They Went Left by Monica Hesse
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Web ID: 16131275What an incredible book to read
I had so many emotions I couldn’t even cry because I just wanted to keep reading. It has been a long time since I had read such a well written and capturing book. Also, I found it incredible to realize that we know so much about the Holocaust and so little about what they went through after the end of the world.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not What I Was Expecting
I have always enjoyed reading books about WWII, so when I found this book, I expected it to be an interesting addition to my collection. Instead, I found a story with a slow plot, flat characters, and very little excitement. Zofia, the protagonist, didn't seem to have much to her. Her only goal was to find her brother and return home with him. She had thoughts and feelings, of course, but she never really felt realistic. Her memory loss made it complicated to believe anything she said or thought throughout the book. When Zofia fell in love with Josef, a mysterious boy she had just met, their relationship felt like it moved too quickly. Then, at the end of the book, Zofia discovered that Josef had served (momentarily) in the German army. Immediately, she decided that she disliked him and that he should never be forgiven for what he did... even though he left the army because he felt guilty about what he was doing. That wasn't the only disappointing plot twist found in the story. About halfway through the novel, Zofia "finds" her younger brother, Abek. At the end of the story, it is revealed that the real Abek had died on a train on the way to Birkenau. The Abek that Zofia had believed to be her brother was actually someone else's younger brother. But, since neither of them had any remaining family, they accepted each other and set out to create a new life. While the plot and characters may have been a disappointment, "They Went Left" paints a very clear picture of life in a displaced-persons camp, as well as the struggles of Holocaust survivors. The history in this book was what made it worth reading and the reason I give it two stars.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Beautiful Story!
Zofia returns home to Poland in hopes of finding her younger brother Abek after WWII ends. She arrives to an empty home and unwelcoming neighbors. She learns of a camp that helps survivors retrain for jobs they can do so they can move on with their lives. She’s hoping to find Abek near there. It takes a few weeks to travel to Germany but Zofia is welcomed into the camp while she searches for her brother by visiting nearby camps, writing letters and making phone calls to organizations set up to reunite family members. There, Zofia meets Josef and makes friends that show her how to overcome the trauma she’s been through. Her mind plays tricks on her and she’s unsure if some of her memories are real or skewed. A post WWII story that encompasses PTSD, perpetual hope and the importance of support in all its forms. A beautiful story, 5 stars! *I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions and thoughts are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great premise, disappointing story
The concept of the book sounds intriguing, but the story doesn't live up to what it could be. The book failed to sufficiently reel me in, but I didn't want to give up. I only kept reading because I wanted to see how much worse things could get for Zofia. The secondary characters are what make the story. I'd love to read about Breine and Chaim's life in Palestine, or what happened to Josef during the war. Unfortunately, this book includes too little of them to redeem it. I know I would enjoy a follow-up companion novel about them.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com