Comment

Dec 02, 2016InsJavert rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I am always surprised at how much I enjoy Young Adult books. They offer a lot, make you think, and offer insight into history from a very impressionable age. As far as I am concerned, we can never get enough about a time in our history in which the world was turned upside down by war. Germany's elimination of certain segments of society, especially towards the Jews, and what it did to family, communities, etc., is something which we need to be continually reminded of, so we do not repeat it again, which unfortunately, continues to happen, in many varied ways. This is a well told story of a young girl who father is taken into custody never to be hear from again. A young girl who now finds herself, terribly alone and alienated, because she is a Jew. She mets and befriends a total stranger who come together under stressful circumstances and the journey of survival that ensues throughout the rest of the story. In so many ways, she is so innocent and naive, and yet exposed to the worst mankind has to offer. Then there is a stranger, by happen stance, brings them together, who sole purpose is survival. The story is told from her perspective; her feelings, and understanding, in which innocence is lost, trust is out the window, and so many other experiences we take for granted. The man whom she reluctantly and many times unquestionably places her trust in, and at other times is in conflict with. but together, their struggle just to survive day by day is starkly revealed. I was not pleased with the ending, because I believe, Anna has matured throughout the story and that maturity changes the perspective in which their former roles had been established as well as her awakening in adulthood. The author used this change and her development at the end, which I found awkward. In addition, you are left with the main characters roles altered, but not finished. This was an insightful and engaging read which I enjoyed a lot. It was the ending and its awkwardness for me that lowered my rating from four (4) stars to three (3).