Book Details
Author: Irma Joubert
Ages: 12+
Rating: 8/10
Number of Pages: 320
Plot: Set in Europe during and after the Second World War, the
book focuses on the lives of two people and how the devastation of war brings
them together. Six- year-old Gretl Schmidt, a German-Jewish girl, has faced the
hardships of war first hand along with her family and now she is on a train
headed for Auschwitz. Jakob Kowalski, a fighter in the Polish resistance,
unaware of Gretl’s existence, is planting a bomb to the tracks. As the sole
survivor of the bomb, Gretl is alone in Poland, a country hostile to her people
with no one to look after her or help her survive. After Jakob finds Gretl
alone and hungry he takes her to his family farm. For years, Jakob and Gretl
must keep her true identity a secret amongst his Catholic family. After
spending years learning and growing with Jakob and his family, Gretl becomes a
key part of running the farm and also expresses a love of learning – but she
cannot stay with him forever. Lying about her true inheritance, Jakob and Gretl
return to Germany and Gretl is given the opportunity to travel to South Africa
and find a new family. Separated by continents and the political conflicts of
the time, Jakob and Gretl form an impenetrable bond that stays with them
forever. In a story of history, politics and love Joubert creates a historical
fiction with realistic characters and unique storyline that makes it stand out
against other Nazi Germany novels.
Review: I was kindly given a complimentary copy
of this novel from the publishers via BookLook Bloggers, and was excited to
delve into the world created by Joubert. Having loved this period of history
during my GCSE’s and read almost all of the young adult fiction around the
subject, I thought I had quite a large knowledge around the subject – how wrong
I was. This concept is not only unique, but introduced me to new parts of the
period that I had not previously been aware of. One way in which I think
Joubert achieved this, was through her use of two narrative voices. Through
Gretl we get the Jewish perspective of the Nazi regime and the Second World
War, and this is what is typically seen in ficition regarding this subject.
However Joubert chooses to add a second narrative voice, in Jakob, who
introduces the effects of German and Russian aggression on the Polish people.
In my opinion, I think that it is this use of two interlinked narratives that makes
Joubert’s work so unique in comparison to other World War II fiction.
“When
you look at the moon, remember I am seeing it too.” – Jakob
It is
undeniable that Joubert creates a range of realistic characters that fit the
expected characteristics and beliefs of the groups at the time. However, I felt
that at times I wanted to know more. There were a few moments in which I was
left wanting more, especially in regards to Jakob and his struggles in Poland
whilst Gretl was in South Africa. Although Joubert quickly remedies this near
the end, I felt that, at times, the characters didn’t have the same exposure
that the reader craves. At times I was left wondering what has happened to Jakob.
This may have been to emphasise their distance, but, for me, it felt as if a
huge chunk of the narrative had been discarded.
Despite
this, I thought Joubert captured 20th century Europe and its
inhabitants in a realistic way that other writers have failed to convey. The depictions
of the hardships of the war and the conflicts between communism and capitalism
were vivid and memorable, so much so that it is, in my opinion, one of the best
fictions set in the Second World War time for the young adult readership. I
loved the characters, especially the development of Jakob’s characters as I
feel Joubert really managed to capture the disastrous effects of war on the
individual. Despite at points wanting more, I feel that, overall, Joubert
captured these lives so beautifully that I think Gretl and Jakob will stay in
my mind for a long time after reading the book. I would recommend this to
anyone who loved The Book Thief or John
Boyne’s work as Joubert deals with the same themes whilst introducing the
reader to characters that you can’t easily forget.
