Only sixteen, Cilka
was sent to Auschwitz with her family. Because of her beauty, she was
separated from the other prisoners and used for sexual purposes by
the commandant. When the camp is liberated, Cilka believes she will
be free to go home, but the Russians charge her with collaboration
for sleeping with the enemy and send her to the Gulag.
Thrust from one
horrible situation to another, Cilka calls on her inner resources to
survive. She finds a cause in taking care of other prisoners who are
ill. She learns that friendship and even love are still possible.
This is an extremely
moving book. Cilka is a very brave character. Caught in two horrific
situations at a young age, she manages to survive and even thrive. I
thought the author did an excellent job portraying her character and
the challenges she faced.
This is not an easy
book to read. The scenes in the concentration camp and the Gulag are
heart rending. Still, it’s worth persevering because the dreadful
backdrop allows Cilka’s character to shine. The book is fiction,
but based on a true story. Whether you enjoy WWII books or not, I
recommend this novel for the marvelous character development,
realistic emotions, and the resilience of people caught in a horror
few of us can imagine.
I received this book
from St. Martin’s Press for this review.
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