Sat down to read this book and didn't put it down til the last page.
Annika narrates the story, so everything is from her viewpoint and it reads like a mental/internal diary, it's not an especially long book but it certainly did a good job of pulling me into the story and very quickly I grew to care about the characters, and to wish/hope for some kind of rescue or escape for them from the horrible situation they had found themselves trapped in.
It's certainly a harrowing but compelling young adult novel, that made me want follow the story of Annika and her friends to the end Would they escape, or be among the lucky holocaust survivors? Or would they meet one of the horrible fates of so many innocent people during this period? I wanted to know, even when at times I also didn't, because as I mentioned above, the author made me care about the characters and what happened to them.
The whole story takes place inside a concentration camp, and as such the book can be a brutal and harrowing read, painful partially because even if this is only a story it's believable and such atrocities really did take place.
The main character, and the fellow prisoners she befriends as the story progresses, are all very human, each with their own story, personality, and ways of coping with the hell they find themselves in. Annika changes how she refers to people in accordance to both what she has learned about them and in some cases how she feels about them, which is also a nice touch.
The book also includes some of the non-jewish groups that were also persecuted by the Nazis, for example Gypsies, gays/lesbians, and the disabled (the latter is only mentioned by one of the other characters but it's there)
In spite of all the despair, suffering, and madness all around her, and in the face of senseless hatred, Annika somehow learns to both find and give solace and friendship, find beauty even in their ugly situation, even brief moments of distraction, humour and happiness.
The story pulls you in and drags you along for the emotional ride. Not the easiest book to read due to the nature of its setting, but meaningful and worth the journey.
Harrowing but worth the journey
Sat down to read this book and didn't put it down til the last page.
Annika narrates the story, so everything is from her viewpoint and it reads like a mental/internal diary, it's not an especially long book but it certainly did a good job of pulling me into the story and very quickly I grew to care about the characters, and to wish/hope for some kind of rescue or escape for them from the horrible situation they had found themselves trapped in.
It's certainly a harrowing but compelling young adult novel, that made me want follow the story of Annika and her friends to the end Would they escape, or be among the lucky holocaust survivors? Or would they meet one of the horrible fates of so many innocent people during this period? I wanted to know, even when at times I also didn't, because as I mentioned above, the author made me care about the characters and what happened to them.
The whole story takes place inside a concentration camp, and as such the book can be a brutal and harrowing read, painful partially because even if this is only a story it's believable and such atrocities really did take place.
The main character, and the fellow prisoners she befriends as the story progresses, are all very human, each with their own story, personality, and ways of coping with the hell they find themselves in. Annika changes how she refers to people in accordance to both what she has learned about them and in some cases how she feels about them, which is also a nice touch.
The book also includes some of the non-jewish groups that were also persecuted by the Nazis, for example Gypsies, gays/lesbians, and the disabled (the latter is only mentioned by one of the other characters but it's there)
In spite of all the despair, suffering, and madness all around her, and in the face of senseless hatred, Annika somehow learns to both find and give solace and friendship, find beauty even in their ugly situation, even brief moments of distraction, humour and happiness.
The story pulls you in and drags you along for the emotional ride. Not the easiest book to read due to the nature of its setting, but meaningful and worth the journey.