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Sienų išskirti
1943-ieji, Vokietija. Ašaromis paplūdusi Džordana šaukiasi mamos, bet kareivių rankos išdrasko šeimą į skirtingas puses – ji su broliu ir seserimi negailestingai atplėšiama nuo tėvų. Paskutinę akimirką susitikus žvilgsniams, širdį perveria skaudžiausias klausimas: ar jie dar susitiks?
Lenkija. Penkiolikmetė Džordana su kitais jaunuoliais atsiduria našlaičių stovykloje. Nuo aušros iki sutemų – alinantis darbas, pažeminimai ir kaustanti baimė. Tačiau naktimis ji tyliai verkdama meldžia, kad tai būtų netiesa – kad mama ir tėtis vis dar gyvi ir kada nors pasitiks juos išskėstomis rankomis. Bet tam, kad išliktų, Džordana privalo nuslėpti pavojingą tiesą: jie ne lenkų našlaičiai. Jie – žydų vaikai...
Aušvicas. Tuo metu už šimtų kilometrų, Aušvico pragare, Džordanos mama Dalija kiekvieną akimirką kovoja, kad išgyventų. Kasdien ji meldžiasi, kad vyrui pavyktų išgelbėti jųdviejų vaikus. Tačiau silpstant kūnui, o širdžiai vis stipriau reikalaujant tęsti kovą, Dalija supranta – ji nebegali tik laukti stebuklo. Rizikuodama gyvybe, moteris įsitraukia į slaptą pasipriešinimą, tikėdamasi vieno – susigrąžinti šeimą.
Nors motiną ir dukrą skiria aukštos sienos, spygliuotos vielos ir šimtai kilometrų, nepalaužiama viltis, kad kada nors ateis diena, kai visa šeima vėl susitiks, stipresnė už bet kokią baimę. Tik ar meilė gali įveikti beribę Aušvico tamsą? Ar Dalija dar apkabins Džordaną? O gal jų laukia dar vienas skaudus išsiskyrimas?
„Sienų išskirti“ – sielą virpinantis pasakojimas apie meilę, ryžtą ir viltį, stipresnę už visas sienas.
Lenkija. Penkiolikmetė Džordana su kitais jaunuoliais atsiduria našlaičių stovykloje. Nuo aušros iki sutemų – alinantis darbas, pažeminimai ir kaustanti baimė. Tačiau naktimis ji tyliai verkdama meldžia, kad tai būtų netiesa – kad mama ir tėtis vis dar gyvi ir kada nors pasitiks juos išskėstomis rankomis. Bet tam, kad išliktų, Džordana privalo nuslėpti pavojingą tiesą: jie ne lenkų našlaičiai. Jie – žydų vaikai...
Aušvicas. Tuo metu už šimtų kilometrų, Aušvico pragare, Džordanos mama Dalija kiekvieną akimirką kovoja, kad išgyventų. Kasdien ji meldžiasi, kad vyrui pavyktų išgelbėti jųdviejų vaikus. Tačiau silpstant kūnui, o širdžiai vis stipriau reikalaujant tęsti kovą, Dalija supranta – ji nebegali tik laukti stebuklo. Rizikuodama gyvybe, moteris įsitraukia į slaptą pasipriešinimą, tikėdamasi vieno – susigrąžinti šeimą.
Nors motiną ir dukrą skiria aukštos sienos, spygliuotos vielos ir šimtai kilometrų, nepalaužiama viltis, kad kada nors ateis diena, kai visa šeima vėl susitiks, stipresnė už bet kokią baimę. Tik ar meilė gali įveikti beribę Aušvico tamsą? Ar Dalija dar apkabins Džordaną? O gal jų laukia dar vienas skaudus išsiskyrimas?
„Sienų išskirti“ – sielą virpinantis pasakojimas apie meilę, ryžtą ir viltį, stipresnę už visas sienas.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2025
1494 people are currently reading
845 people want to read
About the author
Shari J. Ryan
65 books2,012 followersShari J. Ryan is a USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over 40 novels, with more than 700,000 copies sold and translations in 13 languages. She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories that have resonated with readers around the globe. Her work has earned Top 100, Top 10, and #1 chart rankings, as well as two Rone Awards.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 27, 2024
Leo and Dalia Bergman live with their children, Max, Jordanna and Lilli in an apartment in Hamburg, Germany, but the year is 1943 and this lovely close knit family are about to discover the worst that the Nazi party can inflict upon them - and all because the Bergman’s are Jews.
I won’t go into the synopsis, as so much happened to the family, but the chapters alternate nicely between Dalia’s story and Jordanna’s.
Where do I even begin to translate my thoughts into words - I don’t believe there are enough words that will do this book justice.
It’s a powerful, emotional and beautifully written book, that allows the reader to become very close to the characters. It left me heartbroken, and I don’t mind admitting that I shed more than a few tears.
It’s now almost 80 years since the end of WWII, and the stories of unimaginable horrors still have the power to shock, but they’re an important read, especially at present with so much fighting, unrest and uncertainty in the world. Did the world learn anything from WWII? Sadly it appears not. A stunning read and highly recommended.
*My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
I won’t go into the synopsis, as so much happened to the family, but the chapters alternate nicely between Dalia’s story and Jordanna’s.
Where do I even begin to translate my thoughts into words - I don’t believe there are enough words that will do this book justice.
It’s a powerful, emotional and beautifully written book, that allows the reader to become very close to the characters. It left me heartbroken, and I don’t mind admitting that I shed more than a few tears.
It’s now almost 80 years since the end of WWII, and the stories of unimaginable horrors still have the power to shock, but they’re an important read, especially at present with so much fighting, unrest and uncertainty in the world. Did the world learn anything from WWII? Sadly it appears not. A stunning read and highly recommended.
*My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
January 30, 2025
Good lord, how do I go about reviewing this book...
This story is WWII fiction, and whilst I've said many times, the genre is highly saturated. However, when I saw the author was Shari J Ryan and saw the blurb, I knew I had to read it.
This is one of the most compelling yet beautiful books I've read from this author. There are characters you care about and want to see through to the end, which I think is so important in this genre. It is a heartrenching read, but absolutely needed.
This story is WWII fiction, and whilst I've said many times, the genre is highly saturated. However, when I saw the author was Shari J Ryan and saw the blurb, I knew I had to read it.
This is one of the most compelling yet beautiful books I've read from this author. There are characters you care about and want to see through to the end, which I think is so important in this genre. It is a heartrenching read, but absolutely needed.
January 25, 2025
4.5★s
It was 1943 in Germany when the Bergman family were cruelly separated. Their apartment in Hamburg was in danger of becoming a fireball, and although the nearby shelter was full, they squeezed in. But it didn't take the Nazis long to drag them out - first Dalia and Leo, then their children, Max, Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie. Dalia ended up in Auschwitz, while Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie were at a Polish camp for orphans. Leo and Max went in different directions - all heartbroken and wondering if they would ever see each other again. Jordanna and her siblings were worked hard, with little to no food. Exhausted, hungry - it was hard to keep hope in their hearts, but they tried to.
Dalia worked in the infirmary in Auschwitz, where she became robotic, watching the prisoners die one by one. With little to no medical supplies, it was a cruel and sick joke that no one except the Nazis were laughing about. When Dalia joined the camp's inside resistance, it gave her a modicum of hope, but also put her in dreadful danger. Dalia's hope was to see her family again, to reunite with hugs and kisses, but she had no clue whether it would happen or not...
The Family Behind the Walls is another well written holocaust story by Shari J. Ryan. Written in the voices of Dalia and Jordanna, the heartbreak was devastating, the actions of the Germans once again horrifying. Recommended to fans of the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
It was 1943 in Germany when the Bergman family were cruelly separated. Their apartment in Hamburg was in danger of becoming a fireball, and although the nearby shelter was full, they squeezed in. But it didn't take the Nazis long to drag them out - first Dalia and Leo, then their children, Max, Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie. Dalia ended up in Auschwitz, while Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie were at a Polish camp for orphans. Leo and Max went in different directions - all heartbroken and wondering if they would ever see each other again. Jordanna and her siblings were worked hard, with little to no food. Exhausted, hungry - it was hard to keep hope in their hearts, but they tried to.
Dalia worked in the infirmary in Auschwitz, where she became robotic, watching the prisoners die one by one. With little to no medical supplies, it was a cruel and sick joke that no one except the Nazis were laughing about. When Dalia joined the camp's inside resistance, it gave her a modicum of hope, but also put her in dreadful danger. Dalia's hope was to see her family again, to reunite with hugs and kisses, but she had no clue whether it would happen or not...
The Family Behind the Walls is another well written holocaust story by Shari J. Ryan. Written in the voices of Dalia and Jordanna, the heartbreak was devastating, the actions of the Germans once again horrifying. Recommended to fans of the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
December 16, 2024
Leo and Dalia, along with their 3 children, have been living in their apartment in Hamburg when they awake to the sound of destruction. They flea the apartment only to be captured and sent to the Nazi prison camps where they experience the harsh life of difficult work and very little food. The family is split up and they each try to survive without succumbing to the sickness and death surrounding them, always hoping to be reunited as a family once again.
The development of the characters is extraordinary, outlining Leo’s relentless attempts to save his children; Dalia’s daily struggle as a nurse, trying to help others with little supplies to work with; Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie (family friend) who watch over each other at the same camp; Max, the oldest of the children, split up from the others who works tirelessly to get back to the other children. As a reader, I fell in love with every one of these tender-hearted characters. The descriptions of what each character endures puts you right there in their shoes.
