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Women of War #3
The War Orphan
1945,
I stumble out of the gates, tightly grasping the hands of two smaller children. Hunger swirls in my stomach and the barren landscape swims before my eyes. I can barely believe it. We’re free. We survived. But what happens now…
Sixteen-year-old Tasha Ancel turns to take one last look at the imposing place that stole her freedom and her childhood. She has no idea how she continued to live when so many others did not. For the first time in months, her heart beats with hope for her future and that of the smaller children who cling to her now.
Tasha was torn from her mother’s arms by an SS guard days before the gates of Auschwitz opened. Now she only has a lock of her mother’s fiery hair. Desperate to be reunited, Tasha asks everyone she meets if they’ve seen a woman with flame-red hair. But with so many people trying to locate their loved ones in the chaotic aftermath of war finding her feels like an impossible task.
Officially an orphan, Tasha is given the chance to start a new life in the Lake District in England. She knows her mother would want her to take the opportunity but she can’t bear the thought of leaving Poland without her.
Tasha must make a heartbreaking decision; will she stay in war-ravaged Europe and cling on to the hope that the person she loves most in the world is alive, or take a long journey across the sea towards an uncertain future?
An absolutely unputdownable and heart-wrenching WW2 story of survival against all odds and learning to live and love again. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Orphan Train and The Nightingale will be gripped.
I stumble out of the gates, tightly grasping the hands of two smaller children. Hunger swirls in my stomach and the barren landscape swims before my eyes. I can barely believe it. We’re free. We survived. But what happens now…
Sixteen-year-old Tasha Ancel turns to take one last look at the imposing place that stole her freedom and her childhood. She has no idea how she continued to live when so many others did not. For the first time in months, her heart beats with hope for her future and that of the smaller children who cling to her now.
Tasha was torn from her mother’s arms by an SS guard days before the gates of Auschwitz opened. Now she only has a lock of her mother’s fiery hair. Desperate to be reunited, Tasha asks everyone she meets if they’ve seen a woman with flame-red hair. But with so many people trying to locate their loved ones in the chaotic aftermath of war finding her feels like an impossible task.
Officially an orphan, Tasha is given the chance to start a new life in the Lake District in England. She knows her mother would want her to take the opportunity but she can’t bear the thought of leaving Poland without her.
Tasha must make a heartbreaking decision; will she stay in war-ravaged Europe and cling on to the hope that the person she loves most in the world is alive, or take a long journey across the sea towards an uncertain future?
An absolutely unputdownable and heart-wrenching WW2 story of survival against all odds and learning to live and love again. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Orphan Train and The Nightingale will be gripped.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2024
2639 people are currently reading
4674 people want to read
About the author
Anna Stuart
21 books587 followersI wanted to be an author from the moment I could pick up a pen and was writing boarding-school novels by the age of nine. I made the early mistake of thinking I ought to get a ‘proper job’ and went into Factory Planning – a career that gave me some wonderful experiences, amazing friends and even a fantastic husband, but didn’t offer much creative scope. So when I stopped to have children I took the chance to start the ‘improper job’ of writing. During the baby years I wrote in the brief gaps provided by sleeps, playschools and obliging grandparents, publishing short stories and serials in all the women’s magazines.
But my ultimate aim was to write longer fiction and several years ago I published a series of successful historical novels under the pseudonym Joanna Courtney. I will continue to publish under that name but am delighted, as Anna Stuart, to also be able to write contemporary fiction. Bonnie and Stan is a true to life romance set in both the present day and sixties Liverpool and Four Minutes to Save a Life is a domestic drama about how small acts of kindness might just change the world!
But my ultimate aim was to write longer fiction and several years ago I published a series of successful historical novels under the pseudonym Joanna Courtney. I will continue to publish under that name but am delighted, as Anna Stuart, to also be able to write contemporary fiction. Bonnie and Stan is a true to life romance set in both the present day and sixties Liverpool and Four Minutes to Save a Life is a domestic drama about how small acts of kindness might just change the world!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
March 9, 2024
It was 1945 and sixteen year old Tasha had been with her mother, Lydia, in Auchwitz. Now the war was over, the Nazis had surrendered and Tasha and the other children were taken to a holding camp. The last of the adults - and that included Lydia - had been taken a couple of days earlier, forced into what was known as the "death march". Now Tasha was desperate to find her mother - the only thing she had of her was a lock of her vibrant red hair, the same colour of Tasha's own. Asking everyone she came across proved fruitless as there were thousands of people searching for a loved one. Would she ever find her?
Persuaded to join the orphans who were selected to fly to England, where they'd be cared for until family were found, Tasha was in turmoil. Her mother was left behind in Europe - their home in Warsaw was destroyed; her father and little sister dead. She only had her mother and was desperate to locate her. Lake Windermere (Wondermere the children christened it) was beautiful, and the carers kind. But Tasha flew to anger often, as did a lot of the confused and scared children. Alice was one of the carers, also Jewish; originally from Germany, she'd escaped when her brother Max told her to go, that he and his family would join her. But Alice couldn't locate Max either. What would be the outcome for these displaced and traumatised people?
The War Orphan is the 3rd in the Women of War series by Anna Stuart and it was outstanding. Heartbreaking but heartwarming, learning to live your life again after what they went through took a huge amount of courage. I'm enjoying this author's work, and this one was no exception. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Persuaded to join the orphans who were selected to fly to England, where they'd be cared for until family were found, Tasha was in turmoil. Her mother was left behind in Europe - their home in Warsaw was destroyed; her father and little sister dead. She only had her mother and was desperate to locate her. Lake Windermere (Wondermere the children christened it) was beautiful, and the carers kind. But Tasha flew to anger often, as did a lot of the confused and scared children. Alice was one of the carers, also Jewish; originally from Germany, she'd escaped when her brother Max told her to go, that he and his family would join her. But Alice couldn't locate Max either. What would be the outcome for these displaced and traumatised people?
The War Orphan is the 3rd in the Women of War series by Anna Stuart and it was outstanding. Heartbreaking but heartwarming, learning to live your life again after what they went through took a huge amount of courage. I'm enjoying this author's work, and this one was no exception. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2024
This is my fifth book by this author and book 3 in the Women of War series. It can stand alone, but I encourage you to read the first two books, The Midwife of Auschwitz and The Midwife of Berlin. Reviews for both books can be found on my Goodreads page.
Stuart is very aware of the urgency to document many of the stories coming to light from the Holocaust experience. She approaches each with grace and sensitivity after completing piles of research.
I never stopped to consider what life was like for those after the camps were liberated. Stuart brings readers that story. She explains that despite freedom physically, many were still haunted and trapped mentally. The relocation and the reunification process were traumatic.
To reveal what happened in the aftermath, Stuart takes us to Windermere and tells us of the Holocaust child refugees who settled in the Lake District in England. I was most interested in the psychological impact on these children and Stuart covered it expertly, as I knew she would. I was heartbroken imagining what it must have been like for these children to leave the country/language/customs that were part of them from birth to face the unknown in another country with the possibility that their loved ones were still at home looking to reunite with them and perhaps unable to find them.
