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One Last Shot: Based on a True Story of Wartime Heroism
The daughter of Polish Jewish immigrants, Gerta Pohorylle doesn't quite fit in with her German classmates. While she's away at boarding school, however, she becomes a master at reinventing herself as a vibrant, confident young woman. When she returns from school, she joins a group of young activists and is arrested for distributing anti-Nazi propaganda. Her family decides she must leave Germany.
In Paris, Gerta meets André Friedman, a Hungarian photographer eager for fame and fortune, who fosters Gerda's interest in photography. Together the pair reinvents their brand of photojournalism under the names Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, in part to gloss over their Jewish ancestry, and soon they're traveling to areas of military conflict and selling their photos for high prices. Gerda continues to travel solo through Europe, often the only woman in journalism circles. Her assignments eventually lead her to Spain to cover the growing conflict that is becoming the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), part of events leading to World War II.
True to her political beliefs, Gerda pushes closer and closer to the front line, eager to capture the lives and vibrant hopes of Spanish republican forces fighting against fascism, only to lose sight of her own safety.
In Paris, Gerta meets André Friedman, a Hungarian photographer eager for fame and fortune, who fosters Gerda's interest in photography. Together the pair reinvents their brand of photojournalism under the names Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, in part to gloss over their Jewish ancestry, and soon they're traveling to areas of military conflict and selling their photos for high prices. Gerda continues to travel solo through Europe, often the only woman in journalism circles. Her assignments eventually lead her to Spain to cover the growing conflict that is becoming the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), part of events leading to World War II.
True to her political beliefs, Gerda pushes closer and closer to the front line, eager to capture the lives and vibrant hopes of Spanish republican forces fighting against fascism, only to lose sight of her own safety.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2023
16 people are currently reading
3445 people want to read
About the author
Kip Wilson
20 books248 followersKip Wilson is the critically acclaimed YA author of verse novels White Rose (Versify, 2019), The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin (Versify, 2022), and One Last Shot (Versify, 2023). Awards for her books include the Malka Penn Award and the Julia Ward Howe Award, and her books have been named a Massachusetts Book Honor title, an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalist, and a Los Angeles Times Book Award finalist. Her next project, All the Love Under the Vast Sky, is a YA anthology of stories in verse (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025). Kip holds a Ph.D. in German Literature and is an enthusiastic high school library worker. Find her online at kipwilsonwrites.com and on Instagram @kipwilsonwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
October 28, 2022
You ever heard the name of Robert Capa? Even if you don't know about the famous war photojournalist, chances are that you've seen one or more of his photos somewhere. Like this iconic picture of the Spanish Civil War I've always stumbled into everywhere I look to read about the pre-WWII period and 1930s Spain:
So perhaps it'll be the biggest surprise to you to learn that, in the beginning, "Robert Capa" was also a woman.
Indeed, "he" was a man and a woman: André Friedmann and Gerta Pohorylle, two Jewish photographers from Germany and Hungary respectively, who reinvented themselves as Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, initially selling their photographs under the Robert Capa name before they went their separate ways and Robert kept the name. This couple, who were also a romantic pairing and not just a professional partnership, became super-famous, probably amongst the first celebrity photojournalists, whilst covering the Spanish Civil War, and sold their photos at high prices to newspapers, until the one half of the brand died at the front.
Like the author confesses in her notes, Gerda Taro was a completely unknown name to most readers. I am very familiar with Hemingway's then wife, Martha Gellhorn, a remarkable woman with a life worthy of a novel on her own, but I can think of at least three other female journalists covering the Spanish Civil War. Gerda, on the other hand, escaped me for a long while until the Rogoyska biography. Why? Probably her premature death cutting her career short, the fact that Robert eventually overshadowed her, and that thousands of her photographs were kept hidden in storage for decades until the nephew of a Mexican diplomat rediscovered them in the 90s and they were made public much later, which sparked interest in Gerda's work.
Kip Wilson doesn't say it, but Gerda Taro is hardly unique in the profession. According to data in Spanish archives, there were a bit below 200 female journalists in Spain covering the war, from different nationalities and with different sympathies, though the media coverage, biases, and fascination with celebrity makes it look as if they were just a handful. What sets Gerda apart, I won't say talent because the others were also very talented, including Gellhorn, who was far, far better than grumpy Ernest (who was also covering the war as a correspondent), but the fact that she was a photographer and her sad end: she was the first-ever female journalist to fall in action. She died during a counterattack by the nationalists in Brunete, near Madrid, in 1937, some days before her 27th birthday.
And, honestly, the way "One Last Shot" tells the scene, it reads a bit like a Too Stupid To Live trope, and that troubled me. Gerda's death was an accident, an absurd and tragic one, but the way it's told in this novel in verse, it appeared to me as if it's blaming Gerda for it for disobeying the orders of the commander in charge of that front to not be there that day and go away, but she turns a deaf ear to it and goes there anyway, and consequently gets trapped in the republican army's retreat, dying in hospital due to an accident during it.