This book pulled me in from the very first chapter and I couldn’t put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the book and about the hardships of the characters, anxious to pick it up and read on. I don’t think 5 stars is a high enough rating and would recommend this to anyone without hesitation! Thank you Bookouture and Shari Ryan for the ARC.
The development of the characters is extraordinary, outlining Leo’s relentless attempts to save his children; Dalia’s daily struggle as a nurse, trying to help others with little supplies to work with; Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie (family friend) who watch over each other at the same camp; Max, the oldest of the children, split up from the others who works tirelessly to get back to the other children. As a reader, I fell in love with every one of these tender-hearted characters. The descriptions of what each character endures puts you right there in their shoes.
This book pulled me in from the very first chapter and I couldn’t put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the book and about the hardships of the characters, anxious to pick it up and read on. I don’t think 5 stars is a high enough rating and would recommend this to anyone without hesitation! Thank you Bookouture and Shari Ryan for the ARC.
March 25, 2025
I am a bit of a fan of this author. She has to be towards the top of the list of authors in the over-saturated WW2 market. This book ticks all the boxes. It is rich in vivid descriptions, and she captures a roller-coaster of emotions. However, I would not rank this book as one of her better ones.
December 28, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this book, with my honest review below.
The Family Behind the Walls shares the perspectives of mother and daughter during the Holocaust, and their experiences with family and friends in a concentration camp.
Dalia and Jordanna’s family lives in Germany in an apartment amongst ongoing destruction which causes them to get caught and sent to prison camps. The family is made up of Leo, husband to Dalia, and children Jordanna, Lilli, and Max. All are captured and all go through the unimaginable trying to reunite and survive. This story was hard at times to read because the characters are so vividly written that they might be people you know and love. Their fight could be any of ours, and I’m grateful I had a chance to feel their bravery and faith.
It’s understood that this is heavier subject matter but the author balances the light and dark to make it bearable for the characters and readers alike. I recommend we all read stories like this and remember that this could be us, our family and friends, and reflect on what we would do to prevent this rather than surviving it, as one is far easier and in our control than the other.
The Family Behind the Walls shares the perspectives of mother and daughter during the Holocaust, and their experiences with family and friends in a concentration camp.
Dalia and Jordanna’s family lives in Germany in an apartment amongst ongoing destruction which causes them to get caught and sent to prison camps. The family is made up of Leo, husband to Dalia, and children Jordanna, Lilli, and Max. All are captured and all go through the unimaginable trying to reunite and survive. This story was hard at times to read because the characters are so vividly written that they might be people you know and love. Their fight could be any of ours, and I’m grateful I had a chance to feel their bravery and faith.
It’s understood that this is heavier subject matter but the author balances the light and dark to make it bearable for the characters and readers alike. I recommend we all read stories like this and remember that this could be us, our family and friends, and reflect on what we would do to prevent this rather than surviving it, as one is far easier and in our control than the other.
January 8, 2026
Pirma mintis - dar viena knyga apie Aušvicą. Patikrinam GR - įspūdingas vertinimas. Ok, man jau norisi. Perskaičius galiu pasakyt, kad tai buvo tikrai įsimintina istorija, vertusi apgalvoti labai daug gyvenimo detalių, ne kartą sugraudinusi. Ir taip, sužinojau dar negirdėtų dalykų apie II pasaulinį karą.
Žydų šeimai Bergmanams iki 1943m. pavyko ne tik gauti neliečiamybę, bet ir beveik nesijaudinti dėl savo likimo. Tačiau netikėtai Hamburgą bombardavus, tėvai ir jų 4 vaikai išskiriami. Motina su tėvu taip pat neužsibūna kartu - mama išsiunčiama į Aušvicą, o tėčio likimas nežinomas. Tuo tarpu šeimos atžalos patenka į vaikų kalėjimą/stovyklą, skirtą pasimetusiams, pabėgusiams vaikams.
Tikriausiai nereikia nė kalbėti, kokius baisumus patyrė į Aušvicą patekę žmonės. Ne kartą skaityta ir girdėta. Tačiau vaikų kalėjimas man buvo naujiena. Tokio žiaurumo seniai neteko regėti knygose. Ir vis turėdavau sau priminti, kad tai vyksta su mažais vaikais, likusiais be tėvų, turinčiais visai šviežius prisiminimus apie prieš akis nužudytas šeimas...
Ir vis dėlto labiausiai man patiko pasakojimo stilius. Be galo vaizdinga kalba, kiekvienas sakinys autorės apgalvotas ir toks įtikinamas, priverčiantis pajusti ne tik visas veikėjų išjaustas baimes ir bejėgiškumą, bet taip pat verčiantis kentėti kartu su jais.
Tai buvo labai realistiškas ir labai žiaurus pasakojimas apie vienos šeimos likimą. Apie meilę, kuri veda pirmyn net ir sunkiausiais momentais, apie žmogiškumą tose vietose, kuriose toks žodis neegzistuoja. Tai buvo stipru.
Žydų šeimai Bergmanams iki 1943m. pavyko ne tik gauti neliečiamybę, bet ir beveik nesijaudinti dėl savo likimo. Tačiau netikėtai Hamburgą bombardavus, tėvai ir jų 4 vaikai išskiriami. Motina su tėvu taip pat neužsibūna kartu - mama išsiunčiama į Aušvicą, o tėčio likimas nežinomas. Tuo tarpu šeimos atžalos patenka į vaikų kalėjimą/stovyklą, skirtą pasimetusiams, pabėgusiams vaikams.
Tikriausiai nereikia nė kalbėti, kokius baisumus patyrė į Aušvicą patekę žmonės. Ne kartą skaityta ir girdėta. Tačiau vaikų kalėjimas man buvo naujiena. Tokio žiaurumo seniai neteko regėti knygose. Ir vis turėdavau sau priminti, kad tai vyksta su mažais vaikais, likusiais be tėvų, turinčiais visai šviežius prisiminimus apie prieš akis nužudytas šeimas...
Ir vis dėlto labiausiai man patiko pasakojimo stilius. Be galo vaizdinga kalba, kiekvienas sakinys autorės apgalvotas ir toks įtikinamas, priverčiantis pajusti ne tik visas veikėjų išjaustas baimes ir bejėgiškumą, bet taip pat verčiantis kentėti kartu su jais.
Tai buvo labai realistiškas ir labai žiaurus pasakojimas apie vienos šeimos likimą. Apie meilę, kuri veda pirmyn net ir sunkiausiais momentais, apie žmogiškumą tose vietose, kuriose toks žodis neegzistuoja. Tai buvo stipru.
December 16, 2025
"Naciai iš manęs atėmė viską. Orumas nieko nebereiškia"
Pradžia prasideda su trenksmu. Prasidėjęs karas, sprogimai, po kojomis drebanti žemė, krentantys ugnies kamuoliai, napalmo bombos. O šeima bando pasislėpti. Skaičiau susižavėjusi, kaip įtaigiai ir tikroviškai viskas aprašyta. Atrodo net jaučiu rūdžių ir medžio anglių skonį, dūmai, aplink tvyrantis košmaras.. O blogiausia, kad jie net nežino, kas jų laukia toliau..
"Tikriausiai sapnavau košmarą. Prašau, kad tai būtų košmaras.
Noriu pabusti savo lovoje, išgirsti, kaip koridoriuje niūniuoja mama, ir užuosti šviežiai kepamos duonos kvapą."
Šis istorinis romanas greitai prikaustė mano dėmesį. Istorija pasakojama iš kelių veikėjų perspektyvos, kas leidžia labiau pasinerti į šeimos išgyvenimus, tiek iš mamos tiek iš dukros pozicijų. Man jos net papildė viena kitą. Tačiau ši istorija tikra emocijų karuselė. Kelis kartus buvau palaužta kartu su veikėjais, susigraudinau. Tikėjausi visiems laimingos pabaigos, tačiau dažniausiai taip nutinka ne tokiose skaudžiose II pasaulinio karo istorijose.
"Jie išspaus iš mūsų viską, ką gali, ir numarins, nunuodiję dujomis, o paskui sudegins krematoriume."
Autorė puikiai išrutuliojo istoriją. Tai pasakojimas apie neeilinę šeimą, šeimą, kuri turėjo išgyvenimo įgūdžių. Tėvo praleisti metai I pasauliniame kare savotiškai paruošė vaikus, tam ko jie net nebūtų susapnavę. Paprasčiausia Morzės abėcėlė. Vaikystėje tai buvo kaip žaidimas, o našlaičių stovykloje geriausias susikalbėjimo būdu liekant nenubaustam.
"Visi tie, kurie žuvo, ne baigė savo gyvenimus per anksti, o veikiau buvo išlaisvinti - pateko į tokią vietą, ku rioje neegzistuoja karas, kurioje baimingai išleidus paskutinį atodūsį mūsų laukia neįsivaizduojama laimė ir grožis. Esame čia tam, kad surastume kelią į kitą vietą, įveiktume iššūkius, kol mums galiausiai pavyks."
Pradžia prasideda su trenksmu. Prasidėjęs karas, sprogimai, po kojomis drebanti žemė, krentantys ugnies kamuoliai, napalmo bombos. O šeima bando pasislėpti. Skaičiau susižavėjusi, kaip įtaigiai ir tikroviškai viskas aprašyta. Atrodo net jaučiu rūdžių ir medžio anglių skonį, dūmai, aplink tvyrantis košmaras.. O blogiausia, kad jie net nežino, kas jų laukia toliau..
