Author: Armando Lucas Correa
ISBN: 978-1-4711-6160-5
RRP: $29.99
The German Girl is a new release already gaining some great reviews. I was approached by Simon & Schuster to feature this one as a book club and it is getting rave reviews in their office so I couldn’t resist. I hope our readers love it just as much.
I have an interesting relationship with historical novels in that I don’t read a lot of them but generally I grow to love the ones I do read. The German Girl is quite recent history and it centres on a terrible time for the human race which I fear is becoming more and more likely to happen again.
The story opens in Berlin, the year is 1939 and the persecution of ‘undesirables’ has begun. It isn’t actually said for a long time who the ‘undesirables’ are but we can put the pieces together to work it out. They are stripped of their jobs, their businesses and pushed out of their homes. Eventually 900 of them manage to buy passage on the SS St. Louis to take them out of Germany to begin a new life.
Hannah Rosenthal is fast approaching twelve and her life has always been charmed, her parents are wealthy and well respected in the community. All of this changes when the red, white and black flags begin being draped all through the city. Hannah and her best friend Leo continue exploring the streets of Berlin, avoiding the uniforms and the turned down noses of the pure. Leo is great at listening to what is going on with the adults and he manages to know what’s going to happen before it does.
A lot has been written about World War II and much of it focuses on the actual war, The German Girl takes us back before war is declared, to when the persecution began. 900 passengers boarded the SS St. Louis in the hope of starting a new life elsewhere. They managed to get together the exorbitant fees for passages and visas, through two different channels,and sail for Cuba where they plan to stay transitionally until they reach the top of the waiting list for entry into America.
Anna Rosen is an eleven year old girl living in New York City who receives a strange parcel of photos from Cuba connecting her to a family she wasn’t aware she had. She travels with her mother to meet her great-aunt Hannah and learn about where her family came from.
The German Girl is well researched and beautifully written, its is a heartbreaking tale of persecution and never finding a place to belong. It tells the tale of displaced persons who were evicted from their homes and unable to find a new one. They worked hard to gain entrance to another country and left their homes in good faith, only to be betrayed again. Families were separated, fortunes were lost and acceptance was never found even where resettlement was allowed.
I think it is important that these novels are still being written to highlight the acts perpetrated in World War II, many of us weren’t around to see it first hand but history certainly seems to be repeating.
There were a lot of things not actually spelled out which I think was a great story-telling tool and certainly spoke volumes about the times Hannah lived through.
I found that The German Girl took quite a while to really engage me, I’m not quite sure why. The story-telling was realistic and emotional, it was well written and the research was well done. I still read the first half in very short bursts, but once I was invested I got through the second half in a day or so. The German Girl tells an important story and I think it is one that we need to remember.
The Author’s Note tells us of the factual basis of the story and it’s heartbreaking to think of what these people went through, and what refugees suffer today.
Armando Lucas Correa can be followed on Facebook.
The German Girl is published by Simon & Schuster and is available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster 30 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading The German Girl so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
‘The German Girl’ – one of the most thought provoking, moving, emotionally gut wrenching books I have ever read, and will probably ever read. Through tears of anguish I finished this book and salute the writer Armando Lucas Correa.
A massive thank you to Beauty and Lace Online and Simon Schuster AU for supplying this book for review.
Set in 1939 Germany in the midst of upheaval for all Jewish residents. Stripped of their livelihoods, occupations, and gradually their possessions, they are marked as ‘the hated’ among the population. Those who befriended them one day, oppose them the next.
Hannah is a carefree 12 year old Jewish girl, living a life of opulence with her parents. Her close relationship with a fellow Jewish boy Leo is a special bond they share. Life becomes unbearable but for those who can afford visas and sea passage from Germany, the prospect of a new beginning looms. Hannah and her parents, together with Leo and his father board the St Louis passenger ship for Havana, Cuba. All seems well on the ship until word reaches them that the visas they have paid for are no longer valid and the Cuban government won’t let them disembark. Only those few that had visas issued by the Secretary of State of Cuba will be accepted. Hannah and her mother are amongst the few to disembark in Cuba. So the fate of over 900 passengers aboard is now unknown.
The book details the emotional angst of Hannah and her mother Alma during their prolonged existence in Cuba, a country that never accepted or befriended ‘the foreigners’. Three generations of the Rosenthal family live during a time of oppressive heat, turmoil and political upheaval.
