Stefania “Fusia” Podgorska, now sixteen, has been living with the Jewish Diamant family for the past three years while working in their store. The Diamants love Fusia, and she is even secretly engaged to one of their sons, Izo, though she is Catholic. Then, World War II begins, and the Nazis invade their Polish town of Prezemysl and force the Diamant family into the ghetto. Fusia discovers that her parents have been put in a labor camp, and her siblings, with the exception of her abandoned six-year-old sister, Helena, are scattered all over Poland. Fusia takes in “Hela” and keeps living in the Diamants’ apartment. Fusia eventually agrees to hide one of the Diamant brothers, despite realizing she could be killed by the Germans for helping Jews. Soon one Jew turns into thirteen Jews, and Fusia must find creative ways not only to hide them, but to also feed them without attracting the attention of the Nazis. To make matters worse, the German army commandeers her apartment to house two German nurses who entertain German officers frequently in their room.
This well-researched historical fiction novel is a true story of courage, heroism, and resourcefulness. The book is based on the unpublished memoir of Stefania Podgorska and interviews with family members. The world building is extraordinary; readers will feel they are actually living in World War II Poland through the events and places of that time period. The book is narrated by Fusia, who lives in constant fear of outsiders finding out that she is harboring Jews in her home. All the characters, even the minor ones, have clear-cut personalities, and Fusia is a strong female heroine.
Stefania and Helena were honored in 1979 by the World Holocaust Remembrance Center for their heroism in saving Jews during World War II. This novel would be appreciated by adults, as well as teens. Hand it to readers who enjoy historical fiction and stories of survival. I highly recommend it for public, middle school, and high school libraries.
Hesse, Monica. They Went Left. Little, Brown, 2020.
Eighteen-year-old Zofia Lederman lives in Holocaust death camps for three years, wondering where her younger brother, Abek is. Sadly, she knows the rest of her family has been killed. When Soviet forces liberate the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, Zofia is sent to a hospital to recover. Although her physical wounds heal, her mind is still badly broken. After being released from the hospital, she sets out to find Abek, traveling through Poland and Germany, inquiring as to his whereabouts at displaced persons camps along the way. She finally ends up staying at U.N.-run Foehrenwald, a displaced persons camp near Munich. At the camp, she rooms with other Jewish women and falls in love with Josef, a man also living there. Everyone in the camp is trying to put their lives back together, and many are looking for missing relatives. While searching for Abek, Zofia sees that even the smallest experiences can bring hope into others’ lives.
They Went Left is not your typical World War II story. It is the story of what happens to people after the war is over, and they must pick up the pieces of their broken lives. While Zofia is a strong female character, she is an unreliable narrator because her memory is full of holes, and she is often confused. She cannot actually remember the last time she saw Abek, her brother. This is likely due to the trauma she has experienced while living in several death camps. However, she has resilience and perseverance, and comes to realize that there is hope and healing will come. The women she lives with in the Foehrenwald help her to see that she will have a life after the war.
This is the third novel that the author has set during World War II, and would also be enjoyed by adults. Give this novel to readers who like historical fiction, romance, and mystery. I highly recommend it for public and high school libraries.
I give both of these incredible World War II novels five out of five fleur de lis!
No comments:
Post a Comment