The thing that had the biggest impact was the retelling of how they went from starvation, not knowing when they were going to get anything to eat, to warm and luxurious living situations and tables ladened with food.
What I appreciated most was how Stuart examined the reality that not all children fared well. For some, the relocation experience was traumatic. It must have been distressing to adjust to homes with strict discipline and unwavering religious devotion.
If you haven’t experienced a Stuart historical fiction book yet, what’s stopping you?
This story featuring Jewish children and new beginnings is one we can’t allow to get lost in the shadows of history.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Stuart is very aware of the urgency to document many of the stories coming to light from the Holocaust experience. She approaches each with grace and sensitivity after completing piles of research.
I never stopped to consider what life was like for those after the camps were liberated. Stuart brings readers that story. She explains that despite freedom physically, many were still haunted and trapped mentally. The relocation and the reunification process were traumatic.
To reveal what happened in the aftermath, Stuart takes us to Windermere and tells us of the Holocaust child refugees who settled in the Lake District in England. I was most interested in the psychological impact on these children and Stuart covered it expertly, as I knew she would. I was heartbroken imagining what it must have been like for these children to leave the country/language/customs that were part of them from birth to face the unknown in another country with the possibility that their loved ones were still at home looking to reunite with them and perhaps unable to find them.
The thing that had the biggest impact was the retelling of how they went from starvation, not knowing when they were going to get anything to eat, to warm and luxurious living situations and tables ladened with food.
What I appreciated most was how Stuart examined the reality that not all children fared well. For some, the relocation experience was traumatic. It must have been distressing to adjust to homes with strict discipline and unwavering religious devotion.
If you haven’t experienced a Stuart historical fiction book yet, what’s stopping you?
This story featuring Jewish children and new beginnings is one we can’t allow to get lost in the shadows of history.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 13, 2024
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Bookoutune and the fantastic author Anna Stuart for an early copy of her book.
This is the third book in this series,I've enjoyed reading book one and two..Tasha is only sixteen she is seperated from her mother they are in the death camp Auschwitz, her mother taken to go on the March.. will she see her mother again? The children are left alone no food or water,Tasha has a friend Georg..this story tells the story of the characters after the war...she and Georg have the opportunity to go to England with other children but she wants to find her mother....Alice is a great character in this book shes kind compassionate loves children and helps them she escapes Germany shes a jew and looking for news about her brother and nieces...this is an emotional read especially near the end of this book..if you like historical reads I would recommend reading the three books..well written book.
This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon
This is the third book in this series,I've enjoyed reading book one and two..Tasha is only sixteen she is seperated from her mother they are in the death camp Auschwitz, her mother taken to go on the March.. will she see her mother again? The children are left alone no food or water,Tasha has a friend Georg..this story tells the story of the characters after the war...she and Georg have the opportunity to go to England with other children but she wants to find her mother....Alice is a great character in this book shes kind compassionate loves children and helps them she escapes Germany shes a jew and looking for news about her brother and nieces...this is an emotional read especially near the end of this book..if you like historical reads I would recommend reading the three books..well written book.
This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon
March 7, 2024
The War Orphan by Anna Stuart
(E-ARC)
Rating- 5 Stars
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
To start off, I would like to say a huge thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Anna Stuart for letting me have an early copy of this book. Thank you for letting me give my honest review of this book. This book releases on 7th March so definitely go and check it out. It is also on kindle unlimited.
This book heavily focuses on trauma/experiences that children faced during the concentration camps in WW2. This book also has children talking about their experiences openly which is quite harrowing and heart-breaking. Grief and loss is also mentioned a lot in this book too. If any of these things upset you or make you uncomfortable, this book is not for you.
Tasha was torn away from her mother’s arms by a SS guard days before Auschwitz gates were opened. Tasha is desperate to be reunited with her mother and yearns to find her. But in the chaotic aftermath of a war it is not as easy to find her as Tasha thought it would be. Will Tasha find her mother? Or will Tasha never find her mother again?
I absolutely adored this book. For someone who has studied children’s psychology and children’s theorists for children’s development and wellbeing, this book was super informative and useful and allowed me to see it in a different context. From the moment the children went to Windermere or what the children referred to as ‘Wondemere’ it was really eye opening to see the effects and the long lasting traumas the concentration camps had on the children. It was nice to see a book mainly focused on the children and how they dealt and began to cope with the trauma. Although it was painful to see the children going through painful and traumatic flashbacks and reliving the horrors they had been exposed to, it really showed you the havoc of trauma/adverse childhood experiences and how this can greatly impact on children’s minds. The scene where the children drew what they had experienced and even the scene where the children thought what the Nazis were doing was normal. It broke my heart but it shows that children were conditioned to believe that this was normal behavior because this is what they have experienced.
With that being said, the bonds that Alice made with the children was the whole highlight of the book. She cared so much about the children and would do anything for them. One quote in particular stood out to me where she talked about not getting too attached to the children as they were not her children but could not stop herself. Alice resonated so much with me as someone who has worked with children from birth to sixteen years old, the bonds you make with children are so precious and you can not help but get attached to the children. I also totally feel so sorry for Alice when she had to say goodbye to some of the children. The bond between her and Tasha was so precious. A beautiful and heart-warming bond that Tasha definitely needed as she continued to search for her mother.
I was not ready for Chapter 19 at all. The chapter destroyed me emotionally and I had to take a minute to breathe. I was NOT ready for it to happen and did not see it. The fact that it was loosely based on a true story(happened a lot later than the date in the novel) broke my heart even more reading the historical notes at the end. The conversation that follows after this particular event really showed once again the trauma and the beliefs that the children had after the concentration camps. Please be aware that children talked openly about the traumas and the experiences they faced later in the book. Please be mindful of this when you are reading. This was such a hard chapter and the tears were crazy. Considering I was only 47% in, I knew this book was amazing.
I also have to applaud the author for her emotional scenes. Throughout this novel, I was a mess throughout and had to constantly put down my book due to the tears. The author really made you go through all the emotions all at once. Furthermore, the author also made this as historically accurate as she could, which is another thing I love to see. At the end of this novel, she included historical notes which were full of information that was not included in the novel and ways you could research more. The level of detail was fabulous. It has made me really want to research and learn more about what they did for the Holocaust.
I did not know that this was part of a series and read this as a standalone book but did not feel that it impacted me that I had not read the other books in the series. I am so glad that I have now found another historical fiction author that I like and I can not wait to go back and read the other two books before this one.
(E-ARC)
Rating- 5 Stars
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
To start off, I would like to say a huge thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Anna Stuart for letting me have an early copy of this book. Thank you for letting me give my honest review of this book. This book releases on 7th March so definitely go and check it out. It is also on kindle unlimited.
This book heavily focuses on trauma/experiences that children faced during the concentration camps in WW2. This book also has children talking about their experiences openly which is quite harrowing and heart-breaking. Grief and loss is also mentioned a lot in this book too. If any of these things upset you or make you uncomfortable, this book is not for you.