A fourth generation family member living in New York begins to learn of her German Jewish heritage at the age of 11. Anna and her mother visit Hannah in Cuba to unravel the complicated web of family members Anna never knew existed. A special bond forms between an elderly Hannah and young Anna.
This book describes in precise detail and dramatic effect, the pain and anguish the characters endured throughout their lives. You begin to live the life in their shoes and are swept along with the character’s journey.
This book is not for the faint hearted. It is both heart warming and heart wrenching; but an absolute marvel of a read. You will love it and cry for and with the characters.
This should be a compulsory read for everyone. Let’s hope we can all learn from the lessons presented in this book and the sins of the past never show their ugly heads again.
Thankyou to Simon & Schuster and Beauty & Lace for the opportunity to read this amazing book. The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa.
The story starts in Berlin in 1939. We follow Hannah Rosenthal and her family. Through Hannah’s 12 year old eyes we see the treatment of the Jewish people prior to the outbreak of World War 2.
The SS St Louis , a transatlantic liner offers 900 Jewish passengers safe passage to Havana Cuba. After paying fortunes for their tickets, visas and documents, having to sign their property and possessions over to the German Government the ship sets sail for the 2 week voyage. It is uncertain times.
The story is also set in 2014 in New York. 12 year old Anna Rosen lives with her Mum . Anna receives a package containing old photographs from her unknown Great Aunt Hannah in Cuba. Anna has her own questions and is seeking answers about her Father’s family.
Their stories are told in a sensitive but compelling way and you want to know the answers too.
Armando Lucas Correa thanks his grandmother, in his acknowledgments, for telling him about the tragedy of the St Louis. He thanks the curator of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington for access to 1200 documents and putting him in touch with survivors.
Through his research he has taken a true and historical event, the treatment of the Jewish people before and during the Second World War, and the true story of the SS St Louis to write this unforgettable book. Although Hannah and Anna are fictional characters, their family stories are factual and compelling. This could be the story of any family who survived.
I was moved by his dedication to the 3 people who as children boarded the St Louis at the Port of Hamburg in 1939. Photos of them taken on the ship are included at the end of the book.
It is a fantastic read, very thought provoking.
I hope it will be made into a movie one day!
The German Girl was a fantastic read. I love History but it isn’t a subject I read alot of and this novel made me see WW2 from another perspective. The story is told from a 12 year old German-Jewish girls perspective Hannah Rosenthal. Her life before the war broke out was ‘charmed’ as in she came from a wealthy family. Then her family started to be shunned and eventually they find salvation on the SS St Louis destined for Cuba then onto America.
Aboard the SS St Louis it all sounds so lushious, like a fancy holiday. Alma, Hannahs extravagant mother is back in her element wearing her expensive gowns and attending dinners and balls. Hannah and her friend from Berlin, Leo have fun on the ship everything seems to be going to plan until word gets out that the Cuban government are no longer allowing their visas. I don’t want to say too much in case I give anything away but things don’t go as planned.
Seven decades later Anna Rosen in New York recieves a package from her Great Aunt from Cuba. She travels to Havana with her mother to find out about her past and learn about the father she never got to meet.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it did take me a chapter or so to get into it but once I was I couldn’t put it down. I love how we go from WW2 to the Cuban Missile Crisis (I’m presuming it was that war as the name was never mentioned but all events sound like it) then to September 11 all horrific events that link to Hannah and her family.
This is a very confronting read but a fantastic one.
Thank you Beauty & Lace, Simon & Schuster and Author Amando Lucas Correa for a great read.
The German Girl was told through the eyes of two young girls, Hannah, who lived the tale during/after the war and Anna, her descendant named after Hannah.
I must say I am not a war buff, but I do enjoy history and the story of the St Louis was moving to the point I felt a lot of sadness and yes,pity for them. I’m also grateful for the small snippets of happiness taken throughout such a traumatic time, the pearl which I think is a something akin to a New life, its a new beginning , lets see what you do with your life.
The book I found hard to get into for the first bit, changing between the 1940’s to the mid 2010 era. There was so much information to absorb, useful information, but once I found the thread of the story it waslike a horror movie that you don’t think you can watch but do through your fingers. I wanted to know the fate of the ship, of Leo, and what became of Hannah.
It was interesting that the author did write through the eyes of young girls, 12 years old and the journey they took at the same age almost paralleled itself in certain parts, the loss of the father, a young boy who befriends them, their loneliness, the passing on of the pearl. They both seemed to be more mature than their age as well.
