What do you think?
Rate this book
Last Words #2
The Prison Child
Very few people can say they were born inside a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Disease, starvation, and much worse, prevented most prisoners from surviving. For infants, it was nearly impossible.
I became an anomaly. I shouldn’t be alive.
As a child, I didn’t know my life was different from that of others. I had nothing to compare it to, and I had no insight about the day I was born ... until the moment I overheard the truth.
In a split second, I became a stranger to my reflection, my name, and my reason for being. I was not Annie anymore, and the people raising me were not my parents. Even the blue sky I cherished became an unfamiliar sight.
I felt utterly alone in a foreign world, but that changed when I met another person who was lost, like me. Fisher offered his hand to hold and began to prove his theory of, “When two missing people find one another, they can consider themselves found.”
Fisher enlightened me, and through him, I gained a deeper understanding of life. Now, I know there are two sides of the beautiful, blue sky. I’m on one side, and my lost loved ones are on the other, but at the end of it all, we’ll be together again under the one and only sky.
I became an anomaly. I shouldn’t be alive.
As a child, I didn’t know my life was different from that of others. I had nothing to compare it to, and I had no insight about the day I was born ... until the moment I overheard the truth.
In a split second, I became a stranger to my reflection, my name, and my reason for being. I was not Annie anymore, and the people raising me were not my parents. Even the blue sky I cherished became an unfamiliar sight.
I felt utterly alone in a foreign world, but that changed when I met another person who was lost, like me. Fisher offered his hand to hold and began to prove his theory of, “When two missing people find one another, they can consider themselves found.”
Fisher enlightened me, and through him, I gained a deeper understanding of life. Now, I know there are two sides of the beautiful, blue sky. I’m on one side, and my lost loved ones are on the other, but at the end of it all, we’ll be together again under the one and only sky.
278 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2018
1936 people are currently reading
1347 people want to read
About the author
Shari J. Ryan
64 books2,009 followersShari J. Ryan is a USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over 40 novels, with more than 700,000 copies sold and translations in 13 languages. She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories that have resonated with readers around the globe. Her work has earned Top 100, Top 10, and #1 chart rankings, as well as two Rone Awards.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it is her way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share every emotion she experiences with each reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor's degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
May 21, 2022
Sweet little Annie was twelve years old when she began doubting her identity. She and her family were living in New York and had been since she was only a baby, but the discovery of fragmented information, which she overheard as her mother was unwilling to share anything about their past, caused her heartache and the knowledge that she didn’t fit in. She was twenty when she finally went back to Prague, telling her sister Clara, but not her mother or father as she was sure they would forbid her to go.
Annie had been communicating with Fisher in Prague, who was a support person for missing children from the war years. Their letter writing had been going on for almost two years and finally Annie would get to meet him. She would go to Theresienstadt concentration camp where she’d been born and where she’d escaped with her life when she was around one year old. Annie would also try to find out what her birth name was, and who her birth parents were…
Annie’s beloved mother, Amelia, had suffered a stroke. Now in her nineties, Annie and Clara were terrified they’d lose her, but Annie also realized she needed the answers she’d shelved all those years ago. When she and Fisher decided to head back to Prague, she wasn’t sure what to expect. But she wondered – would she find her birth father?
The Prison Child (previously published as The Other Blue Sky) is the 2nd in Last Words series by Shari J. Ryan and it’s an excellent follow on from The Girl with the Diary. I thoroughly enjoyed Annie’s story and am looking forward to The Soldier's Letters, #3 in the series, and Charlie’s story. I must say, the butterfly on the cover has great significance. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Annie had been communicating with Fisher in Prague, who was a support person for missing children from the war years. Their letter writing had been going on for almost two years and finally Annie would get to meet him. She would go to Theresienstadt concentration camp where she’d been born and where she’d escaped with her life when she was around one year old. Annie would also try to find out what her birth name was, and who her birth parents were…
Annie’s beloved mother, Amelia, had suffered a stroke. Now in her nineties, Annie and Clara were terrified they’d lose her, but Annie also realized she needed the answers she’d shelved all those years ago. When she and Fisher decided to head back to Prague, she wasn’t sure what to expect. But she wondered – would she find her birth father?