Tasha was torn away from her mother’s arms by a SS guard days before Auschwitz gates were opened. Tasha is desperate to be reunited with her mother and yearns to find her. But in the chaotic aftermath of a war it is not as easy to find her as Tasha thought it would be. Will Tasha find her mother? Or will Tasha never find her mother again?
I absolutely adored this book. For someone who has studied children’s psychology and children’s theorists for children’s development and wellbeing, this book was super informative and useful and allowed me to see it in a different context. From the moment the children went to Windermere or what the children referred to as ‘Wondemere’ it was really eye opening to see the effects and the long lasting traumas the concentration camps had on the children. It was nice to see a book mainly focused on the children and how they dealt and began to cope with the trauma. Although it was painful to see the children going through painful and traumatic flashbacks and reliving the horrors they had been exposed to, it really showed you the havoc of trauma/adverse childhood experiences and how this can greatly impact on children’s minds. The scene where the children drew what they had experienced and even the scene where the children thought what the Nazis were doing was normal. It broke my heart but it shows that children were conditioned to believe that this was normal behavior because this is what they have experienced.
With that being said, the bonds that Alice made with the children was the whole highlight of the book. She cared so much about the children and would do anything for them. One quote in particular stood out to me where she talked about not getting too attached to the children as they were not her children but could not stop herself. Alice resonated so much with me as someone who has worked with children from birth to sixteen years old, the bonds you make with children are so precious and you can not help but get attached to the children. I also totally feel so sorry for Alice when she had to say goodbye to some of the children. The bond between her and Tasha was so precious. A beautiful and heart-warming bond that Tasha definitely needed as she continued to search for her mother.
I was not ready for Chapter 19 at all. The chapter destroyed me emotionally and I had to take a minute to breathe. I was NOT ready for it to happen and did not see it. The fact that it was loosely based on a true story(happened a lot later than the date in the novel) broke my heart even more reading the historical notes at the end. The conversation that follows after this particular event really showed once again the trauma and the beliefs that the children had after the concentration camps. Please be aware that children talked openly about the traumas and the experiences they faced later in the book. Please be mindful of this when you are reading. This was such a hard chapter and the tears were crazy. Considering I was only 47% in, I knew this book was amazing.
I also have to applaud the author for her emotional scenes. Throughout this novel, I was a mess throughout and had to constantly put down my book due to the tears. The author really made you go through all the emotions all at once. Furthermore, the author also made this as historically accurate as she could, which is another thing I love to see. At the end of this novel, she included historical notes which were full of information that was not included in the novel and ways you could research more. The level of detail was fabulous. It has made me really want to research and learn more about what they did for the Holocaust.
I did not know that this was part of a series and read this as a standalone book but did not feel that it impacted me that I had not read the other books in the series. I am so glad that I have now found another historical fiction author that I like and I can not wait to go back and read the other two books before this one.
February 24, 2024
Omg this book made me cry. It is about survival , resilience , hope and survivor guilt. It was heartbreaking , but with glimmer of hope. It Will.make you think, it Will make you cry and it Will make you.angry. I highly recommend this book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
February 2, 2025
De esta autora, he leído los dos libros anteriores en esta línea, ambos fenomenales a nivel informativo y humano. No podía faltarme esta novedad cuyo título original es La huérfana de guerra, mucho más apto y menos manido. Lo recomiendo igualmente porque es tan interesante como emotivo.
Se parte de los últimos días en el campo de concentración de Auschwitz cuando una madre y una hija son separadas cruelmente por causa de una de las atroces marchas de prisioneros propiciadas por los alemanes al borde de perder la guerra.
Tasha es una jovencita que nunca perderá la esperanza de reencontrarse con su madre, a la que no puede imaginar sino viva. La novela retrata su periplo por lugares de acogida mientras también vemos la perspectiva de Alicia, una mujer madura encargada de cuidar niños y organizar las casas de acogida. A veces aparecen otros personajes que existieron realmente como una psicoanalista famosa y otras mujeres relevantes. Es una novela perfectamente narrada, con personajes muy cercanos que osan soñar con volver a ser humanos normales, pero que se debaten entre la ira, la ilusión, su identidad y el mundo roto que intenta sanar.
Me ha mantenido absorta por los niños y sus reacciones a su nueva vida, pobrecitos; por el drama que está viviendo Tasha respecto a su madre y a sus dificultades para adaptarse a una vida que no es del todo suya; y por Alicia y su gran devoción por los niños. Es una historia tierna y aleccionadora, pero también dolorosamente dramática. Me he hartado a llorar. Qué injusta es la vida con los inocentes y con el amor. Aún así, qué libro tan poderoso y tan interesante. Cada libro de esta autora es una maravilla.
Se parte de los últimos días en el campo de concentración de Auschwitz cuando una madre y una hija son separadas cruelmente por causa de una de las atroces marchas de prisioneros propiciadas por los alemanes al borde de perder la guerra.
Tasha es una jovencita que nunca perderá la esperanza de reencontrarse con su madre, a la que no puede imaginar sino viva. La novela retrata su periplo por lugares de acogida mientras también vemos la perspectiva de Alicia, una mujer madura encargada de cuidar niños y organizar las casas de acogida. A veces aparecen otros personajes que existieron realmente como una psicoanalista famosa y otras mujeres relevantes. Es una novela perfectamente narrada, con personajes muy cercanos que osan soñar con volver a ser humanos normales, pero que se debaten entre la ira, la ilusión, su identidad y el mundo roto que intenta sanar.
Me ha mantenido absorta por los niños y sus reacciones a su nueva vida, pobrecitos; por el drama que está viviendo Tasha respecto a su madre y a sus dificultades para adaptarse a una vida que no es del todo suya; y por Alicia y su gran devoción por los niños. Es una historia tierna y aleccionadora, pero también dolorosamente dramática. Me he hartado a llorar. Qué injusta es la vida con los inocentes y con el amor. Aún así, qué libro tan poderoso y tan interesante. Cada libro de esta autora es una maravilla.
June 19, 2024
I couldn’t like Tasha. And the whining that the narrator gave made me cringe
March 9, 2024
The War Orphan is the third book in the Women of War series by Anna Stuart. It’s not at all necessary to have read the previous two books as there is only one line towards the start of this one which mentions characters that have already featured. The book opens with a brief prologue set in Auschwitz in January 1945 as the inmates are experiencing the last throws of Nazi violence. The Allies and the Russians are fast approaching, and the Nazi’s are abandoning ship as fast as they can, forcing the remaining adults that are fit to do so, on a march through the cold frozen landscape whilst the children are left behind. Tasha Ancel has been in the camp for several months and has lost her sister but herself and her mother Lydia have remained together and are determined they will see things through to the bitter end where freedom is hopefully within reach. ’They cannot put us down. Every knock, we get up again, every cut we heal, every bit of their hate, we fight with our love for one another.' That’s what shines through from this book, the depth and strength of the love that Lydia and Tasha have for each other and it never wavers no matter how difficult and stressful the situation becomes. Lydia is amongst those sent on the march. The mother daughter bond is torn in two but Lydia promises to meet Tasha but as to the place the words are lost amidst the wind as she is dragged away. So this sets the scene for the book the vast majority of which is set in the months following the conclusion of war.
