Still the Caretaker: A Latvian Girl's Journey

by Nancy Schwarzkopf Jarmin

When a midnight messenger brings word that Riga has been invaded by Russia's Red Army, young Zaiga's predictable life in her Latvian village is upended. Her best friends, twin girls, abruptly move away. Her own movements are restricted and her educated parents are in danger. Russian soldiers are everywhere; the family silver is buried; diplomas, flags and the family's beautiful national costumes are hidden away.

A year later, Nazi Germany invades and takes control. Zaiga overhears the gossip, "the blue bus went to the jeweler's house" and "what about the low place?" The horrors of World War II unfold. Amid bombings and strafing, hungry refugees funnel toward Riga. Zaiga comes of age fearing for her animals, the university in Riga and her plan to study veterinary medicine.

Inspired by true accounts in interviews and visits to various locations in Latvia, Zaiga's story resonates today as once again children are forced to flee their homes while bombs rain from the sky.

499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

Reviews

[Noni]

This well written and well researched book captured my interest and held it throughout. Based on the stories of real people and real events, it makes one aware of the devastation caused by war in the lives of normal families forced to flee their homes because of the violence.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gem of a novel invites you to see the complex real-world events of non-Jewish refugees from Latvia, before and during WW2 through the eyes of a fictional child and her adult self much later in life. The Latvians face occupation first by the Russians and then by the Germans, and eventually staying in their homes is too dangerous. From the narrator's perspective as she grows through her preteen and early teen years, she must deal with fear and not a little anger as her parents, grandmother, aunts and uncles tell her and her cousins what they must do but not why. Especially difficult for her to understand are her father's secretive work in the city that leads to long absences, her mother's insistence that she leave her beloved pets behind when they have to go, and her beloved teenage cousin's conscription into the very army that is raiding their farms and kicking them out of their homes.

Schwarzkopf Jarmin gives us a meticulously researched historical novel that does not shy away from difficult history but charmingly uses point of view to tell a story that is honest without being overwhelming.

[Kelley Sarafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still the Caretaker is a wonderful book! The images the author paints of life in Latvia before the war are simply beautiful. I loved getting to know the main character Zaiga and her extended family through learning about their daily lives, Latvian food, pets, environment, travel and family. Experiencing this families struggles during war-time from Zaiga’s personal perspective allowed me to feel like I was right there with them. I also loved the way the author used present day letters written to Zaiga’s brother to merge the past and present. This book has truly inspired me to read much more historical fiction. (Especially Nancy Schwarzkopf Jarmin’s next book!)

Congratulations for creating this wonderful work! Thank you for sharing this amazing story with us! 🩷

[Ruth Vesber · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite genre is historical fiction, and though much has been written about this time in history, I have not read much about this small country and their terrible and frightening experiences during WWII. So very important that we remember this time as I wish history would not continue to repeat itself. Such a good read for junior readers as well as adults. Well written and hard to put down.
Reading this book reminds me of how many people live lives they have little control over and just want to live in peace. Thanks to the author for writing this book. I really appreciate the listing of the characters on the book at the front so I was able to refer back to each one as I read.

[Ilze · Rating 3 out of 5]

WW2 history in Latvia is not an easy subject matter. The trauma of being a child during wartime spans the book, covering of wide range of atrocities that happened in the area. I grew up in Latvia in 80s and 90s and am very familiar with this type of story and most of the population was in Baltics.

Book intertwined Latvian and English and times it felt detracting from the story. Also typo on page 19 Latvian word for veca( typed as vena) meaning old. Some of the Latvian turns of phrase are directly translated and not quite as commonly used.

[J D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading this book with 100 pages to go. I absolutely love it. I am travelling with you all the way through the eyes of my parents and older sister as they went through this experience. I was born in Canada after they arrived from a DP camp in 1948. My parents never disclosed any of what they went through but I imagine it to be as written in this book from the information I have recently received. Thank you for writing it!!!

[Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was propelled into this story from page 1, and was very surprised when it jumped to modern day, but the narrative works. I love hist fic books that give me a different perspective, introduce me to a new culture, and this does not disappoint. A wonderful, heartwrenching story written with dignity, with love, and from the soul.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully tol d and peaceful family small town life with the anxiety of WW2 coming doe. On them. I enjoyed this book in a same way I enjoyed a Gentelan in Moscow.

[Dionna Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only wish I could give this more than five stars. The storytelling in this book is the best I have ever read.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told through the viewpoint of a young girl, the story of Latvia's invasions in WWII by the Germans then the Russians. The author's friendship with a real person yields surprising and touching details about Latvian life and the harrowing escape one family took. Thoroughly enjoyable.