The Prison Child (previously published as The Other Blue Sky) is the 2nd in Last Words series by Shari J. Ryan and it’s an excellent follow on from The Girl with the Diary. I thoroughly enjoyed Annie’s story and am looking forward to The Soldier's Letters, #3 in the series, and Charlie’s story. I must say, the butterfly on the cover has great significance. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2022
Anna's Story
1943 Czechoslovakia, inside the Nazi prison camp Theresienstadt a young mother has a child in the cold stark barracks where the Jewish women have been housed. The mother is taken away and the child sent to the house where children are kept.
Years later on her twelfth birthday Anna overhears her parents talking and she finds out she does not belong to them, that they are not her real parents. It is on that day that her search for the truth begins.
Anna searches on her own as she does not want her parents to know she overheard them. She finds another missing child from the Holocaust named Fisher. He is in Czechoslovakia and his parents perished in the Holocaust. They begin to correspond by mail. This is the start of a long search for Anna for her beginning and for any relatives she may still have left.
The story is of Anna and her search for the truth, of how this has affected her life and her mental state. She marries Fisher, but her mind never settles. Meanwhile, life keeps going and Anna and Fisher suffer a terrible loss. Will Anna ever find the truth of her birth?
It is a story of how the effects of war and of the Holocaust threw long arms across those that survived and how hard it was for some of them to forget an even to talk about what happened. How so many children were left without parents and so many families torn apart never to find each other again. The horrible toll that it took on all involved.
This was an interesting book on this period of history told from the perspective of a child born during the Holocaust to a mother she never knew. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Shari J. Ryan for writing another great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Bookouture 05-24-2022
1943 Czechoslovakia, inside the Nazi prison camp Theresienstadt a young mother has a child in the cold stark barracks where the Jewish women have been housed. The mother is taken away and the child sent to the house where children are kept.
Years later on her twelfth birthday Anna overhears her parents talking and she finds out she does not belong to them, that they are not her real parents. It is on that day that her search for the truth begins.
Anna searches on her own as she does not want her parents to know she overheard them. She finds another missing child from the Holocaust named Fisher. He is in Czechoslovakia and his parents perished in the Holocaust. They begin to correspond by mail. This is the start of a long search for Anna for her beginning and for any relatives she may still have left.
The story is of Anna and her search for the truth, of how this has affected her life and her mental state. She marries Fisher, but her mind never settles. Meanwhile, life keeps going and Anna and Fisher suffer a terrible loss. Will Anna ever find the truth of her birth?
It is a story of how the effects of war and of the Holocaust threw long arms across those that survived and how hard it was for some of them to forget an even to talk about what happened. How so many children were left without parents and so many families torn apart never to find each other again. The horrible toll that it took on all involved.
This was an interesting book on this period of history told from the perspective of a child born during the Holocaust to a mother she never knew. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Shari J. Ryan for writing another great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Bookouture 05-24-2022
May 26, 2022
As this book is a re-release and is available with books one and three,
The Girl with the Diary
and
The Soldier's Letters,
readers should be familiar with Annie. Another familiarity readers might remember is that a child was born in the Theresienstadt concentration camp and she was named Lucie. It is made clear early on in this book that Annie, Emma's aunt and Amelia's sister from the first book is the same little girl that was born under horrendous conditions during World War II.
We had Amelia's story. We will have Charlie's story, but what is Annie's story? Well, her life started under devastating conditions that was truly miraculous. Her story began again as Annie recounts her childhood with specific experiences that helped her to truly form her identity. When she was a teen, she heard something she was not supposed to by her parents. This led Annie to many questions, questions she kept to herself but spent a lifetime searching for answers.
While Annie's life has been filled with hope, with joy and with fulfillment, it was also filled with devastation, even lies. Why lies? Well, these lies were surrounded by love, and that is what makes this second book in the Lost Words series such an inspiration. I loved Annie's search for answers and how it ultimately led her to find much more than she ever would have imagined.
Please also enjoy my YouTube video review for all three books in this trilogy, including The Girl with the Diary and The Soldier's Letters - https://youtu.be/IuTTqiXMFGo
We had Amelia's story. We will have Charlie's story, but what is Annie's story? Well, her life started under devastating conditions that was truly miraculous. Her story began again as Annie recounts her childhood with specific experiences that helped her to truly form her identity. When she was a teen, she heard something she was not supposed to by her parents. This led Annie to many questions, questions she kept to herself but spent a lifetime searching for answers.