"Tikriausiai sapnavau košmarą. Prašau, kad tai būtų košmaras.
Noriu pabusti savo lovoje, išgirsti, kaip koridoriuje niūniuoja mama, ir užuosti šviežiai kepamos duonos kvapą."
Šis istorinis romanas greitai prikaustė mano dėmesį. Istorija pasakojama iš kelių veikėjų perspektyvos, kas leidžia labiau pasinerti į šeimos išgyvenimus, tiek iš mamos tiek iš dukros pozicijų. Man jos net papildė viena kitą. Tačiau ši istorija tikra emocijų karuselė. Kelis kartus buvau palaužta kartu su veikėjais, susigraudinau. Tikėjausi visiems laimingos pabaigos, tačiau dažniausiai taip nutinka ne tokiose skaudžiose II pasaulinio karo istorijose.
"Jie išspaus iš mūsų viską, ką gali, ir numarins, nunuodiję dujomis, o paskui sudegins krematoriume."
Autorė puikiai išrutuliojo istoriją. Tai pasakojimas apie neeilinę šeimą, šeimą, kuri turėjo išgyvenimo įgūdžių. Tėvo praleisti metai I pasauliniame kare savotiškai paruošė vaikus, tam ko jie net nebūtų susapnavę. Paprasčiausia Morzės abėcėlė. Vaikystėje tai buvo kaip žaidimas, o našlaičių stovykloje geriausias susikalbėjimo būdu liekant nenubaustam.
"Visi tie, kurie žuvo, ne baigė savo gyvenimus per anksti, o veikiau buvo išlaisvinti - pateko į tokią vietą, ku rioje neegzistuoja karas, kurioje baimingai išleidus paskutinį atodūsį mūsų laukia neįsivaizduojama laimė ir grožis. Esame čia tam, kad surastume kelią į kitą vietą, įveiktume iššūkius, kol mums galiausiai pavyks."
June 2, 2025
This was interesting as another different perspective of the events in ww2 and the suffering involved. It felt really well researched and eas readable so not too graphic. You really got engaged with the family.
February 14, 2025
I enjoy reading historical fiction and in recent months I have read a few books which focus on the experience of those who are sent in the concentration camps during World War Two. The title of this book, “The Family Behind the Walls”, the cover and the blurb on the back cover all grabbed my attention. Shari J Ryan is a new author to me, but I will definitely look out for more of her books.
The book is centered on a Jewish family. Parents, Leo and Dahlia have both experienced and survived World War One. Leo fighting with the German army and Dahlia as a nurse. They believe they have survived the worst until their family is torn apart and sent off to various concentration camps.
The parents are “warriors” and they have brought up their children – Max, Jordanna and Lilli to be “warriors” too. They have brought their children up in such a way that enables them to be resilient during one of the worst times in world history.
“Mama would always tell me to look for hope even if it’s not something we can see. I realise now, it wasn’t a life lesson, it was a way to keep us strong when we might consider giving up. I wonder if she’s found any semblance of hope, wherever she is. Even if she hasn’t, she would still make sure we did. I need to give Lilli hope, despite everything she just heard.” (Jordanna)
The book is told from the points of view of Jordanna and Dahlia, which works really well. It is enlightening to see the events unfold through the eyes of a mother and her daughter.
When Dahlia arrives at Auschwitz, she, like everyone else, is made to strip, her head is shaved and a number tattooed onto her arm. This is her identity now – a number, no name, so that she, like countless others, is seen as less than human.
“My life – my identity, dignity and everything that made me who I am is gone…If I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I wouldn’t know what I was looking at or who I am. They might as well have carved out my soul too.”
It is a heartbreaking, but compelling read. I don’t know how anyone can hold onto hope and love in such appalling conditions and such cruel treatment, and yet this family each manage to do so. The children are definitely their parents’ offspring and behave in a way that would make their parents proud. Instead of being selfish, they look out for others, as well as looking out for each other. Their purpose is to find one another again. This is what keeps them alive and gives them hope.
Although the family themselves are fictional, the book is based on historical fact and so I found it very informative. I was interested in learning more about the Russians who rescued them, as well as the process of being sent to displaced persons camp and what it took to reunite individuals with their families. I appreciated that the writer included several chapters on what happened to some of those who survived the concentration camps.
If you enjoy reading historical fiction, particularly World War Two history, then this book is for you. You may very well need some tissues to hand as it is painful reading at times. There is much to like about this book, the characters draw you in, and to see their perseverance, their love for one another and the hope they share encourages you to believe that evil can be overcome and that there is always something to hope and believe in even in the darkest of times.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me a copy of “The Family Behind the Walls”, in return for my honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
The book is centered on a Jewish family. Parents, Leo and Dahlia have both experienced and survived World War One. Leo fighting with the German army and Dahlia as a nurse. They believe they have survived the worst until their family is torn apart and sent off to various concentration camps.
The parents are “warriors” and they have brought up their children – Max, Jordanna and Lilli to be “warriors” too. They have brought their children up in such a way that enables them to be resilient during one of the worst times in world history.
“Mama would always tell me to look for hope even if it’s not something we can see. I realise now, it wasn’t a life lesson, it was a way to keep us strong when we might consider giving up. I wonder if she’s found any semblance of hope, wherever she is. Even if she hasn’t, she would still make sure we did. I need to give Lilli hope, despite everything she just heard.” (Jordanna)
The book is told from the points of view of Jordanna and Dahlia, which works really well. It is enlightening to see the events unfold through the eyes of a mother and her daughter.
When Dahlia arrives at Auschwitz, she, like everyone else, is made to strip, her head is shaved and a number tattooed onto her arm. This is her identity now – a number, no name, so that she, like countless others, is seen as less than human.
“My life – my identity, dignity and everything that made me who I am is gone…If I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I wouldn’t know what I was looking at or who I am. They might as well have carved out my soul too.”
It is a heartbreaking, but compelling read. I don’t know how anyone can hold onto hope and love in such appalling conditions and such cruel treatment, and yet this family each manage to do so. The children are definitely their parents’ offspring and behave in a way that would make their parents proud. Instead of being selfish, they look out for others, as well as looking out for each other. Their purpose is to find one another again. This is what keeps them alive and gives them hope.
Although the family themselves are fictional, the book is based on historical fact and so I found it very informative. I was interested in learning more about the Russians who rescued them, as well as the process of being sent to displaced persons camp and what it took to reunite individuals with their families. I appreciated that the writer included several chapters on what happened to some of those who survived the concentration camps.
If you enjoy reading historical fiction, particularly World War Two history, then this book is for you. You may very well need some tissues to hand as it is painful reading at times. There is much to like about this book, the characters draw you in, and to see their perseverance, their love for one another and the hope they share encourages you to believe that evil can be overcome and that there is always something to hope and believe in even in the darkest of times.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me a copy of “The Family Behind the Walls”, in return for my honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
December 30, 2024
Thank you @bookouture & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
This compelling WW2 fiction novel kept me turning the pages as I needed to know what happened to each family member.
When Jordana and her siblings are separated from her parents in 1943 war-torn Poland, Jordana feels responsible for the safety of her siblings. Without their identifying paperwork, Jordana and her siblings pretend not to be Jewish, but that doesn’t save them from being transported to a work camp and enduring horrible conditions.
Meanwhile their mother is over 100 miles away in Auschwitz. Dahlia struggles with guilt over being separated from her children and husband. How can this family survive the atrocities of this devastating war? And will they ever be reunited?
This compelling story unfolds primarily through the perspectives of Jordana and her mother, Dahlia. The author does a tremendous job with character development, detailing not only the physical struggles of each woman, but their mental turmoil as well. Both Jordana and Dahlia were deeply concerned for the well-being of their family members. I felt Dahlia’s pain as she struggled with some serious losses, and I felt Jordana’s fear and embarrassment during her turmoil. I found that I cared deeply for these characters and I was rooting for their ultimate victory over their circumstances.
I highly recommend this for lovers of WW2 historical fiction.
This compelling WW2 fiction novel kept me turning the pages as I needed to know what happened to each family member.
When Jordana and her siblings are separated from her parents in 1943 war-torn Poland, Jordana feels responsible for the safety of her siblings. Without their identifying paperwork, Jordana and her siblings pretend not to be Jewish, but that doesn’t save them from being transported to a work camp and enduring horrible conditions.
Meanwhile their mother is over 100 miles away in Auschwitz. Dahlia struggles with guilt over being separated from her children and husband. How can this family survive the atrocities of this devastating war? And will they ever be reunited?
This compelling story unfolds primarily through the perspectives of Jordana and her mother, Dahlia. The author does a tremendous job with character development, detailing not only the physical struggles of each woman, but their mental turmoil as well. Both Jordana and Dahlia were deeply concerned for the well-being of their family members. I felt Dahlia’s pain as she struggled with some serious losses, and I felt Jordana’s fear and embarrassment during her turmoil. I found that I cared deeply for these characters and I was rooting for their ultimate victory over their circumstances.
I highly recommend this for lovers of WW2 historical fiction.
December 29, 2024
This was beautiful and heartbreaking. Historical Fiction, dual POV: a mothers and daughters experience during WW2 in Auschwitz.
I cried a lot during this book, the writing is so well done. The stories really felt as if you were reading about real people. Several times I took breaks to process the heavier parts of the book.
