Prisoner B-3087 is a historical novel based on the life of Jack Gruener, also known as Yanek. Yanek lived in Poland during World War II and was 10 when his hometown of Krakow fell to the Germans. He quickly becomes separated from his family and has to endure the unbearable conditions of numerous concentration camps that include the infamous Auschwitz and Dachau. Yanek is finally liberated at Dachau as a young adult when the Americans take control.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a historical fiction novel based on Nazi Germany during World War II. The book has a unique approach to storytelling as the narrator of the story is actually Death. The character Death narrates the story of a girl named Liesel, who early on was placed into a foster care home. Instead of the usual perspective of a Jewish person in Germany for a book like this, the book actually focuses on the viewpoint of a German which I found quite interesting.
Atonement by Ian McEwan is a captivating novel that explores themes of love, guilt, and the consequences of actions. Set in England during World War II, the story revolves around Briony Tallis, a young aspiring writer who makes a false accusation that changes the lives of her sister Cecilia and their childhood friend Robbie Turner forever. The novel delves into the ripple effects of Briony's lie, spanning decades, and the characters' struggle for redemption and forgiveness.
In this novel, the two main characters’- Marie-Laure Leblanc and Werner Pfennig- stories are followed until they intersect in Saint-Malo, in August of 1944.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a story about Liesel Hubermann, a girl growing up with foster parents in Nazi Germany. Being narrated by Death itself, it reads from a different perspective. Liesel steals books from various places and learns how to read. She finds a sense of comfort tangled between words and uses it as her escape from the distressing time she resided in. Liesel also becomes really good friends with Rudy, who is a boy in her neighborhood.
