I loved this book! I would recommend it to anyone. I think it is really written with an LDS audience in mind (Desert Book is the publisher) but I would suggest it to anyone who wanted to learn of faith and the Berlin experience during WWII. There was just so much in the book that made me think it had to be a fictional book. The story line was really driven and shocking. The things that happened to an average family in Berlin during those dark years is just so surreal. They were definitely protected by the hand of the Lord, so I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for the young women who weren't as protected.
Which leads me to my only complaint about the book. The narrator has so many close encounters with the Russian soldiers and each time she escapes, but hears the screams of other young girls the soldiers get a hold of. I don't blame the narrator for being grateful for her protection but it almost feels like she's saying the other citizens of Berlin weren't protected and watched over by our Father. Which I don't agree with. This family was just fortunate enough to have all their prayers answered. But I'm sure plenty of women and children have pleaded with God not to be raped, and suffered from the experience anyway. I'm sure hundreds of people huddle together in their apartment basements and prayed the bombs would not fall on them, only to be blown up or die by the fire of destruction. That doesn't mean He doesn't love or protect those individuals. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but like I said, that was the books only flaw and it is very minor. So read it anyway.
The author in no way implies that she thinks she is more loved than other individuals. In fact, I love that she is so affected by the pain of those around her. Her family really sacrifices to help others stay alive. And her mother's prayers always seemed to end with "if it is Thy will." Which demonstrates great faith. And I think that is why they were blessed and protected, because they understood that for good or bad, it was all in the hands of our Savior.
What shocked me most is, even though the family knew how evil Hitler and his plight was, when the war neared its end, they were just as afraid of their liberators. They went from having the fear of being placed in concentration camps to the fear of living under the Iron Curtain. Fortunately the family was a few blocks west of the cutoff for East Germany. Another little miracle conducted by the hand of our Savior I'm sure.
War is such a horrible thing. So much was wrought on by one man's pride. Sure it ended in 1945, but for the narrator and her family starvation after the war was just as threatening as the air raids that filled the skys during the years of war. I just can't imagine having money enough to pay thrice the value of a meal, but not having any food available to purchase. That is crazy to me. I had a professor once who said something profound. She told us that every famine in the world is purely political. The idea that there isn't enough food to feed all the earth's people is foolish. I believe her. Droughts and war in Africa may make it difficult for families to hunt and gather food. But that doesn't mean that we don't have enough food here in America to feed small nations during their times of sorrow.
This idea is proven in the novel when an American soldier saves the Hilbert families' lives by bringing his army allowancess to their house. He feeds them for months by saving all his candy bar rations. I loved the American Pride this novel instilled in me. Why can't we still be seen as the country that comes to save other nations? The world is so corrupt now that it seems even the good we try to do can be twisted into the ugly view of an American Empire. I worry now that the entrance of our soldiers may bring on the same rumors and fears that surrounded the Russians.
I do love the novels overall theme about Zion. Zion truly is where the pure in heart are. It can be in a wooden bungalow deep in the heart of the jungle, reading the Book of Mormon by candle light. It is the family circle, kneeling in prayer for protection from another nations bomb strikes. I can't help but wonder if Ms. Reece ever felt that Delta was Zion. I'm sure having family near by made it feel that way. But compared to the characters of her childhood I'm certain most of us seemed incredibly greedy and selfish. Who knew she had experienced such a life.
Surprise Ending! The whole book moves kind of slow and I kept thinking when will it hit the climax? Well there are 120 pages and the climax is around 117. So the falling action and resolution are pretty quick. Actually, there isn't much of a resolution. I guess it is all inferred. But even so I don't know how much Bruno's family learned about the cruelty of "Out-With" or Auschwitz, as I think that is where they actually were.
