This is the story of an American journalist living in Paris who is researching the roundup of Parisian Jews in the summer of 1942. The story is told in alternating chapters from the journalist’s point of view and from the point of view of Sarah, who was a young girl growing up in France during the time of the roundup. The American journalist, Julia, is assigned this story for the 60th anniversary of the roundup. During her research Julia finds that her family and the family of Sarah, the 10-year old who lived through the roundup, were interwound through her husband’s apartment.
This is a story of love, faith, facing difficult situations and family. Other than the main story of the roundup of the Jews, which the French reference to as Vel’ d’Hiv, which in America and many times even in France, is rarely spoken about. The story also discusses the Jewish families who spent time in Auschwitz. However, throughout the book there is an underlying story of Julia and her current family situation and marriage, which at times goes through many tough times and difficult decisions.
This is an incredible AMAZING book that will keep you going and guessing page after page.
This deserves two thumbs up—if we had more thumbs, I’d definitely give it more.
If you read this one, let us know what you thought.
