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Last Stop Klindenspiel
Combining the survival instincts made famous in The Hunger Games with the intensity of The Book Thief, Last Stop Klindenspiel is a tightrope of horrors that will make anyone think twice about running away to join the circus…
It’s been eight years since the Second World War has ended – long enough for people to forgive and forget – but feelings of hate run deep in Norway against people like fifteen-year-old Katya Holberg and her family. Separated from her father when the Allies liberated Poland, Katya and the rest of her family are sent to an internment camp in Oslo where they’re eventually rescued by a Norwegian war hero.
After four tumultuous years together, he brutally murders her sister, forcing Katya and her mother to seek refuge with her grandmother in faraway Droeback where Katya’s mother is murdered by villagers soon after their arrival. Fearing for her safety, Katya’s grandmother sends her to Klindenspiel, the only circus of its kind in Europe, where all of the performers are children.
Once there, Katya quickly learns that all of the young performers share her terrible secret, making them more like her than she could ever have imagined. Things become complicated when Klindenspiel’s artistic director pairs Katya with Aleks, a good-looking but secretive seventeen-year-old, who’s skilled in acrobatics and dance.
Curious about, and attracted to her new partner, Katya secretly follows him one night and learns the horrible truth behind Klindenspiel’s magic. With the curtains about to rise on Klindenspiel’s newest show, Katya and Aleks must give the performance of a lifetime – both on and off the stage – because their lives, and those of their fellow performers, are depending on it.
It’s been eight years since the Second World War has ended – long enough for people to forgive and forget – but feelings of hate run deep in Norway against people like fifteen-year-old Katya Holberg and her family. Separated from her father when the Allies liberated Poland, Katya and the rest of her family are sent to an internment camp in Oslo where they’re eventually rescued by a Norwegian war hero.
After four tumultuous years together, he brutally murders her sister, forcing Katya and her mother to seek refuge with her grandmother in faraway Droeback where Katya’s mother is murdered by villagers soon after their arrival. Fearing for her safety, Katya’s grandmother sends her to Klindenspiel, the only circus of its kind in Europe, where all of the performers are children.
Once there, Katya quickly learns that all of the young performers share her terrible secret, making them more like her than she could ever have imagined. Things become complicated when Klindenspiel’s artistic director pairs Katya with Aleks, a good-looking but secretive seventeen-year-old, who’s skilled in acrobatics and dance.
Curious about, and attracted to her new partner, Katya secretly follows him one night and learns the horrible truth behind Klindenspiel’s magic. With the curtains about to rise on Klindenspiel’s newest show, Katya and Aleks must give the performance of a lifetime – both on and off the stage – because their lives, and those of their fellow performers, are depending on it.
260 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2014
6 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Marta Tandori
11 books69 followersMarta Tandori had always been an avid reader but it wasn’t until she began studying acting in her early twenties at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York that she realized acting wasn’t really her passion – writing fiction was. Thanks to an overly zealous addiction in her youth to all things Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, Marta fell in love with mysteries and it’s hardly a surprise that she chose to write in the same genre! Marta’s books feature strong female protagonists who have closets full of nasty skeletons and the odd murder or two to complicate their already complex lives. She’s the author of the Kate Stanton Hollywood Mystery Series as well as several other standalone mysteries. To learn more about Marta, please visit her website at http://martatandori.com or her Facebook Author Page at www.facebook.com/MartaTandoriAuthor or connect with her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MartaTandori (@MartaTandori).
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 26, 2014
In 1945 Katarina Holberg (Katya) was only six years old, but what she and the other children saw when they arrived at Manor House would haunt her for life. Her eight year old sister, Lilly had insisted that she go with them that day and it was their father, Karel Bauer, who was the Wehrmacht commander who allowed, Katya to attend even though she was too young to go.
Years later in 1949 in Oslo, Norway, Katya, Lilly and their mother, Sonja were in an interment camp. The camp had one hundred and eighty other women and children. Katya often thought about her father as she didn't know if he was still alive. One day whilst they were at the camp Katya, Lilly and Sonja thought their lives were going to improve after a Norwegian man named Lars Thomassen rescued them from the camp. Their happiness was quickly turned to sadness when they learned they had been purchased to serve as unpaid laborers on his farm. Lars would go into violent fits of anger when things were not done to his liking.
