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A Master Plan for Rescue: A Novel by Janis…
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A Master Plan for Rescue: A Novel (edition 2015)

by Janis Cooke Newman (Author)

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762348,317 (3.92)1
Named a Best Book of 2015 by the San Francisco Chronicle From the bestselling author of Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln, a magical novel about the surprising acts we are capable of in the name of love. Set in 1942 New York and Berlin, A Master Plan for Rescue is an enchanting novel about the life-giving powers of storytelling, and the heroism that can be inspired by love. In essence, it is two love stories. It is the story of a child who worships his parents, then loses his father to an accident and his mother to her resulting grief. And it is the story of a young man who stumbles into the romance of his life, then watches her decline, forever changing the arc of his future. Each is propelled by the belief that if he acts heroically enough, it will restore some part of what--or whom--he has lost. But when they meet, this boy and this man, their combined grief and magical thinking will allow them to dream the impossible. Sharing stories of the people they have lost, they are inspired to join forces and act in their memory. To do something so memorable that it might actually bring their loved ones back--even if only in spirit. A Master Plan for Rescue is a beautiful tale, propelled by history and imagination, that suggests people's impact upon the world doesn't necessarily end with their lives, and that, to some degree, we are the sum of the stories we tell.… (more)
Member:MHanover10
Title:A Master Plan for Rescue: A Novel
Authors:Janis Cooke Newman (Author)
Info:Riverhead Books (2015), 336 pages
Collections:Your library, Currently reading, Wishlist, To read, Read but unowned, Favorites
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Tags:to-read

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A Master Plan for Rescue: A Novel by Janis Cooke Newman

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A pleasant and languid tale that ultimately felt like too much work for not enough payoff.

Jack is a twelve year old with glasses thick enough to get him beat up. When his fathr dies unexpectedly, he creates a fantasy where his father, still alive, has become a spy. So Jack starts hunting Nazis on the streets and subways of 1942 New York to help his dad's mission and thus bring him home. His sleuthing leads him to Jakob, a German jew who asks for Jack's help in planning a rescue of jewish children (where the book's title originates). Twenty-three children are smuggled in through Coney Island per Jack's plan but they are nearly caught (thanks to Jack's persistent delusion that his father lives) and Jakob sacrifices himself to save the plan, being sent back to Germany and the Nazis who will surely kill him. I suppose its an inspiring story about personal sacrifice but ultimately failed to touch my heart.

Thank you to Penguin who were kind enough to send me this advance copy. ( )
  fionaanne | Nov 11, 2021 |
Set during World War II, this is the story of two characters whose lives are profoundly changed during the war. The first is Jack, a young boy growing up in NYC who spends his free time listening to radio shows about heroes fighting evil villains who threaten the safety of the US. When Jack's father dies in a bizarre accident Jack is swept away with the belief that his own heroic acts can somehow bring back his father. Across the ocean is Jakob, a Jew who lives in pre-World War II Berlin. He sees the gradual horror unfolding for Jews in Germany, but his girlfriend has a fatal heart condition and is unwilling to leave. Finally, Jakob finds himself in NYC, and like Jack, he takes on an impossible, but heroic mission, to try and restore part of what he has lost.

This book is beautifully written and I found myself totally immersed in this tale. The descriptions of NYC during the war and pre-war Berlin were detailed and captivating. I loved the historic portions about the SS St. Louis and its failed attempt to bring 900 German Jews to North America. You could feel the fear, the hope, and the despair as the boat left Germany, crossed the Atlantic, only to be turned away by Cuba and the US. Definitely a piece of history that we seem to skim over in US history books!

What captivated me most was the flow of the stories within a story. Absolutely stunning writing and I loved the way the stories and characters intertwined. I listened to this audiobook which had a talented set of narrators, each performing different parts as the point of view changed. In general, I'm not crazy about audiobooks performed by a full cast, but this was very effective, especially since the two main story tellers, Jakob and Jack, were an adult and a 12-year old boy. All the male narrators - Vikas Adam, Paul Boehmer, and Kirby Heyborne were stellar - precise pacing, varied voices for the different characters - definitely a professional and polished performance. However, the final portion of the book is read by Judy Young, and I have to say I was underwhelmed by her performance. She is playing the part of a girl who is deaf, so maybe she was trying to have an annoying accent, but her pronunciation of French words was abysmal and in my opinion, she was not the right person for this book. But overall, 5 big stars for this audiobook. Definitely a spellbinding story that will stay with me for a long time.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review by Audiobook Jukebox. ( )
  jmoncton | Aug 12, 2015 |
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Named a Best Book of 2015 by the San Francisco Chronicle From the bestselling author of Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln, a magical novel about the surprising acts we are capable of in the name of love. Set in 1942 New York and Berlin, A Master Plan for Rescue is an enchanting novel about the life-giving powers of storytelling, and the heroism that can be inspired by love. In essence, it is two love stories. It is the story of a child who worships his parents, then loses his father to an accident and his mother to her resulting grief. And it is the story of a young man who stumbles into the romance of his life, then watches her decline, forever changing the arc of his future. Each is propelled by the belief that if he acts heroically enough, it will restore some part of what--or whom--he has lost. But when they meet, this boy and this man, their combined grief and magical thinking will allow them to dream the impossible. Sharing stories of the people they have lost, they are inspired to join forces and act in their memory. To do something so memorable that it might actually bring their loved ones back--even if only in spirit. A Master Plan for Rescue is a beautiful tale, propelled by history and imagination, that suggests people's impact upon the world doesn't necessarily end with their lives, and that, to some degree, we are the sum of the stories we tell.

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