Watch Over My Child

Michal's Destiny #3

by Roberta Kagan

After her parents are arrested by the Nazis on Kristallnacht, twelve-year-old Gilde Margolis is sent away from her home, her sister Alina, and everyone she knows and loves. Alone and afraid, Gilde boards a train on the Kindertransport bound for London, where she will stay with strangers.

Over the next seven years, as Gilde comes of age in a foreign land, she learns about love, friendship, heartache, and the pain of betrayal. The Nazis' rise to power casts a dark shadow over Europe, and London is thrust into a brutal war against Hitler. Severe rationing grips the British, while air raids and bombings all but destroy the city.

Against all odds, and with no knowledge of her family's fate in Germany, Gilde nurtures a tiny flicker of hope deep in her heart that someday, she will be reunited with her loved ones. As she navigates the hardships of war and the complexities of growing up, Gilde's journey is a testament to resilience, courage, and the enduring power of hope.


Readers are captivated by the heartbreaking third installment in the Michal's Destiny

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "A very engaging and emotional book, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series." –Netgalley Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "These characters are so strong. I couldn't imagine being in their position . . . gives you a lot of insight as to how difficult it was living under the Nazi's reign." –Netgalley Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "The twists and turns in Gilde's rescued life . . . are heartbreaking despite some of the good that transpires . . . yet another 5-star . . . historical fiction." –Netgalley Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was a hard read, but so important to talk about. One thing I appreciate about Kagan's work is she doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutal realities of war and the Holocaust, but she also infuses the story with moments of hope and humanity. Watch Over My Child is not an easy read emotionally, but it is a necessary one." –Netgalley Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Another work of art. The three books I have read so far in the Michal's Destiny series have been engrossing, disturbing and full of evil and good. Characters are believable, situations could easily be factual, and the fact that each Jew managed to get through so much is awe inspiring and a tribute to human perseverance and hope. I totally enjoy Roberta Kagan's works, and am looking forward to the last book in this series!" –GoodReads Review

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Fiction, World War II, Historical, War, Historical Romance

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2024

About the author

I’m an American writer of Jewish and Romany decent. I write Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, most of which is set during the holocaust. Although I never discount the horrors of the time period, the main focus of my work is on ordinary people who prove to be strong heroic characters in unfathomable circumstances.

Facebook Author page:
http://www.facebook.com/Rkagan4

Facebook Book Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14942...

Instagram:
RobertaKaganAuthor

Reviews

[LISE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about Book 3 of this series; granted these were different times, people thought differently, it was during WW2, but still, I couldn't believe how the main character just fell in love so fast and got married even faster! At times, I just shook my head but then reminded myself of the period that story was in so I just sort of accepted it. The book needs to be better edited and also better formatted in the sense that there were a lot of grammatical mistakes which make me wonder if this was translated from another language but it doesn't seem so, is this only in the downloaded version? Is the actual book better as far as editing is concerned? I'm thinking no but I could be wrong. All and all, I personally think I made a mistake downloading all the series and reading it through as I get bored and skip parts which bring the reader to date with details from the previous books. The story is captivating I have to say but in the future, I will not go read a book series in one shot, maybe read a book from another author in between.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third instalment of the Michal’s Destiny series; this part follows Gilde and Elilas as they are evacuated from Germany to Britain via the infamous Kindertransport during World War Two.

I continue to enjoy this series and the multi layered threads of the story and it’s primary characters. At times the writing moves quickly with months and years condensed into single paragraphs but I appreciate this may just be the authors enthusiastic way.

As with other holocaust era books, parts of this story do not make for easy reading. The writing, for me, was vivid enough to keep me interested throughout and the ending left me eager to begin the next book. Although the kindle edition featured some editing errors (and this, as ever, is no fault of the author but instead her publishers) I did enjoy reading Watch Over My Child and am anticipating another enjoyable read with the next part.

[Glenys Holter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigued

I was totally caught up in this Third Book of the series and cannot wait to find the next book. I am really intrigued by the developments of the story so far and anxious to find out what happens to the girls after the war.

[Karen Kepner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another work of art

The three books I have read so far in the Michal's Destiny series have been engrossing, disturbing and full of evil and good. Characters are believable, situations could easily be factual, and the fact that each Jew managed to get through so much is awe inspiring and a tribute to human perseverance and hope. I totally enjoy Roberta Kagan's works, and am looking forward to the last book in this series!

