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The Rainbow by Carly Schabowski-WW2 historical fiction

Based on a true story this tells of Isla and her grandparents. Alternate

chapters take us back to 1930 in Poland. Whilst looking for something

in the attic for her grandmother, Isla stumbles across a picture of two

men in German army uniform. The name of one is her grandfather,

someone she believed had fought for the allies and won medals.

When she asks her grandmother she denies who it is and says Isla

must never ask her now rather confused grandfather about this.

She also finds an old rainbow coloured scarf with the picture and

hangs on to it. Her grandfather has a brother still in Poland so she

ventures to find out more from him, but he himself is elderly but

he does have some diaries of his brothers from the war period

and gives them to Isla so that she can find out more for herself. I

really enjoy this type of novel- it's not only a story but a wonderful

way to learn what life was like and what went on in that time period.

A heartwarming and gripping read of tragedy and trauma and of

love and determination winning through and being carried through

the generations. A brilliant , poingnant highly enjoyable read,

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog 

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Book Description:

There, on the dusty floorboards, was a piece of paper, folded neatly. A newspaper article from 1941, written in German, alongside a faded picture of two men in Nazi uniforms staring at the camera. I was about to place it back in the box of forgotten things when something in the text jumped out at me. My breath caught in my chest. I know that name.

London, present day. Isla has grown up hearing her beloved grandad’s stories about his life as a child in pre-war Poland and as a young soldier bravely fighting the Germans to protect his people. So she is shocked and heartbroken to find, while collecting photos for his 95th birthday celebration, a picture of her dear grandfather wearing a Nazi uniform. Is everything she thought she knew about him a lie?

Unable to question him due to his advanced dementia, Isla wraps herself in her rainbow-coloured scarf, a memento of his from the war, and begins to hunt for the truth behind the photograph. What she uncovers is more shocking than she could have ever anticipated – a tale of childhood sweethearts torn apart by family duty, and how one young man risked his life, his love and the respect of his own people, to secretly fight for justice from inside the heart of the enemy itself…

An heartbreaking novel of love, betrayal and a secret passed down through a family. Inspired by an incredible true story. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, We Were the Lucky Ones and The Alice Network.




Author Bio:

Carly Schabowski worked as a journalist in both North Cyprus and Australia before returning to Oxford, where she studied for an MA and then a PhD in creative writing at Oxford Brookes University. Carly now teaches at Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer in Creative Writing for first and second-year English literature students.


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