Review: "The German Girl" by Armando Lucas Correa

This is a heartbreaking saga of a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. It envelops their flight from Germany aboard the transatlantic liner, the St Louis. Most spent all the money they had in order to immigrate to Cuba, but once aboard, only 28 people were allowed to disembark. This is the story of Hannah a young girl of 12 who was one of the lucky ones, along with her mother. It encases three generations, as Anna, her niece, which Hannah wasn’t aware existed, finds her in a quest to meet the father she never knew.

The author tells the story in the first person from both Hannah and Anna’s perspective. Hannah’s story starts as a young girl and follows her life forward as she sails on the St Louis, loses her dad and tries to adjust to her life in Cuba with her mother. Anna’s story picks up in 2014, while she is young and searching for her father. All she knows is that he left and she hopes that he will return. This method keeps you turning pages because both have a heart-rending, engrossing story to tell. You also want to find out how this woman who is now 78, could possibly relate to Anna, who is 12. You do need to stay alert with each chapter to make sure you know who is talking to avoid confusion.

I found this book very captivating with a riveting story to tell. It is well written with a surprise ending that touched the romantic in me. It can be enjoyed by young to adult readers because the subject matter is handled gently. It also does what every good historical fiction inspires, I was compelled to look up the true account of the St. Louis.

I requested and received this book for review from NetGalley.