While Annie's life has been filled with hope, with joy and with fulfillment, it was also filled with devastation, even lies. Why lies? Well, these lies were surrounded by love, and that is what makes this second book in the Lost Words series such an inspiration. I loved Annie's search for answers and how it ultimately led her to find much more than she ever would have imagined.
Please also enjoy my YouTube video review for all three books in this trilogy, including The Girl with the Diary and The Soldier's Letters - https://youtu.be/IuTTqiXMFGo
October 24, 2018
4.5 stars! Spoiler-free review!
I would highly recommend you read Last Words before reading this story or my review.
“I was born in hell and faced the unthinkable before I was old enough to comprehend much of anything.”
I’ve been rewriting my review for the past few days. Unable to find the right words to express how this book made me feel without giving away spoilers. I thought that after reading one of my all-time favorite books, Last Words, last year, the hurt and heartbreak would end for this family, but I was wrong.
In this spinoff, we get Annie’s POV in past and present. Although it has romantic elements, it’s not the main focus in this storyline- her journey to finding and healing herself after surviving the holocaust is.
“Hate brought me happiness. Being lost, made me found. Losing, helped me gain strength. Surviving, fulfilled my life’s challenges. Through tremendous ups and downs, I can say I have experienced the beauty of life, and I am lucky enough to be part of a family that proves unity within love, rather than just blood.”
Annie and her family harbor so many secrets and pain. Some of us are trying to find the missing piece of our heart. Once it’s been broken we feel like it could never be repaired. Sometimes we need to hurt in order to heal. But there’s also little things that give us hope that we’ll be okay and better things are to come. I won’t give away much except I need to gush about her husband Fisher, whom I absolutely LOVED so much😍 definitely real husband goals!
I knew it would be an emotional read, but I wasn’t expecting to ugly cry. My emotions were raw, my head and heart were hurting. I read it in a few hours but I had to stop a few times to compose myself.
Did I love it? Yes, but I needed a bit more of romance for my taste. It is definitely hard to read at times. Would I recommend it? Yes, but it’s not for everyone. The only thing that kept me sane is that it is HEA! Thank you, Shari, for writing another unforgettable story! I definitely won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.
I would highly recommend you read Last Words before reading this story or my review.
“I was born in hell and faced the unthinkable before I was old enough to comprehend much of anything.”
I’ve been rewriting my review for the past few days. Unable to find the right words to express how this book made me feel without giving away spoilers. I thought that after reading one of my all-time favorite books, Last Words, last year, the hurt and heartbreak would end for this family, but I was wrong.
In this spinoff, we get Annie’s POV in past and present. Although it has romantic elements, it’s not the main focus in this storyline- her journey to finding and healing herself after surviving the holocaust is.
“Hate brought me happiness. Being lost, made me found. Losing, helped me gain strength. Surviving, fulfilled my life’s challenges. Through tremendous ups and downs, I can say I have experienced the beauty of life, and I am lucky enough to be part of a family that proves unity within love, rather than just blood.”
Annie and her family harbor so many secrets and pain. Some of us are trying to find the missing piece of our heart. Once it’s been broken we feel like it could never be repaired. Sometimes we need to hurt in order to heal. But there’s also little things that give us hope that we’ll be okay and better things are to come. I won’t give away much except I need to gush about her husband Fisher, whom I absolutely LOVED so much😍 definitely real husband goals!
I knew it would be an emotional read, but I wasn’t expecting to ugly cry. My emotions were raw, my head and heart were hurting. I read it in a few hours but I had to stop a few times to compose myself.
Did I love it? Yes, but I needed a bit more of romance for my taste. It is definitely hard to read at times. Would I recommend it? Yes, but it’s not for everyone. The only thing that kept me sane is that it is HEA! Thank you, Shari, for writing another unforgettable story! I definitely won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.
April 2, 2022
“I’ve been a humble person, appreciative and grateful for the life I have, but there is one thing I need - the truth. I desperately need to know who I am and where I come from, but it must come from the person who is responsible for making me one of the lucky missing prisoners of the Holocaust.”
