.
My thoughts:
This was one of our #Bookfriendsbookclub picks for September and I’m so glad we picked it as it had not been on my radar until then. As you know, I love historical fiction and this one, which is based on a true story, is so incredibly powerful and moving.
I think any story about the wars that involve children is going to be a tough read but this one is definitely one that will be sticking in my mind for quite a while. The way this story is told, giving us three points of view, really allows us to see how the events affected each person differently, but gives us such a richly emotional story. This book is full of heartbreak – how could it not based on what was going on – but it is also full of hope.
What I love about books like this is that even though it is incredibly written, and you can tell the author did her research, it still sends me down the rabbit hole of my own Google research and to me, that is why I love reading this genre. It sparks a curiosity in me that leaves me wanting to know more. We are given quite a detailed author’s note – always be sure to read this!!! – and I felt she really poured her heart and soul into this book.
This story shows once again the bravery of some of the women during the war that we have not heard about before. This is why these books need to be told and this is why there can never been enough WWII books written – there are still many unsung heroes who need their stories told.
Audio thoughts:
I’m so glad I went with the audio for this one – it was incredibly done. The narrator, Lisa Flanagan, did a fantastic job bringing this book to life. She gave each of the characters their own personalities and voices, and even spoke both French and German effortlessly.
