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angelreadstheworld 's review for:
Prisoner of Night and Fog
by Anne Blankman
Tell Me More: Sympathy for 1945 Germany may be a stretch for many people. History books and documentaries focus on the horrors committed by the Nazis, and understandably so. But in Prisoner of Night and Fog, Anne Blankman asks readers to see the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany through the eyes of a young girl, and it's the kind of the story worth reading alongside history books.
Gretchen does not start as a sympathetic character. On my first read, I actually found her a difficult character to understand, because she didn't seem to care or be attached to anything. The second time around was easier, and much of the story also takes on new layers in a reread. She isn't worldly or street-smart, relying on what she's told to consider right versus wrong. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does later highlight how she begins to grow up. This isn't a book about Hitler, but his presence does weigh heavily on Gretchen's life, and it's his actions in the past that drive Gretchen's search for the truth about her father. What she does learn doesn't have to change her life, and indeed, she chooses to ignore the truth at first. But Gretchen is stronger than that, and while I initially found her back-and-forth frustrating, it makes sense for her character's eventual growth.
While the book is still written for a young audience, Blankman doesn't shy away from illustrating the horrors of the Nazi Party. Hitler's benevolent behaviour isn't quite enough to mask his ruthlessness, and even Gretchen is uncomfortable with him at times before she discovers the truth. The story asks both Gretchen and the reader to examine the idea of trust and loyalty to people and one's country, without overwhelming them with philosophical questions.
The Final Say: Anne Blankman's debut novel is a stark look at a girl growing up in the midst of shadows, and her choice to turn on the light to face them. Prisoner of Night and Fog will give readers an excellent and rarely seen perspective of the country and events that changed the world stage forever.
Gretchen does not start as a sympathetic character. On my first read, I actually found her a difficult character to understand, because she didn't seem to care or be attached to anything. The second time around was easier, and much of the story also takes on new layers in a reread. She isn't worldly or street-smart, relying on what she's told to consider right versus wrong. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does later highlight how she begins to grow up. This isn't a book about Hitler, but his presence does weigh heavily on Gretchen's life, and it's his actions in the past that drive Gretchen's search for the truth about her father. What she does learn doesn't have to change her life, and indeed, she chooses to ignore the truth at first. But Gretchen is stronger than that, and while I initially found her back-and-forth frustrating, it makes sense for her character's eventual growth.
While the book is still written for a young audience, Blankman doesn't shy away from illustrating the horrors of the Nazi Party. Hitler's benevolent behaviour isn't quite enough to mask his ruthlessness, and even Gretchen is uncomfortable with him at times before she discovers the truth. The story asks both Gretchen and the reader to examine the idea of trust and loyalty to people and one's country, without overwhelming them with philosophical questions.
The Final Say: Anne Blankman's debut novel is a stark look at a girl growing up in the midst of shadows, and her choice to turn on the light to face them. Prisoner of Night and Fog will give readers an excellent and rarely seen perspective of the country and events that changed the world stage forever.