The Orphan’s Tale/Pam Jenoff/342 pgs

Kicked out of her parent’s home after getting pregnant by a German officer during WWII, sixteen-year-old Noa is forced to give up her baby after it is born.  Once the baby is taken from her she must find a place to live.  Noa finds shelter and a meager job at a train station.  One night Noa discovers a boxcar full of babies bound for a concentration camp and she rescues one.  She runs into the snowy night with the child.  Noa and the infant nearly succumb to the elements, but they receive help from the owner of a German circus.  To earn her keep, Noa must learn the trapeze.

As the circus begins it’s tour, Noa keeps the secret of her recent pregnancy and the true identity of the baby she claims as her brother.  Great read!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz/heather Morris/262 pgs/International Author

You don’t read about the Holocaust and think about people falling in love, but this story tells of a couple who find each other in a most unexpected place, Auschwitz.

Lale Sokolov, a Jewish man from Slovakia, spoke many languages and it was that ability that helped keep him alive in the horrible concentration camp.  Early on during his captivity he was chosen to be one of the tattooists for the camp.  Those chosen for the job were given more and better rations, more freedom of movement around the camp, and better quarters.

It was while Lale was tattooing numbers on a new group of women arrivals that he met his future wife, Gita.  With his tattooist position, Lale was able to smuggle extra food to Gita and her friends and his former barrack mates.  He also established a small trade system with two outside workers, who brought in better food and even chocolate, for gems and jewels taken from prisoner’s belongings.  Lale was given these items by female prisoners assigned to empty all the suitcases.  The women were happy to supply him with the jewels he used for trade.

Lale and Gita eventually left the camp and after a desperate search were reunited after Germany surrendered.  While this is a fictional account of their story, the author spent many hours with Lale piecing together his memories into this moving book.

                                               

Projekt 1065/Alan Gratz/303 pgs

Most young teenagers will do anything to fit in with their peers.  For Michael O’Shaunessey that means being a part of the Hitler Youth Corp during WWII. He hated everything for which the Nazi Party stood.  Michael’s reasons for joining were not to help or promote the organization, but to spy and/or hinder its activities.

Shortly after we meet young Michael, the Hitler youth are sent out to find the American pilot whose plane has been shot down and crashed nearby.  Michael finds the pilot and leads the others in the group away from the pilot until he can later return and bring the man to his parent’s house.  Talking to the injured pilot, Michael learns about a plane the Germans are designing that could be disastrous for The Allies if it is built.  Michael realizes that one of his Hitler youth friend’s father is the designer of that German plane and he must try to get the plans.

He risks much to help out his parents who are also spies.  His father is actually the Ambassador from Ireland which gives the family a perfect cover for the spy operations.  It is obvious as you read this story why is was a Truman Award nominee.  A very good read.

Mr. Churchill’s Secretary/Susan Elia MacNeal/358 pgs/Mystery

Maggie Hope, raised by her aunt, never expected to live in London.  She went there merely to sell her late grandmother’s house.  Unfortunately, with WWII in Europe and England’s involvement, there were no buyers.  Instead, Maggie took on roommates and moved into the old house.  Soon, she settled into life in London and found herself working in Prime Minister Churchill’s office.  She did not land the position for which she hoped, but she would prove how her skills would be critical to the English cause.  War, murder, friendships, and intrigue make this book a page turner.  It is also the first in a series.