Shari J. Ryan captures the dual feelings felt by those who transitioned from a life of cruelty into a world of freedom. She explores the emotions involved in discovering who we really are after the devastation of learning that everything in our life is a lie.
In this second book of the trilogy, readers get Annie’s point of view, both past and present. As a baby, Annie was heroically rescued from Theresienstadt and raised in a loving home. It wasn’t until she was a teenager, that she overheard something that turned her life upside down. This news, in addition to what she hears from a speaker at her school, sends her on a solo search for the truth where she meets Fisher, another missing child prisoner from the Holocaust. Unfortunately, even when a sliver of truth is revealed, there are still lies and secrets that Annie has to deal with. Her search to uncover the truth is a delicate balance between finding and losing herself. In the process, however, Annie learns the value of triumphing over adversity.
Against all the emotional trauma, emerges a wonderful soul. You’ll love and appreciate Fisher. We all need a Fisher in our lives! As is the case with all of Ryan’s books, she adeptly taps into readers’ emotions in her quest to uncover what really makes us who we are. This powerful and compelling story allowed me to see Annie’s journey from a different perspective. Be forewarned: this magical tale needs to be read with a box of Kleenex nearby. It’ll have you convinced that there needs to be an elite star level - one ABOVE the 5-star status. Shari Ryan, you are a master craftsman of authors.
Let’s take one moment to appreciate the cover. What amazing symbolism - one couldn’t have chosen a better one to represent the metamorphosis of Annie’s life.
I was given this advance copy by Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Shari J. Ryan captures the dual feelings felt by those who transitioned from a life of cruelty into a world of freedom. She explores the emotions involved in discovering who we really are after the devastation of learning that everything in our life is a lie.
In this second book of the trilogy, readers get Annie’s point of view, both past and present. As a baby, Annie was heroically rescued from Theresienstadt and raised in a loving home. It wasn’t until she was a teenager, that she overheard something that turned her life upside down. This news, in addition to what she hears from a speaker at her school, sends her on a solo search for the truth where she meets Fisher, another missing child prisoner from the Holocaust. Unfortunately, even when a sliver of truth is revealed, there are still lies and secrets that Annie has to deal with. Her search to uncover the truth is a delicate balance between finding and losing herself. In the process, however, Annie learns the value of triumphing over adversity.
Against all the emotional trauma, emerges a wonderful soul. You’ll love and appreciate Fisher. We all need a Fisher in our lives! As is the case with all of Ryan’s books, she adeptly taps into readers’ emotions in her quest to uncover what really makes us who we are. This powerful and compelling story allowed me to see Annie’s journey from a different perspective. Be forewarned: this magical tale needs to be read with a box of Kleenex nearby. It’ll have you convinced that there needs to be an elite star level - one ABOVE the 5-star status. Shari Ryan, you are a master craftsman of authors.
Let’s take one moment to appreciate the cover. What amazing symbolism - one couldn’t have chosen a better one to represent the metamorphosis of Annie’s life.
I was given this advance copy by Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 30, 2018
When Shari first told me she's going to write a book about Annie, I was over the moon. Last Words is one of my all time favorites and I couldn't wait to have more of those special characters. Of course, she did an amazing job.
Annie's story had me so emotional, it literally took my breath away more than once.
All the things she's been through, all the struggles, all the insecurities about who she really is broke my heart. She's one of the strongest characters I've ever read about and I absolutely adore her.
Like in Last Words - this book left a mark in me. It makes you think, it makes you feel, it makes you look at your life differently. It's not just the Holocaust, which we all agree that it was unbelievabley terrible, it's life itself after dealing with the greatest loss a person can deal with.
I think God gives struggles to the person he knows would be able to deal with them. We are all blessed even when it doesn't seems like it. That's what I'm taking with me from this book. ❤
Annie's story had me so emotional, it literally took my breath away more than once.
All the things she's been through, all the struggles, all the insecurities about who she really is broke my heart. She's one of the strongest characters I've ever read about and I absolutely adore her.
Like in Last Words - this book left a mark in me. It makes you think, it makes you feel, it makes you look at your life differently. It's not just the Holocaust, which we all agree that it was unbelievabley terrible, it's life itself after dealing with the greatest loss a person can deal with.