The plot is told from three perspectives all of which are female. Tasha, Lydia and Alice all have distinct voices although Lydia to a lesser extent than the other two women. After liberation from Auschwitz, Tasha along with a young man named Georg find themselves in the Theresienstadt ghetto which has now been turned into a refugee camp. Tasha has no house or family and has no idea where her mother could be. That’s if she survived the march in such appalling and brutal conditions. Tasha has survived the most hideous oppression in modern history but at what cost? I felt that if Georg hadn’t been by her side and without his guts and his cheeky manner of getting things that others couldn’t than Tasha perhaps would have floundered and have wandered aimlessly throughout Europe looking for her mother. Georg was the push she needed to embrace the opportunity to take the journey to England as a war orphan as funded by the Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief. Yes, in her mind the miles between herself and her mother were expanding even further but Georg knew they needed safety and security and once that was established Tasha could search for her mother through the relevant organisations.
Georg promised Tasha everything she could possibly want and yes sometimes he went way off track with his airy fairy ideas but he was certainly a trier and never rested on his laurels. You could see the love that developed between the pair but half the time I thought Tasha didn’t value Georg or what he was trying to achieve for them in the long term. She was so shrouded in misery, which I could understand too, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t treat people with the respect they deserve. As they arrive in England with a plane full of other orphans which include a children a mixture of all ages they are met by Alice Goldberger who works for Anna Freud. The Calgarth Estate on Lake Windemere is to be their home until they can be reunited with their parents or definitive news can be found out about relatives etc. I had known nothing about these orphans who came to Lake Windermere but the very detailed historical notes at the end of the book made me realise just what a significant event this was post war. The notes at the end of the book read like a book themselves and were fascinating and really added to my understanding of the entire plot and the themes being explored and the message the author was trying to convey.
Tasha was a character who I felt we were meant to have great sympathy for as we journey with her. I did to some extent but god at other times she was very frustrating and her abrupt and rude manner lead to her alienating people and I couldn’t fully warm to her. She was grumpy and quite negative and was very much stuck in the past. I believed she could have tried to move forward a bit whilst searching/waiting for news of her mother rather than remaining stagnant and having a dark and gloomy cloud around her. As she is so obsessed with her past she can’t see any way to make a future. She is battered, bruised, hurt and riddled with anxiety and Alice has to try and find a way to break her barriers. I make it seem like Tasha is all bad she’s not but just at times I wanted to give her a shake. She can be fierce and bold when she wants to be and she does wear her heart on her sleeve but yet she is not without her faults and needs to learn to let those people in who are trying desperately to help her.
Alice without doubt is the mother figure throughout the book. She is perceptive and intuitive and was ideal for the job she found herself in post war caring for the newly arrived orphans. She is Jewish but escaped from Germany when the Nazis rose to power but her brother, his wife and young daughter failed to do so and now with the conclusion of war their whereabouts are unknown. But Alice soldiers bravely on and devotes her time and energy into the children in her care. She is always fully conscious of the children’s welfare whereas I felt Oskar, the psychoanalyst, was more interested into the scientific aspects of everything. Yes, it would be interesting to study the affects of trauma on the children and how they can adapt to a new life but not without having some human and personal touches which Alice certainly had but Oscar was lacking in. This quote perfectly summed up Alice, ‘The kids were opening their own gates, all they did now was ensure they had the strength to wind the handles’.
It soon became evident that the children had such a callous acceptance of the things they had experienced and witnessed but Alice can see through every individual child and does her best to help them navigate these new and uncertain times. But at the same time, she is harbouring her own hurt and anxiety as to what could have happened to her family members. Alice was without doubt my favourite character as there was such a calm, caring and nurturing aura around her. She does her best to connect with Tasha and I think she viewed her as an extra special case initially but then she wanted to establish a deep and lasting connection with her as perhaps she saw similarities with her in some small way. I admired how Alice went that extra mile to try and find out about Lydia. As for Lydia, the chapters that were included from her viewpoint provided the reader with a well-rounded viewpoint and enabled me to understand more about the deep connection they shared with one another. They were heart breaking and emotional and as I read I just wanted a positive outcome for everyone involved.
The War Orphan proved to be a fascinating insight into life after the war for those who were displaced. Alice and Tasha were very much driven by guilt but for varying reasons. Overall, I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t my favourite in the series but I appreciated all the research that went into the telling of the story and I am glad to have discovered another aspect to the war that I had not previously heard of as so much attention is given to the war years and we tend to forget what life would have been like for those who made it through the horrors that war brought. Hope and love are two of the dominant emotions throughout the story and they are what made this a very good read.
The plot is told from three perspectives all of which are female. Tasha, Lydia and Alice all have distinct voices although Lydia to a lesser extent than the other two women. After liberation from Auschwitz, Tasha along with a young man named Georg find themselves in the Theresienstadt ghetto which has now been turned into a refugee camp. Tasha has no house or family and has no idea where her mother could be. That’s if she survived the march in such appalling and brutal conditions. Tasha has survived the most hideous oppression in modern history but at what cost? I felt that if Georg hadn’t been by her side and without his guts and his cheeky manner of getting things that others couldn’t than Tasha perhaps would have floundered and have wandered aimlessly throughout Europe looking for her mother. Georg was the push she needed to embrace the opportunity to take the journey to England as a war orphan as funded by the Central British Fund for World Jewish Relief. Yes, in her mind the miles between herself and her mother were expanding even further but Georg knew they needed safety and security and once that was established Tasha could search for her mother through the relevant organisations.
Georg promised Tasha everything she could possibly want and yes sometimes he went way off track with his airy fairy ideas but he was certainly a trier and never rested on his laurels. You could see the love that developed between the pair but half the time I thought Tasha didn’t value Georg or what he was trying to achieve for them in the long term. She was so shrouded in misery, which I could understand too, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t treat people with the respect they deserve. As they arrive in England with a plane full of other orphans which include a children a mixture of all ages they are met by Alice Goldberger who works for Anna Freud. The Calgarth Estate on Lake Windemere is to be their home until they can be reunited with their parents or definitive news can be found out about relatives etc. I had known nothing about these orphans who came to Lake Windermere but the very detailed historical notes at the end of the book made me realise just what a significant event this was post war. The notes at the end of the book read like a book themselves and were fascinating and really added to my understanding of the entire plot and the themes being explored and the message the author was trying to convey.
