The Pact: The Blood Sisters Book One by Roberta Kagan

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Austria 1929

When three little girls—Anna, Bernie, and Elica—make a pact to be blood sisters for life, they believe nothing can come between them.

Anna is from an affluent Jewish family, while Bernie and Elica are from poor Austrian families who barely make ends meet. As they get older, their social differences become all too real.

With infectious Jew-hate-laden rhetoric from Nazi Germany spreading into Austria, it is only a matter of time before their bond of friendship gets severely tested.

my thoughts:

I love coming-of-age stories, especially when it revolves around friendships. The Pact by Roberta Kagan is the first in her new series, The Blood Sisters. And, it is terrific!

It's 1929 in Austria. Anna, Bernie, and Elica are little girls who decide to make a blood oath - a pact - to always help each other out. The three girls are all different - religion, social standing, and economically. And yet, they manage to form a friendship that blossoms and grows as they get older. A fourth girl named Dagna bullies her way into the group. As the girls get older, their differences begin to stand out more and more. Especially with the growing hate rhetoric towards Jewish people. Life is becoming dangerous and scary. Soon, it is 1940 and these young ladies are starting to realize what their 'pact' really means and how it can affect them in big ways they had never foreseen. 

Kagan has written a fantastic story about friendship, sisterhood, and what it means to grow up. She includes historical elements, events, and descriptions to help build the tension and the backdrop for the story. The characters she's created are relatable, flawed, and unlikeable at times. And, the story itself is riveting. I found myself stuck in straightaway and eager to find out what would happen to these girls as the world around them began to change in unimaginable ways. What a great book!

I would happily recommend The Pact by Robert Kagan to fans of Kagan and to anyone looking for their next great read. I know I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!