Book Description: Six-year-old Gretl Schmidt is on a train bound for Aushwitz. Jakób Kowalski is planting a bomb on the tracks.
As World War II draws to a close, Jakób fights with the Polish resistance against the crushing forces of Germany and Russia. They intend to destroy a German troop transport, but Gretl’s unscheduled train reaches the bomb first.
Gretl is the only survivor. Though spared from the concentration camp, the orphaned German Jew finds herself lost in a country hostile to her people. When Jakób discovers her, guilt and fatherly compassion prompt him to take her in. For three years, the young man and little girl form a bond over the secrets they must hide from his Catholic family.
But she can’t stay with him forever. Jakób sends Gretl to South Africa, where German war orphans are promised bright futures with adoptive Protestant families—so long as Gretl’s Jewish roots, Catholic education, and connections to communist Poland are never discovered.
Separated by continents, politics, religion, language, and years, Jakób and Gretl will likely never see each other again. But the events they have both survived and their belief that the human spirit can triumph over the ravages of war have formed a bond of love that no circumstances can overcome.
My Thoughts: First of all: Kleenex Alert! Irma Joubert writes an incredible story that made me cry and cheer.
Gretl is six years old...oh!my! Such a little thing to be a survivor of a terrible bombing that took out the train Gretl's family was riding in.
This is Gretl's story:
Although she is saved from the concentration camp during WWII she is lost in a country that is hostile to German Jews. She's only six but people treat her like she started the war!
Then Jakób finds her. He has compassion on the little child and takes her in....but he hides her from his Catholic family who would not understand such compassion.
Unfortunately, Gretl cannot stay with Jakób forever in hiding.
Jakób learns that German war orphans are promised adoptive Protestant families in South Africa. So, off Greatly goes to hope and promise.
Once Jakób sends Gretl away he knows, as she does, that they will probably never see each other again.
WOW! What a story!
Compassion, WWII history and faith makes this a not to be missed read!
*This book was provided for review as part of the Thomas Nelson
Fiction Guild Team Challenge*
- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 3, 2015)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0529102374
- ISBN-13: 978-0529102379
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