[Alice Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I love reading about this time in history. This is an excellent series that begins before the Nazis gained power in Germany. This book ends just after WWII ends. Can't wait to read the next one!!! I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fictional stories from important and traumatic times in history. The characters are well defined, the events are believable and even likely, and the story flows well through the timeframe.

[Marcia Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although “Watch Over My Child” is the third book in Roberta Kagan’s WWII “Michal's Destiny” series, it, like the others can be read alone without having read the others. I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley; my opinions are voluntary. Although this is the only book in the “Michal's Destiny” series I’ve read, it’s not the first book I’ve read by Ms. Kagan. She’s a prolific writer who specializes in novels about WWII.

In the first novel I read, “The Lies We Told” (from the “Margot’s Secret” series) I wasn’t impressed by the writing style, finding it overly repetitive and spoon-feeding the reader with obvious facts, I did enjoy the many plot twists, secret relationships and ironies exposed among the various characters. I enjoyed reading this book, “Watch Over My Child” far more, not finding any of the same flaws I found reading the other novel. My biggest complaint is the title. I don’t find it apt for the story, since no parent gives their child to be watched over by another.

The story begins with the kinderstransport of three young Jewish children from German to England to escape the Third Reich prior to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. The three children’s stories are then told in alternating chapters as they make their way in their new lives in England; it focuses mostly on the life of a young girl as she grows into womanhood — Gilde. What happens in Gilde’s life is fascinating and compelling to read, and I always suspected that she might be faced with a terrible choice in the end, making the ending a terrible letdown for me. Also, in the beginning she boards the kindertransport train bidding farewell to her older sister and a loving older couple who were friends of her parents, yet we then learn she knows her traveling companions from living with them in an orphanage. Although the traveling companions did live in the orphanage, Gilde did not, something that irritated me in reading the story.

I enjoyed reading about the lives of the companions in England, though they were given much shorter shrift, one much shorter than the other. It would have been nice for all of their stories to have been fleshed out more fully. Although Gilde meets one towards the end of the novel, we never learn what became of the third, which is disappointing.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't aware this was the third installment of a series, so I have some catching up to do. This one focuses on the Kindertransport, the WW2 mission that saved the lives of German Jewish children by putting them on a train to England.

I've often wondered what that was like for both the children, going to a foreign land where many didn't speak the language or know a single soul, and the family sending them off with the knowledge that this very likely was the last time they'd ever see their baby. This was a hard read, but so important to talk about.

I know it bothers a lot of folks that some of the teenagers have lovers. Years ago, I listened to a child who'd been born as a result of Romanian dictator Ceausescu's mandated reproductive laws and was subsequently abandoned to the underground tunnels of Romania. These kids endured horrific lives, forced to do unimaginable things just to survive. It became very common for these kids to mate with each other, becoming active far too early. I think that because I've already heard the horrors of that story, I was able to read this in stride. I read a memoir of one Holocaust survivor who said once they were freed from the camp, they made it to Italy and lived on a beach. Literally, on the sand. She said they were such shells of who they were, the humanity had been beaten, starved, and tortured out of them. The one thing they found to make them feel somewhat human/alive again was sex.

War and terror create a desperation in people which can manifest in unexpected, alarming ways, so it wouldn't surprise me if teens (even early teens) who were forced to grow up much sooner than they should have would resort to the same thing.

One thing I appreciate about Kagan's work is she doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutal realities of war and the Holocaust, but she also infuses the story with moments of hope and humanity. Watch Over My Child is not an easy read emotionally, but it is a necessary one.

I received a free advanced copy of this book thanks to #netgalley and #bookwhisperer in exchange for my honest review, which I am happy to provide.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch Over My Child by Roberta Kagan is the third in Margot’s Destiny series and follow Margot’s younger daughter, Gilde, as she is sent to England as part of the Kindertransport. She is met by a kindly family with a daughter, Jane. They become the best of friends as Jane teaches her English and opens doors to her at school so she might have friends. All is well until a boy, Thomas, enters the picture several years later. Jane really likes him and he really likes Gilde and they rub along with Gilde holding him off until he is ready to enlist and he bursts out his feelings for Gilde. Despite the fact she had never responded to him, it destroys her friendship with Jane. After while Jane goes to train as a nurse leaving Gilde behind until one night, during a particularly horrific bombing, the house is destroyed and Jane’s parents are killed. Gilde had met a Jewish family and after trying other places returned to them, where they took her in. Things happened fast after that and within a couple of years Gilde found herself married to their son, William, and had only two nights with him before he left. Eventually, they got a telegrams saying he’d been killed. Circumstances became such that Gilde decided to go to train as a nurse, as well.