As time passes Katya would lose both her sister and mother in horrible circumstances and Katya would be left living with her grandmother, but Katya wasn't safe there so her grandmother took her to a place called Klindenspiel Manor. Katya's grandmother really felt this was the best and safest place for Katya. Having only been at Klindenspiel for a short while, Katya soon learns about the circus at Klindenspiel. This is a circus that has no animals and the only performers are the children. And it's not long before, Katya is one of the performers which is where she meets Aleks who will be her partner in acrobatics.
It soon becomes apparent to Katya that the children of Klindenspiel carry around the same horrible secret as she does from the war days, but Katya would rather it stay in the past. Klindenspiel had its own deep and dark secrets and there was a certain area of Klindenspiel that the children were petrified of entering, but just what was in there that had the children so scared?
I thoroughly loved this story and found myself fully immersed in the story. A wonderful page turner which had me on the edge of my seat a number of times. A thrilling and very entertaining read which I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Years later in 1949 in Oslo, Norway, Katya, Lilly and their mother, Sonja were in an interment camp. The camp had one hundred and eighty other women and children. Katya often thought about her father as she didn't know if he was still alive. One day whilst they were at the camp Katya, Lilly and Sonja thought their lives were going to improve after a Norwegian man named Lars Thomassen rescued them from the camp. Their happiness was quickly turned to sadness when they learned they had been purchased to serve as unpaid laborers on his farm. Lars would go into violent fits of anger when things were not done to his liking.
As time passes Katya would lose both her sister and mother in horrible circumstances and Katya would be left living with her grandmother, but Katya wasn't safe there so her grandmother took her to a place called Klindenspiel Manor. Katya's grandmother really felt this was the best and safest place for Katya. Having only been at Klindenspiel for a short while, Katya soon learns about the circus at Klindenspiel. This is a circus that has no animals and the only performers are the children. And it's not long before, Katya is one of the performers which is where she meets Aleks who will be her partner in acrobatics.
It soon becomes apparent to Katya that the children of Klindenspiel carry around the same horrible secret as she does from the war days, but Katya would rather it stay in the past. Klindenspiel had its own deep and dark secrets and there was a certain area of Klindenspiel that the children were petrified of entering, but just what was in there that had the children so scared?
I thoroughly loved this story and found myself fully immersed in the story. A wonderful page turner which had me on the edge of my seat a number of times. A thrilling and very entertaining read which I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
December 18, 2014
It was 1945 and Katarina (Katya) Holberg was really too young at six years old to go to the Manor House with the other children, but her father, the Wehrmacht commander Karel Bauer relented when Katya’s sister Lilly begged him to allow her sister to go. The horrors of that day were etched in Katya and Lilly’s memories for a long time with their survival a miracle.
Eight years later, the war is over and Katya, Lilly and their mother had been in the internment camp in Oslo for some time. When they were taken from the camp by a Norwegian man, they had no idea their lives were about to get much worse. Finally with Katya having lost both her beloved sister and her mother in a most brutal way, her grandmother was in despair for Katya’s safety. With no idea how to help her fifteen year old granddaughter, the sudden discovery of a place called Klindenspiel seemed like a godsend. When she was accepted into the special school, Katya’s grandmother was sad but content.
As Katya learned more about Klindenspiel, the realization came that the circus performers were all children who held a deep dark secret of the war days; a secret just like hers – and one she wasn’t prepared to tell. Her partner in acrobatics was seventeen year old Aleks; but did he have secrets as well? What was the dreaded “Stables”? And why were all the children terrified of going back there? Would Katya and Aleks be able to perform as was expected of them? Their uneasiness and fear needed to be kept under tight control…
Wow! Gripping, filled with suspense and tension, Last Stop Klindenspiel is a brilliant thriller. Gut wrenching in its realism, it has an amazing plot; the characters are great with depth and emotion. It also reminded me a little of The Night Circus which I loved. This is my first by author Marta Tandori and it won’t be my last! Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Eight years later, the war is over and Katya, Lilly and their mother had been in the internment camp in Oslo for some time. When they were taken from the camp by a Norwegian man, they had no idea their lives were about to get much worse. Finally with Katya having lost both her beloved sister and her mother in a most brutal way, her grandmother was in despair for Katya’s safety. With no idea how to help her fifteen year old granddaughter, the sudden discovery of a place called Klindenspiel seemed like a godsend. When she was accepted into the special school, Katya’s grandmother was sad but content.