Tasha was a character who I felt we were meant to have great sympathy for as we journey with her. I did to some extent but god at other times she was very frustrating and her abrupt and rude manner lead to her alienating people and I couldn’t fully warm to her. She was grumpy and quite negative and was very much stuck in the past. I believed she could have tried to move forward a bit whilst searching/waiting for news of her mother rather than remaining stagnant and having a dark and gloomy cloud around her. As she is so obsessed with her past she can’t see any way to make a future. She is battered, bruised, hurt and riddled with anxiety and Alice has to try and find a way to break her barriers. I make it seem like Tasha is all bad she’s not but just at times I wanted to give her a shake. She can be fierce and bold when she wants to be and she does wear her heart on her sleeve but yet she is not without her faults and needs to learn to let those people in who are trying desperately to help her.
Alice without doubt is the mother figure throughout the book. She is perceptive and intuitive and was ideal for the job she found herself in post war caring for the newly arrived orphans. She is Jewish but escaped from Germany when the Nazis rose to power but her brother, his wife and young daughter failed to do so and now with the conclusion of war their whereabouts are unknown. But Alice soldiers bravely on and devotes her time and energy into the children in her care. She is always fully conscious of the children’s welfare whereas I felt Oskar, the psychoanalyst, was more interested into the scientific aspects of everything. Yes, it would be interesting to study the affects of trauma on the children and how they can adapt to a new life but not without having some human and personal touches which Alice certainly had but Oscar was lacking in. This quote perfectly summed up Alice, ‘The kids were opening their own gates, all they did now was ensure they had the strength to wind the handles’.
It soon became evident that the children had such a callous acceptance of the things they had experienced and witnessed but Alice can see through every individual child and does her best to help them navigate these new and uncertain times. But at the same time, she is harbouring her own hurt and anxiety as to what could have happened to her family members. Alice was without doubt my favourite character as there was such a calm, caring and nurturing aura around her. She does her best to connect with Tasha and I think she viewed her as an extra special case initially but then she wanted to establish a deep and lasting connection with her as perhaps she saw similarities with her in some small way. I admired how Alice went that extra mile to try and find out about Lydia. As for Lydia, the chapters that were included from her viewpoint provided the reader with a well-rounded viewpoint and enabled me to understand more about the deep connection they shared with one another. They were heart breaking and emotional and as I read I just wanted a positive outcome for everyone involved.
The War Orphan proved to be a fascinating insight into life after the war for those who were displaced. Alice and Tasha were very much driven by guilt but for varying reasons. Overall, I enjoyed the book, it wasn’t my favourite in the series but I appreciated all the research that went into the telling of the story and I am glad to have discovered another aspect to the war that I had not previously heard of as so much attention is given to the war years and we tend to forget what life would have been like for those who made it through the horrors that war brought. Hope and love are two of the dominant emotions throughout the story and they are what made this a very good read.
February 13, 2024
When Tasha was torn away from her mum, Lydia, they didn’t know when they would see each other again. Lydia was taken out of Auschwitz on a march, the children were left behind, locked in a room with no food or drink. They were left to die.
When they are released from Auschwitz a few days later, Tasha has a new friend in Georg. They stick together and both end up coming over to England with many of the other child refugees. They live by Lake Windermere and Alice, who fled Germany previously, due to being a German Jew, looks after them all as if they were her own.
Tasha is very angry - quite rightly. She wants to go back and find her mum. Georg wants her to move on, to marry him and have babies but Tasha can’t move on yet. Not until she knows if her beloved mum is dead or alive.
Goodness me, this did tug at my heartstrings. These poor children, not knowing if their families are dead or alive. Children not knowing how to behave with each other, because they were so used to the despicable way everyone was treated in Auschwitz and other camps.
Alice was my favourite, she was kind, patient and compassionate. She coped well, even when these children struggled to settle in or lost their tempers.
One of the most interesting things I found out in this story, is that refugee children who had come over to England, went to Weir Courtney in Lingfield, Surrey. I used to live in Lingfield and hadn’t known about this. I did know the main high street and the racecourse and this added to my enjoyment as it’s somewhere I knew well.
This is a beautifully written story by the author. I read a lot of historical fiction regarding World War Two, but this is the first book I’ve read about the children. It is a stunning read, hard at times too. I did get emotional at times, such horrendous times for those who lived through the war.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
When they are released from Auschwitz a few days later, Tasha has a new friend in Georg. They stick together and both end up coming over to England with many of the other child refugees. They live by Lake Windermere and Alice, who fled Germany previously, due to being a German Jew, looks after them all as if they were her own.
Tasha is very angry - quite rightly. She wants to go back and find her mum. Georg wants her to move on, to marry him and have babies but Tasha can’t move on yet. Not until she knows if her beloved mum is dead or alive.
Goodness me, this did tug at my heartstrings. These poor children, not knowing if their families are dead or alive. Children not knowing how to behave with each other, because they were so used to the despicable way everyone was treated in Auschwitz and other camps.
Alice was my favourite, she was kind, patient and compassionate. She coped well, even when these children struggled to settle in or lost their tempers.
One of the most interesting things I found out in this story, is that refugee children who had come over to England, went to Weir Courtney in Lingfield, Surrey. I used to live in Lingfield and hadn’t known about this. I did know the main high street and the racecourse and this added to my enjoyment as it’s somewhere I knew well.
This is a beautifully written story by the author. I read a lot of historical fiction regarding World War Two, but this is the first book I’ve read about the children. It is a stunning read, hard at times too. I did get emotional at times, such horrendous times for those who lived through the war.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2024
Tasha is only sixteen years old and is finally tasting freedom. She was taken from her mother’s arms as soon as she was born. She was taken by an SS guard, just a few days before the gates of Auschwitz were opened forever. She desperately searches for her mother, but she is not the only one trying to find lost family members. She longs to be reunited with her mother but it is much harder than she expected. She finally is faced with the hardest decision of her life, does she stay in war torn Europe and continue to search for her mother or does she leave to build a future of hope for herself in England?
The War Orphan written by author Anna Stuart was a phenomenal continuation to the Women of War series. This heartbreaking and wonderful story was unputdownable. The twist and turns of this story were heart wrenching. I loved the character of Alice, her love and compassion for the orphans was so lovely to read and touched my heart. Though the unexpected happenings in the book were heartbreaking it also made me reach for the tissues. I loved this installment to the series and look forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book.
The War Orphan written by author Anna Stuart was a phenomenal continuation to the Women of War series. This heartbreaking and wonderful story was unputdownable. The twist and turns of this story were heart wrenching. I loved the character of Alice, her love and compassion for the orphans was so lovely to read and touched my heart. Though the unexpected happenings in the book were heartbreaking it also made me reach for the tissues. I loved this installment to the series and look forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book.
February 16, 2024
If I could give this book 10 stars I absolutely would!! When Tasha and her mom get separated at the gates of Auschwitz as the war is ending, it’s a long road ahead to their journey to find their way back to each other.
Tasha goes to England with other children to find a home but she can’t let go of the deep desire to be reunited with her mom. This was such a moving story. So many families struggled to reunite after WW2 and this really showed the struggle. We also see how new families can be built to make way for a bright future. This book will forever have my heart.
Tasha goes to England with other children to find a home but she can’t let go of the deep desire to be reunited with her mom. This was such a moving story. So many families struggled to reunite after WW2 and this really showed the struggle. We also see how new families can be built to make way for a bright future. This book will forever have my heart.
