Leipzig, 1930s Germany

Hetty Heinrich is a perfect German child. Her father is an SS officer, her brother in the Luftwaffe, herself a member of the BDM. She believes resolutely in her country, and the man who runs it.

Until Walter changes everything. Blond-haired, blue-eyed, perfect in every way Walter. The boy who saved her life. A Jew.

Anti-semitism is growing by the day, and neighbours, friends and family members are turning on one another. As Hetty falls deeper in love with a man who is against all she has been taught, she begins to fight against her country, her family and herself. Hetty will have to risk everything to save Walter, even if it means sacrificing herself…

My Thoughts:

I am a big fan of historical fiction if it is of interest to me and this one was. It is a poignant and moving story told from the other side. The story is told by Hetty who is a young German child and we see what her life is like through her eyes. It is incredibly well written and we see as readers what it is like as a child growing up in a prewar Germany. I like the way it is told as there is lots of information and the research is extensive and described well. It was interesting how Louise the author wrote through the eyes of a young girl but she has done it incredibly well. A brilliant debut that I can almost see becoming a film.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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