By: Judith Kerr
Rate: 3 stars
Anna is a young and rather wealthy Jewish girl in Germany, daughter of a famous writer. But when Hitler strikes and wins the elections in Berlin, Anna and her family (her mother, father, and brother) must flee their home country before their passports are taken and seek refuge in various countries. Yet despite the hard work and constant adjustments, the only thing that’s important is that Anna’s family stays together.
The reason this book has a rather low rating is because it didn’t have a big impact on me. It didn’t give me a deep impression. I’ve read many, many World War II novels over the years, such as Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, Allies (all of them amazing), and a lot more.
I was a bit disappointed with the plot of this story. The problems don’t stand out a lot, and I don’t see how Anna’s story is very special. She’s a Jew, and she escapes Germany. She’s very lucky to get out, and the troubles after that are almost nothing compared to what the characters in other World War II stories experienced (at least, I think so). Also, Anna’s father becomes a bit poorer during the story, but he’s not struggling. It would’ve been better if he really became poor, and Anna would learn more.
So there are many better Holocaust related books, but if you’re interested in constantly moving around and learning new languages, this is the book for you!
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