It's the characterisation I didn't like in this novel. Gerda is made into a "YA heroine" (the author's words, not mine), which isn't a positive as you'd think. Have you seen what kind of heroines YA books have? Heavy on the Strong Wimmenz stereotype and light on the personal complexity, always make room for the romance and angsting over The Boys (there's never only one), spoon-feed simplified and dogmatic takes on life and politics and the world, and present a black and white worldview that strips it all of the layers and layers of difficult nuance...
And this book has it all, Gerda's life is so oversimplified, large chunks of her life are glossed over in time jumps, we see little to nothing of the early talent she showed, and even less of her learning the actual craft of photography. As it's all in free verse, it reads like a diary cut in thin strips and written in thinner strips of paper in which there's room for only one word per line. Essentially, like you are writing a whole diary entry in a bit of paper no wider than your finger. It doesn't read like verse, free or not, and definitely there's no Eugene Onegin-style character layering and beauty of language. It's all tell framed as Us vs Them, The Left vs The Right, so amorphous and nebulous. No word on which flavour of "left" Gerda supported (there was no such thing as The Left as a political body back then, this isn't American party politics neatly divided in Democrats and Republicans), and you don't get a sense of what Gerda's personality is like. Saying over and over what she is, so independent and so good at everything, rolling her eyes at every stupid man, and acting all superior because she's a girl, etc., isn't personality. Show, not tell. Show me she is this fascinating woman, show me this great photographer she is, show me why I should care about her. Do not tell me all that.
I also didn't like the "self-translation" of some lines, where Wilson has Gerda say something in a foreign language, French, Spanish, or German, and then immediately translate it into English. Have we forgotten that Gerda isn't talking to an English-speaking audience? There's a glossary by the end where all those words are translated anyway, so why do that? I'm also surprised that this book claims Gerda was nicknamed "la pequeña rubia" (The little blonde) in Spain, because Spanish-speaking sources say her nickname was "la pequeña zorra roja" (the little red fox) because of her personality, her tiny size, her hair, and her ability to get her way. I'm inclined to believe the Spaniards here, as the explanation makes sense and they would know what they mean. Calling her just little blonde doesn't make as much sense.
I would've liked her interact more with Martha Gellhorn and in a more natural and believable way than the annoying "Men are sexist, amirite?" condescending commiseration scene that's the only one between these women. Given that they shared their time at the Hotel Florida, to make this one interaction an excuse for a cheap shot at men is a pity, wasted potential for Gerda to have another capable and amazing woman to share experiences with.
All in all, I don't believe the novel did Gerda justice. It's indeed too YA and too superfluous in its treatment of her life, made digestible in small bits of "verse" that reads more like chopped up prose. Gerda herself is an interesting person worth knowing, but there are biographies for that.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So perhaps it'll be the biggest surprise to you to learn that, in the beginning, "Robert Capa" was also a woman.
Indeed, "he" was a man and a woman: André Friedmann and Gerta Pohorylle, two Jewish photographers from Germany and Hungary respectively, who reinvented themselves as Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, initially selling their photographs under the Robert Capa name before they went their separate ways and Robert kept the name. This couple, who were also a romantic pairing and not just a professional partnership, became super-famous, probably amongst the first celebrity photojournalists, whilst covering the Spanish Civil War, and sold their photos at high prices to newspapers, until the one half of the brand died at the front.
Like the author confesses in her notes, Gerda Taro was a completely unknown name to most readers. I am very familiar with Hemingway's then wife, Martha Gellhorn, a remarkable woman with a life worthy of a novel on her own, but I can think of at least three other female journalists covering the Spanish Civil War. Gerda, on the other hand, escaped me for a long while until the Rogoyska biography. Why? Probably her premature death cutting her career short, the fact that Robert eventually overshadowed her, and that thousands of her photographs were kept hidden in storage for decades until the nephew of a Mexican diplomat rediscovered them in the 90s and they were made public much later, which sparked interest in Gerda's work.
Kip Wilson doesn't say it, but Gerda Taro is hardly unique in the profession. According to data in Spanish archives, there were a bit below 200 female journalists in Spain covering the war, from different nationalities and with different sympathies, though the media coverage, biases, and fascination with celebrity makes it look as if they were just a handful. What sets Gerda apart, I won't say talent because the others were also very talented, including Gellhorn, who was far, far better than grumpy Ernest (who was also covering the war as a correspondent), but the fact that she was a photographer and her sad end: she was the first-ever female journalist to fall in action. She died during a counterattack by the nationalists in Brunete, near Madrid, in 1937, some days before her 27th birthday.
And, honestly, the way "One Last Shot" tells the scene, it reads a bit like a Too Stupid To Live trope, and that troubled me. Gerda's death was an accident, an absurd and tragic one, but the way it's told in this novel in verse, it appeared to me as if it's blaming Gerda for it for disobeying the orders of the commander in charge of that front to not be there that day and go away, but she turns a deaf ear to it and goes there anyway, and consequently gets trapped in the republican army's retreat, dying in hospital due to an accident during it.
It's the characterisation I didn't like in this novel. Gerda is made into a "YA heroine" (the author's words, not mine), which isn't a positive as you'd think. Have you seen what kind of heroines YA books have? Heavy on the Strong Wimmenz stereotype and light on the personal complexity, always make room for the romance and angsting over The Boys (there's never only one), spoon-feed simplified and dogmatic takes on life and politics and the world, and present a black and white worldview that strips it all of the layers and layers of difficult nuance...
And this book has it all, Gerda's life is so oversimplified, large chunks of her life are glossed over in time jumps, we see little to nothing of the early talent she showed, and even less of her learning the actual craft of photography. As it's all in free verse, it reads like a diary cut in thin strips and written in thinner strips of paper in which there's room for only one word per line. Essentially, like you are writing a whole diary entry in a bit of paper no wider than your finger. It doesn't read like verse, free or not, and definitely there's no Eugene Onegin-style character layering and beauty of language. It's all tell framed as Us vs Them, The Left vs The Right, so amorphous and nebulous. No word on which flavour of "left" Gerda supported (there was no such thing as The Left as a political body back then, this isn't American party politics neatly divided in Democrats and Republicans), and you don't get a sense of what Gerda's personality is like. Saying over and over what she is, so independent and so good at everything, rolling her eyes at every stupid man, and acting all superior because she's a girl, etc., isn't personality. Show, not tell. Show me she is this fascinating woman, show me this great photographer she is, show me why I should care about her. Do not tell me all that.
I also didn't like the "self-translation" of some lines, where Wilson has Gerda say something in a foreign language, French, Spanish, or German, and then immediately translate it into English. Have we forgotten that Gerda isn't talking to an English-speaking audience? There's a glossary by the end where all those words are translated anyway, so why do that? I'm also surprised that this book claims Gerda was nicknamed "la pequeña rubia" (The little blonde) in Spain, because Spanish-speaking sources say her nickname was "la pequeña zorra roja" (the little red fox) because of her personality, her tiny size, her hair, and her ability to get her way. I'm inclined to believe the Spaniards here, as the explanation makes sense and they would know what they mean. Calling her just little blonde doesn't make as much sense.
I would've liked her interact more with Martha Gellhorn and in a more natural and believable way than the annoying "Men are sexist, amirite?" condescending commiseration scene that's the only one between these women. Given that they shared their time at the Hotel Florida, to make this one interaction an excuse for a cheap shot at men is a pity, wasted potential for Gerda to have another capable and amazing woman to share experiences with.
All in all, I don't believe the novel did Gerda justice. It's indeed too YA and too superfluous in its treatment of her life, made digestible in small bits of "verse" that reads more like chopped up prose. Gerda herself is an interesting person worth knowing, but there are biographies for that.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2024
Cloud library app
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3.5 stars 🌟
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
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3.5 stars 🌟
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
September 22, 2022
One Last Shot is a powerful novel in verse that allowed me to really imagine what growing up Jewish in pre-WWII Germany must've been like for Gerda. Wilson does a great job of capturing the experience of Gerda Taro escaping to freedom in France and then trying to make a name for herself as a photographer during the Spanish Civil War. The letters between her and her family, though written with creative license at the likely events based on history, add extra heart to the book. My favorite parts were whenever a section is entitled "Snapshot" and details a specific image from the happenings in Spain. Those pieces are written in a simple but exact way that caused me to picture the scene clearly to the point of chills. I very much would recommend this one. Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC.
November 1, 2025
Gerda lives in a country that increasingly treats her as the enemy. When the German gestapo comes for her brother, it is Gerda who is detained instead. And when an international connection wins her release, her family decides Gerda must leave Germany.
Nationless, she arrives in Paris, which also is undergoing political upheaval. Gerda is far from the only refugee seeking a job, connection, and a way to fight the rising threat of fascism. Her first job, obtained via the black market, is soon lost.
And then Gerda meets a photographer. Andre. Perhaps as important, she meets photography, her new passion. And when Spain erupts in Civil War, Andre and Gerda know they have found a way to make a difference.
Written in verse, Kip Wilson's biography of Gerda Taro was every bit as good as I hoped it might be. Once upon a time, I wrote a research paper on the Spanish Civil War--mostly because there was a book on it in Spanish in my college library and I needed a Spanish-language source. More and more, I am realizing how much I don't know about that war and the role it played in our not-so-distant history. This book is one more piece about one significant life.
Nationless, she arrives in Paris, which also is undergoing political upheaval. Gerda is far from the only refugee seeking a job, connection, and a way to fight the rising threat of fascism. Her first job, obtained via the black market, is soon lost.
And then Gerda meets a photographer. Andre. Perhaps as important, she meets photography, her new passion. And when Spain erupts in Civil War, Andre and Gerda know they have found a way to make a difference.
Written in verse, Kip Wilson's biography of Gerda Taro was every bit as good as I hoped it might be. Once upon a time, I wrote a research paper on the Spanish Civil War--mostly because there was a book on it in Spanish in my college library and I needed a Spanish-language source. More and more, I am realizing how much I don't know about that war and the role it played in our not-so-distant history. This book is one more piece about one significant life.
April 25, 2023
ONE LAST SHOT:
Kip Wilson
This was a really interesting book about Gerda Taro, an amazing photographer who was one of the first women in the business and the first to take wartime photos. This is so worth the read.
I hated the end but life has so many terrible outcomes.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
Kip Wilson
This was a really interesting book about Gerda Taro, an amazing photographer who was one of the first women in the business and the first to take wartime photos. This is so worth the read.
I hated the end but life has so many terrible outcomes.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
February 7, 2023
Kip Wilson delivers once more with her verse snapshots of amazing young women who were brave as they come. I’m so glad to know the story of Gerda Taro and her photos, and her time in Civil War Madrid,—and am also a confirmed true fan of the brilliant Kip Wilson. Also love Juliette Goglia’s perfectly voiced narration. Keep these books coming!!
March 14, 2024
Interesting topic. Fast read. Meh execution. 3.5 stars.
January 11, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 2.5-3/5 stars.
I remember liking White Rose by Wilson since historical fiction verse novels are a rarity but....this was just missing a lot. While I love the verse elements and how it covered the photojournalism side of the war, and even a part leading up to WW2 often not discussed (spanish civil war, hitler's rise to power, etc.) it just...felt undeveloped.
Gerda is flat. There is no development for her besides her being ambitious with her career, but we learn nothing about her and how she develops her talents or how she becomes a photographer with Robert past that somehow they end up lucky and renowned. For being based on the real photographer, I felt like a lot more characterization...and even plot...could have happened.
I definitely found myself reading to just be done with this one...it wasn't awful but just lacked the development to make it great.
I remember liking White Rose by Wilson since historical fiction verse novels are a rarity but....this was just missing a lot. While I love the verse elements and how it covered the photojournalism side of the war, and even a part leading up to WW2 often not discussed (spanish civil war, hitler's rise to power, etc.) it just...felt undeveloped.
Gerda is flat. There is no development for her besides her being ambitious with her career, but we learn nothing about her and how she develops her talents or how she becomes a photographer with Robert past that somehow they end up lucky and renowned. For being based on the real photographer, I felt like a lot more characterization...and even plot...could have happened.
I definitely found myself reading to just be done with this one...it wasn't awful but just lacked the development to make it great.
February 27, 2023
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a short powerful read about a little known female photojournalist. Even if you don’t know the name Robert Capa, you’ve likely seen at least one of his photographs, whether it be from his coverage of the Spanish Civil War or D-Day or a variety of other war zones he covered. This book aims to highlight the contributions of Gerda Taro (born German Pohorylle) an early collaborator of Capa’s, who helped him create the alias of Robert Capa and also published under it for a time. Unfortunately, Taro died weeks before her 27th birthday while covering the Spanish Civil War, and a large chunk of her output as a photojournalist was lost only to be recovered in 2007 so while Capa became world famous, she did not. Wilson’s novel in verse seeks to remedy that.
For me, the strongest part of this book was the atmosphere. Wilson shows us how Taro and her friends and family responded to the growing fascism of Germany in the 1920s and 30s and we see her fight for left wing ideas in Germany, Paris, and Spain. What was especially remarkable to me was the contrast in level of worry portrayed by Taro and family compared to their non Jewish friends. Wilson also highlights the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War, something that is barely mentioned in American history classes.
I am of two minds about this book. On the one hand I think this could be a great entry point for teens into a history that might otherwise not interest them; however, I also found that in making Taro a typical YA heroine, she felt really flat. A lot of her actions seemed to be reactive, and the way her death is written makes it seem like she is at fault for not listening to advice. I seem to be in the minority on this one though.
Overall, I think as a teen I would have loved having a book like this and would recommend to those who like historical fiction and novels written in verse.
