From the author of the globally bestselling, multi-million-copy classic, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, comes its astonishing and powerful sequel.
Gretel Fernsby is a quiet woman leading a quiet life. She doesn't talk about her escape from Germany seventy years ago or the dark post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn't talk about her father, the commandant of one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps.
But when a young family moves into the apartment below her, Gretel can't help but befriend their little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back painful memories. One night, she witnesses a violent argument between his parents, which threatens to disturb her hard-won peace.
For the second time in her life, Gretel is given the chance to save a young boy. To do so would allay her guilt, grief and remorse, but it will also force her to reveal her true identity.
Will she make a different choice this time, whatever the cost to herself ?
First Published: 2022
Pages: 368
Genre: Historical Fiction
Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 from 29,000 reviews
Our review in brief:
| 1. Rating: 7.7 out of 10 The scoring was fairly consistent as it was generally well liked |
| 2. Recommended: Some of the group said they would recommend the book. One had already done so. If recommending, it was felt advisable to give a summary of the story, as it may not appeal to everyone. |
| 3. Audience: The book would suit women over 30. |
| 4. Type of Read: Although the book moved between time zones, most found it fairly easy to read. In places it was sad and quite shocking. |
| 5. Quality of the Author: The quality of the writing was generally good, and some would read other books by John Boyne |
| 6. Other Observations: The author addresses difficult subjects that other writers may steer away from. Guilt was a big underling theme in the book . It was not as good as the prequel, "The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas". |