Originally published in Library Journal, February 2020. Based on the incredible true story of her mother's life, Abriel's novel set during and immediately following WWII is both moving and captivating. Jewish teenagers in Budapest, Vera and Edith, narrowly escape from the cattle car headed to Auschwitz, carrying both of their mothers. Believing their parents and… Continue reading The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
Tag: Holocaust
Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris
Originally published in Library Journal, October 2019. Morris's sophomore novel, follows a brave young Czech woman from Auschwitz-Birkenau to the gulag at Vorkuta, a Siberian prison labor camp. When the Soviets liberate Birkenau, they sentence 18 year old Cilka Klein to 15 years hard labor for prostitution and espionage, though she was repeatedly raped by… Continue reading Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Originally published in Library Journal, August 2018. Originally intended as a screenplay, this compelling debut historical fiction novel is based upon the life of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew imprisoned for almost three years at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he served as the tattooist. Soon after Lale, 25, arrives at Birkenau, he contracts typhus and is left… Continue reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
After having seen the book-to-movie film preview for this novel, I purchased a copy, thinking it would be like so many of the historical fiction novels of WWII that I've read and enjoyed. Though it was very different, I still enjoyed it very much. It took me quite a bit longer to read it than others, but… Continue reading The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff
Emma, a young Jewish woman living in Poland during WWII, is forced to assume a new identity as a Polish girl named Anna. A newlywed, Emma's husband Jacob is in the Jewish resistance group and he is forced to go into hiding just a short time after they are married. Emma and her parents are… Continue reading The Kommandant’s Girl by Pam Jenoff
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Lilac Girls is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of three strong-willed women with very unique backgrounds and circumstances, but each impacted greatly by WWII and the Holocaust. Kasia, a young Polish teenager was taken by train along with her mother and older sister to an all women's prison camp, Ravensbruck, where she and her sister Zuzanna… Continue reading Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
I'm back again with another WWII historical fiction novel, which seems to be one of my favorite genres of late. This is written for a YA audience, but like Salt to the Sea, adults will also enjoy reading it. Girl in the Blue Coat will be published April 5, 2016. The story takes place in… Continue reading Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
Lone Star by Paullina Simons
Lone Star will be published on November 24, 2015. I was drawn to this book at first because I absolutely loved The Bronze Horseman series by Paullina Simons. I hoped this story would be as beautiful, and it certainly is. Lone Star is the story of four teenagers, getting ready to graduate from high school… Continue reading Lone Star by Paullina Simons
Playing With Fire by Tess Gerritsen
I've read all of Tess Gerritsen's novels and have loved each and every one. Her background in the medical profession is evident by her ease of writing medical suspense with both clarity and interest. Her books are very difficult to put down, as they captivate the reader from the very start. Her newest novel, Playing… Continue reading Playing With Fire by Tess Gerritsen
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
The Japanese Lover will be published November 3, 2015. This was such a beautiful story that I was fortunate to come across and read. It reminded me quite a bit of another historical fiction book which I absolutely loved called Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey. Like in Grey's book, The Japanese Lover alternates… Continue reading The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
Librarian Laura 