Et cetera : What We're Reading: The Sunflower House

Imagine a telephone call at two a.m. from a hospital emergency room! George and Katrine are startled awake by the news that Katrine's 86-year-old mother has fallen, spraining her wrist. This occurs in the summer of 2006, and is the tiniest of peeks into the present as a precursor to the events of 1938 in Badensburg, Germany. I realize how backwards that sounds, but bear with me.

In the next chapter, the reader is thrown back in time sixty-eight years into the middle of a disagreement among four young people, who, in the midst of a double date picnic, have begun to argue heatedly. Their Jewish friends, who disappeared in the middle of the night six months ago, have not been heard from, and the girls are worried about their friends. Karin's fiancé, Fritz, is a member of the Hitler Youth Patrol, and is especially upset by the turn of conversation, having learned his attitude from the mandatory race education classes that the youth of Germany are taking.

Allina has lived with her beloved aunt and uncle since she was three months old and knows nothing of her parents except that they died; she has one picture of them, but no other information. In the last few chapters, the narrative returns to 2006, and the story ends in as satisfactory a way as possible.

This book is heart-rending and raw, telling the story of World War II in all its pain and grief. I came to know and love most of the characters, even while fervently despising others. A word of caution is warranted; there are several scenes of graphic violence, and some language that will not be suitable for some readers. At present, VPL has one large-print copy, and the title is also available on the Libby app. This is a very interesting and informative book, and well worth your time.

~Connie, Library Assistant