This is a short powerful read about a little known female photojournalist. Even if you don’t know the name Robert Capa, you’ve likely seen at least one of his photographs, whether it be from his coverage of the Spanish Civil War or D-Day or a variety of other war zones he covered. This book aims to highlight the contributions of Gerda Taro (born German Pohorylle) an early collaborator of Capa’s, who helped him create the alias of Robert Capa and also published under it for a time. Unfortunately, Taro died weeks before her 27th birthday while covering the Spanish Civil War, and a large chunk of her output as a photojournalist was lost only to be recovered in 2007 so while Capa became world famous, she did not. Wilson’s novel in verse seeks to remedy that.
For me, the strongest part of this book was the atmosphere. Wilson shows us how Taro and her friends and family responded to the growing fascism of Germany in the 1920s and 30s and we see her fight for left wing ideas in Germany, Paris, and Spain. What was especially remarkable to me was the contrast in level of worry portrayed by Taro and family compared to their non Jewish friends. Wilson also highlights the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War, something that is barely mentioned in American history classes.
I am of two minds about this book. On the one hand I think this could be a great entry point for teens into a history that might otherwise not interest them; however, I also found that in making Taro a typical YA heroine, she felt really flat. A lot of her actions seemed to be reactive, and the way her death is written makes it seem like she is at fault for not listening to advice. I seem to be in the minority on this one though.
Overall, I think as a teen I would have loved having a book like this and would recommend to those who like historical fiction and novels written in verse.
October 9, 2022
One Last Shot traces the adolescence and adult life of Gerta Pohorylle, the news photographer known as Gerda Taro. It is a story of accomplishment, resilience, and tragedy better suited for new adults or adults than for young adults or adolescents.
The story tells how Gerta grew up under the anti-Semitism of pre-war Germany. When she flees Germany and the persecution she receives for her anti-fascist protests, she lands in Paris where she meets others fighting for justice and freedom and learns to use photography to capture the struggles around her. When she visits Spain to capture the Spanish Civil War, she falls in love with the culture, people, and beauty of Spain and the fight for freedom. Her courage and passion allow her to capture vivid shots of the struggle, but when she is caught in a battle, her efforts to get one last shot land her in terrible danger.
The free verse format of this novel allows the author to convey feelings and events in a powerful way, and the plot still comes through clearly. While this story is described as a coming-of-age story, it reads much more like a new adult or women’s biography, focusing more on the protagonist’s adult life than on her growth through adolescence. While it feels like an adult story, it still provides a different view of the time period and the European struggle against fascism, and it will be a great addition to a classroom library or a study of World War II.
The story tells how Gerta grew up under the anti-Semitism of pre-war Germany. When she flees Germany and the persecution she receives for her anti-fascist protests, she lands in Paris where she meets others fighting for justice and freedom and learns to use photography to capture the struggles around her. When she visits Spain to capture the Spanish Civil War, she falls in love with the culture, people, and beauty of Spain and the fight for freedom. Her courage and passion allow her to capture vivid shots of the struggle, but when she is caught in a battle, her efforts to get one last shot land her in terrible danger.
The free verse format of this novel allows the author to convey feelings and events in a powerful way, and the plot still comes through clearly. While this story is described as a coming-of-age story, it reads much more like a new adult or women’s biography, focusing more on the protagonist’s adult life than on her growth through adolescence. While it feels like an adult story, it still provides a different view of the time period and the European struggle against fascism, and it will be a great addition to a classroom library or a study of World War II.
January 10, 2023
This verse novel introduces teens to Gerda Taro, born Gerta Pohorylle. Wilson discusses in back matter that while sticking to the basic facts she has fictionalized Gerta's thoughts, feelings, interactions and correspondences. The outcome of this choice is that the focus of the book is on Gerta's eager spirit and her passion for defeating fascism, having experienced it as Jewish girl growing up in Germany.
The poetry is excellent and Gerta's voice is vivid with a real sense of the exuberance of spirit that challenging danger can bring. I think Wilson does a good job too of providing historical background for an extremely complicated time in history, particularly that of the Spanish Civil War.
Photography and photojournalism, something that drove Taro's life and ambition, is given basic coverage and explanation but so much is left out, especially the ground breaking innovations they made and the the controversies surrounding some of the famous photographs. An author has to make choices but I think this would be a stronger book with more attention paid to this aspect, especially as the title emphasizes this.
I think the strength of this book is to bring this talented and multi-dimensional woman to a new generation. And I hope it will inspire readers to search out more about her. A tremendous book to pair with this is Mark Aronson and Marina Budhos' outstanding nonfiction book, EYES OF THE WORLD: ROBERT CAPA, GERDA TARO, AND THE INVENTION OF MODERN PHOTOJOURNALISM.
The poetry is excellent and Gerta's voice is vivid with a real sense of the exuberance of spirit that challenging danger can bring. I think Wilson does a good job too of providing historical background for an extremely complicated time in history, particularly that of the Spanish Civil War.
Photography and photojournalism, something that drove Taro's life and ambition, is given basic coverage and explanation but so much is left out, especially the ground breaking innovations they made and the the controversies surrounding some of the famous photographs. An author has to make choices but I think this would be a stronger book with more attention paid to this aspect, especially as the title emphasizes this.