A lot happened in the intervening years and there is a lot more to come. Often we forget about how all of this mess affected those left behind, how their lives were torn apart. In this touching book, Kagan shows us one way that that could have happened. And there’s more to come. It is all so moving and so natural, one never suspects the danger that lies ahead. Kagan has shown us all of that and more in this series. Gilde, isolated in England, has had to figure out life for herself. It has not been easy for her and after years she is finally at a spot of happiness and security. What a lovely, multi-generational series this has been. Excellent characters, believable situations, and the never-ending war.

I was invited to read Watch Over My Child by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #RobertaKagan #WatchOverMyChild

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch Over My Child: Michal’s Destiny Book 3 is by Roberta Kagan. This third book looks at the difficulties the children who left Europe on the KindertransportI had when they came from Germany to England. Most of them had no real idea of what was going on and did not know English. Worry about their siblings and parents was constantly on their minds. Some were welcomed into warm, happy homes while others were looked at as servants.
Gilde Margolis was sent to England by her sister Alina and their family friend Lotti Glassman. They knew they had to do something to get her to safety after Michal and Traavi went missing. Lotti and Alina worked at the Jewish Orphanage and were able to get Gilde on the list with the orphans. At ten, Gilde did not want to go but knew she had no choice. Luckily for Gilde, she was taken in by a family with a daughter a little older than she was. Jane didn’t resent Gilde’s presence in her home but took Gilde under her wing and helped her acclimate to England. They became best friends and sisters until a boy came between them. Jane thought Gilde had stolen him from her and it caused a rife that widened as Jane went off to nursing school. Shortly after Jane left, the bombing of London took place and her family was killed. Gilde was now left homeless and no one wanted to take her in because of the already short rations. Gilde found herself at the home of the Lawrence family. This is just the beginning of the struggles Gilde has in the seven years she is alone in England. She loses communication with Alina and Lotti and has worry about them and her parents constantly on her mind. Will she ever be reunited with them?
This book gives a look into the lives of the children sent to England. However, this is one of the more successful placement of a child. We see Elias and Shaul, orphans sent with Gilde, in very different circumstances. Other children had much different stories. As far as I can tell from other reading, this is fairly consistent with the treatment some children received.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read several historical novels about the Kindertransport program arranged by Britain to help save Jewish children from the atrocities of the Holocaust, this is the only story I’ve read about evacuees as they become young adults. This story features Gilde, Shaul, and Elias, who boarded the same train on December 1, 1938, on their way to London.
Each of the three is placed with different families. Gilde goes to the Kendalls, who had children in the home, Shaul to an elderly lady, and Elias to live with an affluent family with grown children. They all struggled with learning English. School was difficult. And bullying, especially for the boys, was typical. “Shaul was having a terrible time adjusting to life in Britain. He wasn’t in school. He worked with an old man and had no contact with anyone his age. The red rash (i.e., Chilblains) he’d had the previous winter had returned. (Pg 53)
Soon, “The world as they knew it was in flames exploding around them. Britain was at war.”(Pg. 60). “The cloudless blue sky and bright sunlight of the June morning made it hard to believe a war was going on. Tender baby blades of grass were poking through the ground. Tiny flowering buds had formed on some trees, and Mother Nature seemed totally unaware of the pain and suffering of mankind.”(Pg.167) “The English were fighters. No matter what was thrown at them, they refused to surrender. They would not be broken. All the people she (sic Gilde) knew have endured so much since the beginning of the war: the death of friends or family, fear of invasion, and terrible shortages of everything with the bravery of lions. (Pg.178
Kagan takes the reader into the lives of the three main characters. We feel their desolation, regret their mistakes, and celebrate their triumphs. As the war progresses, they all suffer even more.
I was disappointed in how the book ended so abruptly. I realize the story continues in the second volume of this series; however, I wanted more closure.
Rating 3