I also read the true information at the back, and I am so glad that someone has passed on the story of St Louis so that it would not be forgotten, that future generations can (hopefully) learn from histories makes, that these events did happen and its effect that still reverberates today.
As I said, I am not a war buff, in fact I shy away from war movies but this story has made me think about the people, not just the acts of war.
Thank you beauty and lace and thankyou to Armando Correa.
Tankyou BeautyandLace, Simon&Schuster and Armando Lucas Correa for the opportunity to read this great novel.
I have read many very sad and cruel books relating to the persecution of the Jewish during WorldWar2 so was very interested to be able to read and review this unique book.
It was written with sensitvity and was very extensively researched.
The story concerned Hannah almost 12 (turned 12 during the book) living a privileged lifestyle with her parents in 1939, this didn’t stop her being persecuted for having Jewish ancestry. She was mistaken for the “pure”, which she wasn’t happy about. Her parents arrange, with difficulty, berths on the “St Lewis”, a luxury liner to Cuba. Her friend Leo and his father also among the passengers.
In the book we switch between Hannah in 1939 and her great niece Anna in 2014. Anna is living with her mother, her father having died before her birth. They travel to Havana where they meet Hannah and hear of the family tragedies and history.
There is much that can also be revealed but that would spoil this interesting, absorbing read.
I found the lists and information at the end of the book so excellent too.
The German Girl is a story that filled me with sorrow and great pity for the people that were transported for being nothing more than who they were. Told through the eyes of two 12 year old girls decades apart but related through time and history.
I am not a war buff but I do love history and what we can learn from it. I am so pleased that Armando Correa has written a story of the St Louis and its journey with compassion and an ability to bring a story to life, that readers will be able to relate to.. While the story of young Hannah and Leo may not be true, the ship and its passengers was and that should not be forgotten.
War stories and movies usually have me running but I found this one rather interesting as told through twelve year old Hannahs eyes and her decades later grand niece Anna, named after her aunt. There were parts that I could draw parallels to, such as their loneliness, befriending of a boy their age, and the handing down of the pearl. My thinking is that this represents the handing down from generation to generation saying, I have had my turn now its yours, make it a better life than mine and remember what happened to me. New Life so to speak.
Whilst I did have a bit of difficulty at the beginning getting into the story, shifting from the 1940’s back to 2014, I had to go back and check a couple of times , but once I got into the thread of the story I had to know what happened to Hannah, her dad, the St Louis, Leo and whether Hannah’s mother Alma, adjusted to life in Cuba.
Armanado, may you find another story and bring that to life as well! Thank you for letting me read The German Girl.
The German Girl uses as a central device a part of history that I was vaguely aware of, but could not have explained with any clarity. In 1939, many Jews were finally realising the dangers of remaining in Hitler’s Germany, but avenues of escape were closing quickly. Some managed to board transatlantic liners bound for safer countries – but the liners did not always prove the smooth path to safety that they hoped. Although fictionalised, this novel is based on a true story.
Hannah Rosenthal and her family were among the Jews who boarded the SS St Louis, bound for Havana, where they expected to stay for only a short time before progressing to America. Hannah and her family had been very privileged before the rise of the Nazis; Hannah is only a child and does not understand why people now treat them so differently, and her mother is not coping at all with the changes.
The novel is filled with a surprising amount of tension, given we have some idea of how things will turn out from the first few pages. The story is told in two strands; Hannah’s, beginning in 1939, and that of Anna in 2014 New York. Anna receives a package from an unknown relative in Cuba – her great aunt Hannah. That sets Anna on a path to discover more about the father she never knew, but it also gives us an inkling of where events in 1939 are heading. Despite this, there’s considerable suspense as we wonder how exactly Hannah reaches that point, and what happens to those around her.
I found this a very moving novel. This is not just an exploration of the trauma of the Jewish experience of World War II, but also of grief, mental illness, despair, and fatalism. That sounds pretty depressing, but this isn’t a depressing novel. It’s deeply sad, but it also gives glimpses of hope and optimism.
Enjoyed doesn’t seem quite the word for this novel, but I am pleased I read it. It was emotional and moving, and gave me a little more information about a part of history that was vague to me. There is much about World War II that we should be ashamed about, and I think it’s important to have fiction that looks at more than just heroic stories (although they’re important too).