For those a fan of Kristin Hannah (like me) I think you’ll like Shari J Ryan. I resonated a lot with the mother’s POV and it was so powerful.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
January 4, 2025
I thought this book would be similar to Roberta Kagan's stories as I am such a huge fan of her. I was pleasantly surprised that although the premise is alike the story was different and stands on its own. I connected with all the characters and learned even more about this horrible event in time. This was my first time reading this author but definitely not my last. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 6, 2025
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
This was truly such a heartbreaking, soul touching read! The story is told through the POV of the mother and oldest daughter as they navigate their tortuous time as prisoners at Auschwitz. The writing is so well done and the characters are so relatable, it is hard not to feel the heartache and loss as if they were your own family. The evils faced and the underlying theme of hope are excellent reminders of how GRATEFUL we all should be for the lives we live, despite whatever problems we may have. This one was quite a tearjerker, but I highly recommend!
This was truly such a heartbreaking, soul touching read! The story is told through the POV of the mother and oldest daughter as they navigate their tortuous time as prisoners at Auschwitz. The writing is so well done and the characters are so relatable, it is hard not to feel the heartache and loss as if they were your own family. The evils faced and the underlying theme of hope are excellent reminders of how GRATEFUL we all should be for the lives we live, despite whatever problems we may have. This one was quite a tearjerker, but I highly recommend!
January 31, 2025
A beautiful but heartbreaking story of a family shattered by war.
Dalia and Jordanna are the main narrators in the chapters but Max, Lilli, Alfie, and Leo are integral figures as well.
This family is put through the wringer and some endure better than others.
Keep the tissues handy because there are several scenes where you’re sure to get choked up.
The message of the book is love continues in any continuum.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.
December 24, 2024
I am beyond grateful and thankful for Bookouture for accepting my NetGalley review to be able to read and review the advanced copy of “The Family Behind the Walls”. This is a gripping WW2 novel that captures every emotion during the tragedies of the Holocaust; while keeping the audience wrapped in blankets of hope and faith. Shari J. Ryan is a brilliant writer and storyteller. Those who loved Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale” Jodi Picoult’s “The Storyteller” and Kristin Harmel’s “The Book of Lost Names” will absolutely love “The Family Behind the Walls.”
May 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
WWII books are always so heartbreaking! This story doesn't sugarcoat anything and makes you feel like you're a part of what the characters are experiencing, although those of us reading about the atrocities can only imagine what it was like.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I definitely want to read more.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
WWII books are always so heartbreaking! This story doesn't sugarcoat anything and makes you feel like you're a part of what the characters are experiencing, although those of us reading about the atrocities can only imagine what it was like.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I definitely want to read more.
January 1, 2025
I've read many Shari J. Ryan books and each one is heart-wrenching and an important story to help educate us about the past horrors of the Holocaust.
This is the story of a Jewish family separated during a bombing in Hamburg, Germany. Chapters alternate between the mother's story and the daughter's story. All of the family members show bravery during a time when it would have been so easy to lose hope.
The story is also beautiful in that the characters are well-developed, and I was immediately invested. While this tells a tragic tale, it is beautifully written and you will feel the pain and hope of the characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for access to this eARC.
This is the story of a Jewish family separated during a bombing in Hamburg, Germany. Chapters alternate between the mother's story and the daughter's story. All of the family members show bravery during a time when it would have been so easy to lose hope.
The story is also beautiful in that the characters are well-developed, and I was immediately invested. While this tells a tragic tale, it is beautifully written and you will feel the pain and hope of the characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for access to this eARC.
January 19, 2025
Shari J. Ryan delivered a heart wrenching, raw, unputdownable World War II novel. She shared the story of a family torn apart by evil, hatred, and war. Jordanna and Dalia are mother and daughter, whose lives are upended and ripped apart by the Nazi’s. Each chapter is shared from the perspective of Jordanna or Dalia. As Dalia finds herself behind the hellish gates of Auschwitz, Jordanna and her siblings find themselves at a children’s camp in Poland.
As they each fight to survive and hope to one day reunite their families, the story showcases their bravery, refusal to give up, and their warrior blood.
This book was truly unputdownable and I was so inspired by the resilience of Dalia - and the determination of Jordanna. They truly are like mother, like daughter.
As they each fight to survive and hope to one day reunite their families, the story showcases their bravery, refusal to give up, and their warrior blood.
This book was truly unputdownable and I was so inspired by the resilience of Dalia - and the determination of Jordanna. They truly are like mother, like daughter.
January 27, 2025
The Family Behind the Walls by Shari J. Ryan follows the Bergmann family during WW2. Dalia, Leo and their children Max, Jordanna and Lilli along with adoptive son of sorts Alfie are torn apart thanks to the restrictions, rules and atrocities forced upon the Jewish population by Hitler. The book opens with an impressive and hard hitting introduction when the infamous firestorm of the German city of Hamburg occurs in July 1943. Escaping from their home amidst the chaos of an air raid the family find themselves sheltering in a bunker. Up until this point they have escaped deportation and persecution although the laws enacted by Hitler have deeply affected their everyday lives. As they cower in terror with other families, German soldiers arrive and take Leo and Dalia to tend to those who have been injured and to gather bodies. The family had immunity from deportation as although he was Polish and Jewish he had fought for the Germans in the Great War and is recognised for his achievements and services to Germany. But all that doesn’t matter now and four years into the war things are about to be irrevocably changed forever.
The opening chapters detailing the firestorm and its repercussions were incredible and harrowing. Such awful images were created in my mind through the descriptions and they will stay with you long after you have read the final page. No gruesome detail was spared and it really hit home how Hamburg was destroyed on that night and how so many people lost their lives. This set the reader up for what I hoped was going to be a great book after such a fantastic start. Yes, it was a good read overall but I found parts of the story lagged and their seemed to be some repetition and I felt as if I had previously read stories that were similar and perhaps I wasn’t as shocked at some aspects as I ought to have been. But the themes that were developed were explored well and you do come to root for the family and hope that they can all be reunited.
The chapters alternate between Jordanna and Dalia and once I knew this was the pattern of the book I soon settled into its rhythm. Although at times I wish the pace would have been a bit quicker particularly in the first half as I felt after the intense, explosive start there was a lull until the different camps were reached. After being separated from her children, Dalia soon finds herself alone in Hamburg as Leo went to help people but did not return. For Dalia, family is everything and she has a strong, loving and unbreakable bond with Leo. She has raised her children well offering sound advice and encouragement to Jordanna being the eldest daughter and Jordanna heeds these nuggets of wisdom throughout the testing times ahead.
Dalia soon finds herself rounded up by the Nazi’s and put on a cattle train. But in her heart and soul all she wants is to be reunited with her husband and children. This motivation is what keeps her pressing on through what can only be classed as an endurance test as she reaches the gates of Auschwitz. I thought to have escaped incarceration for so long into the war and then for this to happen to her and her family was beyond cruel. All this for one man’s aim to pursue German racial purity. Such brutality and anti-semitic feeling should never have been allowed to gather such force.
All of us are familiar with what occurred in Auschwitz and Shari J. Ryan did an excellent job of describing the conditions and the rules and regulations the prisoners had to live by. Hard labour, exhaustion, starvation and inhumane living conditions made up a new existence for Dalia. Every innocent human being was denied basic simple human freedoms. Dalia clings to is hope and this becomes a very important word for every character. Look for hope even if it’s something that you can’t see because it will keep you strong in the most desperate of times. For that is all she has and if she relinquishes her grip on this feeling she will simply crumble and become another victim of the regime.
Dalia had nursed during the Great War and so is sent to work in the infirmary. The author provided the reader with brilliant descriptions of the conditions there Dalia and her fellow nurses had to battle with. With so few resources available to them they did their best to tend to those in the last throes of life with few surviving the diseases that were rife throughout the camp. There is one particular incident involving Dalia and her work at the infirmary and it became very personal for her. This was heart-breaking to read and I was hoping for an alternative outcome but realistically what occurred probably would have happened at the time. But it only spurred her on to become involved in resistance work. One line in particular really struck a chord with me where it was said that people who have nothing can still give so much of themselves and that is what Dalia does as she continues to cling to hope and the belief that she can survive and persist through this desolation and hard labour. She was strong, brave and courageous and above all else everything she did and persevered through was all for her family.
The walls of the title are what harbour the family from finding each other. Emotional as well as physical walls. Emerging from the bunker Max, Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie find themselves looking at a scene straight out of hell and soon they too are taken away for deportation. Alfie is suffering from hearing loss as a result of being too close to a bomb when it exploded and over the course of the book himself and Jordanna rely on the Morse code as a form of communication as taught to them by Leo. The children soon find themselves in Little Auschwitz in a ghetto for juvenile criminals and orphaned children in the Polish city of Lodz. Max, the eldest, is separated from them and a further separation occurs between Alfie and the two girls. Jordanna has to become the mother figure to 8 year old Lilli. A role she wishes she didn’t have to undertake but she would do anything for her siblings and similar to Dalia all she wants is to search for her parents. The children are put working at physical labour. Tasks which they should not have to do. Their childhood and innocence is being stripped from them as war has meant their usual daily carefree lives are but a distant memory.
The details of the Lodz ghetto were realistic and hard hitting and the deprivation the children were suffering was clear for the reader to see as they go through such distressing and appalling experiences. Jordanna toils away in the potato fields where she meets Alfie once again and another element to the story began to unravel. I’ll have to be honest what occurred, I know it was necessary to allow further plots to develop in the later half of the book but it just seemed too unrealistic to me that this could happen. Yes, it’s what every prisoner in a concentration camp would have wanted to happen but did it really? If it did, I doubt there was a very high success rate. But said strand of which I am purposefully being vague about opened different opportunities for the children’s story to develop. It was heart-breaking and I wished there could have been another alternative. I felt Jordanna, Alfie and Lilli’s story petered off before coming to the surface in the final few chapters. The months passed and I felt there were times when the author didn’t know what to do with them but then as the Soviets started to make their way through Germany things changed again. There is a scene near to the end where Lilli although still very young gives an impassioned speech which had me realising she was perhaps the best character in the book. Her words were incredible and she said what so many others could not.It was only a page or two but it certainly made an impact.
