Reit showed that there is still a lot of room for writing great novels based on WW2. He showed new places, new fates, and new themes. For a debut novel, this was very strong and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
What I loved
The best part about this book was the portrayal of the main character. Reit intertwined the complicated and morally ambiguous roles we have to take on, particularly in fraught times. Learning more about the lesser-known transit camp Westerbork, in the Netherlands, and the logistics of the gruesome train journeys that took place were fascinating and saddening. The central themes here are friendship and family, which really spoke to me.
Finally, I enjoyed the way real-life members of the Polish resistance were written into the book. Their courage and the strength of their convictions are well-represented, and I was thoroughly impressed and humbled. This book sheds new light on the unsung heroes that deserve all the praise they can get.
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