The Winter Orphans: A Novel by Kristin Beck

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

about book:

In a remote corner of France, Jewish refugee Ella Rosenthal has finally found a safe haven. It has been three years since she and her little sister, Hanni, left their parents to flee Nazi Germany, and they have been pursued and adrift in the chaos of war ever since. Now, they shelter among one hundred other young refugees in a derelict castle overseen by the Swiss Red Cross.

Swiss volunteers Rösli Näf and Anne-Marie Piguet uphold a common mission: to protect children in peril. Rösli, a stubborn and resourceful nurse, directs the colony of Château de la Hille and has created a thriving community against all odds. Anne-Marie, raised by Swiss foresters, becomes both caretaker and friend to the children, and she vows to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.

 

However, when Germany invades southern France, safeguarding Jewish refugees becomes impossible. Château de la Hille faces unrelenting danger, and Rösli and Anne-Marie realize that the only way to protect the eldest of their charges is to smuggle them out of France. Relying on Rösli's fierce will and Anne-Marie's knowledge of secret mountain paths, they plot escape routes through vast Nazi-occupied territory to the distant border. Amid staggering risk, Ella and Hanni embark on a journey that, if successful, could change the course of their lives and grant them a future.

my thoughts:

Wow. What a powerful and emotional story. The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck is the epitome of historical fiction - it is an excellent read!

In order to survive the Nazis, Ella and Hanni have fled from their home and their family. They have found refuge in France, specifically a safe haven called, the Chateau de la Hille. It's a decomposing castle that houses a hundred refugee Jewish children like them. The Swiss Red Cross oversees this safe haven, while Rosli and Anne-Marie are the two volunteers who manage it all. Their mission is to protect these children. And let me just say, they have their work cut out for them. Germany has invaded France and that means that they want these children - the oldest first. The Chateau de la Hille is in danger. What will happen to Ella and Hanni? Will Rosli and Anne-Marie be able to save these children's lives? How will they survive insurmountable obstacles that seem to show up every which way? 

Beck has written a heartbreaking and suspenseful story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I know that I found myself feeling tense and anxious as I read this story. My heart was aching all the way through. I was captivated right from the start. Beck's writing is mesmerizing, and her storytelling is engaging and so powerful. The Winter Orphans is truly a must-read! Not only will you want to read more of Beck's works, but you will want to read more about the amazing women she wrote about in her story - they were real-life people who sacrificed everything to save innocent children. The Winter Orphans is a wonderful story about real-life heroes. 

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