I think God gives struggles to the person he knows would be able to deal with them. We are all blessed even when it doesn't seems like it. That's what I'm taking with me from this book. ❤
October 17, 2018
This is Annie's powerful and moving story of a Holocaust survivor. We first met Annie in Last Words, learning how as a baby, she was rescued heroically from certain death, and eventually came to the United States to be raised in a safe and loving home. As a teen, she overheard a conversation that caused her to question and doubt all that she knew. She felt lost, and alone, not sure of her place in this world. As she set out, in a dangerous time, to find her truth, she will find a strength she didn't know existed. My heart broke at times for Annie, her Mom, Fisher, and her whole family. The lessons they learned were not easy, but peace and strength could be found in the simplest places. This poignant journey is so gripping, heartbreaking, but also hopeful and healing. It sinuously moved from past to present, weaving a tale that kept me engaged and my heart racing. The emotions it made me feel, from laughter to loss, horror to joy, and everything in between is the reason I love to read. This story touched my soul and reaffirmed that even the smallest of life's gifts deserves appreciation. I absolutely loved and swooned over Fisher, he is the perfect book boyfriend/husband! It was also so much fun catching up with Annie's family, including Charlie and Amelia, they were so adorable together. This is storytelling at it's absolute finest and I loved every moment of this beautiful, raw and emotional journey!
October 8, 2018
5 Cranky Stars
This is definitely a 5 Star book. The author states that it can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend that you read “The Last Word” to have a better understanding of these characters. In “The Last Word” we were introduced to Amelia and her two daughters, Annie and Clara. This is Annie’s story and what a story it is.
Ever since she was young, Annie has felt lost and out of place. She overhears her parents discussing the fact that they have no legal birth papers for her, but she is too young to understand the ramifications. She knows that she was born in Europe but doesn’t know the circumstances. If you have read “The Last Word”, you know her history.
On her 13th birthday, she is given a diary and she begins her quest for the truth. When she is 14, she discovers that the lack of a legal birth certificate is something she must hide. All her life she has had to hide the fact that she is Jewish but at 16, she finds out why. A former Nazi soldier comes to her school to speak about the Holocaust. For the first time, she finds out that not all the soldiers agreed with what they were forced to do. When she admits to him that she is indeed Jewish, her best friend walks away in disgust. This is when her true quest begins to find out the truth of her birth.
Of course, she imagines all the bad things that could have happened to her. She is sure she was kidnapped, and her real family is out there somewhere. All her life, her mother has refused to discuss the Holocaust, so she cannot openly asked questions. Through secrecy and several years of investigation, she finally discovers the truth. At the age of twenty, she finds the love of her life in Prague and the lies and deceit continue. It is not until her mother almost dies at the age of 94 that Annie finally gains the courage to force her mother into telling the truth.
Be sure to have a big box of tissues handy when you read this book. These characters could be your neighbors and best friends and your heart will ache for all they have gone through.
This is definitely a 5 Star book. The author states that it can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend that you read “The Last Word” to have a better understanding of these characters. In “The Last Word” we were introduced to Amelia and her two daughters, Annie and Clara. This is Annie’s story and what a story it is.
Ever since she was young, Annie has felt lost and out of place. She overhears her parents discussing the fact that they have no legal birth papers for her, but she is too young to understand the ramifications. She knows that she was born in Europe but doesn’t know the circumstances. If you have read “The Last Word”, you know her history.
On her 13th birthday, she is given a diary and she begins her quest for the truth. When she is 14, she discovers that the lack of a legal birth certificate is something she must hide. All her life she has had to hide the fact that she is Jewish but at 16, she finds out why. A former Nazi soldier comes to her school to speak about the Holocaust. For the first time, she finds out that not all the soldiers agreed with what they were forced to do. When she admits to him that she is indeed Jewish, her best friend walks away in disgust. This is when her true quest begins to find out the truth of her birth.
Of course, she imagines all the bad things that could have happened to her. She is sure she was kidnapped, and her real family is out there somewhere. All her life, her mother has refused to discuss the Holocaust, so she cannot openly asked questions. Through secrecy and several years of investigation, she finally discovers the truth. At the age of twenty, she finds the love of her life in Prague and the lies and deceit continue. It is not until her mother almost dies at the age of 94 that Annie finally gains the courage to force her mother into telling the truth.
