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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A great story filled with sadness but also hope. I was rooting for and worried about all of the characters the entire time. It was very eye-opening to see the different experiences that people went through in Europe during WWII through the eyes of this family - I certainly didn't know about things like Siberia or Anderson's Army for instance. The ending also didn't disappoint!
This was also a good reminder about how quickly life can change, how there are so many victims of war, and the devastation that hatred of persecuted groups can bring. It also showed, at least to me right now in the events of 2025, how important it is we see that this can happen again but with different players and that we need to do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again.
This was also a good reminder about how quickly life can change, how there are so many victims of war, and the devastation that hatred of persecuted groups can bring. It also showed, at least to me right now in the events of 2025, how important it is we see that this can happen again but with different players and that we need to do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Antisemitism, Grief, War, Deportation
Moderate: Genocide
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Favorite Book. Grateful for the simple family tree at the beginning.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Slow. Very slow. Not as good as I had hoped. But decent.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Inspiring. Important to acknowledge the history it tells.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow! This book is a serious read but powerful and gripping. I got the book from the library in 2 versions (e-book and audiobook) and then got my hands on a physical copy as it was a slow read for me and my library copies kept expiring. By the end, I couldn’t put it down and I cried several times.
I wish there had been a cast of characters at the beginning. Since I started an e-book form, I didn’t realize there was a family tree until I got my hands on the real physical copy.
Highly recommend this for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction
I wish there had been a cast of characters at the beginning. Since I started an e-book form, I didn’t realize there was a family tree until I got my hands on the real physical copy.
Highly recommend this for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction