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The Zookeeper's Daughter
Inspired by a true WW2 story, The Zookeeper’s Daughter is an unforgettable and emotional novel of an orphan girl, a wartime secret and the power of unconditional love. Perfect for fans of Orphan Train, My Name is Eva and The Letter.
Berlin Zoo, 1943: As bombs darken Germany’s skies, ten-year-old Adelaide is tragically orphaned and zookeeper Katharina Heinroth takes the brave little girl under her protection. Devastated by the loss of her parents, Adelaide finds comfort in looking after her baby sister and the animals she adores. But when Katharina organises a dangerous operation to help children and animals escape the battle-scarred city, something goes wrong. And Adelaide has to make a promise to her adopted mother: a promise that will last a lifetime.
Germany, 2019: When Bethan Taylor sits on a bench in the middle of Berlin Zoo, she notices the elderly lady next to her seems confused, her thoughts flitting between past and present. Ada talks of her childhood, played out in an underground bunker beneath the animal enclosures during the war. As Ada’s story unfolds, Bethan is shocked to hear a name she recognises…
Katharina Heinroth is at the top of a list of German names Bethan found in a hidden compartment of her late mother’s jewellery box. Bethan’s father couldn’t tell her anything about the old piece of paper and she’s been searching for the meaning ever since. Could Ada help her uncover a long-buried family mystery?
Berlin Zoo, 1943: As bombs darken Germany’s skies, ten-year-old Adelaide is tragically orphaned and zookeeper Katharina Heinroth takes the brave little girl under her protection. Devastated by the loss of her parents, Adelaide finds comfort in looking after her baby sister and the animals she adores. But when Katharina organises a dangerous operation to help children and animals escape the battle-scarred city, something goes wrong. And Adelaide has to make a promise to her adopted mother: a promise that will last a lifetime.
Germany, 2019: When Bethan Taylor sits on a bench in the middle of Berlin Zoo, she notices the elderly lady next to her seems confused, her thoughts flitting between past and present. Ada talks of her childhood, played out in an underground bunker beneath the animal enclosures during the war. As Ada’s story unfolds, Bethan is shocked to hear a name she recognises…
Katharina Heinroth is at the top of a list of German names Bethan found in a hidden compartment of her late mother’s jewellery box. Bethan’s father couldn’t tell her anything about the old piece of paper and she’s been searching for the meaning ever since. Could Ada help her uncover a long-buried family mystery?
350 pages, ebook
Published May 4, 2021
2236 people are currently reading
3254 people want to read
About the author
Anna Stuart
29 books624 followersI wanted to be an author from the moment I could pick up a pen and was writing boarding-school novels by the age of nine. I made the early mistake of thinking I ought to get a ‘proper job’ and went into Factory Planning – a career that gave me some wonderful experiences, amazing friends and even a fantastic husband, but didn’t offer much creative scope. So when I stopped to have children I took the chance to start the ‘improper job’ of writing. During the baby years I wrote in the brief gaps provided by sleeps, playschools and obliging grandparents, publishing short stories and serials in all the women’s magazines.
But my ultimate aim was to write longer fiction and several years ago I published a series of successful historical novels under the pseudonym Joanna Courtney. I will continue to publish under that name but am delighted, as Anna Stuart, to also be able to write contemporary fiction. Bonnie and Stan is a true to life romance set in both the present day and sixties Liverpool and Four Minutes to Save a Life is a domestic drama about how small acts of kindness might just change the world!
But my ultimate aim was to write longer fiction and several years ago I published a series of successful historical novels under the pseudonym Joanna Courtney. I will continue to publish under that name but am delighted, as Anna Stuart, to also be able to write contemporary fiction. Bonnie and Stan is a true to life romance set in both the present day and sixties Liverpool and Four Minutes to Save a Life is a domestic drama about how small acts of kindness might just change the world!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
May 7, 2021
It was 2019 when Bethan Taylor was accepted as a veterinarian at the Berlin Zoo, with a contract for a year. She left her home, taking the piece of paper that had belonged to her mother Jana. It was a mystery Bethan was desperate to solve as she knew her mother had been trying before she died. Beth hoped to uncover a secret locked in the past from the war years in Berlin.
1943 and Berlin and the zoo had been bombed continuously. Katharina and her husband, the zookeeper Oskar, and the zoofamilie all hid in the bunker below the zoo grounds until the bombing was over. The women were doing the work of the men as the able-bodied had been called to work for Hitler. Ten-year-old Adelaide had a newborn sister, Hanna and had lost their mother to childbirth. When Adelaide saw her father die, making her and Hanna orphans, Katharina took them under her wing – but Adelaide was never the same after that. Katharina was determined to move the baby animals and as many of the women and children to safety. But could she do it? The Red Army was on its way, and the rumours were terrifying…
When Beth continued with her work, which she loved, she also met with an old lady who sat on a bench at the zoo day in and day out. Ada loved the animals and was happy to sit. She was happier if the keepers gave her cake. Would Ada be instrumental in helping Beth find the answers she needed?
The Berlin Zookeeper is my first by Anna Stuart and I loved it. It was an eye opener to read a war book from the perspective of German civilians, and know the horrors that they went through, the constant murder of innocent people – the same the world over. The shock of knowing the immense loss that the Berlin Zoo suffered – only 91 creatures left from more than three thousand at the beginning of the war. Katharina, Ursula, Sasha, Gisela – four strong women and their children, Adelaide, Hanna, Beatrice and Olivia – some would survive, some would not. The Berlin Zookeeper is a brilliant read which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
1943 and Berlin and the zoo had been bombed continuously. Katharina and her husband, the zookeeper Oskar, and the zoofamilie all hid in the bunker below the zoo grounds until the bombing was over. The women were doing the work of the men as the able-bodied had been called to work for Hitler. Ten-year-old Adelaide had a newborn sister, Hanna and had lost their mother to childbirth. When Adelaide saw her father die, making her and Hanna orphans, Katharina took them under her wing – but Adelaide was never the same after that. Katharina was determined to move the baby animals and as many of the women and children to safety. But could she do it? The Red Army was on its way, and the rumours were terrifying…
When Beth continued with her work, which she loved, she also met with an old lady who sat on a bench at the zoo day in and day out. Ada loved the animals and was happy to sit. She was happier if the keepers gave her cake. Would Ada be instrumental in helping Beth find the answers she needed?
The Berlin Zookeeper is my first by Anna Stuart and I loved it. It was an eye opener to read a war book from the perspective of German civilians, and know the horrors that they went through, the constant murder of innocent people – the same the world over. The shock of knowing the immense loss that the Berlin Zoo suffered – only 91 creatures left from more than three thousand at the beginning of the war. Katharina, Ursula, Sasha, Gisela – four strong women and their children, Adelaide, Hanna, Beatrice and Olivia – some would survive, some would not. The Berlin Zookeeper is a brilliant read which I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2024
Many of us have read WWII historical fiction. We've seen the ordeal of those terrible times and how it impacted innocent citizens of the Allied nations or on the persecuted such as the Jews and the Poles. But hardly any time has a story focussed on the non-Jewish German civilians who were caught up in a conflict for no fault of theirs. Nor is there an account of what happens to places such as zoos during a war. That’s where such books make a huge difference. Albeit through fiction, they force us to ponder upon what hardly ever comes to our minds.
“The Berlin Zookeeper” comes to us from the perspectives of two strong ladies:
Bethany, England, 2019: On the day of her mother's death, eleven year old Bethan finds a list of names amid her mother’s jewellery. All the names are unknown to her and her father hushes away the matter sternly. Now grown up and working as a vet, Bethany finally finds a clue to the first name in the list, a lady who worked at the Berlin Zoo during the second World War. Capitalising on the opportunity to find out more about the family secret, Bethany picks up a one-year internship at the famous Berlin Zoo. Will she be able to solve the mystery of her past?
Katharina Heinroth, Germany, 1943-45: An expert on animals, Katharina works along with her much older husband Oskar in the Berlin Zoo. Being a woman, she cannot be listed on the zoo’s roster as an employee, but every member of the staff knows that “the one and only Katharina” is right at par with her husband in their knowledge about animals and their love for the zoo. However, with the Nazi party creating greater troubles for them every day and the news about the Russian army raids from the East, it appears that the future of the zoo and its dwellers (both human and otherwise) is at great stake. Will Katharina be able to safeguard her beloved zoo and her “Zoofamilie”, the other employees and their families who reside on the zoo grounds?
The books starts off a little slowly, and this pace is further hampered by the umpteen character names that keep coming up. But once you get a hang of who’s who, the story rushes ahead and you will be engrossed till the end. The alternating timelines help in keeping the interest high. Both the stories have a little bit of mystery to them that gets resolved only at the very end. While it is partly possible to guess the mystery (it’s not a thriller after all), the author throws enough curveballs to push you off course time and again.
What I enjoyed:
• For a multi-pov book to work, you must feel equally invested in all the perspectives. And that happened quite successfully. Both Bethany’s and Katharina’s stories suck you in emotionally.
• I preferred Katharina’s story for the obvious reason that it contains more drama. There were many segments that made me doubt the narrative, but to my great surprise, Katharina Heinroth was an actual person; so was her husband Oskar and some of the Nazi supporters such as Lutz. The stories of the zoo employees and their connection to Bethany’s narrative might be entirely fictional, but it blended seamlessly with the reality of Katharina’s life.
• The author has done her homework really well in portraying the German civilian life under the Nazis. I haven’t read any book about WWII that is set in Germany and still doesn’t mention the Jewish persecution. It was a nice change, though I do like reading Holocaust stories too.
What could have been better:
• I didn’t quite enjoy the clichéd romantic triangle between Bethany, Callum and Mark. It was so predictable. Callum was a stereotypical soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend in every sense of the word. It would have been nice to see a platonic friendship between Bethany and Mark. Why does every strong woman need to get the man in order for the book to have a happy ending?
• Some part of the zoo narrative seems a bit farfetched. I mean, elephants trumpeting in response when you talk to them and rhinos showing off their tricks to a captive audience? Works in children’s fiction maybe, not in historical fiction. Letting the human characters show a strong connect to the zoo animals is enough. The cutesy responses from the animals trivialises their lives under captivity.
In spite of these two factors, I did enjoy the story, if for nothing else, for the insight it gave me into life in the Berlin Zoo during the WWII era. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction.
If you are a more aware person, you might have heard of the terrible damage inflicted on the famous Berlin Zoo during the Allied bombing. There is a movie based on this incident named “The Zookeeper’s Wife”, which, in turn, is based on a book of the same name by Diane Ackerman. I hadn’t heard/read/watched any of this. So to read all the trauma caused to animals and then realise that most of it is based on true incidents was enough to make my gut churn. There are many instances of animal deaths and torture mentioned in the Katharina narrative. So those sensitive about such topics, well, it actually happened, whether you choose to read or skip the book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
“The Berlin Zookeeper” comes to us from the perspectives of two strong ladies:
Bethany, England, 2019: On the day of her mother's death, eleven year old Bethan finds a list of names amid her mother’s jewellery. All the names are unknown to her and her father hushes away the matter sternly. Now grown up and working as a vet, Bethany finally finds a clue to the first name in the list, a lady who worked at the Berlin Zoo during the second World War. Capitalising on the opportunity to find out more about the family secret, Bethany picks up a one-year internship at the famous Berlin Zoo. Will she be able to solve the mystery of her past?
Katharina Heinroth, Germany, 1943-45: An expert on animals, Katharina works along with her much older husband Oskar in the Berlin Zoo. Being a woman, she cannot be listed on the zoo’s roster as an employee, but every member of the staff knows that “the one and only Katharina” is right at par with her husband in their knowledge about animals and their love for the zoo. However, with the Nazi party creating greater troubles for them every day and the news about the Russian army raids from the East, it appears that the future of the zoo and its dwellers (both human and otherwise) is at great stake. Will Katharina be able to safeguard her beloved zoo and her “Zoofamilie”, the other employees and their families who reside on the zoo grounds?
The books starts off a little slowly, and this pace is further hampered by the umpteen character names that keep coming up. But once you get a hang of who’s who, the story rushes ahead and you will be engrossed till the end. The alternating timelines help in keeping the interest high. Both the stories have a little bit of mystery to them that gets resolved only at the very end. While it is partly possible to guess the mystery (it’s not a thriller after all), the author throws enough curveballs to push you off course time and again.
What I enjoyed:
• For a multi-pov book to work, you must feel equally invested in all the perspectives. And that happened quite successfully. Both Bethany’s and Katharina’s stories suck you in emotionally.
• I preferred Katharina’s story for the obvious reason that it contains more drama. There were many segments that made me doubt the narrative, but to my great surprise, Katharina Heinroth was an actual person; so was her husband Oskar and some of the Nazi supporters such as Lutz. The stories of the zoo employees and their connection to Bethany’s narrative might be entirely fictional, but it blended seamlessly with the reality of Katharina’s life.
• The author has done her homework really well in portraying the German civilian life under the Nazis. I haven’t read any book about WWII that is set in Germany and still doesn’t mention the Jewish persecution. It was a nice change, though I do like reading Holocaust stories too.
What could have been better:
• I didn’t quite enjoy the clichéd romantic triangle between Bethany, Callum and Mark. It was so predictable. Callum was a stereotypical soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend in every sense of the word. It would have been nice to see a platonic friendship between Bethany and Mark. Why does every strong woman need to get the man in order for the book to have a happy ending?
• Some part of the zoo narrative seems a bit farfetched. I mean, elephants trumpeting in response when you talk to them and rhinos showing off their tricks to a captive audience? Works in children’s fiction maybe, not in historical fiction. Letting the human characters show a strong connect to the zoo animals is enough. The cutesy responses from the animals trivialises their lives under captivity.
In spite of these two factors, I did enjoy the story, if for nothing else, for the insight it gave me into life in the Berlin Zoo during the WWII era. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction.
If you are a more aware person, you might have heard of the terrible damage inflicted on the famous Berlin Zoo during the Allied bombing. There is a movie based on this incident named “The Zookeeper’s Wife”, which, in turn, is based on a book of the same name by Diane Ackerman. I hadn’t heard/read/watched any of this. So to read all the trauma caused to animals and then realise that most of it is based on true incidents was enough to make my gut churn. There are many instances of animal deaths and torture mentioned in the Katharina narrative. So those sensitive about such topics, well, it actually happened, whether you choose to read or skip the book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
May 2, 2021
This was such a different historical fiction novel for me as whilst it is set during present day and WW2, it centres around Berlin Zoo. I mean, I'm not sure if it's just me but I have to admit I never even thought about places like zoo's and how they coped during the war. This made this such a fascinating yet heart-breaking read.
In present day we meet Bethan who is a vet and goes to work in Berlin Zoo. This couldn't come at a better time as she has found a list of names that could hold the key to a secret her mother had kept from Bethan in her living years. In the past we get to meet Katharina who does her best to look after the animals during the war. I have to say certain parts of the story to do with the animals in particular were so hard to read. Berlin Zoo was sadly just as affected by the raids meaning loss of animal life and it tore my heart apart. Not just for the animals but for the staff who had to make some very tough choices also.
The Berlin Zookeeper is a great mix of past and present bringing history to life. I loved reading about the present day as much as the past. The touch of romance in present day was a much needed reprieve to the atrocities that happened in the past. This story certainly opened my eyes to even more casualties from the war that I'm sure many of us haven't even thought about and I applaud the author for reminding us. A moving and enthralling story.
In present day we meet Bethan who is a vet and goes to work in Berlin Zoo. This couldn't come at a better time as she has found a list of names that could hold the key to a secret her mother had kept from Bethan in her living years. In the past we get to meet Katharina who does her best to look after the animals during the war. I have to say certain parts of the story to do with the animals in particular were so hard to read. Berlin Zoo was sadly just as affected by the raids meaning loss of animal life and it tore my heart apart. Not just for the animals but for the staff who had to make some very tough choices also.
The Berlin Zookeeper is a great mix of past and present bringing history to life. I loved reading about the present day as much as the past. The touch of romance in present day was a much needed reprieve to the atrocities that happened in the past. This story certainly opened my eyes to even more casualties from the war that I'm sure many of us haven't even thought about and I applaud the author for reminding us. A moving and enthralling story.
May 5, 2021
It is 1943 and keeping the Berlin Zoo running in the throes of World War II is no easy task. Not only is Katharina Heinroth in charge of the skeletal crew and trying to keep the animals fed and alive, she has a far more critical task - that of saving children. Two children in particular, ten-year-old Adelaide and newborn Olivia, eventually come under her care.
Then we have present day and Bethan Taylor is a vet and takes a year-long contract at the Berlin Zoo and runs into someone that makes her concerned about her past. In fact, she asks her father for clues about her past, particularly about her deceased grandmother. Bethan opens a pandora's box of lies and deceit and is determined to unearth any secrets she can.
I love reading historical fiction despite the seriousness these stories entail. Having read much of concentration camps and survivors in these fictional settings, to read of a book in a zoo setting was completely different. None of these stories are feel-good stories, but what is good about them is the dedication many have to deal with whatever circumstances they are facing. In this case of this book there were some passages that were difficult to read. When it comes to the women in this story there is definitely a level of sadness, but more than that there is an incredible level of strength. It is the strength that these women showed in this story that make this an utterly riveting read.
This touching story by Anna Stuart taught me about dark times and survival, and about an amazing Zoofamilie that showed the tragedy of reaching out for help that might never come. The mystery of Bethan’s past was compelling and I loved that it was inspired by a true story with a mix of creative license. Lastly, not only did the Berlin Zoo survive despite incredible odds it is still in the same location as it was during the war. This is just one of the intriguing things I learned from the informative Historical Note at the end of this book. This impressive book will be with me for a long time and definitely comes highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Then we have present day and Bethan Taylor is a vet and takes a year-long contract at the Berlin Zoo and runs into someone that makes her concerned about her past. In fact, she asks her father for clues about her past, particularly about her deceased grandmother. Bethan opens a pandora's box of lies and deceit and is determined to unearth any secrets she can.
I love reading historical fiction despite the seriousness these stories entail. Having read much of concentration camps and survivors in these fictional settings, to read of a book in a zoo setting was completely different. None of these stories are feel-good stories, but what is good about them is the dedication many have to deal with whatever circumstances they are facing. In this case of this book there were some passages that were difficult to read. When it comes to the women in this story there is definitely a level of sadness, but more than that there is an incredible level of strength. It is the strength that these women showed in this story that make this an utterly riveting read.
This touching story by Anna Stuart taught me about dark times and survival, and about an amazing Zoofamilie that showed the tragedy of reaching out for help that might never come. The mystery of Bethan’s past was compelling and I loved that it was inspired by a true story with a mix of creative license. Lastly, not only did the Berlin Zoo survive despite incredible odds it is still in the same location as it was during the war. This is just one of the intriguing things I learned from the informative Historical Note at the end of this book. This impressive book will be with me for a long time and definitely comes highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 6, 2021
The Berlin Zookeeper is an historical fiction story set in Berlin during the last two years of WWII. It was a horrible time for the citizens living there, trying to keep safe from the bombs and from Hitler and his cronies. Everyone was worried about what was to come, were they to be liberated by The Amis, or be overrun with the invading Russians, know to commit terrible atrocities. I found the setting of the Berlin Zoo to be interesting as well as very different from other books I have read about this time. The Keepers and workers at the Zoom were a family and would do whatever they could to keep their animals and themselves safe. I found myself googling the zoo as I read this book. The second timeline in this story is that of Bethan. She is a vet who works in London, but has a desire to learn more about Zoo animals. She takes a one year position at the Berlin Zoo and armed with a list of names that she found shortly after her mother died, she head off. While her father visits her on weekend, he shares information about her mother that has Bethan reeling and sets her off on a quest.
This a well done dual timeline story. I enjoyed both storylines equally, and Anna Stuart uses the mystery to bring them together. The characters are strong and well developed. Katharina Heinroth is based on the actual director of the zoo after the war ended and that was what really attracted me to this story. She was a tough, savvy woman who stood up for what was right. At times she was vulnerable, especially as those she loved died, but she made the decisions she needed to make to save her Zoo Family. The many characters in the wartime setting were all relatively well developed and all felt read to me. My heart broke as I read what it was like for them, what they lived through and how many did not survive. The present day story has the mystery, with Bethan trying to find someone, some friendships, dealing with partners, as well as a wonderful relationship with Bethan and her father. I really liked that this story was full of women. When all the men were gone to fight, the women in Berlin took over and ran things, displaying their strength, determination and the ability. Showing us what it was like to live in wartime Berlin and how it effected the every day citizens is not something I have read a lot about. This book gives us the opportunity to see the fall of Berlin, the plight of its people and what they went through once the Nazis surrendered. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy Historical Fiction for a different look at the German people who did not support the war effort. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
This a well done dual timeline story. I enjoyed both storylines equally, and Anna Stuart uses the mystery to bring them together. The characters are strong and well developed. Katharina Heinroth is based on the actual director of the zoo after the war ended and that was what really attracted me to this story. She was a tough, savvy woman who stood up for what was right. At times she was vulnerable, especially as those she loved died, but she made the decisions she needed to make to save her Zoo Family. The many characters in the wartime setting were all relatively well developed and all felt read to me. My heart broke as I read what it was like for them, what they lived through and how many did not survive. The present day story has the mystery, with Bethan trying to find someone, some friendships, dealing with partners, as well as a wonderful relationship with Bethan and her father. I really liked that this story was full of women. When all the men were gone to fight, the women in Berlin took over and ran things, displaying their strength, determination and the ability. Showing us what it was like to live in wartime Berlin and how it effected the every day citizens is not something I have read a lot about. This book gives us the opportunity to see the fall of Berlin, the plight of its people and what they went through once the Nazis surrendered. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy Historical Fiction for a different look at the German people who did not support the war effort. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
May 29, 2021
Disclaimer : Many thanks to Sarah for tour invite and publisher for providing eARC via NetGalley.
The Berlin Zookeeper (previous title, The Zookeeper’s Daughter) was powerful historical fiction that revolved around the Berlin Zoo and its keepers. The story was about life of Zookeepers, what Berlin zoo went through during the wartime, struggle and life of women keepers, Germans who didn’t support war, belongingness, friendship, family, unconditional love, courage and survival.
Best part was the history. I have read how things were during WWII in London, France, other countries but I never read how it was like in the heart of the Germany, what people have gone through, how they suffered, had to follow party command even though they resisted it in their heart, and how women kept things going in Berlin because only they were left, even 13 yr. old kids and 60 yrs. old men were forced to fight the bloody war, and lived constantly in fear of Russian army. Reading all that gave different perspective for Germany in wartime.
Mystery of list was really interesting. There were so many layers in the book and even though story was filled with heart-breaking heavy subject with so much loss, pain and suffering, there was a lightness to it. Berliners weird dark humour and characters’ nature made me smile few times.
Overall, The Berlin Zookeeper was emotional, heart-breaking, and well written #historicalfiction that gave different view to Germany in WWII.
Read full book review by following link - http://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/05...
The Berlin Zookeeper (previous title, The Zookeeper’s Daughter) was powerful historical fiction that revolved around the Berlin Zoo and its keepers. The story was about life of Zookeepers, what Berlin zoo went through during the wartime, struggle and life of women keepers, Germans who didn’t support war, belongingness, friendship, family, unconditional love, courage and survival.
Best part was the history. I have read how things were during WWII in London, France, other countries but I never read how it was like in the heart of the Germany, what people have gone through, how they suffered, had to follow party command even though they resisted it in their heart, and how women kept things going in Berlin because only they were left, even 13 yr. old kids and 60 yrs. old men were forced to fight the bloody war, and lived constantly in fear of Russian army. Reading all that gave different perspective for Germany in wartime.
Mystery of list was really interesting. There were so many layers in the book and even though story was filled with heart-breaking heavy subject with so much loss, pain and suffering, there was a lightness to it. Berliners weird dark humour and characters’ nature made me smile few times.
Overall, The Berlin Zookeeper was emotional, heart-breaking, and well written #historicalfiction that gave different view to Germany in WWII.
Read full book review by following link - http://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/05...
December 21, 2022
The Berlin Zookeeper
By: Anna Stuart
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Berlin Zoo is the focus of this novel. I visited the Berlin zoo in the late 80’s and it fabulous! Glad to know it’s still around. I wish I knew of it’s history then.
1943- Adelaide and her newborn sister are left orphans after a night of bombing. They seek protection from their moms best friend who runs a zoo and keeper. Katharina organizes a way to get the children and animals to safety but something goes wrong.
2019-Bethan sees an elderly lady at the zoo and approaches her as she looks confused. The lady, Ada describes being in the zoo as a child and there is an instant connection to Bethan.
A mystery unravels and the past and present unravel in this mystery.
#annastuart, #theberlinzookeeper, #bookouture, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50
By: Anna Stuart
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Berlin Zoo is the focus of this novel. I visited the Berlin zoo in the late 80’s and it fabulous! Glad to know it’s still around. I wish I knew of it’s history then.
1943- Adelaide and her newborn sister are left orphans after a night of bombing. They seek protection from their moms best friend who runs a zoo and keeper. Katharina organizes a way to get the children and animals to safety but something goes wrong.
2019-Bethan sees an elderly lady at the zoo and approaches her as she looks confused. The lady, Ada describes being in the zoo as a child and there is an instant connection to Bethan.
A mystery unravels and the past and present unravel in this mystery.
#annastuart, #theberlinzookeeper, #bookouture, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50
May 4, 2021
This book grabbed me from the very beginning. And it started with the title. As an animal person and someone with an interest in learning about WWII from different points of view...this book was a home run.
Bethan was just 11 years old when her mother died. To escape a house filled with people expressing their condolences...Beth escape to the comfort of the empty space beneath her parents bed with her mother’s jewelry box. In it, she found a hippo brooch and a list of names. Her curiosity got the best of her and when she approached her grieving father, he was furious and threw the list away. But...Beth plucked it out of the trash and carried it with her all the way to Berlin, where as an adult, she was hired as a veterinarian at the zoo. Approaching the subject again...Beth learns a secret that had been kept under lock and key at her mother’s request...her mother was adopted and the grandmother she knew and loved wasn’t her biological grandmother. List in hand, she sets off on a quest to find her true grandmother and in return, she reevaluates her life and who she wants to be and where she wants to go.
Again, I loved every page of this book. I love the flashbacks to wartime Berlin because I think one of the major missing figures in wartime history teachings is how it effected the every day citizens. This book, though fictional, still paints a portrait of Berlin during WWII...it’s rise and its fall and the suffering of its people...and its animals. I think it’s also important to note that WWII really brings to light the strength, determination and the ability of women. Those women paved the way for the strong women of today and that’s definitely something of great value in this story as it jumps back and forth between eras.
Thank you so much to Anna Stuart and NetGalley for a chance to read this before it’s release. It’s terrific!!
Bethan was just 11 years old when her mother died. To escape a house filled with people expressing their condolences...Beth escape to the comfort of the empty space beneath her parents bed with her mother’s jewelry box. In it, she found a hippo brooch and a list of names. Her curiosity got the best of her and when she approached her grieving father, he was furious and threw the list away. But...Beth plucked it out of the trash and carried it with her all the way to Berlin, where as an adult, she was hired as a veterinarian at the zoo. Approaching the subject again...Beth learns a secret that had been kept under lock and key at her mother’s request...her mother was adopted and the grandmother she knew and loved wasn’t her biological grandmother. List in hand, she sets off on a quest to find her true grandmother and in return, she reevaluates her life and who she wants to be and where she wants to go.
Again, I loved every page of this book. I love the flashbacks to wartime Berlin because I think one of the major missing figures in wartime history teachings is how it effected the every day citizens. This book, though fictional, still paints a portrait of Berlin during WWII...it’s rise and its fall and the suffering of its people...and its animals. I think it’s also important to note that WWII really brings to light the strength, determination and the ability of women. Those women paved the way for the strong women of today and that’s definitely something of great value in this story as it jumps back and forth between eras.
Thank you so much to Anna Stuart and NetGalley for a chance to read this before it’s release. It’s terrific!!
May 4, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review
I'm so disappointed with myself for not liking this more. I know for this this is a case of it's me, not the book. I've always struggled with historical fiction where it's a mix between past and present. I prefer my historical fiction to be entirely set in the historical period the book takes place in. But I had really hoped I would like this one.
I think the biggest problem for me was the characterization of Bethan. A lot of things just didn't make sense to me. She had known about the list of names for 22 years, but yet she had never asked her father about it or eve studied the period of history she knew at least one the names was attached to. If you're so desperate to know who the people on the list are, why would you let such a large stone go unturned?
Then there's Ada. I think Bethan put way too much pressure on this poor woman. So many times she was brought to hysterics because of Bethan's questions, and I think it was a really selfish and unfair thing to do. Bethan had 22 years to learn about her. Okay, so she was 11 when she found the list. I don't know if the UK has an age of adulthood like the US does, so for the sake of the argument, say Bethan waits until she's an 18 year old adult to start digging (since her father didn't want to talk about it when the list was first found). That still leaves 15 years that Bethan could have used to find Ada sooner. That poor woman didn't deserve to be badgered so hard with the way her age was affecting her mental capacity.
I enjoyed reading the sections from the past. But Bethan really annoyed me, and made reading a present a real chore
I'm so disappointed with myself for not liking this more. I know for this this is a case of it's me, not the book. I've always struggled with historical fiction where it's a mix between past and present. I prefer my historical fiction to be entirely set in the historical period the book takes place in. But I had really hoped I would like this one.
I think the biggest problem for me was the characterization of Bethan. A lot of things just didn't make sense to me. She had known about the list of names for 22 years, but yet she had never asked her father about it or eve studied the period of history she knew at least one the names was attached to. If you're so desperate to know who the people on the list are, why would you let such a large stone go unturned?
Then there's Ada. I think Bethan put way too much pressure on this poor woman. So many times she was brought to hysterics because of Bethan's questions, and I think it was a really selfish and unfair thing to do. Bethan had 22 years to learn about her. Okay, so she was 11 when she found the list. I don't know if the UK has an age of adulthood like the US does, so for the sake of the argument, say Bethan waits until she's an 18 year old adult to start digging (since her father didn't want to talk about it when the list was first found). That still leaves 15 years that Bethan could have used to find Ada sooner. That poor woman didn't deserve to be badgered so hard with the way her age was affecting her mental capacity.
I enjoyed reading the sections from the past. But Bethan really annoyed me, and made reading a present a real chore
April 20, 2021
This book had me from the title and it lived up to my hopes the whole way through. I loved all the puzzle pieces from the two timelines being put together to solve the mystery in Bethan’s past.
Bethan was 11 when her mom died and to get away from all the mourners in her house, she goes and hides under her mom’s bed with her jewelry box and there she finds a list of names and her mom’s favorite brooch, a hippo. Bethan doesn’t understand any of it and when she asks her father, he shuts her down and throws it out. She saves it from the trash and goes on with rebuilding life without her mom.
Years later she takes a job as a vet at the zoo in Berlin, where she takes the list and tries to resolve the questions that have been in the back of her mind all these years. In doing so, she learns that her mother had been adopted and her beloved grandmother wasn’t her biological grandmother. Which sends her on the hunt to find out who she really was. In the process, she figures out who & what’s important in life and makes some changes.
In the other timeline, we meet the caretakers of the Berlin Zoo and all their animals that they loved like family during the war and Hitler’s regime. Life was so difficult that at times they were forced to eat the animals that died of hunger. It was heartbreaking.
This was a totally different look at this time period and I was enthralled with every page. The women were so strong and they were in charge of the zoo while the men were off at war or captive. Cannot recommend this book enough!!
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
Bethan was 11 when her mom died and to get away from all the mourners in her house, she goes and hides under her mom’s bed with her jewelry box and there she finds a list of names and her mom’s favorite brooch, a hippo. Bethan doesn’t understand any of it and when she asks her father, he shuts her down and throws it out. She saves it from the trash and goes on with rebuilding life without her mom.
Years later she takes a job as a vet at the zoo in Berlin, where she takes the list and tries to resolve the questions that have been in the back of her mind all these years. In doing so, she learns that her mother had been adopted and her beloved grandmother wasn’t her biological grandmother. Which sends her on the hunt to find out who she really was. In the process, she figures out who & what’s important in life and makes some changes.
In the other timeline, we meet the caretakers of the Berlin Zoo and all their animals that they loved like family during the war and Hitler’s regime. Life was so difficult that at times they were forced to eat the animals that died of hunger. It was heartbreaking.
This was a totally different look at this time period and I was enthralled with every page. The women were so strong and they were in charge of the zoo while the men were off at war or captive. Cannot recommend this book enough!!
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
May 4, 2021
This book’s historical thread is set during the chaotic and dangerous final days of the Second World War, as the Nazi regime is disintegrating and the people of Berlin wait to see what the future holds – atrocities perpetrated by the invading Russians, or liberation by the allied forces. What makes this story so very different is that it’s set in Berlin Zoo, as the “family” fight against the odds to secure their own lives and futures alongside those of the animals. And then, in the present day, Bethan is a vet working at Berlin Zoo, pursuing clues to her family history based on a list of German names left by her mother, who died when her daughter was 11, together with a treasured hippo brooch.
The success of a dual timeline story often depends on both stories having equal strength and interest, and this wonderful book certainly achieves that with consummate ease. The historical story really tears at your heart – the constant danger, the devastating losses (both animal and human), the impact of the situation on a group of individuals fighting to save what they love – with a wonderful focus on their passion and commitment. At times, the story is particularly harrowing, and difficult to read – this is really powerful writing, and some of the scenes of bloodshed and devastation really sear themselves into the memory. Katharina, at the story’s centre, is the kind of strong woman who I always enjoy – entirely three-dimensional, sometimes flawed, often vulnerable, but showing exceptional bravery and resilience as she struggles for something she believes in.
The present day story provides the lightness, though driven by Bethan’s quest to uncover the secrets her maternal grandmother took to the grave. She has a boyfriend at home, a total tosser who seems to have zero interest in anything Bethan does (the Leicester City duvet cover really told me all I need to know!), and the distance allows her some space to examine their relationship. And there’s the possibility of a new romance, a fellow zoo worker who makes her heart beat a little faster – and who is more than happy to help and support her as she uncovers the layers of family secrets. At first, I did wonder if her story might be a little too light – but it develops really nicely, and the characters are strong enough and their story so involving that it provides a welcome relief at times from the more disturbing aspects of the wartime experiences. There’s a nice focus on family in the present day too, and I particularly liked Bethan’s relationship with her father – there’s a particular warmth about it, although he was initially so vehemently opposed to her investigations into the past.
I particularly liked the fact that the wartime story was based on the real history of Berlin Zoo – Google told me that Katharina Heinroth did become scientific director at the war’s end, helping to restore it after the ravages of allied bombing, when the animal numbers had been tragically reduced from 4000 to 91. But this book is much more than a retelling of well-researched history with some light romance and a few family secrets on the side – it’s a really compelling read, deeply moving, and a fitting tribute to the ordinary Berliners who risked their lives for a future they believed in. A great read, wonderful storytelling – and highly recommended by me.
The success of a dual timeline story often depends on both stories having equal strength and interest, and this wonderful book certainly achieves that with consummate ease. The historical story really tears at your heart – the constant danger, the devastating losses (both animal and human), the impact of the situation on a group of individuals fighting to save what they love – with a wonderful focus on their passion and commitment. At times, the story is particularly harrowing, and difficult to read – this is really powerful writing, and some of the scenes of bloodshed and devastation really sear themselves into the memory. Katharina, at the story’s centre, is the kind of strong woman who I always enjoy – entirely three-dimensional, sometimes flawed, often vulnerable, but showing exceptional bravery and resilience as she struggles for something she believes in.
The present day story provides the lightness, though driven by Bethan’s quest to uncover the secrets her maternal grandmother took to the grave. She has a boyfriend at home, a total tosser who seems to have zero interest in anything Bethan does (the Leicester City duvet cover really told me all I need to know!), and the distance allows her some space to examine their relationship. And there’s the possibility of a new romance, a fellow zoo worker who makes her heart beat a little faster – and who is more than happy to help and support her as she uncovers the layers of family secrets. At first, I did wonder if her story might be a little too light – but it develops really nicely, and the characters are strong enough and their story so involving that it provides a welcome relief at times from the more disturbing aspects of the wartime experiences. There’s a nice focus on family in the present day too, and I particularly liked Bethan’s relationship with her father – there’s a particular warmth about it, although he was initially so vehemently opposed to her investigations into the past.
I particularly liked the fact that the wartime story was based on the real history of Berlin Zoo – Google told me that Katharina Heinroth did become scientific director at the war’s end, helping to restore it after the ravages of allied bombing, when the animal numbers had been tragically reduced from 4000 to 91. But this book is much more than a retelling of well-researched history with some light romance and a few family secrets on the side – it’s a really compelling read, deeply moving, and a fitting tribute to the ordinary Berliners who risked their lives for a future they believed in. A great read, wonderful storytelling – and highly recommended by me.
July 13, 2021
In the present day, Emily is starting her new posting as a vet at the Berlin Zoo, having set herself a career path for this very job when her mother died when she was just eleven. Memories of visiting the zoo with her German-Born mother and meeting their ‘mascot’ Knautschke (crinkles in English) a hippo, she had few items to go on BUT those memories, and now the hippo pin and a list of names found in her mother’s jewelry box. Her father, with whom she has a marvelous relationship isn’t pleased with her discovery, and now all these years later he’s more concerned about her relationship with her live-in boyfriend, her being away for a year, and just what she’s got planned.
Jumping to the past, we meet Katherina, a scientist who worked at the zoo, was devoted to the animals and her husband Oscar, and often far too outspoken for safety. We’re diving in near the end of the war, when Berlin was subject to repeated bombings by Allied forces, and the Soviet army was moving toward the city from the west and north – led by rumors, fear and more uncertainty. But Katherina is determined that their little Zoo Family will survive this war - everything from the animals to the people – and the love they share. While dealing with a director who, despite his obvious care for the animals is strongly attached to the party and it’s leaders, to the struggles (and secrets) they keep, the zoo staff is mostly women, children and a handful of French men who were ‘traded’ by the Vichy Administration to work for the Germans in exchange for some prisoners of war.
Throughout the story we see Emily’s determination to dig out the family secret – now knowing that her beloved grandmother was not her actual grandmother, and that her mother was ‘gifted’ during the war: all balanced with the stories of deprivation, struggle, the history of Ada – the old woman who spends hours each day “speaking” with a statue of Katherina, and just how she may fit into the puzzle that Emily is trying to build. With help from the head of the primate exhibit, Max, and her own feelings for him growing, we also have the “German” perspective of the horrors of the war’s aftermath: the German attitude toward “never again” and, of course, the animals in all their mischievous glory. The story brought much to light, including determination, struggle, hope and plenty of devastation for all involved, present and past. I adore stories that place the past firmly into the present and show the struggles, the challenges and the triumphs against all odds, and in many ways, Emily’s story mirrored the challenges in a very personal way. Her relationship with her father had several challenges, all overcome, and her ending a relationship of 2 years simply because she’d found that she wanted more – and the distance gave her clarity, the story has plenty for readers today to enjoy. A firm favorite for the detail, the emotional connections and the determination that everyone showed to get to the end of the war, or their quest – and to finally see hope for the future firmly on the horizon.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Jumping to the past, we meet Katherina, a scientist who worked at the zoo, was devoted to the animals and her husband Oscar, and often far too outspoken for safety. We’re diving in near the end of the war, when Berlin was subject to repeated bombings by Allied forces, and the Soviet army was moving toward the city from the west and north – led by rumors, fear and more uncertainty. But Katherina is determined that their little Zoo Family will survive this war - everything from the animals to the people – and the love they share. While dealing with a director who, despite his obvious care for the animals is strongly attached to the party and it’s leaders, to the struggles (and secrets) they keep, the zoo staff is mostly women, children and a handful of French men who were ‘traded’ by the Vichy Administration to work for the Germans in exchange for some prisoners of war.
Throughout the story we see Emily’s determination to dig out the family secret – now knowing that her beloved grandmother was not her actual grandmother, and that her mother was ‘gifted’ during the war: all balanced with the stories of deprivation, struggle, the history of Ada – the old woman who spends hours each day “speaking” with a statue of Katherina, and just how she may fit into the puzzle that Emily is trying to build. With help from the head of the primate exhibit, Max, and her own feelings for him growing, we also have the “German” perspective of the horrors of the war’s aftermath: the German attitude toward “never again” and, of course, the animals in all their mischievous glory. The story brought much to light, including determination, struggle, hope and plenty of devastation for all involved, present and past. I adore stories that place the past firmly into the present and show the struggles, the challenges and the triumphs against all odds, and in many ways, Emily’s story mirrored the challenges in a very personal way. Her relationship with her father had several challenges, all overcome, and her ending a relationship of 2 years simply because she’d found that she wanted more – and the distance gave her clarity, the story has plenty for readers today to enjoy. A firm favorite for the detail, the emotional connections and the determination that everyone showed to get to the end of the war, or their quest – and to finally see hope for the future firmly on the horizon.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
May 5, 2021
The Berlin Zookeeper is a dual timeline story which focuses on the people who worked in the Berlin Zoo during World War Two as they struggle to survive the bombing by the Allies and the Russians advancing towards the city, as well as a young woman seeking answers in the present day. It’s a well written and well researched story that shines a light on an aspect of the war I had never read about before. You really wouldn’t have given any thought to a zoo during the war considering so much else was happening on a world wide scale but here Anna Stuart brings to light the subject matter very well. A shocking family history, a wartime secret and a heart-breaking loss all form the themes being explored throughout the story. The scene is set so well that you actually feel like you are at the zoo, both in the present day and the years during the war. Amidst the stories as to how the animals and the zoo itself suffered at this time is a story of bravery, courage, resilience and dedication and Bethan in the present day is determined to uncover the many answers she has as to her own personal family history.
Bethan’s mother died when she was 11 and all she now has is a list of women’s names with a hippo-shaped brooch attached to the top of the list. This is a link to her mother when she believed all connection to be lost but it only stirs up so many questions and emotions and suggests there was a lot going on in her mother’s life that she had no idea about. Her father is evasive and not willing to give her answers to the innumerable thoughts running through her mind. Who or what is he protecting? Who were the women on the list? What significance did they have in her mother’s life? Katharina Heinroth is the first name on the list and she had been the director of the zoo post World War Two and so she becomes the main character in the strand of the story that centres on the past.
Bethan has a new and exciting job at Berlin Zoo. It means leaving her boyfriend Callum behind in England but she is determined their relationship will continue to work long distance. She feels she has been called here as the brooch must have originated from the zoo. Will she find the answers she seeks and if said answers are uncovered will a piece of her slot into place that she did not know was missing? I did enjoy the chapters set in the present day. The descriptions of the zoo, the work done there and the various people Bethan meets really helped compare and contrast to the experiences of the workers during the war. It was clear there was a significant link between Bethan’s family past and events during the war and I was as keen as Bethan to find out just what they were. Her quest had such a natural flow to it and nothing was rushed, except perhaps towards the end. Instead slowly she begins to connect the dots and piece the story together and what she uncovers is remarkable.
Alongside Max, the head primate keeper and assistant manager, the secrets hidden in the zoo and beyond slowly start to unravel themselves. You witness Bethan coming to an understanding of where her family heritage originated and she has to comprehend an extraordinary story of bravery, loss, devastation and above all else love and sacrifice. A romance element does insert itself into her life but to be honest I wasn’t all that fussed about it. My interest was much more directed towards the story set during the war. That’s not to say Bethan’s story wasn’t well written, it was but I found the historical aspect slightly stronger than the modern day.
Having the story set in the zoo during the war years really showed how different aspects of German society dealt with what the war years were throwing at them. To be honest do we really think much about Berlin or the population of Germany as a whole during the war when we read historical fictions set during this time? I know I don’t, I’m generally more concerned about how the Allies were doing world wide or reading stories of remarkable bravery by secret agents and how the people of London coped with the Blitz etc. So this was a new slant for me and with the added strand of the animals it shone a whole new light on things for me as to how the citizens dealt with the British bombs on a practical and daily basis.
Katharina was a fantastic character. She never ever rested and time and time again she put her own needs to one side and dealt with both the human and animals issues lying at her door. The question of what made one animal or human better than any other because of where they came from was raised and provided plenty of food for thought whilst reading. Katharina shouldered many burdens. It was like the weight of the problems of those surrounding her became hers and the pressure must have been immense. Yet she never complained and was always looking for ways to find the path to lasting survival. The author created such tension, suspense, unease, danger which only increased with every turn of the page. With Katharina and the various workers forced to hide in underground bunkers as the bombs rained down on the city and the zoo that was such a landmark. Their life’s work was being destroyed, not to mention the scenes they witnessed, having such a devastating and long lasting impact. You see the situation deteriorate as they worry about the Russians coming nearer and nearer to the city but everyday life continued and they had to navigate what this would bring right to the confines of the bunker. What amazed me though was that after every bombing they surveyed the damage and losses and attempted to pick up the pieces and run the zoo as normal. It was seen as a beacon of hope at a time when all everything seemed devoid of faith and belief.
I did think there were an awful lot of characters introduced in the sections in the past and I was trying to keep track of who was who and how they connected to each other. A little list of characters perhaps at the beginning of the book that you could refer back to would have been welcome. I say this because coming towards the end when things did take on a frantic pace as Bethan edged ever closer to the truth I became confused and found myself at times struggling to join the pieces together as quickly as Bethan did. But what is eventually uncovered is an amazing story that showed that Katharina when needed most became a matriarch, protector and saviour to so many. She shouldered the burden of those all around her and knew that survival of so many depended on her. Her motivation was strong and never wavered despite tragedy and loss beating down the gates of the zoo. As for how the past and the present link together well that was emotional and very well developed. Things came full circle very nicely and highlighted what strong women they were at a time when the world was falling apart.
The Berlin Zookeeper is Anna Stuart’s first foray into historical fiction and it proved to be an enjoyable, eye opening read with both a strong plot and cast of characters. It gave the reader a totally different perspective on the time period. The author had clearly done much detailed research and enjoyed bringing her story with such a fascinating setting and wide range of characters to life. Already there is news of a new book to come from Anna Stuart this year. The Secret Diary publishes in August and having read the blurb it has already whetted my appetite for what is to come from this new and exciting author.
Bethan’s mother died when she was 11 and all she now has is a list of women’s names with a hippo-shaped brooch attached to the top of the list. This is a link to her mother when she believed all connection to be lost but it only stirs up so many questions and emotions and suggests there was a lot going on in her mother’s life that she had no idea about. Her father is evasive and not willing to give her answers to the innumerable thoughts running through her mind. Who or what is he protecting? Who were the women on the list? What significance did they have in her mother’s life? Katharina Heinroth is the first name on the list and she had been the director of the zoo post World War Two and so she becomes the main character in the strand of the story that centres on the past.
Bethan has a new and exciting job at Berlin Zoo. It means leaving her boyfriend Callum behind in England but she is determined their relationship will continue to work long distance. She feels she has been called here as the brooch must have originated from the zoo. Will she find the answers she seeks and if said answers are uncovered will a piece of her slot into place that she did not know was missing? I did enjoy the chapters set in the present day. The descriptions of the zoo, the work done there and the various people Bethan meets really helped compare and contrast to the experiences of the workers during the war. It was clear there was a significant link between Bethan’s family past and events during the war and I was as keen as Bethan to find out just what they were. Her quest had such a natural flow to it and nothing was rushed, except perhaps towards the end. Instead slowly she begins to connect the dots and piece the story together and what she uncovers is remarkable.
Alongside Max, the head primate keeper and assistant manager, the secrets hidden in the zoo and beyond slowly start to unravel themselves. You witness Bethan coming to an understanding of where her family heritage originated and she has to comprehend an extraordinary story of bravery, loss, devastation and above all else love and sacrifice. A romance element does insert itself into her life but to be honest I wasn’t all that fussed about it. My interest was much more directed towards the story set during the war. That’s not to say Bethan’s story wasn’t well written, it was but I found the historical aspect slightly stronger than the modern day.
Having the story set in the zoo during the war years really showed how different aspects of German society dealt with what the war years were throwing at them. To be honest do we really think much about Berlin or the population of Germany as a whole during the war when we read historical fictions set during this time? I know I don’t, I’m generally more concerned about how the Allies were doing world wide or reading stories of remarkable bravery by secret agents and how the people of London coped with the Blitz etc. So this was a new slant for me and with the added strand of the animals it shone a whole new light on things for me as to how the citizens dealt with the British bombs on a practical and daily basis.
Katharina was a fantastic character. She never ever rested and time and time again she put her own needs to one side and dealt with both the human and animals issues lying at her door. The question of what made one animal or human better than any other because of where they came from was raised and provided plenty of food for thought whilst reading. Katharina shouldered many burdens. It was like the weight of the problems of those surrounding her became hers and the pressure must have been immense. Yet she never complained and was always looking for ways to find the path to lasting survival. The author created such tension, suspense, unease, danger which only increased with every turn of the page. With Katharina and the various workers forced to hide in underground bunkers as the bombs rained down on the city and the zoo that was such a landmark. Their life’s work was being destroyed, not to mention the scenes they witnessed, having such a devastating and long lasting impact. You see the situation deteriorate as they worry about the Russians coming nearer and nearer to the city but everyday life continued and they had to navigate what this would bring right to the confines of the bunker. What amazed me though was that after every bombing they surveyed the damage and losses and attempted to pick up the pieces and run the zoo as normal. It was seen as a beacon of hope at a time when all everything seemed devoid of faith and belief.
I did think there were an awful lot of characters introduced in the sections in the past and I was trying to keep track of who was who and how they connected to each other. A little list of characters perhaps at the beginning of the book that you could refer back to would have been welcome. I say this because coming towards the end when things did take on a frantic pace as Bethan edged ever closer to the truth I became confused and found myself at times struggling to join the pieces together as quickly as Bethan did. But what is eventually uncovered is an amazing story that showed that Katharina when needed most became a matriarch, protector and saviour to so many. She shouldered the burden of those all around her and knew that survival of so many depended on her. Her motivation was strong and never wavered despite tragedy and loss beating down the gates of the zoo. As for how the past and the present link together well that was emotional and very well developed. Things came full circle very nicely and highlighted what strong women they were at a time when the world was falling apart.
The Berlin Zookeeper is Anna Stuart’s first foray into historical fiction and it proved to be an enjoyable, eye opening read with both a strong plot and cast of characters. It gave the reader a totally different perspective on the time period. The author had clearly done much detailed research and enjoyed bringing her story with such a fascinating setting and wide range of characters to life. Already there is news of a new book to come from Anna Stuart this year. The Secret Diary publishes in August and having read the blurb it has already whetted my appetite for what is to come from this new and exciting author.
April 8, 2021
First off I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Bookouture , the author Anna Stuart , and to NetGalley for inviting me to join the blog tour for this book as well as letting me read and review it. Wow what an emotional read , right from the very start the author was pulling at my heart strings and my emotions, there was times I had to put down my kindle because I had tears in my eyes and I couldn't hardly see to read, and that's when I knew this was going to be a five star read for me as well as a new favorite of mine. See I tend to read a lot of historical fiction and those include historical fiction WW 2 , and I know I've said this in the past and on other reviews and I'll keep saying but when it comes to this types of stores especially the ones based on true stories or about a actual person that lived doing that time there's a few things that I look for , and they are:
1: author has done their research
2: they bring their characters and their settings to life
3: they make you feel everything that the characters feel
4: and by the end of the book your a emotional wreck , and this author has done that , she had me right from the very start hooked and crying, in just a few pages, the way she described the animals, the zoo , the bombings and the struggles of her characters and the struggles they went though to keep their beloved animals as well as themselves safe , and the way its told bright this story to life. Its a story that needed to be told, and it was doing in a way that it bright that part of history to life, as well as the man and women who lived though it and the ones that didn't make it. Its part of history that should never be forgotten. Its a story that needs to be read and I hope you will pick it and read it.
1: author has done their research
2: they bring their characters and their settings to life
3: they make you feel everything that the characters feel
4: and by the end of the book your a emotional wreck , and this author has done that , she had me right from the very start hooked and crying, in just a few pages, the way she described the animals, the zoo , the bombings and the struggles of her characters and the struggles they went though to keep their beloved animals as well as themselves safe , and the way its told bright this story to life. Its a story that needed to be told, and it was doing in a way that it bright that part of history to life, as well as the man and women who lived though it and the ones that didn't make it. Its part of history that should never be forgotten. Its a story that needs to be read and I hope you will pick it and read it.
July 1, 2021
Mi-a plăcut foarte mult tema aceasta a războiului, pusă în contextul îngrijirii unei grădini zoologice. Este clar o combinație unică, foarte reușită, care va fi pe gustul celor pasionați de lecturile de ficțiune istorică. Mi-a plăcut, ca întotdeauna la acest gen de cărți, nota explicativă finală care menționează persoanele reale de inspirație și evenimentele reale care au stat la baza cărții. Mi-a plăcut, m-a înduioșat, însă povestea din planul modern, mi s-a părut puțin cam siropoasă și uneori prea trasă de păr dacă pot spune așa. Am întâmpinat uneori o citire lentă și greoaie fiindcă nu m-a prins modul de expunere și am sesizat o diferența între cele două lumi, a războiului și modernă, în expunere și mod de a fi al personajelor, care nu pot să zic că mi-a plăcut. Parcă am simțit tot procesul lecturii puțin îngreunat de aceste două moduri diferite de expunere a celor două realităti. Pe cât de crudă și nemiloasă a fost una, pe atât de siropoasă și nostalgico-dramatică alta. Dar una peste alta este o lectură plăcută, cu o tematică foarte interesantă și unică, fapt pentru care o recomand.
January 3, 2024
Sad but cute story. I've never really thought about what happened to places like Zoos during the war. Also never thought about what it was like for local Germans either. Many different sides to what was happening during that time.
March 30, 2021
Anna Stuart’s The Zookeeper’s Daughter is a heartbreaking tale of loss and resilience. In modern-day Berlin, Bethan Taylor has just started her new job at the Berlin Zoo. She’s excited not only for the opportunity to learn & work with the zoo’s animals, but also to uncover a secret her mother’s been hiding for years. The grandmother that Bethan thinks is hers, really isn’t. And the trail starts at the Berlin Zoo at the end of the war.
The Zookeeper’s Daughter is told in two timelines – one during the tail end of WWII as Berlin is bombed and bombarded, the other in Bethan’s current-day perspective. Stuart deftly weaves present and past as Bethan finds clues to her mother’s origins. The characters in the part of the story that’s set in WWII Berlin are brave and loyal (almost to a fault). There is so much love and compassion for each other and for the animals in their care, and I appreciated this look at Berliners as humans first and foremost. Much of the WWII media I consume (movies, books, articles, etc.) are told from the viewpoint that the Germans were Nazis and therefore bad. And that’s not true of all Germans.
Bethan’s current-day life was a bit meh for me, especially compared to Katharina et al’s colorful, vibrant depictions. I had no patience for her slow realization that her current beau was not worth the effort of a relationship, and I still don’t understand why her father is so resistant to her wanting or needing to know her past. I’ll admit the former is probably from my own lived experiences. After all, who hasn’t yelled at a character to snap out of it already, whether when reading a book or watching a show?
Regardless, I enjoyed The Zookeeper’s Daughter for its look at people’s lives at the tail end of a long war, and the decisions they make in their attempts to save each other.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
The Zookeeper’s Daughter is told in two timelines – one during the tail end of WWII as Berlin is bombed and bombarded, the other in Bethan’s current-day perspective. Stuart deftly weaves present and past as Bethan finds clues to her mother’s origins. The characters in the part of the story that’s set in WWII Berlin are brave and loyal (almost to a fault). There is so much love and compassion for each other and for the animals in their care, and I appreciated this look at Berliners as humans first and foremost. Much of the WWII media I consume (movies, books, articles, etc.) are told from the viewpoint that the Germans were Nazis and therefore bad. And that’s not true of all Germans.
Bethan’s current-day life was a bit meh for me, especially compared to Katharina et al’s colorful, vibrant depictions. I had no patience for her slow realization that her current beau was not worth the effort of a relationship, and I still don’t understand why her father is so resistant to her wanting or needing to know her past. I’ll admit the former is probably from my own lived experiences. After all, who hasn’t yelled at a character to snap out of it already, whether when reading a book or watching a show?
Regardless, I enjoyed The Zookeeper’s Daughter for its look at people’s lives at the tail end of a long war, and the decisions they make in their attempts to save each other.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
March 22, 2021
The Zookeeper's Daughter is based on real people and true events during the war. I loved reading about Katharina Heinroth and the strength and loyalty she showed not only her friends and husband, but also to the animals she considered family. Katharina's story is not one I was previously familiar with and found myself researching more about this amazing woman after I finished the story.
I do usually enjoy a family mystery, however I found the transition between timelines a little jarring. The story is told over two timelines, one from the perspective of Katharina during the war, and another from Bethan in the present day. In one chapter I was reading about the horrors of the war and young women facing death either from bombs or from childbirth. In the next I was reading about Bethan grumbling about her boyfriend. The sections set in 1940s were moving and poignant and I loved the camaraderie and bravery shown from the members of the zoofamilie. In contrast I found Bethan's problem's rather insignificant and I struggled to become emotionally invested in any of her relationships. It was hard to care about her petty romantic issues when a few pages earlier I was reading about women putting their lives at risk to protect those they love.
I would have preferred the story to be told in a more linear format, and to have just focused on the events in the 1940s. I appreciate that the author is trying to show what happened to the baby that went on to be Bethan's mother, but I just didn't find the switching of timelines worked as well as it should have. I much preferred the chapters written from Katharina's point of view, and I loved the sisterhood and strong friendships between the women left behind.
Having said all that, I am glad I read the book. Katharina Heinroth was an amazing woman and it has inspired me to want to visit Berlin Zoo myself. I just would have preferred more Katharina, and less Bethan!
You can find my full review at https://mmbbookblog.com/the-zookeeper...
I do usually enjoy a family mystery, however I found the transition between timelines a little jarring. The story is told over two timelines, one from the perspective of Katharina during the war, and another from Bethan in the present day. In one chapter I was reading about the horrors of the war and young women facing death either from bombs or from childbirth. In the next I was reading about Bethan grumbling about her boyfriend. The sections set in 1940s were moving and poignant and I loved the camaraderie and bravery shown from the members of the zoofamilie. In contrast I found Bethan's problem's rather insignificant and I struggled to become emotionally invested in any of her relationships. It was hard to care about her petty romantic issues when a few pages earlier I was reading about women putting their lives at risk to protect those they love.
I would have preferred the story to be told in a more linear format, and to have just focused on the events in the 1940s. I appreciate that the author is trying to show what happened to the baby that went on to be Bethan's mother, but I just didn't find the switching of timelines worked as well as it should have. I much preferred the chapters written from Katharina's point of view, and I loved the sisterhood and strong friendships between the women left behind.
Having said all that, I am glad I read the book. Katharina Heinroth was an amazing woman and it has inspired me to want to visit Berlin Zoo myself. I just would have preferred more Katharina, and less Bethan!
You can find my full review at https://mmbbookblog.com/the-zookeeper...
June 4, 2022
When Bethan’s mother dies, Bethan goes through her mother’s jewelry box to find a momento to remember her by. In the box, Bethan finds a hippo brooch and a list of women’s names. Years later, Bethan finds herself working as a vet at the Berlin Zoo. While there she learns the mystery of the list of names and how they connect to her life.
This was a very enlightening read! I learned a lot about what happened to the Berlin Zoo during the war and the women that kept it going during that time. It alternates between the war years and the present day to bring the story to a full circle. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction lovers! It would also be great for a book club discussion!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was a very enlightening read! I learned a lot about what happened to the Berlin Zoo during the war and the women that kept it going during that time. It alternates between the war years and the present day to bring the story to a full circle. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction lovers! It would also be great for a book club discussion!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
July 27, 2023
I enjoyed that this WWII era was told from the perspective of Germans during the war, as I hadn’t encountered anything of the sort in previous books. Also who wouldn’t want to read about the life of a zookeeper? However it just felt overly complicated with a lack of real climax or revelation. I had to constantly review how characters were connected, and I just never felt any meaningful plot development.
May 12, 2021
This book!
I am a sucker for anything WW2. The Nightingale? Loved it. Lilac Girls? Googled half the book because I couldn’t believe what I was reading. (Believe me, it was all true). The Alice Network? Could not put it down.
This book was no exception. A work of fiction it may be, but it I think I speak for a lot of readers when I say that books about the second world war are heavy. Just when I think I can't be surprised or horrified or disgusted further, I am proven wrong.
This dual timeline story follows Katharina and Oskar Heinroth, who in 1943 share their life with their “Zoofamile” at the Berlin Zoo. The chimps and hippos and elephants are a part of their world, and as the war rages on, they are forced to suffer heartbreaking loss and horrible conditions at the hands of the Red Army.
In present day, Veterinarian Bethan Taylor has been hired on at the Berlin Zoo, a dream come true. There, she meets Ada, who at first simply looks like an old woman (slightly “out of it”) who spends her days sitting on a bench in front of a memorial to non other than Katharina Heinroth.
The love of the people who care for these animals- both past and present- is described so beautifully. Every loss was a heartbreak for me. When we think of the war we immediately go to visions of the Holocaust and Auschwitz and the gas chambers. This story shows us a different side; one I never really thought about. The efforts of the zookeepers to continue running it during wartime, and the souls who try to save the animals and the people they love.
In the present day story, Bethan is trying to find an answer to a mystery she uncovers concerning her ancestors. A mystery that began in the Berlin Zoo. A mystery that involves the old lady on the bench.
Who was Katharina Heinroth? And why is she so important 7 decades later? Who is Ada? And does her story tie into all of this?
Overall, an amazing story!
I am a sucker for anything WW2. The Nightingale? Loved it. Lilac Girls? Googled half the book because I couldn’t believe what I was reading. (Believe me, it was all true). The Alice Network? Could not put it down.
This book was no exception. A work of fiction it may be, but it I think I speak for a lot of readers when I say that books about the second world war are heavy. Just when I think I can't be surprised or horrified or disgusted further, I am proven wrong.
This dual timeline story follows Katharina and Oskar Heinroth, who in 1943 share their life with their “Zoofamile” at the Berlin Zoo. The chimps and hippos and elephants are a part of their world, and as the war rages on, they are forced to suffer heartbreaking loss and horrible conditions at the hands of the Red Army.
In present day, Veterinarian Bethan Taylor has been hired on at the Berlin Zoo, a dream come true. There, she meets Ada, who at first simply looks like an old woman (slightly “out of it”) who spends her days sitting on a bench in front of a memorial to non other than Katharina Heinroth.
The love of the people who care for these animals- both past and present- is described so beautifully. Every loss was a heartbreak for me. When we think of the war we immediately go to visions of the Holocaust and Auschwitz and the gas chambers. This story shows us a different side; one I never really thought about. The efforts of the zookeepers to continue running it during wartime, and the souls who try to save the animals and the people they love.
In the present day story, Bethan is trying to find an answer to a mystery she uncovers concerning her ancestors. A mystery that began in the Berlin Zoo. A mystery that involves the old lady on the bench.
Who was Katharina Heinroth? And why is she so important 7 decades later? Who is Ada? And does her story tie into all of this?
Overall, an amazing story!
March 16, 2021
Inspired by a true story this tells the story of Beth who has recently been appointed a veterinary position at Berlin Zoo. She discovers that her grandmother was not blood, her now deceased mother having been adopted, or rather “ gifted”. She always knew that there was a link to the zoo and being here now enables her to investigate further. Back in 1943 the war has hit hard and a group of women are doing their best to look after the animals despite the bombings. Ten year old Adelaide is keen on the animals and helps her mother. When she becomes orphaned Katherina takes her under her wing. Bethan realises that all the staff know Ada well- she visits every day and rambles on about “ the babies” which appears to be about the animals. Could she hold the key as to whom Beth’s real grandmother was and what is the true story about the war years? I enjoyed this, I’ve read several wartime books recently and this was a real change. Not only the animal side but set in Berlin so a completely different perspective to many war time stories which I find very interesting and a wonderful way to learn a little history albeit through the eyes of fiction.
An interesting read, some history, wonderful animals , a smile and a little romance along the way. Wonderful.
September 26, 2021
a roller coaster of emotion I did enjoy the story of the zookeeper, I was looking forward to understanding how they survive during so much chaos and war, and this book didn't disappoint, I got all the answers that I was looking for and I fell in love with the characters and their troubles.
A story between the past and the present, the story of Bethan, Ada, and Katharina Heinroth, a woman who fought hard and helped two orphans to survive the most terrible conditions during WW2.
Two women whose life and past will reunite them in the most unexpected ways, to understand the past you must talk about it in the future
one of the things that I enjoyed was the romance part of the book.
I really love this book but as always when I love a story I dont know even what to write so many things that I want to share but at the same time, I dont want to give anything away..
A story between the past and the present, the story of Bethan, Ada, and Katharina Heinroth, a woman who fought hard and helped two orphans to survive the most terrible conditions during WW2.
Two women whose life and past will reunite them in the most unexpected ways, to understand the past you must talk about it in the future
one of the things that I enjoyed was the romance part of the book.
I really love this book but as always when I love a story I dont know even what to write so many things that I want to share but at the same time, I dont want to give anything away..
September 7, 2021
I was going to say 3.5, but settled on four stars. It's a good book, and apparently well-researched (so most of the stories are, if not true, nearly so). It portrays (lightly) the difficulties faced by residents of Berlin - and the zoo keepers - as WW II progressed.
The story is a little trite (why is it in books that, given a number of possible solutions to a problem, no one ever finds the right one before going through them all to the last one?) but it holds your interest. I enjoyed the book.
The story is a little trite (why is it in books that, given a number of possible solutions to a problem, no one ever finds the right one before going through them all to the last one?) but it holds your interest. I enjoyed the book.
September 3, 2021
I do enjoy historical fiction and this book gave me a perspective from the German side of the end of WWII. I liked the divided times, current with a family mystery to solve and then back to 1944 and 45 with the people involved in that mystery. Of course, there was a love story, but it was the history that drew me in. I would have been just as happy without the up to date romance, happier, actually.
January 19, 2025
I really love these books. I love that they're fiction but entwined with non fiction. This book especially gets you thinking about WW2 from the point of view of those living in Berlin who actually didn't support the war but were still bombed and targeted as though they did.
The Russian element always makes me sad, how badly they treated anyone they came across.
I loved the two time periods running in this book.
It's definitely added Berlin zoo, the original (West) to my bucket list
The Russian element always makes me sad, how badly they treated anyone they came across.
I loved the two time periods running in this book.
It's definitely added Berlin zoo, the original (West) to my bucket list
July 29, 2025
I loved this. A well written novel and great insight to what German civilians went through during the war. I often heard my Oma & Opa tell me how they had to flee from the Red Army. I found myself wanting a longer story, though, maybe delving deeper into each character's history. Many heart-breaking but equally heart-warming moments.
May 4, 2021
Just beautiful and poignant. Heart breaking and heart warming. I cried and I suffered with the characters. Just beautiful. Do read this one.
April 18, 2023
Really captivating. Loved hearing about the places in Berlin that I've been to especially the zoo. I started reading this on the plane to Berlin. Love the links between 1945 and present day.
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