The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

A quick read and good story. After moving from the city to "Out With" when his father is promoted by "The Fury," nine-year-old Bruno is miserable...until he goes exploring and discovers a friend who just happens to be his exact same age (they share a birthday). Though he is no longer lonely, Bruno remains uneasy about the situation at his new home and is quite naive about his surroundings. He is envious because it seems his friend, Schmuel, who lives on the other side of the fence, has a lot of other children (all boys) to play with and he has no one. Because he now has a friend he can visit, Bruno is torn between his longing to return to Berlin with his mother and sister and his desire to stay at the new house. On their final day together, Schmuel brings an extra set of "striped pajamas" for Bruno so they can play together inside the fence, satisfying Bruno's curiosity.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, it's a whole new perspective on the Holocaust.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

This is the third book I've read by this author and she has yet to disappoint me. All three books have been VERY different, which I appreciate because there is no sense that I'm reading "another one of those books" like I get with some authors. I'll admit, I am now officially in love with Kristin Hannah!

This story is a love triangle of sorts that illustrates the complex relationships between two sisters and their mother after their father/husband dies, forcing them all together. The girls have never felt close to their mother, to the point where they determined that she doesn't love them, in fact might resent/hate them, but when their father is doling out his final wishes, he compels each woman to get to know and take care of their mother, not an easy thing to do. The only time they feel even remotely connected to their mother is when she is telling them a fairy tale, the same one she told when they were young and this is the place they all come together.

The first half of the book takes some patience to get through, but it's definitely worth it. Hannah has a way of describing historical and cultural happenings that makes you feel like you were/are there. The way she uses Anya Whitson's fairy tale about Stalin's Russia to connect the woman to her daughters is nothing short of amazing.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! If you haven't ready anything by Kristin Hannah, I'd also recommend The Magic Hour and Firefly Lane. I will definitely be looking for more of her work on my next trip to the library!!!

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

This was selected for my book club, and I'll admit I wasn't super excited about reading ANOTHER book from the Nazi era, but this one surprised me!

The story is set in France and ties together the events of July 1942, when the French police rounded up French Jews in Paris before sending them to concentration camps, and those surrounding the memorial of the round up 60 years later. The two main characters are Sarah, a 10 year old who was part of the round up and Julia, a journalist reporting on the memorial who discovers a family secret that connects her to Sarah.

Until reading this book, I was unaware of the events that took place in France, or the extent to which the French police and government were involved in the internment of Jews. I liked the style in which this book was written; the dual perspective added some credibility to the novel and helped to draw the reader into the story.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, it's one of the better stories based on this era.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Because this was selected by TWO of my book clubs, I was excited to get it. Though this book is classified as Juvenile Literature, the themes are somewhat advanced and I never felt like I was reading a child's book.

The story is narrated by Death and follows a young girl in Nazi Germany. Liesel, the book thief, captures Death's attention early when at age 10, en route to a foster home, her younger brother dies on a train. She "steals" her first book just after the funeral when she notices that one of the gravediggers dropped it in the snow. Ironically, Liesel can not read, but has a strong love for books.

Upon her arrival in Munich, Liesel meets her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Rosa has a big heart that she tries to conceal with her foul mouth and Hans is a kind man who wears his heart on his sleeve. The Hubermanns do not believe in Nazi Party ideals, but Hans is forced to join the party and enlist in the army in order to protect his family--and Max Vandenburg, the son of the Jewish man who saved Hans's life in WWI and is living in the Hubermanns' basement.

Throughout her years with the Hubermanns, Liesel learns to read very well and develops relationships with many people in the neighborhood because of her love of books. Her strongest tie is to Rudy Steiner, her best friend and neighbor. The story ends with Liesel finally granting Rudy his long-awaited kiss, after he (and everyone else in their neighborhood) is killed in an attack. Liesel, the only survivor found in the ruins, was saved, essentially, by her love of words.

Would I recommend this book? Definitely!