The German Girl: A Novel - Softcover

"An unforgettable and resplendent novel which will take its place among the great historical fiction written about World War II. Hannah Rosenthal will remain in your heart and her determination to tell the story of what she saw, lived, and lost will change the way you look at the world."--Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife

"I found myself unable to put the book down. I was able to identify with what my parents must have experienced first in Germany and later the St. Louis. . . . beautiful and heartbreaking."--Judith (Koepple) Steele, survivor of the St. Louis

"It was so true to our many life experiences... I became enthralled with the descriptions of the emotional turmoil that these characters endured."--Eva (Safier) Wiener, survivor of the St. Louis

"Profound and moving ... This novel touched me personally, especially because it is written from the point of view of a girl, just like me, on the ship. This tragedy, ignored for so many years, contains a lesson the world must learn and never forget: compassion for refugees."--Ana Maria (Karman) Gordon, survivor of the St. Louis

"Fascinating . . . a brilliant entrée into the souls, terrors, ardors, endeavors and hopeless valor of people who have been written off. . . . Now, in a new age of people in peril and adrift on the world's seas, this magnificent novel--and the unexpected and intricate tragedies of its powerfully imagined characters--bespeaks this eternal injustice."--Thomas Keneally, Bestselling author of Schindler's List

"A vital tribute to liberty, love and justice...one of the most fascinating and extraordinary literary events of recent times."--Zoé Valdés, international bestselling author of The Weeping Woman

"powerful and affecting...that sheds light on a sorrowful piece of Holocaust history."--Kirkus Reviews

"A timely must-read."--People

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“An unforgettable and resplendent novel which will take its place among the great historical fiction written about World War II.” —Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife

A young girl flees Nazi-occupied Germany with her family and best friend, only to discover that the overseas refuge they had been promised is an illusion in this “engrossing and heartbreaking” (Library Journal, starred review) debut novel, perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Lilac Girls, and We Were the Lucky Ones.

Berlin, 1939. Before everything changed, Hannah Rosenthal lived a charmed life. But now the streets of Berlin are draped in ominous flags; her family’s fine possessions are hauled away; and they are no longer welcome in the places they once considered home. A glimmer of hope appears in the shape of the St. Louis, a transatlantic ocean liner promising Jews safe passage to Cuba. At first, the liner feels like a luxury, but as they travel, the circumstances of war change, and the ship that was to be their salvation seems likely to become their doom.

New York, 2014. On her twelfth birthday, Anna Rosen receives a mysterious package from an unknown relative in Cuba, her great-aunt Hannah. Its contents inspire Anna and her mother to travel to Havana to learn the truth about their family’s mysterious and tragic past.

Weaving dual time frames, and based on a true story, The German Girl is a beautifully written and deeply poignant story about generations of exiles seeking a place to call home.