As Katya learned more about Klindenspiel, the realization came that the circus performers were all children who held a deep dark secret of the war days; a secret just like hers – and one she wasn’t prepared to tell. Her partner in acrobatics was seventeen year old Aleks; but did he have secrets as well? What was the dreaded “Stables”? And why were all the children terrified of going back there? Would Katya and Aleks be able to perform as was expected of them? Their uneasiness and fear needed to be kept under tight control…
Wow! Gripping, filled with suspense and tension, Last Stop Klindenspiel is a brilliant thriller. Gut wrenching in its realism, it has an amazing plot; the characters are great with depth and emotion. It also reminded me a little of The Night Circus which I loved. This is my first by author Marta Tandori and it won’t be my last! Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
December 27, 2014
My identification with Katya made this a tough read because she experienced so many traumatic events during and after World War II. I had to take frequent breaks from the book in order to cope with its raw intensity.
The circus Klindenspiel was supposed to be a haven for Katya. She would be able to exhibit the skills as a contortionist that she had learned from her mother. Yet the young performers at Klindenspiel were submerged in a miasma of fear and antagonism toward their superiors and each other. Katya wanted to understand why there was so much negativity. She idealistically wanted to improve the lives of everyone at Klindenspiel, and she received unexpected support from some very unlikely sources.
What I appreciated about this book was the history, the character relationships, the suspense, the surprising plot twists and the imaginative concept. Marta Tandori did everything right in this book.
I'm still mystified about how Katya Holberg eventually became Kate Stanton, but I was completely satisfied by the resolution of this particular chapter in her life.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
The circus Klindenspiel was supposed to be a haven for Katya. She would be able to exhibit the skills as a contortionist that she had learned from her mother. Yet the young performers at Klindenspiel were submerged in a miasma of fear and antagonism toward their superiors and each other. Katya wanted to understand why there was so much negativity. She idealistically wanted to improve the lives of everyone at Klindenspiel, and she received unexpected support from some very unlikely sources.
What I appreciated about this book was the history, the character relationships, the suspense, the surprising plot twists and the imaginative concept. Marta Tandori did everything right in this book.
I'm still mystified about how Katya Holberg eventually became Kate Stanton, but I was completely satisfied by the resolution of this particular chapter in her life.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2014/...
March 1, 2015
Not so bad as a freebie.
December 24, 2014
To me, the beginning read as if it were a back story or perhaps an outline of a novel. The main character is quick-marched through a series of events, finally slowing at the point where the story actually begins.
I'm not an authority on the Holocaust, but from the interviews I've read, Nazi officers who worked in concentration camps did not share that portion of their lives with their families, not to mention actually taking their young children on a field trip of their places of employment to observe naked women, men, and children herded along, brutalized, and murdered. I'm extremely skeptical of this scene. I'm more than skeptical of the idea that a Nazi official would arrange such a field trip when the allies are within miles of the camp and the war is clearly lost. From what I've read, concentration camp officials were falling over themselves at that point trying to hide the evidence and to find a way out of Dodge.
In the back story portion of the novel, the main character, Katya, responds emotionally *retrospectively* to traumatic events such as her mother's death or her father's matter-of-fact tour of a concentration camp and its horrors. My thought later was: Why not begin the story with the actual intended story and have her retrospective emotions occur in flashbacks (since they were retrospective even in real time during the first stage of the story; for instance, pages pass before she shows any emotion about her mom's murder, and her emotions are curiously absent when she witnesses the concentration camp horrors)?
By some coincidence, the writing seems much worse in the beginning. While I don't completely accept Stephen King's dictum "The road to hell is paved with adverbs," I also don't believe that the "path to paradise" is paved with him. In the first twenty or thirty pages, it seemed to me that the author rarely missed an adverbial opportunity.
When the true story finally begins with Katya joining an odd Polish circus, the writing and the story itself quickly pick up with a cast of interesting characters, an original setting, a bit of a mystery, and some brisk adventure. From that point on, I'd rate it four stars. As it is, I averaged the (in my opinion) two star beginning with the four star middle and end. Also, an original story idea, which I very much appreciated.
But where were the vampires? :) I guess there were no need for supernatural ghouls in this story. Humanity often offers up the most frightening monsters of all.
I'm not an authority on the Holocaust, but from the interviews I've read, Nazi officers who worked in concentration camps did not share that portion of their lives with their families, not to mention actually taking their young children on a field trip of their places of employment to observe naked women, men, and children herded along, brutalized, and murdered. I'm extremely skeptical of this scene. I'm more than skeptical of the idea that a Nazi official would arrange such a field trip when the allies are within miles of the camp and the war is clearly lost. From what I've read, concentration camp officials were falling over themselves at that point trying to hide the evidence and to find a way out of Dodge.