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Engaging and Emotional Book
Watch Over My child by Roberta Kagan is the third book in this series. This book carry's on after 12-year-old Gilda Margolis is sent away from her home in Kristallnacht by her sister as war has broken out and Gilda has the chance to be safe and go to London with the Jewish orphanage children. It means Gilda must be strong and trust what her sister says, and she boards the train leaving everyone she knows and loves behind. This book focuses on what happened to Gilda and some of her orphanage friends as they arrive in London England with their new foster families waiting for them at the train station. Some of the children will be welcomed with open arms and some will not.
This book concentrates in the next 7 years of Gildas life as she is one of the lucky ones and has a loving family who have a daughter Jane who is two years older than Gilda, but they soon become firm friends. As Gilda grows up and forms new friendships, love, headache, and betrayal. When London joins the war rationing bombing and air raids instill terror a Ross England and Gilda can now only hope she survives and as she has lost contact with all her family back in Germany, she can only hope they are still alive against all odds.
I do not want to spoil the story by going into too much detail, but this is an excellent series which I highly recommend. Robert Kagan sets the historical period beautifully and the book is a well-researched piece of history, and it is nice to read about the German Jewish children who were shipped off to England and what happens to them being German Jewish children.
This book in the series ends at the end of W.W.2 and I cannot wait to read the next book to see if Gilda or any of the other children will go back to Germany to reunite with family and friends. This is A very engaging and emotional book, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series by Roberta Kagan. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third instalment in the Michal's Destiny series. And this time we're following Michal's younger daughter,
Gilde, to England on the first Kindertransport.

Say firstly, the negatives. Unfortunately, there was a factual and timeline errors, the most glaring of which was stating that Hitler died by suicide in Poland, when we know it was Berlin. I also found that some of the chapters, whose purpose was solely to add factual background, jarred with the narrative of the rest of the book.

But now, for the positives, of which there are many, Roberta has created a family I have grown to love and care deeply about. At times it felt that Guilda had forgotten, or at least tried to forget, her German roots and family. However, I absolutely believe that this would be a trauma respons based on her tumultuous start to life. At times the characters felt too young to be having the relationships they had. But again, that would be a response to living in a war situation and being confronted with the fragility of life.

The story also follows some of the other orphans that came to England with Gilde, and the struggles and triumphs they had whilst starting a new life in a foreign country. It can't have been easy for the children, or the families who took them in. And whilst this is only a very small part of the overall story, I think Roberta has done a good job of capturing a snapshot of those issues.

Is book as a left me desperate to read the next instalment to see if any of the marginalised family will ever be allowed. Happiness, it's a series that will capture your heart and draw you in right from the first page.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series Michal's Destiny by author Roberta Kagan. It is more of a stand alone novel than the previous 2 books in the series and focuses on what happened to Gilde, daughter of Michal and Taavi, after she left Germany via Kindertransport to settle in England for the duration of the war. The book also tells the story of Shaul and Elias, two children from the orphanage in Berlin who knew Gilde and also left via Kindertransport. In many ways, it is a coming of age story made more challenging because it is set in wartime during the time when bombing raids were all too much a part of life. For the three friends who came over on Kindertransport, they were sent to different places with differing circumstances, they faced many similar challenges including the fact that those with strong German accents and language difficulties were not all readily accepted.

The book is filled with heartbreak and definitely made a kleenex box a necessary accessory as I read. I don't want to spoil the story for readers by going into great detail. Some challenges could happen to any teens growing up. Others were uniquely related to wartime. It was incredibly hard to be sent so far from family and friends and have no idea what happened to them.

This novel is once again incomplete with many threads left to be dealt with in novel #4. I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book.

I received an advance reader's copy from #NetGalley and #TheBookWhisperer . Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in the Michal's Destiny series by Roberta Kagan, Watch Over My Child continues with the aftermath of the Kindertransport of World War II. Gilde is sent away to start a new life in London away from the horrors. Little did she know the horrors which awaited her. She really liked her new adoptive family but language and culture were challenging. But that was just the beginning. The story is told over a span of seven years so the reader is privy to what happens to Gilde as well as two orphan boys from Berlin, Elias and Shaul. War affected everyone in a multitude of ways. Rationing, bombing, prostitution, mental health issues and death were sadly normal. Violence was often a consequence. So was fear.

My feelings about Watch Over My Child are conflicted. The fascinating moments full of tension and courage were marred by a married teacher and 14-year-old male student's unnecessarily detailed relationship. The coming of age moments aren't my wheelhouse, nor do I like the romance of 12-14 year olds, regardless of the time and era. Aside from those concerning bits, the story of resilience, loyalty, profound grief and hardship was very realistic and heart bruising.