One of the strengths of the novel, and I think why it’s so moving, is the characters. Not all of them are empathetic. Hannah goes with the flow a little more than I find sympathetic – I wanted her to take control and make some decisions, do something for herself. Her mother is prickly and unpleasant (and quite probably mentally ill). And while I found Anna’s mother’s grief entirely understandable, I wanted to kick her for what she loaded on her child’s shoulders.
Despite these character flaws, you’ll likely feel for the characters – you’ll certainly feel strongly ABOUT them – and that makes the story absorbing and powerful.
Strongly recommended for people who like strongly character based novels; who want to learn a little more about history; or who simply enjoy good writing.
The German Girl
The German Girl is a well researched and descriptive story loosely based on the journey of refugees from Germany on the St Louis bound for Cuba in WWII. I did find the book a little slow at the beginning and at times struggled to keep reading but I’m glad I did as it is a book that grows on you. I love historical fiction and this is a story about a little known event in WWII history so I thank the author for his sensitive writing as we should never forget the shame and horror of that period of history.
The German Girl is told through two lives – Hannah and Anna.
Hannah Rosenthal story traces the events from 1939 of her former ideal life in Berlin where her family were part of German society; to them being targeted as the ‘impure’ and her family’s plans to escape Hitlers Germany. Hannah’s only refuge once the ‘ogres’ take charge is her best fiend Leo. The family secure passage on the St Louis to what they hope is a new temporary life in Cuba but Cuba refuse to allow the ‘impure’ passengers to disembark in Havana. Hannah and her pregnant mother are finally allowed to leave the ship and take up residence but her father, Leo and his father remain on the ship bound for a country that will take them. Life is unbearable for Hannah without her best friend and her father as she is considered an outcast in Cuba.
There is much sadness and heartache for the Rosenthal family through the years of war in Europe and then the communist rule in Cuba invades Hannah’s life as history repeats itself in the country where she never felt at home.
Anna is her great niece; a young girl searching for answers about her father. Anna with her mother travel to Cuba to meet with Hannah after they receive a parcel of photos and documents that Hannah has sent. Anna’s father Louis died before she was born in the 9/11 attacks and she is keen to learn more about his life as Hannah raised Louis after his parents died in a plane crash.
The German Girl is an unforgettable read.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Simon Schuster for the opportunity to read and review. Review also appears on GoodReads.
Thank you BeautyandLace and Simon & Schuster for this reading opportunity.
The German Girl is a book that brought out many emotions for me as I read it. I felt sad, happy, despair, hope and gratitude.
It is the story about WWII and about a certain aspect of this war that I was not entirely aware of. There are so many things that I take for granted in my daily life, but while reading this book, I was reminded how difficult life was for others, especially for innocent little children. The torment and ridicule Hannah feels brought tears to my eyes, for instance, when she hide she near the stairs, and it’s easy to understand why she is not able to find a reason for the hatred she and her family experience. It also reminds us that these things happened to people not so long ago.
I found the storyline fascinating, and since it is a part of history, I enjoyed reading that aspect. The book itself is a little hard to get into, but I suggest to keep reading and then soon enough, you will be engrossed in the story.
The book contains photos of the ship and the people who boarded the vessel in hopes of a safe and better life. It almost took my breath away to see the signatures and the photos.
In today’s world, these sort of things aren’t commonly seen, so to look at the photos, is actually looking at history itself. It gave me a chill to think of the uncertainty and danger the passengers faced.
The story is slightly difficult to follow, but again, it’s a matter of reading and taking your time to understand what is happening. There were pages that I had to read with a bit more concentration to make sure I understood what was happening. I think this is because the book goes back and forth in time.
I enjoyed the feeling of gratitude I had after reading this book. It is a good reminder for us how people were treated terribly due to no fault of their own. This part makes it sad and a real story.
I think this book would suit anyone who wants to learn about happened to people who suffered and made choices to improve their lives and to keep themselves safe.
It is a challenging read, but worth it due to the insight we gain from the journey that these people really took all those years ago.
My thanks go to Beauty & Lace & Simon & Schuster but especially to Armando Lucas Correa for this exceptional & compelling read.Congratulations to the author for the in depth research that went into this book.
I received this book knowing I wanted to read it but also with that feeling of dread of what so called humanity could actually do to innocent people that never harmed anyone.
This is a story of Hannah & her great niece Anna & the wounds of persecution that are both heartbreaking & enduring through the generations, a story that should still be told now & in the future so as hopefully it will never happen again.
There were tears as I read it but also pride in the bravery of Hannah & others who endured such horror.
I loved this book in a weird way & wish that many others should read this & learn from it.