I think the strength of this book is to bring this talented and multi-dimensional woman to a new generation. And I hope it will inspire readers to search out more about her. A tremendous book to pair with this is Mark Aronson and Marina Budhos' outstanding nonfiction book, EYES OF THE WORLD: ROBERT CAPA, GERDA TARO, AND THE INVENTION OF MODERN PHOTOJOURNALISM.
February 2, 2023
One Last Shot is a powerful historical fiction novel in verse that tells the story of Gerda Taro. Gerda grew up Jewish in pre-WWII Germany and escaped to France when her political activism gets her arrested for distributing anti-Nazi propaganda. When in France she meets Andre Friedman, a Hungarian photographer, who fosters her interest in photography. Together they reinvent photojournalism under the names of Robert Capa and Gerda Taro. They travel to areas of military conflict, specifically Spain during the Spanish Civil War. While trying to capture the lives and vibrant hopes of the Spanish republican forces while they fight against fascism she pushes closer and closer to the front line and loses sight of her own safety.
This novel in verse is written in such a way that it was easy to imagine the growing conflict, fear, tension, and hope that these people felt while putting everything on the line to fight against the growing waves of fascism. The "Snapshot" poems are especially powerful as they describe specific photos that Taro took. They are written so exactly that you are not only to picture the scene clearly but can easily identify them if you look at her photos.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters, and novels in verse.
This novel in verse is written in such a way that it was easy to imagine the growing conflict, fear, tension, and hope that these people felt while putting everything on the line to fight against the growing waves of fascism. The "Snapshot" poems are especially powerful as they describe specific photos that Taro took. They are written so exactly that you are not only to picture the scene clearly but can easily identify them if you look at her photos.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters, and novels in verse.
April 12, 2023
Wilson is a competent historical fiction writer and her often used verse novel style also creates a wider readership. There are some I've been bowled over by and others that I'm a bit more lukewarm. I can see why this one is getting reviews-- for me it's the information about Gerda Taro, a female photographer now getting her due for so many reasons that began with her activism even before she left her native country.
Because I do recognize when I have a bit of exhaustion in reading World War II era stories. I know they're important. There should be as many as people are moved to write, but reading them often creates a fatigue of information. She captures several areas of conflict during the war that wasn't just in Germany itself as she was in France and captured stories in Spain to name a few. The sparing verse worked to move the plot but it felt long in the middle. Meeting the vivacious and forthright Polish Jew Gerta was a shot in the arm at the beginning, slowed down in the middle, then picked back up at the end but moved through all facets of her life with the section transitions.
Because I do recognize when I have a bit of exhaustion in reading World War II era stories. I know they're important. There should be as many as people are moved to write, but reading them often creates a fatigue of information. She captures several areas of conflict during the war that wasn't just in Germany itself as she was in France and captured stories in Spain to name a few. The sparing verse worked to move the plot but it felt long in the middle. Meeting the vivacious and forthright Polish Jew Gerta was a shot in the arm at the beginning, slowed down in the middle, then picked back up at the end but moved through all facets of her life with the section transitions.
April 13, 2023
Holy Hell. Mind blown.
This is about Gerda Taro, known as the first female photojournalist to die on the front lines of war. I personally feel like it's a little unfortunate to be remembered by how you died, but hey. Gerda was almost lost to history altogether when her photos disappeared/were credited to her lover, Robert Capa, so...
Kip Wilson did a very good job of breathing life and personality into Gerda. I think Wilson also did a good job of being clear that Gerda had biases when it came to her political viewpoints (I would too if I were a Polish Jew that grew up in Germany watching the Nazi party slowly take control of the country), and Wilson is very clear that since this novel is Gerda's perspective, those biases do show up in the novel.
I actually really like how Wilson portrayed Gerda in the book. She's reckless, fierce, and independent. She's daring and confident and is absolutely passionate about activism and showing the world the true cost of war.
Her passion might have led her to make a very foolish decision that ended her life, but her photos have become timeless representations of the Spanish Civil War.
This is about Gerda Taro, known as the first female photojournalist to die on the front lines of war. I personally feel like it's a little unfortunate to be remembered by how you died, but hey. Gerda was almost lost to history altogether when her photos disappeared/were credited to her lover, Robert Capa, so...
Kip Wilson did a very good job of breathing life and personality into Gerda. I think Wilson also did a good job of being clear that Gerda had biases when it came to her political viewpoints (I would too if I were a Polish Jew that grew up in Germany watching the Nazi party slowly take control of the country), and Wilson is very clear that since this novel is Gerda's perspective, those biases do show up in the novel.