Be sure to have a big box of tissues handy when you read this book. These characters could be your neighbors and best friends and your heart will ache for all they have gone through.
October 6, 2018
Very few people can say they were born inside a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Disease, starvation, and much worse, prevented most prisoners from surviving. For infants, it was nearly impossible.
I became an anomaly. I shouldn’t be alive.
As a child, I didn’t know my life was different from that of others. I had nothing to compare it to, and I had no insight about the day I was born ... until the moment I overheard the truth.
In a split second, I became a stranger to my reflection, my name, and my reason for being. I was not Annie anymore, and the people raising me were not my parents. Even the blue sky I cherished became an unfamiliar sight.
I felt utterly alone in a foreign world, but that changed when I met another person who was lost, like me. Fisher offered his hand to hold and began to prove his theory of, “When two missing people find one another, they can consider themselves found.”
Fisher enlightened me, and through him, I gained a deeper understanding of life. Now, I know there are two sides of the beautiful, blue sky. I’m on one side, and my lost loved ones are on the other, but at the end of it all, we’ll be together again under the one and only sky.
Wow! What a journey Shari takes you on with this book about Annie. It's flawlessly written and will take you on an emotional journey like no other. Highly recommend
I became an anomaly. I shouldn’t be alive.
As a child, I didn’t know my life was different from that of others. I had nothing to compare it to, and I had no insight about the day I was born ... until the moment I overheard the truth.
In a split second, I became a stranger to my reflection, my name, and my reason for being. I was not Annie anymore, and the people raising me were not my parents. Even the blue sky I cherished became an unfamiliar sight.
I felt utterly alone in a foreign world, but that changed when I met another person who was lost, like me. Fisher offered his hand to hold and began to prove his theory of, “When two missing people find one another, they can consider themselves found.”
Fisher enlightened me, and through him, I gained a deeper understanding of life. Now, I know there are two sides of the beautiful, blue sky. I’m on one side, and my lost loved ones are on the other, but at the end of it all, we’ll be together again under the one and only sky.
Wow! What a journey Shari takes you on with this book about Annie. It's flawlessly written and will take you on an emotional journey like no other. Highly recommend
October 12, 2018
This story shatters your views on what you think you know about life. It gives you a whole other perspective that everyone should see in my opinion. Shari, just like with Last Words, you have touched a piece of my heart and soul forever. My heart just broke for Annie and sometimes I couldn’t breath whether from holding my breath or from feeling her pain, frustration or sadness. You collected my tears that’s for sure. Human Beings are such resilient people that it amazes me every day the situations and events we can live through. Annie is absolutely incredible and I adore her so much.
Shari, thank you for writing this gut wrenching and fascinating story. Everyone needs to be reminded that when we look up at that blue sky we really aren’t living the same life as each other.
Shari, thank you for writing this gut wrenching and fascinating story. Everyone needs to be reminded that when we look up at that blue sky we really aren’t living the same life as each other.
November 1, 2018
This book....this book is just Amazingly and Beautifully Written!!
Shari J Ryan has written two books that intertwined so perfectly and both have real stories to tell, but this one is just filled with so much heart-wrenching drama that it makes you think and believe that life is a series of events that are coincidently fitted to make you what you are...and that is what I found in Annie's story, her life is never been a truth, so she decides to find her truth, in the way to find herself, she finds love, heartache, her truth, and she also loses a part of herself, because that is what life also does...it gives and it takes, her story is of love, triumph, adversity, of everything.
This Book Is A Definite Must Read!!
Shari J Ryan has written two books that intertwined so perfectly and both have real stories to tell, but this one is just filled with so much heart-wrenching drama that it makes you think and believe that life is a series of events that are coincidently fitted to make you what you are...and that is what I found in Annie's story, her life is never been a truth, so she decides to find her truth, in the way to find herself, she finds love, heartache, her truth, and she also loses a part of herself, because that is what life also does...it gives and it takes, her story is of love, triumph, adversity, of everything.
This Book Is A Definite Must Read!!
October 24, 2018
I have not yet read Last Words, however, it is now at the top of my list to read. Though The Other Blue Sky by Shari J. Ryan is in the same world, it can be read as a standalone, though I do think there is some interconnections I may have missed.