In the back story portion of the novel, the main character, Katya, responds emotionally *retrospectively* to traumatic events such as her mother's death or her father's matter-of-fact tour of a concentration camp and its horrors. My thought later was: Why not begin the story with the actual intended story and have her retrospective emotions occur in flashbacks (since they were retrospective even in real time during the first stage of the story; for instance, pages pass before she shows any emotion about her mom's murder, and her emotions are curiously absent when she witnesses the concentration camp horrors)?
By some coincidence, the writing seems much worse in the beginning. While I don't completely accept Stephen King's dictum "The road to hell is paved with adverbs," I also don't believe that the "path to paradise" is paved with him. In the first twenty or thirty pages, it seemed to me that the author rarely missed an adverbial opportunity.
When the true story finally begins with Katya joining an odd Polish circus, the writing and the story itself quickly pick up with a cast of interesting characters, an original setting, a bit of a mystery, and some brisk adventure. From that point on, I'd rate it four stars. As it is, I averaged the (in my opinion) two star beginning with the four star middle and end. Also, an original story idea, which I very much appreciated.
But where were the vampires? :) I guess there were no need for supernatural ghouls in this story. Humanity often offers up the most frightening monsters of all.
February 19, 2017
Not sure how I feel about this book. Was not excited to get back to it each time I laid it down. Not a favorite.
December 15, 2018
This was not a book that I would usually pick up but since I received it from Good Reads I decided to give it a try. Could not put it down. Great book.
December 18, 2014
LAST STOP KLINDENSPIEL by Marta Tandori
I received a free copy of this book in eBook form from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts in 1945. Katya is six years old. Her mother is Norwegian and her father is a high ranking German SS officer. She has grown up never leaving the plush residential compound that housed German officers and their families.
Nothing in Katya's six short years of life has prepared her for the drastic changes her life was about to undergo.
Allied troops overrun the "prison" camp that was run by her father and Katya, her sister and her mother are taken into custody.
What follows this is one injustice after another for the next ten years.
After losing most of the people she loves, and being scorned and threatened by the residents of the village where she lives, Katya's grandmother sends her to Poland to become part of a circus. "...No animals or clowns, I'm told - it's all made up of children performers."
Traveling to Poland she discovers an envelope with her name on it. Inside is documentation regarding her birth. This information details the fact that she was part of Hitler's Lebensborn Program. The purpose of this program was "to promote the growth of the Aryan population." It was this information that answered many of Katya's questions about her parentage and why people seemed to hate her even though they knew very little about her. "The war had ended, Hitler had been defeated, and those women unfortunate enough to be saddled with genetically half-German children were ostracized for spawning the enemy's offspring."
After arriving at Klindenspiel, Katya begins training to be part of the circus. Living in the manor house with comfortable beds, clean clothes and lots of food to eat, life seems to finally be looking up for Katya.
However, looks can be deceiving and the more Katya learns about her new home, the more she begins to fear for her future.
There are many secrets in Klindenspiel and Katya is determined to uncover them all. What she finds will both shock and amaze her. Katya must make a choice. Will she close her eyes to what she sees going on around her? Will she worry only about herself?
This book is the very definition of a "page-turner". I did not want to stop reading.
The mixture of history, drama and intrigue is simply perfection.
Marta Tandori writes with eloquence and poise. Her descriptions of places and events are so vivid that they are easy to picture in your mind. She is able to convey emotion with perfect phrasing. For instance; you can feel the love that Katya's grandmother feels for her when the author writes: "Borghild smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Katya's ear. 'Wild horses couldn't keep me away'." Her attention to detail also adds to the story. Readers cannot help but become absorbed by her descriptive writing.
This was the first Marta Tandori book I have read, but it will definitely not be the last. I am now a definite fan!
To find out more about the author, visit her online at http://martatandori.com
This story is fictional, but Hitler's Lebensborn Program was very real. When we hear stories about the Nazis during World War Two, they mostly focus on the concentration camps and on the horrific medical experiments that were conducted on the Jewish people. Very little is heard about Hitler's attempt to create a Master Race. In fact, I consider myself very well read and well educated, but until reading this book I had not heard of Hitler's Lebensborn Program. I decided to look for more information and was shocked by what I found. This fact proves that reading fiction can be just as educational and enlightening as reading nonfiction. To read more about this topic, visit http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/E...
To read more of my reviews, visit my blog at http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
I received a free copy of this book in eBook form from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts in 1945. Katya is six years old. Her mother is Norwegian and her father is a high ranking German SS officer. She has grown up never leaving the plush residential compound that housed German officers and their families.
Nothing in Katya's six short years of life has prepared her for the drastic changes her life was about to undergo.
Allied troops overrun the "prison" camp that was run by her father and Katya, her sister and her mother are taken into custody.
What follows this is one injustice after another for the next ten years.
After losing most of the people she loves, and being scorned and threatened by the residents of the village where she lives, Katya's grandmother sends her to Poland to become part of a circus. "...No animals or clowns, I'm told - it's all made up of children performers."
Traveling to Poland she discovers an envelope with her name on it. Inside is documentation regarding her birth. This information details the fact that she was part of Hitler's Lebensborn Program. The purpose of this program was "to promote the growth of the Aryan population." It was this information that answered many of Katya's questions about her parentage and why people seemed to hate her even though they knew very little about her. "The war had ended, Hitler had been defeated, and those women unfortunate enough to be saddled with genetically half-German children were ostracized for spawning the enemy's offspring."
After arriving at Klindenspiel, Katya begins training to be part of the circus. Living in the manor house with comfortable beds, clean clothes and lots of food to eat, life seems to finally be looking up for Katya.
However, looks can be deceiving and the more Katya learns about her new home, the more she begins to fear for her future.
There are many secrets in Klindenspiel and Katya is determined to uncover them all. What she finds will both shock and amaze her. Katya must make a choice. Will she close her eyes to what she sees going on around her? Will she worry only about herself?
This book is the very definition of a "page-turner". I did not want to stop reading.
The mixture of history, drama and intrigue is simply perfection.
Marta Tandori writes with eloquence and poise. Her descriptions of places and events are so vivid that they are easy to picture in your mind. She is able to convey emotion with perfect phrasing. For instance; you can feel the love that Katya's grandmother feels for her when the author writes: "Borghild smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Katya's ear. 'Wild horses couldn't keep me away'." Her attention to detail also adds to the story. Readers cannot help but become absorbed by her descriptive writing.
This was the first Marta Tandori book I have read, but it will definitely not be the last. I am now a definite fan!
To find out more about the author, visit her online at http://martatandori.com
This story is fictional, but Hitler's Lebensborn Program was very real. When we hear stories about the Nazis during World War Two, they mostly focus on the concentration camps and on the horrific medical experiments that were conducted on the Jewish people. Very little is heard about Hitler's attempt to create a Master Race. In fact, I consider myself very well read and well educated, but until reading this book I had not heard of Hitler's Lebensborn Program. I decided to look for more information and was shocked by what I found. This fact proves that reading fiction can be just as educational and enlightening as reading nonfiction. To read more about this topic, visit http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/E...
To read more of my reviews, visit my blog at http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
December 15, 2014
As a history buff I was intrigued about Last Stop Klindenspiel, even more so because of the time period. The effects of WWII still vibrates through our modern world today through various policies and agreements made after the War ended. Thus, when Marta Tandoori choose to write about the Lebensborn Children, a subject rarely brought to light - I could not wait to devour this novel.
The Lebensborn Children was an experiment headed by Heinrich Himmler. He believed he was able to genetically bring forth children who were "racially pure and healthy" by encouraging SS officers to to have children with Aryan Women. These blond hair, blue eyes babies will be the new superior race of the world. And this is how Tandori's story begins with little Katya Holberg. She is an offspring of the Lesbensorn experiment and and slowly realizes this as the story unfolds.
I want to start with the wonderful aspects about this book. It was an easy read and it so gut-wrenchingly real. The atrocities that happened during and after the war were some of the things that Tandori was able to convey so adequately. I was able to feel every single emotion Katya felt during her life and to her last stop to Klindenspiel. The first five chapters were absolutely incredible.
The beginning of the book were the best parts. It really sets up Katya to be a great heroine because of the things she has experienced and discovered about herself. The plot of the book, I think, was very predictable. Yet it was still able to entertain the audience and came together quite nicely. The use of an elite circus school for children was very unique and fun. It brought out a different element/characteristic of Katya - someone with confidence despite her past losses. The romance between Katya and Aleks, who she meets at the circus, was sweet. Tandori found a common link and it tied together beautifully.
However, I think this book could have been amazing but the ending killed it for me. There is a slight cliff hanger...slight and then everything is nicely wrapped up in a bow - everything solved. It was such a strong story highlighting child servitude, racial stigma, rape, and casualties of war and ended like a sappy twilight novel. I guess with all the heavy issues, one may wanted to end it light but I think it did disservice to Katya. I guess in my eyes, Katya never needed a hero. She evolved into her own hero because of what she endured and survived... yet at the end she gave credit to someone else.
Overall though, this was still a wonderful read especially during the holidays. The issues that were brought up in the novel are still real today. This novel is not for the light of heart but for someone who wants to feel a little more of life's realities.
The Lebensborn Children was an experiment headed by Heinrich Himmler. He believed he was able to genetically bring forth children who were "racially pure and healthy" by encouraging SS officers to to have children with Aryan Women. These blond hair, blue eyes babies will be the new superior race of the world. And this is how Tandori's story begins with little Katya Holberg. She is an offspring of the Lesbensorn experiment and and slowly realizes this as the story unfolds.
I want to start with the wonderful aspects about this book. It was an easy read and it so gut-wrenchingly real. The atrocities that happened during and after the war were some of the things that Tandori was able to convey so adequately. I was able to feel every single emotion Katya felt during her life and to her last stop to Klindenspiel. The first five chapters were absolutely incredible.
The beginning of the book were the best parts. It really sets up Katya to be a great heroine because of the things she has experienced and discovered about herself. The plot of the book, I think, was very predictable. Yet it was still able to entertain the audience and came together quite nicely. The use of an elite circus school for children was very unique and fun. It brought out a different element/characteristic of Katya - someone with confidence despite her past losses. The romance between Katya and Aleks, who she meets at the circus, was sweet. Tandori found a common link and it tied together beautifully.
However, I think this book could have been amazing but the ending killed it for me. There is a slight cliff hanger...slight and then everything is nicely wrapped up in a bow - everything solved. It was such a strong story highlighting child servitude, racial stigma, rape, and casualties of war and ended like a sappy twilight novel. I guess with all the heavy issues, one may wanted to end it light but I think it did disservice to Katya. I guess in my eyes, Katya never needed a hero. She evolved into her own hero because of what she endured and survived... yet at the end she gave credit to someone else.
Overall though, this was still a wonderful read especially during the holidays. The issues that were brought up in the novel are still real today. This novel is not for the light of heart but for someone who wants to feel a little more of life's realities.
December 31, 2014
There is no doubt that the atrocities performed by the Nazis during World War II were horrific and inhumane. LAST STOP KLINDENSPIEL provides a glimpse of the Lebensborn program that was started to begin to fulfill the idea of a pure Aryan race. As a novel aimed at young adults in the 21st century, I'm not sure this book provides enough background for them to grasp the extent of the psychological damage done to thousands of children in the name of racial purity.
When writing a period piece, it is not only important to portray the basic history with a large degree of accuracy, but to also research the vernacular and vocabulary of the day. I can understand the desire to convey information to an audience in a way that they will understand, but to have an aging Nazi military officer use the expression "genetic DNA" while discussing his Lebensborn children, is just too modern for the time. My first exposure to the term DNA came in an honors biology class in 1962. Although the term was in use in scientific circles as early as the setting of the book (1950), it did not come into everyday use until the 1980s with the advent of DNA analysis in criminal cases.
I did find LAST STOP KLINDENSPIEL to be a compelling read with very believable characters. Marta Tandori shows us places that feel very real. Katya Holberg is both a strong and engaging heroine that combines many of the attributes I would look for in a role model for any girl.
Klindenspiel seems less a circus and more a gymnastic display. There is no sideshow, and there are no animal acts or clowns. I felt that the author wrote about practice and performance from a point of personal experience.
It is my understanding that LAST STOP KLINDENSPIEL is the back story for the Kate Stanton mystery series. It is listed as book 1 in the series although it was written chronologically after book 5. I look forward to reading FORBIDDEN to see how the the child Katya transitions to the adult Kate.
==========
Lebensborn information can be found on WikiPedia at http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebens..., in Jewish Virtual Library at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/j..., an article in Der Spiegel (November 2006) at http://www.spiegel.de/international/n..., and more sites if you search Lebensborn.
When writing a period piece, it is not only important to portray the basic history with a large degree of accuracy, but to also research the vernacular and vocabulary of the day. I can understand the desire to convey information to an audience in a way that they will understand, but to have an aging Nazi military officer use the expression "genetic DNA" while discussing his Lebensborn children, is just too modern for the time. My first exposure to the term DNA came in an honors biology class in 1962. Although the term was in use in scientific circles as early as the setting of the book (1950), it did not come into everyday use until the 1980s with the advent of DNA analysis in criminal cases.
I did find LAST STOP KLINDENSPIEL to be a compelling read with very believable characters. Marta Tandori shows us places that feel very real. Katya Holberg is both a strong and engaging heroine that combines many of the attributes I would look for in a role model for any girl.