The Family Behind the Walls is a powerful read and despite some of the issues I have mentioned up above I am glad that I read it and the story of the Bergmann’s has given me a deeper appreciation, understanding and compassion for all those who lost their lives. The epilogue was brilliant and those last few words well that really says it all.
The opening chapters detailing the firestorm and its repercussions were incredible and harrowing. Such awful images were created in my mind through the descriptions and they will stay with you long after you have read the final page. No gruesome detail was spared and it really hit home how Hamburg was destroyed on that night and how so many people lost their lives. This set the reader up for what I hoped was going to be a great book after such a fantastic start. Yes, it was a good read overall but I found parts of the story lagged and their seemed to be some repetition and I felt as if I had previously read stories that were similar and perhaps I wasn’t as shocked at some aspects as I ought to have been. But the themes that were developed were explored well and you do come to root for the family and hope that they can all be reunited.
The chapters alternate between Jordanna and Dalia and once I knew this was the pattern of the book I soon settled into its rhythm. Although at times I wish the pace would have been a bit quicker particularly in the first half as I felt after the intense, explosive start there was a lull until the different camps were reached. After being separated from her children, Dalia soon finds herself alone in Hamburg as Leo went to help people but did not return. For Dalia, family is everything and she has a strong, loving and unbreakable bond with Leo. She has raised her children well offering sound advice and encouragement to Jordanna being the eldest daughter and Jordanna heeds these nuggets of wisdom throughout the testing times ahead.
Dalia soon finds herself rounded up by the Nazi’s and put on a cattle train. But in her heart and soul all she wants is to be reunited with her husband and children. This motivation is what keeps her pressing on through what can only be classed as an endurance test as she reaches the gates of Auschwitz. I thought to have escaped incarceration for so long into the war and then for this to happen to her and her family was beyond cruel. All this for one man’s aim to pursue German racial purity. Such brutality and anti-semitic feeling should never have been allowed to gather such force.
All of us are familiar with what occurred in Auschwitz and Shari J. Ryan did an excellent job of describing the conditions and the rules and regulations the prisoners had to live by. Hard labour, exhaustion, starvation and inhumane living conditions made up a new existence for Dalia. Every innocent human being was denied basic simple human freedoms. Dalia clings to is hope and this becomes a very important word for every character. Look for hope even if it’s something that you can’t see because it will keep you strong in the most desperate of times. For that is all she has and if she relinquishes her grip on this feeling she will simply crumble and become another victim of the regime.
Dalia had nursed during the Great War and so is sent to work in the infirmary. The author provided the reader with brilliant descriptions of the conditions there Dalia and her fellow nurses had to battle with. With so few resources available to them they did their best to tend to those in the last throes of life with few surviving the diseases that were rife throughout the camp. There is one particular incident involving Dalia and her work at the infirmary and it became very personal for her. This was heart-breaking to read and I was hoping for an alternative outcome but realistically what occurred probably would have happened at the time. But it only spurred her on to become involved in resistance work. One line in particular really struck a chord with me where it was said that people who have nothing can still give so much of themselves and that is what Dalia does as she continues to cling to hope and the belief that she can survive and persist through this desolation and hard labour. She was strong, brave and courageous and above all else everything she did and persevered through was all for her family.
The walls of the title are what harbour the family from finding each other. Emotional as well as physical walls. Emerging from the bunker Max, Jordanna, Lilli and Alfie find themselves looking at a scene straight out of hell and soon they too are taken away for deportation. Alfie is suffering from hearing loss as a result of being too close to a bomb when it exploded and over the course of the book himself and Jordanna rely on the Morse code as a form of communication as taught to them by Leo. The children soon find themselves in Little Auschwitz in a ghetto for juvenile criminals and orphaned children in the Polish city of Lodz. Max, the eldest, is separated from them and a further separation occurs between Alfie and the two girls. Jordanna has to become the mother figure to 8 year old Lilli. A role she wishes she didn’t have to undertake but she would do anything for her siblings and similar to Dalia all she wants is to search for her parents. The children are put working at physical labour. Tasks which they should not have to do. Their childhood and innocence is being stripped from them as war has meant their usual daily carefree lives are but a distant memory.
The details of the Lodz ghetto were realistic and hard hitting and the deprivation the children were suffering was clear for the reader to see as they go through such distressing and appalling experiences. Jordanna toils away in the potato fields where she meets Alfie once again and another element to the story began to unravel. I’ll have to be honest what occurred, I know it was necessary to allow further plots to develop in the later half of the book but it just seemed too unrealistic to me that this could happen. Yes, it’s what every prisoner in a concentration camp would have wanted to happen but did it really? If it did, I doubt there was a very high success rate. But said strand of which I am purposefully being vague about opened different opportunities for the children’s story to develop. It was heart-breaking and I wished there could have been another alternative. I felt Jordanna, Alfie and Lilli’s story petered off before coming to the surface in the final few chapters. The months passed and I felt there were times when the author didn’t know what to do with them but then as the Soviets started to make their way through Germany things changed again. There is a scene near to the end where Lilli although still very young gives an impassioned speech which had me realising she was perhaps the best character in the book. Her words were incredible and she said what so many others could not.It was only a page or two but it certainly made an impact.
The Family Behind the Walls is a powerful read and despite some of the issues I have mentioned up above I am glad that I read it and the story of the Bergmann’s has given me a deeper appreciation, understanding and compassion for all those who lost their lives. The epilogue was brilliant and those last few words well that really says it all.
January 27, 2025
I can’t put into words the emotions that ran through me as I read The Family Behind The Walls. It touched me deep within my soul. I have read every Holocaust story from Shari J. Ryan and this moved to the top of my list.
It’s heartbreaking, gut wrenching and had me glued to every word. But as I read I felt the love of each character and felt a glimmer of hope that they could survive.
Shari’s words elicit so much emotion as the story unfolds. It is told mainly from the mother, Dalia, and the daughter, Jordana’s viewpoints. The strength that they exude fills my heart with hope as the story unfolds.
I can’t say this enough but everyone needs to read Shari J Ryan’s stories. You can feel her passion for telling stories of the past.
Tears were shed, tissues were used, every word felt in my heart and in the end, hope and survival shone through.
There aren’t enough words to praise the story that Shari J Ryan told. All the stars for a remarkable story about a family’s journey through a horrific time in history!
It’s heartbreaking, gut wrenching and had me glued to every word. But as I read I felt the love of each character and felt a glimmer of hope that they could survive.
Shari’s words elicit so much emotion as the story unfolds. It is told mainly from the mother, Dalia, and the daughter, Jordana’s viewpoints. The strength that they exude fills my heart with hope as the story unfolds.
I can’t say this enough but everyone needs to read Shari J Ryan’s stories. You can feel her passion for telling stories of the past.
Tears were shed, tissues were used, every word felt in my heart and in the end, hope and survival shone through.
There aren’t enough words to praise the story that Shari J Ryan told. All the stars for a remarkable story about a family’s journey through a horrific time in history!
January 25, 2025
While this story is a work of fiction, the author has first hand interest in the history of this era and also has first hand knowledge of the events that transpired during the Holocaust through family members who were there. When I read Shari's historical fiction, I understand that they ARE fictional but with roots grounded in the realities that were forced on the Jewish people. These stories (which are most definitely the author's sweet spot in storytelling) take me there and completely immerse me in the horrific details of that time in history and keep me in goosebumps throughout. While there can never be a truly happy ending because of what they go through, there is a story of true survival and strength.
January 20, 2025
Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a warm thank you to Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For the audience, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.
Hot off the tail of another book that had two female leads who took turns to narrate the chapters, I launched into Shari J. Ryan’s The Family Behind the Walls. I quite enjoy haunting fiction set during (and around) WWII, and this author is no stranger to writing about these times. What I found interesting about this novel, in particular, was the parents were automatically sent to Auschwitz, whilst the children were sent to a camp for Polish orphans, their heritage unknown. The question in my mind was, how were the kids not identified and marked for death sooner? Thus, this story offered a different perspective to ones I had previously encountered, and I was half rooting for the children to remain undisclosed whilst also hoping that they would find a way not to deny their heritage (because, well, why should anyone have to deny who they are?).
A family, previously satisfied that their involvement in the last Great War, are divided and sent to different camps. The parents, having been duped into providing medical assistance for the wounded, are eventually brought to Auschwitz, the eldest son is deployed to a labor camp in the Polish ghetto, whilst the younger children are sent to an alternate labor camp for thieves and Polish orphans. Shielded as much as possible from the atrocities of war, Jordana, finds herself quickly developing a maternal role to her younger sister, Lilli, adopted brother, Alfie, and several younger children, despite the separation of the girls from the boys. In a parallel life, Dalia does her best to motivate the women around her, all the while, trying to maintain the strength and conviction to escape the camp in order to find and reunite herself with her family. When every family member is surrounded solely by death, and subjected to a life of torture, who, if any, will survive? And at what cost? After all that is endured and witnessed, life as everyone knows it can never be the same again!
When I first started reading this novel, I was reminded of both Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, and The Book Thief. It is not so much the plot that is similar, but the time, some scenarios, and the emotions this book stirs that create the reminiscence.
