Angela M is taking a break.'s Reviews > A Boy in Winter

I held my breath at one point a little more than halfway through this short but extremely powerful story. I was stunned, perhaps expecting it, but not ready for it. Who could be, really ? Certainly not the crowd of Jews rounded up by the Nazis in this small town in Ukraine in 1941 as the German occupation begins. Everything that happens before this slowly leads up to it and everything after it is burdened by it. A few days in the lives of a few people, experiencing fear and confusion, the desire to survive, to save oneself and loved ones is seen through the eyes of a Jewish family, a farm girl, and a German engineer in charge of building roads.

I can't manage to find any other words besides heartbreaking, gut wrenching but there are touching moments and in some way it is also hopeful with the strength and determination, courage and defiance of Pohl, the engineer, Yasia, the farm girl and Yankel, the defiant young boy of the title. He refuses to let the Germans carry off his little brother - " ... no Germans must ever haul Momik. " I can't explain why I read so many holocaust stories. They are so hard to read but yet I am compelled because they are important.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Little Brown through NetGalley.