About the book: It is the autumn of 1943, and Karin Graeber is keenly aware of the uneasy tide of of change swirling around her. She is not alone—in wartime Berlin, it seems that everyone has been swept up in the frightening transformation of their city. No more than a child, Karin is far too young to understand the Nazi presence or the drone of air-raid sirens or the absence of her beloved Pappa, a soldier in the German army. But when a bomb destroys their home, Karin is forced to grow up far too soon as her family joins the tens of thousands displaced in the raids on the city. Relying on their faith as Latter-day Saints, Karin and her family begin a journey that will prove the indomitable strength of the human spirit.
What follows is the sweeping narrative of one young girl's journey through war and beyond—from her childlike observations of World War II in Germany to her changing view of the world as she grows up in a land divided by war. Now, driven by starvation and the perilous existence of refugees, Karin and her family must draw upon a deep reservoir of strength and faith to sustain them through the harrowing escape ahead ...
My review: Wow, I cannot tell you just how amazing this book was! I loved seeing World War II through Karin's eyes, a young girl who really lived and had all of this crazy stuff happen to her and her family.
Karin was just 5 when they were bombed out of their home by the Americans fighting against Germany. She lived with her mom, Mutti, and her older sister Christine. And her dad was off fighting for Germany. After they were bombed out, the moving around, trying to protect themselves from selfish people around them, and trying to make sure they had enough food to feed themselves began.
I was amazed by a few things. I was amazed by the way that Mutti was always willing to take others in, if she felt that the other people had it worse, she made a way to shelter, feed and clothe them. What an amazing example of unselfishness, charity and love she was. I also loved the way she made her family get to Church, no matter what.
Another thing that was amazing to me was the things that Karin learned in the schools that she attended. The kids were specifically indoctrinated against all of the things that we believe in here, the importance of family, religion (specifically Heavenly Father), and doing the things that your parents wanted you to do were all things that her teachers told her were bad.
I loved the way that Karin talks about her prayers being answered, for being such a young girl when all of this happened, she had quite a testimony of prayer and the love of Heavenly Father for her.
I loved the way that the book ends with Karin's discovery of all that Heavenly Father had done for her. I would love to know just what happened to Karin after the story ended! Her story touched me deeply.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author: Carolyn Twede Frank lives in Kaysville, Utah with her husband and teenage daughter, her other four children, having fled the nest, still live close by. In 1994, she incorporated her basement sewing business, eventually moving it into a warehouse, hiring more people, and developing her unique line of puppets and educational curriculums into a full-fledged, international business. She sold the main arm of her business in 2009, retaining a small portion to bring in income while she pursued her writing career. She has been writing seriously since 2006.
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Labels: Carolyn Tweed Frank, Covenant Communications, Historical fiction, WWII novel
About the book: It is the autumn of 1943, and Karin Graeber is keenly aware of the uneasy tide of of change swirling around her. She is not alone—in wartime Berlin, it seems that everyone has been swept up in the frightening transformation of their city. No more than a child, Karin is far too young to understand the Nazi presence or the drone of air-raid sirens or the absence of her beloved Pappa, a soldier in the German army. But when a bomb destroys their home, Karin is forced to grow up far too soon as her family joins the tens of thousands displaced in the raids on the city. Relying on their faith as Latter-day Saints, Karin and her family begin a journey that will prove the indomitable strength of the human spirit.