Klindenspiel seems less a circus and more a gymnastic display. There is no sideshow, and there are no animal acts or clowns. I felt that the author wrote about practice and performance from a point of personal experience.
It is my understanding that LAST STOP KLINDENSPIEL is the back story for the Kate Stanton mystery series. It is listed as book 1 in the series although it was written chronologically after book 5. I look forward to reading FORBIDDEN to see how the the child Katya transitions to the adult Kate.
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Lebensborn information can be found on WikiPedia at http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebens..., in Jewish Virtual Library at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/j..., an article in Der Spiegel (November 2006) at http://www.spiegel.de/international/n..., and more sites if you search Lebensborn.
November 12, 2014
Evil comes in many forms, and Kate Stanton has seen it all.
What happens to the Lebensborn Children, the product of Hitler’s perfect race after the war was over? Ask Katya Holberg, or I should say, Kate Stanton. Born to a beautiful Norwegian mother, Sonja, and Karl, a high ranking officer for the Third Reich, Katya’s life is destroyed the day the allies liberate the concentration camp that Katya’s father runs. Life is now a living hell, and one by one, Katya loses everything and everyone she loves tragically until she ends up a captive of Klindenspiel.
Katya has no idea what happened to her father; her mother died brutally, her body desecrated, after doing everything she could to make sure her daughters were safe, and her precious little sister Lilly, beaten to death before her eyes. Hoping to find safety living with her grandmother in Norway was a lost cause. To her grandmother’s neighbors, Katya represented evil, and threats were made against both their lives. Because of the acrobatic training Katya had received from her mother, her grandmother decides that the safest place for her is Klindenspiel, known to the public as the elite school for students gifted enough to be circus stars. To outsiders, the children are happy and well taken care of; but to Katya, it is not much better than the internment camp of times past. Even now she fears that there is no one in whom she can trust. Katya’s talent as a contortionist leads her to the top of class, making her the female star attraction, which puts in a position she wants nothing of. Afraid to trust anyone, what kind of future will Katya have, if any? Everyday a new evil knocks on her door, until the day her past crushes the door down.
This book is a great wake up call for today’s youth; my niece thinks the world is going to end because the battery died on her mp3 player. Though filled with horrific representations of what these children went through, it is no more graphic than Hunger Games, and I feel sends a much better message. Youth or adult – it is well worth the read. Look for the rest of the Kate Stanton series at Amazon. Great job, again, Marta Tandori!!
What happens to the Lebensborn Children, the product of Hitler’s perfect race after the war was over? Ask Katya Holberg, or I should say, Kate Stanton. Born to a beautiful Norwegian mother, Sonja, and Karl, a high ranking officer for the Third Reich, Katya’s life is destroyed the day the allies liberate the concentration camp that Katya’s father runs. Life is now a living hell, and one by one, Katya loses everything and everyone she loves tragically until she ends up a captive of Klindenspiel.
Katya has no idea what happened to her father; her mother died brutally, her body desecrated, after doing everything she could to make sure her daughters were safe, and her precious little sister Lilly, beaten to death before her eyes. Hoping to find safety living with her grandmother in Norway was a lost cause. To her grandmother’s neighbors, Katya represented evil, and threats were made against both their lives. Because of the acrobatic training Katya had received from her mother, her grandmother decides that the safest place for her is Klindenspiel, known to the public as the elite school for students gifted enough to be circus stars. To outsiders, the children are happy and well taken care of; but to Katya, it is not much better than the internment camp of times past. Even now she fears that there is no one in whom she can trust. Katya’s talent as a contortionist leads her to the top of class, making her the female star attraction, which puts in a position she wants nothing of. Afraid to trust anyone, what kind of future will Katya have, if any? Everyday a new evil knocks on her door, until the day her past crushes the door down.
This book is a great wake up call for today’s youth; my niece thinks the world is going to end because the battery died on her mp3 player. Though filled with horrific representations of what these children went through, it is no more graphic than Hunger Games, and I feel sends a much better message. Youth or adult – it is well worth the read. Look for the rest of the Kate Stanton series at Amazon. Great job, again, Marta Tandori!!
December 18, 2014
Powerful post-war YA drama/adventure
A young adult novel set primarily in the Europe of the first decade post-World War II, Last Stop Klindenspiel is a very successful blend of historical fact and fiction. Although it was written as a backstory to an established series, it stands very well on its own merit as an independent story.
