𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕆𝕣𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕤
Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
The Winter Orphans tells the story of three women living through many horrors trying to escape to France or helping others escape to France to stay out of the Nazis’ grasp.
Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
I have read many historical fiction books set in this period but hadn’t heard of the Swiss Red Cross and its mission to protect children (Jewish refugees) during this time. I am always amazed to learn about the intricate wave the Holocaust caused. There is so much more to learn about beyond the camps.
I was impressed with Rösli Näf and Anne-Marie Piguet, the main characters whose point of view is expressed throughout the book. They fight tirelessly and put themselves in harm’s way to save the children in their care.
Ella shows exceptional bravery throughout the story. She needs to escape because, at age eighteen, you could expect soldiers to come for you. At this point, these teens were taken to concentration camps. Ella tells her story, alternating with Rösli and Anne-Marie’s. At times, the three converge.
Although I enjoyed the story, it dragged on for me. It wasn’t a story that grabbed my attention and kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning.
However, I did learn from it. As this is historical fiction, it is based on actual events. Rösli Näf and Anne-Marie Piguet were real Swiss Red Cross volunteers during WWll. Their story needed to be told. I can’t imagine their experiences smuggling children out of France. The Winter Orphans is another eye-opening story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.
~Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3g0nPsr
~As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
~Other Holocaust reviews: https://latishaslowkeylife.com/review/three-sisters/
