By: Catherine Hokin
Many thanks to Bookouture for the ARC of this book and the stop on the book tour!
About the Book
Berlin, 1938. I wipe the tears streaming down my darling son’s face, my heart shattering into a million pieces. “I promise I will find you, my love. No matter what…”
Ever since the Nazis came to power, violence has spread through the city Esther Spielmann once called home. Each night she prays her family will be spared. But when her husband and father are murdered alongside fellow Jews during Kristallnacht, she has no choice but to send her beloved son, Sascha, to safety.
Esther’s heart breaks as she watches his thin legs trembling in the cold as he is ushered with the other crying children towards the Kindertransport. As the train leaves in a cloud of smoke, she thinks of the painting of the two of them hanging in their house. In it, they are tightly embracing and laughing, everything just as it should be. She vows that she will hold him like this once again. But has Esther made a promise she can’t possibly keep?
Each day the hope of finding Sascha burns like a flame in Esther’s chest. The war has taken everything from her, including the painting of her and her beloved son. Then one day the guards come. This time it is Esther who must get on a train. But unlike Sascha, Esther is not being carried to safety. She has heard whispers of the horrors of the concentration camps. But knows she must do everything in her power to survive…
When Esther hears word that her painting might have been found, hope of finding Sascha blooms once more in her chest. In the ashes of war, can she make her way back to her beloved son? And if they do meet again, will either of them be prepared for what they find?
My Review
Hokin has written a heartbreaking yet beautiful WWII historical fiction book about personal loss, the horrors that were experienced during that time, and the hope that some had when it was all over. The story is told through three different perspectives, that of Esther, her son, and Amalie, a British Citizen.
Seemingly, Esther and Amalie’s stories seem to be parallel to each other, but then they turn and intersect. I found Amalie’s later story of looking for the stolen art really fascinating. But the storyline that bring those two women together really is beautiful. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to live in Germany during that time, to have to send my child away in order to keep him safe. That had to be the hardest decision that Esther had to make. That alone made this an emotional read. Add in losing her husband and being sent to a concentration camp, and your heart just breaks for her.
There are a lot of WWII historical fiction novels out there, but this one felt different. The story flourished. It felt like there was more plot and character development. It was just so well written. Fans of historical fiction will really enjoy this one!
About the Author
I seem to have followed a rather meandering career, including marketing and teaching and politics (don’t try and join the dots), to get where I have always wanted to be, which is writing historical fiction. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.
I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. Both my children have left home (one to London and one to Berlin) which may explain why I am finally writing. If I’m not at my desk you’ll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.
I’d love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @catherineh66267.
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