March 13, 2025
Absolutely beautiful read.
This was my favourite in the whole series. It was heartbreaking but also heart warming.
Really beautifully written.
This was my favourite in the whole series. It was heartbreaking but also heart warming.
Really beautifully written.
December 21, 2024
This was an excellent book based on real events. I couldn’t put it down and the concept of the children that remained after Auschwitz was heartbreaking to learn about. If you like world war 2 novels this is a good one.
May 21, 2025
4,5 ⭐️
February 6, 2024
This book follows the children from the camps in ww2 to England.
It writes about their new lives , trying and living normal lives.
Still suffering from what they went through mentally. I love seeing the character development to live their best lives.
This story was beautiful, tragic in places, I really enjoyed it. I’m a huge fan of Anna Stewart and eager to read more of her work.
It writes about their new lives , trying and living normal lives.
Still suffering from what they went through mentally. I love seeing the character development to live their best lives.
This story was beautiful, tragic in places, I really enjoyed it. I’m a huge fan of Anna Stewart and eager to read more of her work.
March 1, 2024
"The War Orphan" by Anna Stuart, the third book in the Women of War series, can be enjoyed as a standalone read. Continuing the series' exploration of the profound impact of World War II on lives and families, the book delves into the poignant narratives of the surviving children and their hope for finding their families.
Narrated through dual perspectives, the first voice belongs to sixteen-year-old Tasha Ancel, whose harrowing experiences at Auschwitz have left her clinging to the belief in her mother's survival and the prospect of a reunion. The mother and the daughter were together through everything, even the loss of an important person for the two of them: Tasha's sister. The last time they saw each other was when the war was toward the end, and the Germans decided to bring the people from Auschwitz in the death marches, leaving the children locked behind in barracks. Left with only a talisman of her memories with her mother, a strand of hair that she managed to “steal” when they were brought in and shaved. The depth of Tasha's longing and her unwavering hope form the emotional core of the story.
The second perspective is offered by Alice, a Jewish woman born in Germany who fled to England amidst the escalating turmoil. Her original plan to secure residency and reunite with her family is thwarted by the swift closure of borders. However, driven by a sense of purpose, Alice finds solace in caring for war orphans, a role that aligns with her innate compassion.
"The War Orphan" draws inspiration from the real-life accounts of children displaced by war and resettled in England. These children, provided with necessities and opportunities for education and apprenticeships, navigate the complexities of loss and identity in their new surroundings.
The narrative intertwines the journeys of Tasha and Alice, whose paths converge in the Lake District orphanage. Their evolving relationship serves as a source of mutual support and healing, demonstrating the profound impact of human connection amidst adversity. An important thing I'd like to mention is how the author shows the complexity of their characters. These children who were brought to the orphanages were not just happy to be alive. They were scared, lost, they fought and stole food even if it was enough, they cried for more than a few days, and they don’t understand how life will be now. Two scenes take a toll on me. First, the little girl who is always by Tasha’s side. The girl was so little when the war started and was taken away from her family, that she didn’t remember her own name or her family’s faces. Tasha invented a name for her, but the truth remains that because she doesn’t know anything about her, there are no chances to be reunited with her family. The second scene was when the children arrived for the first time at the orphanage and they were pushed into a tent where they would be showered. The children tried to run and screamed and the adults didn’t understand why. Later when they found out, they unknowingly recreated the scene of how Germans gassed people.
What sets "The War Orphan" apart is its incorporation of historical figures such as Oscar and the renowned Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud. These characters, grounded in reality, add depth to the narrative and underscore the significance of preserving the stories of those who endured the tumultuous events of the twentieth century.
In essence, "The War Orphan" offers a compelling portrayal of resilience, hope, and the enduring power of human compassion in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Narrated through dual perspectives, the first voice belongs to sixteen-year-old Tasha Ancel, whose harrowing experiences at Auschwitz have left her clinging to the belief in her mother's survival and the prospect of a reunion. The mother and the daughter were together through everything, even the loss of an important person for the two of them: Tasha's sister. The last time they saw each other was when the war was toward the end, and the Germans decided to bring the people from Auschwitz in the death marches, leaving the children locked behind in barracks. Left with only a talisman of her memories with her mother, a strand of hair that she managed to “steal” when they were brought in and shaved. The depth of Tasha's longing and her unwavering hope form the emotional core of the story.
The second perspective is offered by Alice, a Jewish woman born in Germany who fled to England amidst the escalating turmoil. Her original plan to secure residency and reunite with her family is thwarted by the swift closure of borders. However, driven by a sense of purpose, Alice finds solace in caring for war orphans, a role that aligns with her innate compassion.
"The War Orphan" draws inspiration from the real-life accounts of children displaced by war and resettled in England. These children, provided with necessities and opportunities for education and apprenticeships, navigate the complexities of loss and identity in their new surroundings.
The narrative intertwines the journeys of Tasha and Alice, whose paths converge in the Lake District orphanage. Their evolving relationship serves as a source of mutual support and healing, demonstrating the profound impact of human connection amidst adversity. An important thing I'd like to mention is how the author shows the complexity of their characters. These children who were brought to the orphanages were not just happy to be alive. They were scared, lost, they fought and stole food even if it was enough, they cried for more than a few days, and they don’t understand how life will be now. Two scenes take a toll on me. First, the little girl who is always by Tasha’s side. The girl was so little when the war started and was taken away from her family, that she didn’t remember her own name or her family’s faces. Tasha invented a name for her, but the truth remains that because she doesn’t know anything about her, there are no chances to be reunited with her family. The second scene was when the children arrived for the first time at the orphanage and they were pushed into a tent where they would be showered. The children tried to run and screamed and the adults didn’t understand why. Later when they found out, they unknowingly recreated the scene of how Germans gassed people.
What sets "The War Orphan" apart is its incorporation of historical figures such as Oscar and the renowned Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud. These characters, grounded in reality, add depth to the narrative and underscore the significance of preserving the stories of those who endured the tumultuous events of the twentieth century.
In essence, "The War Orphan" offers a compelling portrayal of resilience, hope, and the enduring power of human compassion in the face of unimaginable adversity.
March 9, 2024
The War Orphan opens with Tasha and her mom in Auschwutz in January 1945. The Nazis are on the run and they are taking people out of the camps on death marches. Lydia Ancel, Tasha's mom is taken from the barracks and Tasha is torn from her. The children are locked in and the women are taken away, that is the last time Tasha sees her mom. The children are locked in and left with no food or water, left to die. A few days later, the camp is liberated and the children are taken to a displaced persons camp. Tasha has a friend in Georg, a young man that is a young adult, but when he hears about a transport to England for orphans, he not only lies about his age, but convinces Tasha to go to England. Even though, Tasha insists she isn't an orphan, but she goes with many of the other child refugees. They live by Lake Windermere and are cared for my Alice, a German Jew who fled Germany just before the war began. Alice is a single woman who loves the children like her own. previously, due to being a German Jew, looks after them all as if they were her own. Tasha is not happy. She is angry, she wants her mom and isn't ready to accept that her mom is dead. Georg wants to marry her, but until she knows if her mom is dead or alive, she can't move on.