As reviewers have said before I, this book is utterly heartbreaking. Hope and despair, and hope and despair intermingle rapidly that when the real sadness starts flowing, it barely pauses to take a breath. Small sighs of relief are just that; small and short-lived. The reader is spared the gore that many novels promote in books that feature Auschwitz. Instead, the book is more focused on relationships that characters form with each other within the camps and the roles they are forced to take on, roles that condemn others to their fate. Yet, despite the misery depicted on these pages, it is hard to look away. I found myself continuing to read, wanting to reach a place of peace. Before I knew it, the novel was over.
I did feel the last chapters were rushed and would have liked the orchestration of a significant event to have been more drawn out, in line with the rest of the story. However, I do recognize that the story had lasted quite a long time for the subject matter and needed to draw to a close. As books go, it was a story that is hard to tear yourself away from and commands your attention throughout. It tugs at the heart strings and has readers feeling an array of powerful, and sometimes overwhelming emotions.
As mentioned above, the book has Anne Frank and The Book Thief vibes and is best suited for mature readers that appreciate books set within the Nazi camps of WWII. There is a rich cast of characters with the main characters and several of the supporting characters very clearly developed. Had the ending been tackled in much the same way as the rest of the book, i.e., with drawn out suspense, it would have received more than a 4 out of 5 stars from me, and I can see why the book is generally highly rated. The alternating perspectives, the parallel lives and the overall writing style served the novel well to culminate in one of the best books I have read in a long time.
Hot off the tail of another book that had two female leads who took turns to narrate the chapters, I launched into Shari J. Ryan’s The Family Behind the Walls. I quite enjoy haunting fiction set during (and around) WWII, and this author is no stranger to writing about these times. What I found interesting about this novel, in particular, was the parents were automatically sent to Auschwitz, whilst the children were sent to a camp for Polish orphans, their heritage unknown. The question in my mind was, how were the kids not identified and marked for death sooner? Thus, this story offered a different perspective to ones I had previously encountered, and I was half rooting for the children to remain undisclosed whilst also hoping that they would find a way not to deny their heritage (because, well, why should anyone have to deny who they are?).
A family, previously satisfied that their involvement in the last Great War, are divided and sent to different camps. The parents, having been duped into providing medical assistance for the wounded, are eventually brought to Auschwitz, the eldest son is deployed to a labor camp in the Polish ghetto, whilst the younger children are sent to an alternate labor camp for thieves and Polish orphans. Shielded as much as possible from the atrocities of war, Jordana, finds herself quickly developing a maternal role to her younger sister, Lilli, adopted brother, Alfie, and several younger children, despite the separation of the girls from the boys. In a parallel life, Dalia does her best to motivate the women around her, all the while, trying to maintain the strength and conviction to escape the camp in order to find and reunite herself with her family. When every family member is surrounded solely by death, and subjected to a life of torture, who, if any, will survive? And at what cost? After all that is endured and witnessed, life as everyone knows it can never be the same again!
When I first started reading this novel, I was reminded of both Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, and The Book Thief. It is not so much the plot that is similar, but the time, some scenarios, and the emotions this book stirs that create the reminiscence.
As reviewers have said before I, this book is utterly heartbreaking. Hope and despair, and hope and despair intermingle rapidly that when the real sadness starts flowing, it barely pauses to take a breath. Small sighs of relief are just that; small and short-lived. The reader is spared the gore that many novels promote in books that feature Auschwitz. Instead, the book is more focused on relationships that characters form with each other within the camps and the roles they are forced to take on, roles that condemn others to their fate. Yet, despite the misery depicted on these pages, it is hard to look away. I found myself continuing to read, wanting to reach a place of peace. Before I knew it, the novel was over.
I did feel the last chapters were rushed and would have liked the orchestration of a significant event to have been more drawn out, in line with the rest of the story. However, I do recognize that the story had lasted quite a long time for the subject matter and needed to draw to a close. As books go, it was a story that is hard to tear yourself away from and commands your attention throughout. It tugs at the heart strings and has readers feeling an array of powerful, and sometimes overwhelming emotions.
As mentioned above, the book has Anne Frank and The Book Thief vibes and is best suited for mature readers that appreciate books set within the Nazi camps of WWII. There is a rich cast of characters with the main characters and several of the supporting characters very clearly developed. Had the ending been tackled in much the same way as the rest of the book, i.e., with drawn out suspense, it would have received more than a 4 out of 5 stars from me, and I can see why the book is generally highly rated. The alternating perspectives, the parallel lives and the overall writing style served the novel well to culminate in one of the best books I have read in a long time.
January 19, 2025
The Family Behind the Walls is heartbreakingly beautiful. What Shari Ryan has crafted is perhaps her most poignant book within her historical WWII collection of stories. There is something that truly tugged at my heart as I read about the Bergmann family and all that they endured in wartorn Germany, Auschwitz and beyond. I cried many times as Ryan relayed the horrors of the Holocaust with details that felt all too real. Her prose is exquisite as she didn't hold back on what mother Dalia, kids Max, Jordanna, Lilli and 'adopted' son Alfie endured and how they managed to keep the faith they would be reunited again. Their strong belief in their family dynamic, held together by father Leo's determination that they would survive and find their way back to each other in time.
Told in alternating POVs from Dalia and Jordanna, we get a front-row seat once again as to how the Jewish people were treated and how cruel this world could be. Ryan does not hold back with respect to the suffering as Dalia uses her nursing skills to try and keep fellow prisoners alive, even though there is little she can do to make that possible. The pain in her thoughts is felt through the pages of this book and her ongoing struggles to keep putting one foot in front of the other made me weep. Yet she stays compassionate no matter what is thrown at her and I'd like to think that helped her through the most dire of circumstances no mother should have to experience.
With Jordanna, the cruelty is just as potent while forced to dig up potatoes despite horrid outside conditions. Her side of the story takes a unique turn with Lilli and her secret love Alfie by her side and I found it interesting how Ryan decided to try and keep them safe even while also suffering a profound loss that would undoubtedly shape their future.
I loved this family. How they encouraged one another even when not together. How their beliefs helped them withstand the horrors they not only witnessed but knew they would be forever burned into their memories. We get glimpses of a time when this family was whole and enjoyed the simple things and that helped not only each other survive but helped this reader truly know them, not wanting to let go when those last words were read.
Ryan's continuation to tell these kinds of stories is a true testament to her own family history and the inspiration to start writing these books. I can always feel her sense of loyalty to make sure she tells these stories correctly, never holding back on the darkness but always offering up glimmers of light for those who are prominently featured. Her writing has certainly hit another level of brilliance with this book. There is something just so compelling that I struggled to put it down yet had to numerous times when things got a bit too rough. Knowing her penchant for giving her characters the kind of forever that might be tarnished from all that they experienced, I kept going and was rewarded with the bittersweet conclusion that had me smiling through more tears.
When looking for a storyline that will undoubtedly wreck you but will put the jagged pieces of your heart together in the most lovely of ways, pick up The Family Behind the Walls. In fact, give her entire catalog a go since each book is unique yet offers up a new understanding of a time in our past that should never be forgotten. Shari Ryan is proud of her heritage and we are the fortunate ones who get to experience that pride with each new story written. That to me, is a true Godsend.
5++ huge stars!
Told in alternating POVs from Dalia and Jordanna, we get a front-row seat once again as to how the Jewish people were treated and how cruel this world could be. Ryan does not hold back with respect to the suffering as Dalia uses her nursing skills to try and keep fellow prisoners alive, even though there is little she can do to make that possible. The pain in her thoughts is felt through the pages of this book and her ongoing struggles to keep putting one foot in front of the other made me weep. Yet she stays compassionate no matter what is thrown at her and I'd like to think that helped her through the most dire of circumstances no mother should have to experience.
With Jordanna, the cruelty is just as potent while forced to dig up potatoes despite horrid outside conditions. Her side of the story takes a unique turn with Lilli and her secret love Alfie by her side and I found it interesting how Ryan decided to try and keep them safe even while also suffering a profound loss that would undoubtedly shape their future.
I loved this family. How they encouraged one another even when not together. How their beliefs helped them withstand the horrors they not only witnessed but knew they would be forever burned into their memories. We get glimpses of a time when this family was whole and enjoyed the simple things and that helped not only each other survive but helped this reader truly know them, not wanting to let go when those last words were read.
Ryan's continuation to tell these kinds of stories is a true testament to her own family history and the inspiration to start writing these books. I can always feel her sense of loyalty to make sure she tells these stories correctly, never holding back on the darkness but always offering up glimmers of light for those who are prominently featured. Her writing has certainly hit another level of brilliance with this book. There is something just so compelling that I struggled to put it down yet had to numerous times when things got a bit too rough. Knowing her penchant for giving her characters the kind of forever that might be tarnished from all that they experienced, I kept going and was rewarded with the bittersweet conclusion that had me smiling through more tears.
When looking for a storyline that will undoubtedly wreck you but will put the jagged pieces of your heart together in the most lovely of ways, pick up The Family Behind the Walls. In fact, give her entire catalog a go since each book is unique yet offers up a new understanding of a time in our past that should never be forgotten. Shari Ryan is proud of her heritage and we are the fortunate ones who get to experience that pride with each new story written. That to me, is a true Godsend.
5++ huge stars!