I actually really like how Wilson portrayed Gerda in the book. She's reckless, fierce, and independent. She's daring and confident and is absolutely passionate about activism and showing the world the true cost of war.
Her passion might have led her to make a very foolish decision that ended her life, but her photos have become timeless representations of the Spanish Civil War.
December 28, 2025
shoutout Trident bookstore in Boston for this free book when I Door-dashed Mac and cheese from their kitchen about 3 years ago
written in verse which I’d never encountered before. First half is way more intriguing although it may be due to my profound interest in Origin Stories and this is all written biographically in chronological order. Still, something to be said about how the whole second half is mindless never-ending verse and perhaps I’m the only dimwit that isn’t familiar with the Spanish battle lead-ups to WWII but I had not a clue what was happening. suddenly the climax is in the last like 10 pages without a proper build, and written in verse is not an excuse for this. one more itch to scratch is the random titled sections, some of which I thought were fitting and clever (and even plot moving), others were lazy and uninspired, and further distracting. But again perhaps I am only a Novice Student of Verse.
written in verse which I’d never encountered before. First half is way more intriguing although it may be due to my profound interest in Origin Stories and this is all written biographically in chronological order. Still, something to be said about how the whole second half is mindless never-ending verse and perhaps I’m the only dimwit that isn’t familiar with the Spanish battle lead-ups to WWII but I had not a clue what was happening. suddenly the climax is in the last like 10 pages without a proper build, and written in verse is not an excuse for this. one more itch to scratch is the random titled sections, some of which I thought were fitting and clever (and even plot moving), others were lazy and uninspired, and further distracting. But again perhaps I am only a Novice Student of Verse.
October 1, 2022
Thankyou to netgalley.com for an e-ARC of this book.
An extremely moving novel about Gerda Taro and her amazing poise and determination as a woman trying to define herself in a male dominated world.
As a young child, Gerda became fascinated with photography but hsd no means to pursue it. As her Jewish family moved to escape Nazi Germany before the war, she learned more and more about activism in her country. Marrying these two passions led her to become a war time photographer with no fear of political issues, working on the front lines, and doing what she could to support her beliefs
Written in verse, I felt that the novel moved quickly through her life. I enjoyed the equal time given to her personal life as well as her professional endeavors. I knew nothing of Gerda before reading so I was intrigued by her heroism and determination.
An extremely moving novel about Gerda Taro and her amazing poise and determination as a woman trying to define herself in a male dominated world.
As a young child, Gerda became fascinated with photography but hsd no means to pursue it. As her Jewish family moved to escape Nazi Germany before the war, she learned more and more about activism in her country. Marrying these two passions led her to become a war time photographer with no fear of political issues, working on the front lines, and doing what she could to support her beliefs
Written in verse, I felt that the novel moved quickly through her life. I enjoyed the equal time given to her personal life as well as her professional endeavors. I knew nothing of Gerda before reading so I was intrigued by her heroism and determination.
January 12, 2023
This semi-fictionalized account of photojournalist Gerda Taro is a quick but powerful read told in free verse poetry. Gerda grew up in Germany, and escaped to France as the Nazi regime began making it harder for Jews to live. In France she joined up with other anti-fascist and met the man who became her partner. Together they travelled to Spain to photograph the Spanish Civil War, meeting a variety of activists, authors, and other artists along the way. Her life was tragically cut short. This is a great book for broadening the understanding of WWII on the Spanish Civil War and how they were intertwined in the greater fight for freedom and democracy. Recommended for grades 8 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
January 24, 2026
3.5 stars! I’m obviously biased being a photographer, feminist, and anti-fascist myself… But I greatly enjoyed this fictional look into Gerda Taro’s life capturing the Spanish Civil War & the events leading up to World War Two. Most photographers have heard of Robert Capa, myself included, but not as many know of Gerda. I really appreciate this book, as otherwise, I might never have learned of her either.
When I found this book I almost didn’t purchase it because of the unique writing style but decided to try something different and I’m glad I did!!! I haven’t read a novel in verse/long form poetry before and while I started it feeling apprehensive, I ended up really enjoying it & found it to be a quick read. Felt like a bullet point journal.
When I found this book I almost didn’t purchase it because of the unique writing style but decided to try something different and I’m glad I did!!! I haven’t read a novel in verse/long form poetry before and while I started it feeling apprehensive, I ended up really enjoying it & found it to be a quick read. Felt like a bullet point journal.
January 10, 2023
This is the story of Gerda Taro, beginning in her early years, through boarding school, fleeing Germany after Hitler comes to power, meeting the love of her life and becoming a photojournalist, leading her to the front lines of what is to become the Spanish Civil War. I really enjoyed the unique novel in verse format of this book, the way the individual sections form a cohesive story that is intriguing and exciting, as you follow Gerda and the people closest to her as she clicks and whirrs her way to capturing the perfect shot.