Katya Holberg's story is horrifyingly plausible, being based on the historical setting and reflecting similar experiences of real people. The fictional aspects are so intertwined with the context that it is actually difficult to separate the two. The story is realistic, avoiding overly convenient coincidences and not requiring much in the way of suspension of disbelief from the reader. This is in fact one of the things that made it difficult for me to read - it was too realistic, and therefore too disturbing.
Characterization is quite powerful, certainly well done in the main characters, and while some of the minor characters are glossed or two-dimensional, I felt it was above average in this genre. Marta Tandori's plot and pace were very good. Final editing was, if not quite there, nearly perfect. Overall I was impressed with the quality and pitch of the writing. Highly recommended for fans of this genre and setting.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and objective review.
A young adult novel set primarily in the Europe of the first decade post-World War II, Last Stop Klindenspiel is a very successful blend of historical fact and fiction. Although it was written as a backstory to an established series, it stands very well on its own merit as an independent story.
Katya Holberg's story is horrifyingly plausible, being based on the historical setting and reflecting similar experiences of real people. The fictional aspects are so intertwined with the context that it is actually difficult to separate the two. The story is realistic, avoiding overly convenient coincidences and not requiring much in the way of suspension of disbelief from the reader. This is in fact one of the things that made it difficult for me to read - it was too realistic, and therefore too disturbing.
Characterization is quite powerful, certainly well done in the main characters, and while some of the minor characters are glossed or two-dimensional, I felt it was above average in this genre. Marta Tandori's plot and pace were very good. Final editing was, if not quite there, nearly perfect. Overall I was impressed with the quality and pitch of the writing. Highly recommended for fans of this genre and setting.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and objective review.
December 18, 2014
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am quite glad that this is the first book that I have read in the Kate Stanton mystery series, being that it is a prequel and showcases Kate when she was known as Katya Holberg. I usually am not one to read books out of order, but this is one case where I feel that it was necessary. As one of the Lebensborn Children, Katya was a product of Hitler’s drive to create the perfect race. Her strength of character is a direct result of the adversity she faced as a child. This book was well written and conveyed the emotions and horrors of the time period perfectly. I knew very little of the subject matter when beginning this book, but I feel that I have a good grasp on this particular part of WWII history. I recommend this to those who want to explore a fictional account of a very real time in history and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Kate Stanton series.
August 9, 2015
Right away the story was an emotional read..Kept on through the whole book.Filled with tragedy and deep raw emotions. I rated.it a final 4 stars from different parts.Mostly due to part of how it was able to capture the way it depicted that Era in History through the eyes of a child and makes you wonder how a single deranged man,could try to change the world and how many children were bred for his sick reasoning only and not for love.Also because of the surprise,which I did not see coming in the book.I would like to know it Katya and Aleks ever saw.each other again.And was the villain ever found?If you like to read about the Nazi Era and see it through eyes.of forgotten children,then this is the read for you.
December 23, 2014
I didn't think that I would have liked this book as much as I did. I actually put off reading it, because these types of books always make me sad, and I don't like being sad. I wish I had read it earlier.
The main character Katya, was such an amazing girl. She was brave, honest, loyal, kind, and hopeful. I felt so sorry for Katya, because she went through so much, and yet it didn't make her bitter in life.
Katya's story was heart-wrenching, but she did have a happy ending.
The main character Katya, was such an amazing girl. She was brave, honest, loyal, kind, and hopeful. I felt so sorry for Katya, because she went through so much, and yet it didn't make her bitter in life.
Katya's story was heart-wrenching, but she did have a happy ending.
January 30, 2015
Katya, a "special child" who had blond hair and blue eyes had a Norwegian mother and a Nazi father. She went through an ordeal when the bus she was riding along with other special children was bombed and she escaped with her sister. Eventually she was approached to join the Klindenspiel. Who was Karel Bauer and Ivan Jaworski? and Who had all the stolen art and jewelry that the Nazi's took? Would The war criminal get caught?
What a moving story!
What a moving story!
December 27, 2014
A book that starts out a bit gruesome and then becomes a fun story that is part mystery/suspense and part adventure, as a young girl, daughter of a Nazi concentration camp officer, struggles to adjust to life in a circus while making sense of her dark past. I'd recommend this to readers 13+ because of the violent nature of several scenes.
December 22, 2014
Beautiful Story
I absolutely love, love, loved every word of it!!!
the underlying histirical truths make it very interesting to say the least!!!
I absolutely love, love, loved every word of it!!!
the underlying histirical truths make it very interesting to say the least!!!
Read
January 24, 2016Easy read, good story dealing with WWII and Nazi Germany.
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