In this beautifully rendered, coming-of-age novel, Gemma Liviero takes us on a journey of a young boy of mixed Jewish and Aryan decent, who grows up during Hitler's reign of terror. It was fascinating to witness Henrik's true-to-life maturing, beginning as a young, selfish boy, in Germany, then growing into a formidable, compassionate young man in Poland. Liviero did an amazing job of allowing us to feel his initial fear, eventual anger, and ultimate determination, as he grew in understanding of the horrific events that unfolded before him.
I cherished the second narrator, sweet Rebekah, a young Jewish girl, who entered the story about midway through. She offered a completely different perspective, and the demure, feminine voice added even more depth to the novel. Finally, I was glad to hear the voice of Greta, Henrik's younger sister, at the end, and would've loved to hear even more of the story from her point of view. The magnitude of the events that took place during the Holocaust were made even more haunting through the eyes of children and young adults.
I was absorbed in the novel from beginning to end, and felt invested in the lives of these captivating characters. I did feel a sense of serendipity throughout the novel, as it was rare that stories during this time period worked out the way this one did, but Liviero introduced plenty of harsh reality into the mix to allow for suspension of disbelief during those times.
Read 6/2/18
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