The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt Historical fiction
A story and history combined in a powerful tale. its 1936 and Liesel watches
her parents closely. Her father is a successful businessman but recently
he has been a little different, being heard by her to say things she questions.
Such as why they should respect Hitler and Liesel should join the Hitler
youth and how they act amongst others such as at the opening of the 1936
Berlin Olympic games. Liesel knows that her lessons in “ race science” are
not true. Who could think that Jews have horns under their hair and are
one step above rats ?(OMG). From the beginning we get to see what life
was like and how the young were indoctrinated. Post war and a Captain
in the American army is sent to analyse literally tons of questionnaires
to see if anyone is still harbouring loyalty to the Nazi's. He discovers yet
more paperwork, but this time it is papers the Nazi's wanted burning.
His task is not only to find those hiding but a search for chemists, he
knows not why. I was gripped by this. Of how the war shaped and
changed people and how some stayed strong whilst being dragged
along with little choice but for survival. A powerful tale indeed and
perhaps one some of the younger generation should read to
find what really happened. One to remember, one to ponder on.
An inspirational story with a message.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
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They sat together on the roof, watching Berlin burn, as traces of smoke and cloud floated through the air. “I just want to be free,” Rosa said quietly, “Even if only for a few minutes. It might be the last chance I have.”
From her beautiful new home in Berlin, a young woman named Liesel Scholz barely notices the changes to the city around her. Her life is one of privilege and safety thanks to her father’s job working for the new government.
But a chance encounter with Rosa, the daughter of their Jewish housekeeper, confirms Liesel’s fears that something isn’t right. That the Nazi government’s brutal rules are cruel and dangerous, and that others aren’t as safe as she is. When Rosa begs Liesel to help—pressing her grandfather’s gold pocket watch into Liesel’s hand—Liesel recklessly agrees.
She will help hide Rosa and her loved ones—in the dusty, unused rooms at the top of their house—even if it means putting everyone she loves in danger. Even if it means risking her own life.
Frankfurt, 1946: An idealistic American captain, Sam Houghton, arrives in Germany to interrogate prominent Nazis on trial and to help rebuild a battered country. When he hires an enigmatic, damaged interpreter named Anna, he doesn’t expect sparks to fly between them. Perhaps there is a chance of love for both of them. But then the question of what happened to Anna in the war raises its head.
Because Anna has secrets—ones that link her to Berlin, the Nazi party, and the story of one gold pocket watch and two young women who became friends, even when they were told it was impossible…
A compelling and haunting story about courage, love and betrayal set in war-torn Berlin. Fans of The Alice Network, All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale will be not be able to put this down.
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