Reviews

There's a lot I like about this book. It was very interesting how they followed 1 extended family from prewar to post war.

I now know that it's the author's family and more makes sense.

If it was purely fiction, my main criticism of the book is that it's too many characters.

Some of them were memorable enough to me like Addy, Mila/Felicia, Ganek, Bella. The rest, I'm not sure who they were. And at the end of the book, once of the siblings helped the parents and I don't know there story.

It would have been a lot better for me if there were fewer characters.

I did find it interesting the many paths the family took to survive. I don't think I could have done what Mila did at the train. Or Ganeks wife delivering her baby in Siberia. And having to go back to work. Wow.

I didn't know that people were able to escape like Addy did. I can't imagine his torture of not knowing and the guilt he must have felt for surviving.

The red cross matching service was very interesting to me. I have wondered how people found each other or found out that people were dead.

It was nice reading a lighter WW2 book. I was also very surprised to hear how Russia switched sides. They were absolutely helping the Germans and then they weren't.

Maybe it would be better if you read it on paper or watch the TV show.

kpitsker's review

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challenging dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Unbelievable story, despite being true. Typically I love books written from multiple perspectives, but this time around I struggled to feel connected to the characters – perhaps because there were so many and no one really took center stage.

liedora's review against another edition

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5.0

If you decide to read this powerful book, be sure to read the Author's notes at the end; it will add a whole new level to what you have just read.

rynacc's review against another edition

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4.0

Super cool how the author was the granddaughter.

sarahmcgurren13's review against another edition

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4.0

A truly remarkable and breathtaking story. It has left me with wanting more. It is a true story of the author’s grandfather’s family. She had me hanging onto every word, even into the acknowledgements and Author’s Note. In my opinion, the only flaw is the number of characters (although it would be incomplete without any one of them- after all, it is a true story). I found it difficult to keep track of the different story lines; having the family tree in the beginning of the book to reference really helps with this however.

maricelalv's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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