Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman



A deeply moving and masterfully written story of human resilience and enduring love, The Plum Tree follows a young German woman through the chaos of World War II and its aftermath.

"Bloom where you're planted," is the advice Christine Bolz receives from her beloved Oma. But seventeen-year-old domestic Christine knows there is a whole world waiting beyond her small German village. It's a world she's begun to glimpse through music, books--and through Isaac Bauerman, the cultured son of the wealthy Jewish family she works for.

Yet the future she and Isaac dream of sharing faces greater challenges than their difference in stations. In the fall of 1938, Germany is changing rapidly under Hitler's regime. Anti-Jewish posters are everywhere, dissenting talk is silenced, and a new law forbids Christine from returning to her job--and from having any relationship with Isaac. In the months and years that follow, Christine will confront the Gestapo's wrath and the horrors of Dachau, desperate to be with the man she loves, to survive--and finally, to speak out.

Set against the backdrop of the German homefront, this is an unforgettable novel of courage and resolve, of the inhumanity of war, and the heartbreak and hope left in its wake.

My thoughts...

I highly recommend this book, quite a testamonial to the compassionate German people. Christine's story is one of survival and loss, the heart wrenching pain of being in love with a young German Jew. It's hard to put down, the details are fascinating and the sweet romance will break your heart. The characters are wonderful.

4 out of 5 stars from me. I received an ecopy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

1 comment:

Laura Besley said...

Absolutely love the cover of this book! :)