The German Girl

This is a fictionalized account of true events. 900 German Jews looking for a safe haven, boarded the St.Louis for a trans atlantic trip. Many were to stay in Cuba, the first stop, with the others continuing on to the United States. These were people who had already suffered many hardships and indignities, and been robbed of their possessions. Yet the US, Canada and Cuba refused to allow entry (Cuba admitted 28 people).

The story is told from the perspectove of two 12 year old girls; Hannah from Berlin in 1939 and Anna from NY in 2014. There is a link between the two; Hannah is the great aunt of Anna, she also raised Anna's father. I love historical fiction, so this thread was my favorite. It followed Hanna and her family as they flee Berlin. The author puts you right into their heads, so you feel there confusion, frustration and ultimatley their fear and anguish. Anna's story was also moving as she journeys to Cuba to learn of a father she never knew. The author provides many details about Cuban history, which was fastinating. It's one of my favorite reasons to read historical fiction.