January 9, 2025
The Family Behind the Walls
by Shari J. Ryan
This author has a new follower. This book was one of the best I have read in a very long time. This family’s struggles at the hand of the Nazi’s is extremely difficult to read, as many stories from that time period are. How people can be so heartless to other humans is described beyond words through every chapter of this book. If you want a tearjerker this is the one. I will admit that there were parts of this story where I had to walk away and come back just to have to walk away and come back yet again as my emotions were out of control. Told both from the Mother’s and Daughter’s side how their stories collide and mesh are totally a roller coaster ride. There was some confusion keeping the storylines and characters straight for the first few chapters but I think that was due to my own shortcoming nothing the author did. When it all clicked together for me then I was totally engrossed and could not put it down. As a mother I could relate to all the terrible things running through Dalia’s mind and soul and following a preventable death that filled her with mourning I don’t know how she survived. I probably would have thrown myself into the electric fence and been done with the nightmare she was living. How a person hangs on to faith and carries on after all she had been forced to do, well, I just don’t know that I would have had the strength.
The children on the other hand especially Jordanna, had learned from her mother about life and lessons and manages quite well with the children. The hope she hangs onto watching her young sister wither away right in front of her own eyes, makes her a real superstar. With all she has to endure she keeps her chin up and tries her hardest to shield her young sister of the hardship she is having to endure. As the eldest daughter it us up to her to keep them together and safe and so she hides most of the horror from her younger sister who sees and understands so much for a child of her young age.
The remarkable journey they all endure separately and together leads to an incredible and heartbreaking reunion in the end and certain heartbreak for the reader and again asks the age-old question, what now? For the survivors living with the guilt that they endured. The bafflement that they survived while others did not. The reconstruction of their lives that lay shattered in more ways than one. With no food, no home, no earthly possessions except what was on their backs, how do you re-build a life in a country you know hates you for who you are? And how do you ever forgive the injustice of it all?
by Shari J. Ryan
This author has a new follower. This book was one of the best I have read in a very long time. This family’s struggles at the hand of the Nazi’s is extremely difficult to read, as many stories from that time period are. How people can be so heartless to other humans is described beyond words through every chapter of this book. If you want a tearjerker this is the one. I will admit that there were parts of this story where I had to walk away and come back just to have to walk away and come back yet again as my emotions were out of control. Told both from the Mother’s and Daughter’s side how their stories collide and mesh are totally a roller coaster ride. There was some confusion keeping the storylines and characters straight for the first few chapters but I think that was due to my own shortcoming nothing the author did. When it all clicked together for me then I was totally engrossed and could not put it down. As a mother I could relate to all the terrible things running through Dalia’s mind and soul and following a preventable death that filled her with mourning I don’t know how she survived. I probably would have thrown myself into the electric fence and been done with the nightmare she was living. How a person hangs on to faith and carries on after all she had been forced to do, well, I just don’t know that I would have had the strength.
The children on the other hand especially Jordanna, had learned from her mother about life and lessons and manages quite well with the children. The hope she hangs onto watching her young sister wither away right in front of her own eyes, makes her a real superstar. With all she has to endure she keeps her chin up and tries her hardest to shield her young sister of the hardship she is having to endure. As the eldest daughter it us up to her to keep them together and safe and so she hides most of the horror from her younger sister who sees and understands so much for a child of her young age.
The remarkable journey they all endure separately and together leads to an incredible and heartbreaking reunion in the end and certain heartbreak for the reader and again asks the age-old question, what now? For the survivors living with the guilt that they endured. The bafflement that they survived while others did not. The reconstruction of their lives that lay shattered in more ways than one. With no food, no home, no earthly possessions except what was on their backs, how do you re-build a life in a country you know hates you for who you are? And how do you ever forgive the injustice of it all?
February 14, 2025
The Family Behind the Walls
By Shari J. Ryan
Chapter Seven : Jordanna
July 28th, 1943 -Hamburg, Germany
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
||: His words spark an anger that rages through me. I could be fooled into believing a lifetime had passed since the start of this war, and the brutality and hatred only grows worse every single day.
“No one must find out,” I seethe.
I reach back to touch Alfie's knee so he'll look at me again. He's sluggish about it, but does. I point at him, then Max, Lilli, and me, then interlock my fingers to show in any way I can that we'll protect him. I cross one wrist over the other and shake my head. I point to him. I need him to understand me. He looks confused.
I search my body for a way to be clearer when I notice soot smeared across my arm. I drag my finger through the thick black dust and spell out the word protect on the stone between us. I point back and forth between Max and me, point to the word, then again at Alfie. I mouth the word: “Always.” :||
We follow the heartbreaking story of Dalia and her family as they are plunged into the unfair and totally gut wrenching world of 1943. A place where religion was seen as a death threat and people in power saw stripes instead of people.
Dalia’s husband was seen as a hero for his actions during the Great war but for his family it only meant one thing. A time bomb that was ready to detonate in the most unfair, unjust, disturbing ways that left my heart bleeding on the pages of the book. While Dalia struggles to come to terms with her new life. We also meet the amazing Jordanna, Dalia's daughter, her fire for life, fuelled by and for her younger sister Lilli, which burns bravely as both of their childhood innocence is ripped away from them without any explanation.
Everyone knows what happened during the reign of Hitler and while there are stories out there that have tugged at our heartstrings, Shari puts into detail the grief and utter horror of what being a family looked like and felt like during these inhumane times. It also hosts one issue I feel many Auschwitz stories don't have. It shines a light on the guilty issue of the many people who took part in the death camps that didn't go on trial and didn't have to pay for their actions. Those who stood by and watched, took part in the breaking down of others' souls but then fled when the Soviets came. Shari’s beautiful way with words delicately unravels the atrocities associated with Nazi Germany from a point of view that hasn’t been explored.
This story.. It's heartbreaking but it really needed to be told.
A huge thank you to Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback.
By Shari J. Ryan
Chapter Seven : Jordanna
July 28th, 1943 -Hamburg, Germany
5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
||: His words spark an anger that rages through me. I could be fooled into believing a lifetime had passed since the start of this war, and the brutality and hatred only grows worse every single day.
“No one must find out,” I seethe.
I reach back to touch Alfie's knee so he'll look at me again. He's sluggish about it, but does. I point at him, then Max, Lilli, and me, then interlock my fingers to show in any way I can that we'll protect him. I cross one wrist over the other and shake my head. I point to him. I need him to understand me. He looks confused.
I search my body for a way to be clearer when I notice soot smeared across my arm. I drag my finger through the thick black dust and spell out the word protect on the stone between us. I point back and forth between Max and me, point to the word, then again at Alfie. I mouth the word: “Always.” :||
We follow the heartbreaking story of Dalia and her family as they are plunged into the unfair and totally gut wrenching world of 1943. A place where religion was seen as a death threat and people in power saw stripes instead of people.
Dalia’s husband was seen as a hero for his actions during the Great war but for his family it only meant one thing. A time bomb that was ready to detonate in the most unfair, unjust, disturbing ways that left my heart bleeding on the pages of the book. While Dalia struggles to come to terms with her new life. We also meet the amazing Jordanna, Dalia's daughter, her fire for life, fuelled by and for her younger sister Lilli, which burns bravely as both of their childhood innocence is ripped away from them without any explanation.
Everyone knows what happened during the reign of Hitler and while there are stories out there that have tugged at our heartstrings, Shari puts into detail the grief and utter horror of what being a family looked like and felt like during these inhumane times. It also hosts one issue I feel many Auschwitz stories don't have. It shines a light on the guilty issue of the many people who took part in the death camps that didn't go on trial and didn't have to pay for their actions. Those who stood by and watched, took part in the breaking down of others' souls but then fled when the Soviets came. Shari’s beautiful way with words delicately unravels the atrocities associated with Nazi Germany from a point of view that hasn’t been explored.
This story.. It's heartbreaking but it really needed to be told.
A huge thank you to Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback.
January 16, 2025
Shari J. Ryan is a sublime writer and just when it seemed impossible to add even more power to her stories. she did it with The Family Behind the Walls. My new favourite is off-the-charts good. She writes Historical Fiction as though she lived it...and takes her readers along the perilous and heart bruising journeys of her gorgeously-written characters through vivid scenes of tragedy, grief, humiliation, shame, anguish, despair, unconditional love, courage, faith and kindness. How someone can string letters together to craft text this beautiful and heart rending is beyond my comprehension. This story is told mostly from the perspectives of a mother and daughter bound together by deep love. My mom and I share such a bond which further enriched my reading experience.
A close-knit Polish Jewish family lived in Hamburg, Germany, when the first mutterings and swirls of war appeared. Later, in 1943, city water was poisoned, Germanization screenings were conducted and people were forced into hiding during terrifying raids. Nazis ripped families apart including that of Papa Leo, Mama Dalia and their children Jordana, Lili and Max as well as adopted Alfie. This harrowing story is told mainly from the perspectives of Dalia and Jordana. Selfless Dalia did everything she could to protect her family and would lay down her life for them if necessary. She was taken to Auschwitz where she endured constant torment, humiliation, torture, starvation and living death. The hierarchy in the camps is detailed and was yet another way for the Nazis to mentally and physically destroy the prisoners' wills. Crippling fear of the unknown weighed heavily. Jordana and other children were rescued and taken to displaced persons camps. Imagine not knowing whether your family members are alive or dead. Their goal was to reunite but war changes everything.
Excluding the family, Sister Josephine was another favourite character of mine, superbly resilient and brave under desperate conditions. If only we had more Sister Josephines in the world. I appreciate that though the subject matter is tough, the author's writing is refreshingly clean. She doesn't fluff over the difficult parts but draws attention to them candidly and sensitively as they are very important. I finished reading this novel a few days ago but took the time to process it and its impact did not diminish.
