As much as this is the story of one family's journey through Europe, it is equally the story of Germany in the 1930s, of heightened political tensions across Europe and whispered rumours of escalating horrors. On the face of it, Anna's story is heart-warming and encouraging and full of small adventures and achievements, but underneath the narrative is a very dark and unsettling vision of how the Nazi party's influence spread across Europe and seeped into everyday life. A book which shall stay with me. ( )

I saw this on the bookshelf at the library the other day when I was looking for a title for my eight-year-old brother to read. The book caught my interest, especially since I've always had a particular fascination for WWII and, sometimes, one can find true gems in the children's section of the library.

Well, I was quite pleasantly surprised. I always loved reading WWII stories growing up -- stories from the chilren's perspective and written for children. There is something so innocent and inspiring about them. Several of my personal favorites were Snow Treasure (about several Norwegian children who daringly help smuggle gold out of occupied Norway), Twenty and Ten (about twenty school children who help hide ten Jewish children from the Nazis), and, especially, The Winged Watchman (about a Dutch boy who helps hide a downed allied pilot).

I am very pleased to say that this was just as good. But also quite unique because it actually takes place before the war in 1935. Based on the real childhood of the author, it follows the adventures of a German-Jewish family lucky enough to escape Germany a week before Hitler comes to power. Told with a deep sincerity but also touching simplicity, it watches the family endure hardship as refugees in foreign countries and ultimately prevail.

As the young Anna (through whose eyes most of the story is told), exclaims in one scene,

"It's just that I think we should stay together. I don't really mind where or how. I don't mind things being difficult -- just as long as we're all four together....I've never minded being a refugee before. In fact I've loved it. I think the last two years, when we've been refugees have been much better than if we'd stayed in Germany. But if you send us away now I'm so terribly frightened...I'm so terribly frightened...That I might really feel like one!"

It's a lovely little book. Do read it. ( )