Today I have a rather special book for you. The Young Survivors by Debra Barnes.
It was published by Duckworth Books on July 23rd.
A powerful debut novel inspired by the true story of five
siblings struggling to stay together as the tides of war threaten to tear them
apart...
When Germany invades France in the Second World War, the five Laskowski
children lose everything: their home, their Jewish community and,most
devastatingly,their parents who are abducted in the night. There is no safe
place left for them to evade the Nazis, but they cling together–never certain
when the authorities will come for what is left of them.
Inspired by the poignant,
true story of the author’s mother, this moving historical novel conveys the
hardship, the uncertainty and the impossible choices the Laskowski children
were forced to make to survive the horrors of the Holocaust
My Thoughts
Inspired by a true story, this novel drips with authenticity. It takes a look at the persecution of Jewish families during the Second World War through the eyes of children. Taking the perspectives of various siblings who were living in France at the time, you see the callousness of their treatment and the barbarity which occurred. You share with them, the inexplicable nature of what was happening and how powerless they were to avoid it. Their innocence makes the cruelty all the starker.
I was also struck by the courage of those who helped the children to survive and avoid the camps. Pierre, the oldest, had to grow up fast. I must say that the most poignant moment for me was when Georgette looked in the mirror and wondered about her twin sister. It is clear that even surviving the horror does not wash away their experiences or bring people back. Love and affection are strong bonds and the need to find people immense. It is a sobering book but one I found at the same time, a fascinating and important read.
In short: An inspiring testament to all- the survivors and those who did not.
About the Author
Debra Barnes studied journalism and contributes to the Jewish
News. Since January 2017, she
runs a project
for The Association
of Jewish Refugees (AJR) to
produce individual life
story books for
Holocaust survivors and refugees. She has been interviewed by BBC
Radio regarding her mother’s story and has had a short documentary made about
her research.
Thanks to Debra Barnes and Fanny Emily Lewis of Duckworth Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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