My sincere thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling novel.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the second book in her Michal’s Destiny World War II series, readers continue to follow the Margolis family as Nazi Germany reaches peak power and the wartime persecution really breaks out with the events of Kristallnacht in 1938. Following Tavvi’s attempt to save his future brother-in-law, readers follow Tavvi and Michal’s separation and the events that ensue as the Nazi regime’s full power and World War II break out on the international stage. With so much at stake -- especially regarding Tavvi and Michal’s relationship -- readers will be immersed in this new storyline and its twists and turns as the narrative and their relationship evolve. Kagan’s characters are unsurprisingly complex, detailed, and well-developed, and readers will love seeing the characters grow and change over the course of the novel and the world-shaking events covered in it. As the family breaks up to all corners of the world, readers continue to follow Tavvi, Michal, Gilde, and Alina as their world and family bonds shatter under the Nazis’ boot. Powerful descriptions and vibrant settings only add to Kagan’s brilliant characters and complex historical moments, and readers who enjoy Kagan’s other titles and other World War II historical fiction novels are sure to love this continuation of the Margolis family saga.

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.

[Lynne Hannmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watch Over My Child is the third book in the Michal’s Destiny series. It is the easiest of the series to read as a standalone.
Three Jewish teenagers (Gilde, Shaul and Elias), aged 12-16 have been fortunate enough to leave Germany in 1938 bound for England on a Kindertransport. Your instinct as a reader is to breathe a sigh of relief at their escape from certain torture and death at the hands of the Nazis. But life in England holds many complications for them even before the war crossed the Channel.
This is mainly Gilde’s story, but the other two characters expand the heartbreaking storyline to offer more diverse experiences as children in a foreign country try to adjust to various loses and the challenges of language and culture along with normal adolescence.
As usual, Ms. Kagan has written an intensely emotional story with highly relatable characters. This is her strength as an author. In this book she provides a less addressed perspective on war, that of relocated children. Although it’s not possible to adequately cover this topic in a single volume, I felt she did effectively open the door.
Thank you to the author and the Book Whisperer for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of the rerelease of a 2017 edition.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! I am thoroughly enjoying this series. This is Gilde's story after arriving in England on the Kindertransport. Gilde and her friends, Elias and Shaul, fled Germany as children into an unknown world. The author was able to make their fear feel real. She created a very believe, emotional story.

The story gives insight into the way things may have been. Gilde did not fit in when she arrived. She spoke German in a place that rightfully was untrusting of Germans. She will experience may challenges during the war. Her life is full of struggles. My heart broke for her. I am ashamed to admit I never thought about how difficult it would be for the children. I didn't think about them being left alone if a sponsor died. I didn't think about them being used or abused. I didn't think about how alone they would feel or how they would survive. Watch Over My Child has me thinking a lot and wanting to discover so much more.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the series ‘Michal’s Destiny”, doesn’t disappoint.
In this book, we follow three children who were evacuated from Germany on the kindertrqnsport bound for London.
Separated upon arrival, all three embark on different journeys.
Gilde, the youngest child of Michal, is adopted into a lovely home, with a loving family.
Elias, a strong minded, tough young boy is determined to go his own path.
Shaul, a shy introverted boy, struggles through life in London.

Following the bombing of London, Gilde’s own journey takes her to new loves, career opportunities, and motherhood.
This book concludes as WW2 comes to an end.

This is my favorite book so far. The characters are well written, each with their own experiences during war time. It was a fast reading, engaging book, despite the very sad events of the time period.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you to BookFunnel for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Michal's Destiny series. I was annoyed that the second book in the series didn't circle back to Gilde at all, leaving me wondering what had happened to her. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book focuses on Gilde's life after she escapes the Nazis on the very first Kindertransport.

Gilde was faced with so much heartache at such a young age. Being sent to a country all alone to live with a strange family only to end up losing that family would be a lot for anyone to handle. I guess that's why she seemed to fall for males so very quickly.

In true Roberta Kagan fashion, the book ended with a cliffhanger that left me wanting to jump right into the fourth and last book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Eunice R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Michal's Destiny series has been another good read. The twists and turns in Gilde's rescued life (Taavi and Michal's youngest daugher) are heartbreaking despite some of the good that transpires. The book ends with a shocker that could well purport a further book in the series but this is only my guess. Although this Book 3 could stand alone, I feel there would be much better connect if the previous two books are read in order. Author Roberta Kagan has given readers yet another 5-star rated (by me), WWII timeframe work of historical fiction.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

October 2024

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.