My sincere thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this breathtaking novel. I could not possibly recommend it more highly.
A close-knit Polish Jewish family lived in Hamburg, Germany, when the first mutterings and swirls of war appeared. Later, in 1943, city water was poisoned, Germanization screenings were conducted and people were forced into hiding during terrifying raids. Nazis ripped families apart including that of Papa Leo, Mama Dalia and their children Jordana, Lili and Max as well as adopted Alfie. This harrowing story is told mainly from the perspectives of Dalia and Jordana. Selfless Dalia did everything she could to protect her family and would lay down her life for them if necessary. She was taken to Auschwitz where she endured constant torment, humiliation, torture, starvation and living death. The hierarchy in the camps is detailed and was yet another way for the Nazis to mentally and physically destroy the prisoners' wills. Crippling fear of the unknown weighed heavily. Jordana and other children were rescued and taken to displaced persons camps. Imagine not knowing whether your family members are alive or dead. Their goal was to reunite but war changes everything.
Excluding the family, Sister Josephine was another favourite character of mine, superbly resilient and brave under desperate conditions. If only we had more Sister Josephines in the world. I appreciate that though the subject matter is tough, the author's writing is refreshingly clean. She doesn't fluff over the difficult parts but draws attention to them candidly and sensitively as they are very important. I finished reading this novel a few days ago but took the time to process it and its impact did not diminish.
My sincere thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this breathtaking novel. I could not possibly recommend it more highly.
January 21, 2025
The Family Behind The Walls by Shari J Ryan is a powerful historical novel that gripped me from the start.
The book opens in Germany in 1942 as we follow six members of one Jewish family through the war years.
We witness the pit of hell that is Auschwitz and see that more than just hope is needed to survive, luck is needed too.
We also join the children’s camp and then a church-run orphanage.
It is important to have hope. “I need to give Lilli hope.” Without hope, the people perish.
We see the lessons of the past keep characters grounded and give them a purpose even in the darkest of times. “They may take my hair, but not Mama’s teaching to care, lead and be brave for those unable to.” We need to be the beacon that shines in the darkness.
Within the pit that is Auschwitz, trust is in short supply. “We’re rewarded for turning on each other. Desperation can alter a person’s ability to navigate their morals.” People are exploited when they are at their lowest. An animal instinct to survive kicks in.
In contrast we witness a character who serves. “Hate is the only contagious disease that’s killed more people here than typhus.” We do not want to water the seed of hate but feed the seed of care and compassion.
Death and loss dominate. Even at the liberation of Auschwitz, there is fear. He “will always be with you. He’s a part of you, not this place.” A character fears moving on and leaving her loved one behind but memories of our loved ones go with us. No one can take their memory away.
There is the theme of healing throughout. Both physical and mental healing is needed. The people needed “to have an opportunity to begin the process of healing from the burdens they’ve all endured.”
All the characters were well drawn and believable. The reader ‘experienced the hell of Auschwitz through the eyes of a character who had the compassion to help but the reality was, there were no medical supplies available. Help would never be coming.
We get closer to the action as it is told in the first person through a mother and a daughter. This enables us to really ‘know’ the characters as the chapters alternate.
The Family Behind The Walls is such a powerful read. May we never forget the six million innocents who perished.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The book opens in Germany in 1942 as we follow six members of one Jewish family through the war years.
We witness the pit of hell that is Auschwitz and see that more than just hope is needed to survive, luck is needed too.
We also join the children’s camp and then a church-run orphanage.
It is important to have hope. “I need to give Lilli hope.” Without hope, the people perish.
We see the lessons of the past keep characters grounded and give them a purpose even in the darkest of times. “They may take my hair, but not Mama’s teaching to care, lead and be brave for those unable to.” We need to be the beacon that shines in the darkness.
Within the pit that is Auschwitz, trust is in short supply. “We’re rewarded for turning on each other. Desperation can alter a person’s ability to navigate their morals.” People are exploited when they are at their lowest. An animal instinct to survive kicks in.
In contrast we witness a character who serves. “Hate is the only contagious disease that’s killed more people here than typhus.” We do not want to water the seed of hate but feed the seed of care and compassion.
Death and loss dominate. Even at the liberation of Auschwitz, there is fear. He “will always be with you. He’s a part of you, not this place.” A character fears moving on and leaving her loved one behind but memories of our loved ones go with us. No one can take their memory away.
There is the theme of healing throughout. Both physical and mental healing is needed. The people needed “to have an opportunity to begin the process of healing from the burdens they’ve all endured.”
All the characters were well drawn and believable. The reader ‘experienced the hell of Auschwitz through the eyes of a character who had the compassion to help but the reality was, there were no medical supplies available. Help would never be coming.
We get closer to the action as it is told in the first person through a mother and a daughter. This enables us to really ‘know’ the characters as the chapters alternate.
The Family Behind The Walls is such a powerful read. May we never forget the six million innocents who perished.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
January 9, 2025
A MUST READ FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FANS!!! I read The Family behind the Walls. And then I read it again. I couldn't stop thinking. I couldn't stop crying. The story just wouldn't let go.
I can't remember being given so many details before about the conditions in the concentration camps or the challenges of those trying to out run the soldiers. The story might be historical fiction but it gives the reader so much information that research is a must. It will make you cry even more.
The author wrote an absolutely brilliant story using a Jewish family's separation by the Germans. They had thought the were safe. They had though they were exempt until they weren't. During a bombing in Hamburg; the mom and dad were taken from a shelter to assist in the rescue. The four children were taken from the shelter by a solder and put on a truck to places unknown.
I have never been able to fully comprehend the many ways that the those in the concentration camps were treated. I have never completely understood how terribly the children, whose only sin was being born Jewish, were treated. History books have failed us by not giving details. This book does not fail where the history classes did.
I am in awe of all of the survivors of the Holocaust. They did not walk away leaving and the past behind. The characters would carry the memories all of there life. The characters would always suffer the affects of imprisonment.
I can't remember ever being as gutted as when children, hidden by nuns, were confronting German soldiers that has sought safety with the nuns. The children's stories were so horrendous, so heart-breaking that the nuns refused the soldiers safety for the night.
I can't remember being given so many details before about the conditions in the concentration camps or the challenges of those trying to out run the soldiers. The story might be historical fiction but it gives the reader so much information that research is a must. It will make you cry even more.
The author wrote an absolutely brilliant story using a Jewish family's separation by the Germans. They had thought the were safe. They had though they were exempt until they weren't. During a bombing in Hamburg; the mom and dad were taken from a shelter to assist in the rescue. The four children were taken from the shelter by a solder and put on a truck to places unknown.
I have never been able to fully comprehend the many ways that the those in the concentration camps were treated. I have never completely understood how terribly the children, whose only sin was being born Jewish, were treated. History books have failed us by not giving details. This book does not fail where the history classes did.
I am in awe of all of the survivors of the Holocaust. They did not walk away leaving and the past behind. The characters would carry the memories all of there life. The characters would always suffer the affects of imprisonment.
I can't remember ever being as gutted as when children, hidden by nuns, were confronting German soldiers that has sought safety with the nuns. The children's stories were so horrendous, so heart-breaking that the nuns refused the soldiers safety for the night.
January 17, 2025
Author Shari Ryan delivers another fantastic historical fiction book! This is a WWII story that was hard to put down. Leo and Dalia Bergman are Jewish and live in Hamburg with their 3 children, Max, Jordanna, and Lilli. Leo served in the Great War and therefore his family did not immediately go to a concentration camp. Their good friends were sent away, but before they had to leave, Alfie, their son, was taken in by the Bergman family.
One evening they awake to a loud explosion from a bombing. Together they head out in the streets to chaos and fire. Their papers are destroyed and Leo and Dalia are separated from the children. Because the children do not have papers on them, they are sent to a Polish orphan labor camp. Alfie and Max are sent to a boy's camp and Jordanna and Lilli to a girl's camp. Dalia is 100 miles away in Auschwitz. She is a nurse so they send her to work each day at a hospital even when she's only had one piece of bread to eat. Leo manages not to be captured and he is determined to find his family and rescue them.
The story is told from the perspective of Dalia and Jordanna as they endure the evil and horrific conditions. It is so heartbreaking and you will need the tissues for this story. I felt compassion for each character as I got to know them through Ryan's storytelling. Will Leo ever find his family? Do they all survive? What about Alfie's family?
What an emotional story of survival, hope, tragedy, hardships, fear, and family love! I highly recommend this excellent book! Such an amazing story!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC in exchange for an honest review
One evening they awake to a loud explosion from a bombing. Together they head out in the streets to chaos and fire. Their papers are destroyed and Leo and Dalia are separated from the children. Because the children do not have papers on them, they are sent to a Polish orphan labor camp. Alfie and Max are sent to a boy's camp and Jordanna and Lilli to a girl's camp. Dalia is 100 miles away in Auschwitz. She is a nurse so they send her to work each day at a hospital even when she's only had one piece of bread to eat. Leo manages not to be captured and he is determined to find his family and rescue them.
The story is told from the perspective of Dalia and Jordanna as they endure the evil and horrific conditions. It is so heartbreaking and you will need the tissues for this story. I felt compassion for each character as I got to know them through Ryan's storytelling. Will Leo ever find his family? Do they all survive? What about Alfie's family?
What an emotional story of survival, hope, tragedy, hardships, fear, and family love! I highly recommend this excellent book! Such an amazing story!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC in exchange for an honest review
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