This story grabbed me right from the beginning. My heart broke for the children who became orphans because of the war. Seeing the chaos, the displaced persons and how they were still treated was so hard to read about. The characters were so well drawn. The orphans themselves, the carers in England and the psychoanalysts who worked with the homes and were responsible for getting the funds and the homes for the children were all drawn from real people in history. Tasha's story was hard, but eventually, she comes to terms with things. Seeing life from the POV of the orphans gave me a new perspective of life after the war and the camps. I like learning new things when I read historical fiction and this shared the story of Windemere where orphans were brought after the war. I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end where she shared which characters were based on real people and which homes as well. I have read several other books by Anna Stuart, and recommend any of her works. She does a lot of research and writes books that are well developed, interesting with relatable characters. This is a great story and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction.
This story grabbed me right from the beginning. My heart broke for the children who became orphans because of the war. Seeing the chaos, the displaced persons and how they were still treated was so hard to read about. The characters were so well drawn. The orphans themselves, the carers in England and the psychoanalysts who worked with the homes and were responsible for getting the funds and the homes for the children were all drawn from real people in history. Tasha's story was hard, but eventually, she comes to terms with things. Seeing life from the POV of the orphans gave me a new perspective of life after the war and the camps. I like learning new things when I read historical fiction and this shared the story of Windemere where orphans were brought after the war. I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end where she shared which characters were based on real people and which homes as well. I have read several other books by Anna Stuart, and recommend any of her works. She does a lot of research and writes books that are well developed, interesting with relatable characters. This is a great story and I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction.
March 5, 2024
Anna Stuart writes compelling WWI era historical fiction.
It’s a story about overcoming adversity and finding new ways to be happy as well as being grateful for what one has and also realizing family doesn’t have to be blood related.
My favorite character was Georg. He never gave up and his attitude was infectious. His determination saved Tasha whether she realized it or not.
Tasha was my least favorite. I had sympathy for all that she had endured but she was mean, nasty, and surly. Only toward the end does she have a catharsis for the better. I think she liked being miserable and shut people out on purpose.
Still, it’s a good story with a good ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
It’s a story about overcoming adversity and finding new ways to be happy as well as being grateful for what one has and also realizing family doesn’t have to be blood related.
My favorite character was Georg. He never gave up and his attitude was infectious. His determination saved Tasha whether she realized it or not.
Tasha was my least favorite. I had sympathy for all that she had endured but she was mean, nasty, and surly. Only toward the end does she have a catharsis for the better. I think she liked being miserable and shut people out on purpose.
Still, it’s a good story with a good ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.
March 3, 2024
I have so much I could say about this book, but let me start by saying: READ IT. The author does an incredible job of weaving together the stories of Tasha, Lydia, and Alice. She paints a picture of post-war Europe that makes the reader feel like they are there.
I felt a connection to all the characters. I never really thought much about what life was like for the survivors after the war, and this book really brings it to life. The struggles and even the joys.
This is the third book in a series but can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book before publication!
I felt a connection to all the characters. I never really thought much about what life was like for the survivors after the war, and this book really brings it to life. The struggles and even the joys.
This is the third book in a series but can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book before publication!
April 28, 2024
Another great book from The women of war book series by Anna Stuart. At sometimes it is hard to process all the horrible things that went on in WWII, but this book is about hope, family and the future.
June 28, 2024
An excellent account of a part of history that is often overlooked.
July 13, 2025
Pas fou
Et en plus j’ai mis une ÉTERNITÉ à le lire
Et en plus j’ai mis une ÉTERNITÉ à le lire
March 21, 2024
What a story! Full of love and grief and ALL the feelings. I can't imagine the resilience of those who started lives again after the war and this book shows just how difficult it might have been. Wow!
February 16, 2025
Not as good as the first two books in the series, but still good. I was hoping for a happier outcome, but she was able to give it a strong ending.
January 28, 2024
I will never forget this poignant novel based on real events. Written with good psychological knowledge, this story encompasses the wide range of reactions of Jewish children who were liberated in 1945. Sent to England, all of them were considered orphans, some not even knowing their real name as they had been separated from their family for much too long. Many arrived in England, hoping to get news about their families, some more impatiently than others, each with his/her own way of coping (or not) with their trauma. I particularly enjoyed this novel because the author has shown through all her characters (adults and children) with great sensibility (no sentimentalism) and realism to live in a foreign country, striving to build up roots while wondering at the same time whether that is at all possible! I also found interesting the way she introduced and evoked the work of psychoanalysts (Anna Freud). Were they actually there to help the children or to learn from them? Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
June 6, 2024
Good but other 2 books better. After taken from Auschwitz, a young girl keeps looking for her mother while helping take care of other Holocaust orphans. I was annoyed with the girl because of her attitude but she got better toward the end.
February 28, 2024
Enjoyed it and would give the book 3.5 stars. The book focused on Jewish children who survived the concentration camps and are now displaced. Some don't know their name or if they even have surviving parents. Loved Alice. She had the patience of a saint. Some of the children were a little more difficult to deal with than others. She always put their needs before hers. Tasha on the other hand was so hard to like. She had a horrible childhood and suffered immense loss at such a young age. While at Windermere and even Weir Courtney, Tasha threw more tantrums than the younger kids. She constantly pushed Georg and Alice away and was at times downright mean. Tasha didn't want to enjoy life until she was reunited with her mom. Absolutely loved Joyce from Beautiful You. She was the sweetest person and gave Tasha a chance. The book left me wondering how many children never found a family member or even knew their real name.
Definitely recommend the book. Enjoyed the story, writing style and characters. I liked how the book alternated between Tasha, Lydia and Alice. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely recommend the book. Enjoyed the story, writing style and characters. I liked how the book alternated between Tasha, Lydia and Alice. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 11, 2025
Me ha gustado mucho. A través de los personajes y lo que van viviendo se conoce lo que tuvieron que pasar en aquellos años tan duros, no sólo durante la guerra que también sino después
Despierta muchos sentimientos. Es una historia dura, triste y también de superación
Me han gustado los personajes y cómo evolucionan
Despierta muchos sentimientos. Es una historia dura, triste y también de superación
Me han gustado los personajes y cómo evolucionan
February 17, 2025
Que historia mas emotiva, tenia muchas ganas de leer un libro que hablara sobre lo que paso con los nazis, y me ha llegado al corazón esta historia. Si que es verdad que me hubiese gustado que Tasha se rencontrara con su madre, pero bueno al fin y al cabo lo que paso en esa época no acababa con un final feliz.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
What a profound novel first set in 1945 at Auschwitz. And then the liberation. Suddenly we are thrust upon a winding and unpredictable path with the surviving victims.