[Donna K · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my least favorite book of the series, so far. The writing is amateur. I truly enjoyed the first two books about the parents. Although this one covered the stories of three of the orphans transported to Britain, the main focus was Gilde and her romantic life. It was too much and the author created a love triangle (square?!) at the end to leave the reading hanging for book 4. I'm not sure I care enough about what happens with Gilde's saga to bother reading it, although I'm curious to see what happens with Elias and whether or not Gilde is reunited with her sister somehow, and if either of them learn the true fate of their parents. This is historical fiction with too much romance in between.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so good, completely different from any other historical series that I have read. Yes there are some 'saucy' scenes and the whole strata's of society are explored, inc. British anti-seminism . When I start reading I just cannot stop - as I wanted to know how it resolved. There were links to the other books in the series but this one concentrated on the prewar and war in England (plus spy missions).
Hopefully not a spoiler but I was surprised that William's family didn't stay in touch given how much they loved Gilde.
The ending was such a cliff hanger how is it going to go - I just cant wait.

[Darlene Golbitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtesy of The Book Whisperer and Netgalley, I received the ARC of Watch Over My Child by Roberta Kagan, third book in the Michal's Destiny series. This historical novel follows the youngest daughter Gilde, evacuated from Berlin on the Kindertransport Train at twelve years of age. London suffers from German bombing raids, and Gilde survives an attack while her host family does not. With resilience, perseverance, and the opportunities that appear, Gilde changes direction and thrives in her new home. This is truly a coming of age story, with all the horrors of wartime experiences, and the effects of decisions made.

[Sherry Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this third book in the series. The main character, Gilde, was such a joy. Despite all the hardships she faced, she really remained a loyal and caring person. She is the shining star adult of the three children that arrived in England via the kindertransport. As in her other novels, Ms Kagan leaves you with a cliff hanger. I am on to the last of the series and hope she wraps up the stories of several other family members. I also know I will come across several errors in the Kindle version. A better editor is certainly needed!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is good and revealing, but the prose is as stiff as the majority of characters. This is one part of a series profiling Jewish young people who were sent from Germany to England in order to protect them from the Nazi killing machine that took most of their families from them. The stories aim to tell what became of them as they came into young adulthood.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected advance review copy from Book Whisperer via NetGalley.
#WatchOverMyChild #NetGalley #MichalsDestinyBk3

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, particularly focusing on Gilde Margolis. With both of her parents missing after Kristallnacht, her older sister has sent her to England for safety. Going to a strange country, not knowing anyone or the language is difficult, particularly for a child. She is placed with a nice family who has a daughter close to her age. When the war comes to England, everything changes and Gilde must survive with only her wits. I found this very interesting and am looking forward to reading the final book in this captivating series.

[Ash Laverty · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books keep getting better and better!
One thing I wish is that the timeline was made more obvious - I felt like the story was still in the early stages of the war, and then all of a sudden Hitler was dead and the Allies had won. If it had been made more obvious then I feel like I would have been able to appreciate the characters growth a bit better.
Also, I would have loved to hear more of Elias’s story - it felt like it was almost added as an afterthought, and was rushed through very quickly.
Otherwise, this book was a great read and I can wait for the next one!!
3.5 stars out of 5 ⭐️

[Maria-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very emotional story. What did these kids feel when put on a train without family? Received by strangers and not understanding the language. Evenly getting throughout the teenage years and becoming an adult. Living through the bombardment of London. Losing the foster family and not been welcome other places. This follows Gilde Margolis and other children from when getting on the train till a couple of years after the war. Hoping for reunion with her sister but afraid of pursuing in case nobody is alive. The book is friction but is realistic in what might have happened to these kids.

[Margaret Mellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped into this book blind, and not realizing it was book 3 until I started reading. So while some of the story was lost to me, i feel like I was able to get a good grasp on Gilde's story.
WWII stories are always hard for me to read due to the heavy nature, and this was no different. Parts of the story were heavy and heartbreaking and I feel like the author did a good job writing about these events.
I look forward to the next installment, as well as going back and reading book parts 1 and 2.

[Donna Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Germany, 1938: The first Kindertransport leaves with young Jewish orphan’s headed to Britain to be taken in by families in order ro protect them from the Nazis. Gilde, Shaul and Elias are among the children. When they arrive in Britain they are separated as they go to different homes.
The story of the lives of Gilde and Elias are quite different as they mature making decisions up until the war ends in 1945.
I am looking forward to the next book of this series as I am curious of what happens next.

Thank you Book Whisperer and Book Funnel