This review is of an ARE I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
This review is of an ARE I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
January 14, 2023
Amazing! Kip Wilson is a powerful writer and this book did not disappoint. The story follows wartime photographer Gerda Taro through her life and death. I did not know much about this woman and this book made me want to learn more. Wilson has a wonderful way of describing scenes that makes you feel like you are experiencing the same thing as the characters. I love the information provided at the end of the book that provides more information on each of the characters and the fact based evidence that supports the story.
March 8, 2023
Gerda is the main character of this mostly true story of a young Jewish woman who becomes dangerously involved in socialist Germany. After surviving 3 weeks in jail her family insists she leave for France knowing she will only be arrested again or worse. In Paris her socialism takes shape in becoming a photographer who documents the horrific images of the war in Spain. Along with her partner in love and work, she continues to defy the odds meeting famous poets, writers and artists along the way.
April 8, 2023
I can’t stop thinking about it this book! It’s a coming-of-age YA historical fiction in verse documenting Gerda Taro, a Polish Jew in 1920s Germany who became a photojournalist during the Spanish Civil War. I loved everything about it, especially Wilson’s portrayal of plucky, anti-fascist Gerda. It was both empowering and equally eye-opening to see this time period captured through Gerda's lens.
And in telling Gerda’s story, Wilson is reminding us that antisemitism, fascism, and the rise of current rhetoric and political extremism isn’t new. Seriously, this book should be taught. 5 stars.
And in telling Gerda’s story, Wilson is reminding us that antisemitism, fascism, and the rise of current rhetoric and political extremism isn’t new. Seriously, this book should be taught. 5 stars.
July 11, 2023
Wonderful verse novel for VN fans, Holocaust resistance fans, strong female protagonist fans. Gerda Taro was a self-taught photographer who photographed the rise of fascism, especially during the Spanish Civil War, during the rise of Hitler's Germany. Most middle school Americans do not realize Pearl Harbor was not the beginning of the war. Gerda is a strong, independent woman, who enjoys the company of several different men throughout her life, but falls in love with her eventual partner in photography and business. The share a passion for showing the world the atrocities of war.
April 21, 2025
This is categorized as a Young Adult book but I'm a senior citizen and I thought the book was great. It's a quick read because of the author's style of writing and the story absorbs you quickly. The characters are likeable, and although the time period is Europe during pre-WW II (Germany, France and Spain mainly), it's different from most of the other pre/during/post WW II novels that have flooded the book market. (When I say flooded, I do not mean to be critical. The great majority are excellent.) I highly recommend this book.
November 12, 2022
Kip Wilson gives readers a behind the scenes look at little known photographer Gerda Taro. Gerda did not shy from risk as she left Germany (she was Jewish) prior to WWII before entering and re-entering Spain during the Spanish Civil War to pursue her love of photography while documenting what was happening to the people there. As a novel in verse, One Last Shot is a fast read with lots of action.
February 22, 2023
This book is gorgeous! Another Kip Wilson stunner of a novel in verse about a fascinating and complex woman activist. Kip falls in love with her characters, and that's apparent on every single page. They are fascinating and remarkable and brave and absolute inspiring. And I absolutely loved how, in this story even more than the author's other works, the words decorated the page in a visual way that seemed perfect for a story about a visual artist. Astounding work as always!
April 30, 2024
I liked reading this book a lot. I have recently watched the movie "Civil war" and it is a similar story just in the modern time. I love looking into the perspective of journalists that are out in the field and this book does it in a very creative way. I feel as though we don't take into account the story of people that are part of the combat but never shooting back. I would recommend this book to people who like a thrill and are interested in the military photography side of war.
December 21, 2024
One Last Shot is a historical fiction novel wtitten in verse. It introduces us to Gerda Taro, a photojournalist from the pre-WWII ERA, whose main contributions were to the visual history of the Spanish Civil War. Most of the characters are taken from real life
I waffled between a 3-4. The format of the novel is engaging, but too much time was spent on Taro’s travels when she was in a safe zone. The lack of photographs in a novel about a photojournalist is absurd.
I waffled between a 3-4. The format of the novel is engaging, but too much time was spent on Taro’s travels when she was in a safe zone. The lack of photographs in a novel about a photojournalist is absurd.
December 31, 2022
Kip Wilson did an incredible job tying in the true life story of Gerda Taro with fictional elements to make her fully formed. The writing style gripped me, and made it even more emotional. I usually have trouble reading through nonfiction, so this beautiful mixture of fiction and reality was perfect for me! I definitely recommend – Taro lived one heck of a life!
February 3, 2023
I think this is a great way to introduce a new generation to a piece of history that they might not now. I know I didn't know it before reading this book! The format of a novel in verse also works well in general for the story, especially for some of the more action sequences. Plus, the narrator of the audiobook does a phenonmenal job as well!
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