This latest by Anna Stuart left me speechless and moved to tears. The searing reality of what these people experienced, pierced my heart. It physically hurt to read some passages because of Anna’s ability to express the injustice done to the Jews. I appreciate how well she handled such a difficult topic with great sensitivity and respect. For she has given us a chance to relate to those who suffered untold pain, persecution and loss. Things we can only imagine on our worst days.
The War Orphan is based on many real people, as expressed in the author’s historical notes at the back, and it is obvious Anna has embraced and utilised the research in such a way that it comes across in fictional form so powerful you feel you have been sewn into the fabric of these people’s hearts. The suffering of the Jews is undeniable and clearly highlighted. I was taken on a journey filled with such deep sadness and grief you wonder how anyone could move forward. But just as in life, there are moments of joy and normalcy—even amid the pain and chaos. Little gifts of remembrance, too, such as what Natasha carries—a lock of her mother’s hair—to give her courage and hope that they might be reunited one day.
I love that Alice Goldberger is brought into the light—showing us the wonderful things she did for the orphans. She suffered her own loss and often battled guilt for escaping Germany when others did not—especially her family. This would have been the anguish of many, I am sure. But Alice, as seen in this novel and history, kept moving forward, always trying to make a difference. She knew these orphans desperately needed to feel safe and loved: to know they had a home, a chance to feel part of a family—to celebrate the milestones, birthdays, holidays—to feel normal. She wanted them to experience the closeness of a community that shared and cared for each other. Alice fostered all the best things of humanity. Her charity and compassion shines in this novel, as I am sure it did in real life. She became like a mother to many: well-loved by all those under her supervision.
This’s story’s particular focus is on the orphaned who were sent to England after they were freed in 1945. We gain incredible insight on the Jewish children: how they coped, their understandable erratic behaviour. So many lost their parents through the gas chambers or other Nazi brutality. This would have left the mark of despair on their psyche. It would have been a monumental task to try and find out who survived and did not. Their hope dashed over and over. Because in truth, there would be many who could not find their mothers, fathers and siblings after the war. This novel made me look at it from various angles and viewpoints. Those who tried to help these children like Alice and those on the receiving end like Tasha who agonised and fought the possible scenarios. She often acted out her grief so it would have been challenging to comfort her. Alice, though, never gave up and her patience and fortitude became an example. Under normal circumstance, Tasha’s responses would have made her unlikable but somehow it is easy to forgive her harsh actions and reactions because we know the trauma she has experienced. And like Alice, we want to wrap our arms around her and love her to wholeness—even though we know her life is fractured and that large pieces of her heart may never mend.
I could certainly feel the anguish these children experienced through their separation and loss. There are countless scenes emblazoned on my memory forever. The Prologue particularly where Natasha and her mother Lydia are cruelly treated and then separated at Auschwitz.
Then in chapter one we are thrust forward four months later. Liberated, the victims begin picking up the pieces. We discover a fellow survivor, Georg, who protected Tasha from the Kapo in Auschwitz. He ‘brought drive and positivity into her life.’ He becomes an important figure in her future. Starting with convincing her to go to England with the rescued children, even though she feels the pull to stay and search for her mother. It’s a hard decision for sixteen year old Tasha. But her choice opens her many new possibilities. She does a lot of growing over the rest of this novel. There are ups and downs, hurt and happiness. But she gets her answers and the story keeps rolling in like the waves over your heart.
This is a great addition to the series. A brilliant delivery, with exceptional characters and a riveting plot. It is etched in truth and eventually triumph. There are some very sad moments but still it offers a message of hope and healing. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.
This latest by Anna Stuart left me speechless and moved to tears. The searing reality of what these people experienced, pierced my heart. It physically hurt to read some passages because of Anna’s ability to express the injustice done to the Jews. I appreciate how well she handled such a difficult topic with great sensitivity and respect. For she has given us a chance to relate to those who suffered untold pain, persecution and loss. Things we can only imagine on our worst days.
The War Orphan is based on many real people, as expressed in the author’s historical notes at the back, and it is obvious Anna has embraced and utilised the research in such a way that it comes across in fictional form so powerful you feel you have been sewn into the fabric of these people’s hearts. The suffering of the Jews is undeniable and clearly highlighted. I was taken on a journey filled with such deep sadness and grief you wonder how anyone could move forward. But just as in life, there are moments of joy and normalcy—even amid the pain and chaos. Little gifts of remembrance, too, such as what Natasha carries—a lock of her mother’s hair—to give her courage and hope that they might be reunited one day.
I love that Alice Goldberger is brought into the light—showing us the wonderful things she did for the orphans. She suffered her own loss and often battled guilt for escaping Germany when others did not—especially her family. This would have been the anguish of many, I am sure. But Alice, as seen in this novel and history, kept moving forward, always trying to make a difference. She knew these orphans desperately needed to feel safe and loved: to know they had a home, a chance to feel part of a family—to celebrate the milestones, birthdays, holidays—to feel normal. She wanted them to experience the closeness of a community that shared and cared for each other. Alice fostered all the best things of humanity. Her charity and compassion shines in this novel, as I am sure it did in real life. She became like a mother to many: well-loved by all those under her supervision.
This’s story’s particular focus is on the orphaned who were sent to England after they were freed in 1945. We gain incredible insight on the Jewish children: how they coped, their understandable erratic behaviour. So many lost their parents through the gas chambers or other Nazi brutality. This would have left the mark of despair on their psyche. It would have been a monumental task to try and find out who survived and did not. Their hope dashed over and over. Because in truth, there would be many who could not find their mothers, fathers and siblings after the war. This novel made me look at it from various angles and viewpoints. Those who tried to help these children like Alice and those on the receiving end like Tasha who agonised and fought the possible scenarios. She often acted out her grief so it would have been challenging to comfort her. Alice, though, never gave up and her patience and fortitude became an example. Under normal circumstance, Tasha’s responses would have made her unlikable but somehow it is easy to forgive her harsh actions and reactions because we know the trauma she has experienced. And like Alice, we want to wrap our arms around her and love her to wholeness—even though we know her life is fractured and that large pieces of her heart may never mend.
I could certainly feel the anguish these children experienced through their separation and loss. There are countless scenes emblazoned on my memory forever. The Prologue particularly where Natasha and her mother Lydia are cruelly treated and then separated at Auschwitz.
Then in chapter one we are thrust forward four months later. Liberated, the victims begin picking up the pieces. We discover a fellow survivor, Georg, who protected Tasha from the Kapo in Auschwitz. He ‘brought drive and positivity into her life.’ He becomes an important figure in her future. Starting with convincing her to go to England with the rescued children, even though she feels the pull to stay and search for her mother. It’s a hard decision for sixteen year old Tasha. But her choice opens her many new possibilities. She does a lot of growing over the rest of this novel. There are ups and downs, hurt and happiness. But she gets her answers and the story keeps rolling in like the waves over your heart.
This is a great addition to the series. A brilliant delivery, with exceptional characters and a riveting plot. It is etched in truth and eventually triumph. There are some very sad moments but still it offers a message of hope and healing. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.
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