As the Nazi war
machine begins it's invasion of Europe, three young women find their
lives changed forever. Carolyn Ferriday, a débutante and former
Broadway actress, volunteers at the French Embassy where she is
caught up in the flow of French citizens either trying to escape the
advance of the Nazis, or trying to get home to loved ones. Later she becomes involved in helping the survivors of Ravensbruck.
Kasia Kuzmerick is a
teenager in occupied Poland. At first she thinks the Nazis won't
bother her town, but soon they arrive and people are transported to
Ravensbruck for reeducation. Kasia's mother and
sister are sent and finally Kasia joins them.
Herta Oberheuser, a
young German doctor is frustrated that she is allowed such a limited
medical practice. The Nazis see young women as mothers rather than
skilled professionals. To get closer to working in her desired
professions, she applies for a government medical position and finds
herself in another male-dominated environment where she is expected
to do terrible things.
This is a very well
written book that is hard to read in places. The author has spent a
great deal of time and effort learning about the atrocities committed
at Ravensbruck and does an excellent job of creating a realistic
environment for her three characters. I loved Kasia and Carolyn, but
found Herta and her work so repugnant that sometimes I had to put the
book down.
Two of the
characters, Carolyn and Herta, are historical figures. The story
could have been told with just these two, but I found the addition of
Kasia helped highlight the horror of what the Nazis did to women. I
highly recommend this book.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
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