This is a story that was emotional and heart wrenching. It is also a story about survival, hope and truths. Annie is a Holocaust survivor trying to find her place in this world. It was her search for truths, as harsh as they can be, we follow throughout this book. And Fisher, I can admit I swooned over him. So sweet, caring and understanding.
The Other Blue Sky by Shari J. Ryan was a look at the harsh reality of how hard life can be, but it also showed the strength a person can have. It was raw, emotional and honest. I loved the characters and their journey, even as their story broke me at times.
4.5 emotional stars! Happy reading!
This is a story that was emotional and heart wrenching. It is also a story about survival, hope and truths. Annie is a Holocaust survivor trying to find her place in this world. It was her search for truths, as harsh as they can be, we follow throughout this book. And Fisher, I can admit I swooned over him. So sweet, caring and understanding.
The Other Blue Sky by Shari J. Ryan was a look at the harsh reality of how hard life can be, but it also showed the strength a person can have. It was raw, emotional and honest. I loved the characters and their journey, even as their story broke me at times.
4.5 emotional stars! Happy reading!
October 25, 2018
In 8th grade when we started learning about the Holocaust, I was intrigued. Years later I found out my great grandmother had escaped from a camp and my great grandfather was an American soldier that saved her. He brought her back to the US and the rest is history. So when I read the blurb, I just had to read this book. This is the first book I have read by Shari and I was hooked. I devoured this book in one day.
The Other Blue Sky is written beautifully. You'll need a box of tissues. Secrets don't stay a secret forever. But a mother will do whatever it takes to protect their own. I loved every second of this book and recommended it.
The Other Blue Sky is written beautifully. You'll need a box of tissues. Secrets don't stay a secret forever. But a mother will do whatever it takes to protect their own. I loved every second of this book and recommended it.
October 24, 2018
This book about annie gave me so many feels. I devoured this story and reccomend it to everyone who loves stories about the holocaust then this is a story for you.
October 18, 2018
The Other Blue Sky is one of the best books of 2018. Ryan did a phenomenal job of telling the story of young Annie, a missing baby from a concentration camp and her journey for answers. We originally met Annie as a child in Ryan's release Last Words, however please note while The Other Blue Sky has some of the same characters it's complete written as a standalone and can be read without having read Last Words.
While I more than enjoyed Last Words, Ryan brought a whole new layer to her storytelling with Annie. Last Words was all about love and survival. With Annie's story, Ryan took us further into the aftermath of the devastation post Holocaust. As missing child Annie struggled to right herself and live the life she deserved, setback after setback, she persevered despite the misfortune she had been given upon birth. Ryan's character development with Annie was so deeply complex that with every layer she unveiled, she tugged you into this emotional story further and further.
My review doesn't begin to give this book the justice or notification it deserves. The Other Blue Sky is an absolute must read and it's compelling message will stay with you long after reading.
While I more than enjoyed Last Words, Ryan brought a whole new layer to her storytelling with Annie. Last Words was all about love and survival. With Annie's story, Ryan took us further into the aftermath of the devastation post Holocaust. As missing child Annie struggled to right herself and live the life she deserved, setback after setback, she persevered despite the misfortune she had been given upon birth. Ryan's character development with Annie was so deeply complex that with every layer she unveiled, she tugged you into this emotional story further and further.
My review doesn't begin to give this book the justice or notification it deserves. The Other Blue Sky is an absolute must read and it's compelling message will stay with you long after reading.
October 17, 2018
WOW!!!!!
Shari Ryan did it again. This book was beautiful on the inside and out. The story is difficult to read. I always get emotional when topics about racism/hate come up. And the Holocaust was one of the worst times in our history. Why can't we all just get along?
Thank you Shari Ryan for opening up your heart and home and telling us this beautiful yet painful story and help educating us in a way. I know this is fictional. But I also know a lot of this was researched and was not fictional and my heart goes out to all those people who suffered through that time and still struggle.
I'm not going to recap the book. All I can say is once I started I couldn't put it down. It is definitely a MUST read. It is emotional but it did have some laugh out loud moments. And left you with HOPE and HEALING at the end.
Shari Ryan did it again. This book was beautiful on the inside and out. The story is difficult to read. I always get emotional when topics about racism/hate come up. And the Holocaust was one of the worst times in our history. Why can't we all just get along?
Thank you Shari Ryan for opening up your heart and home and telling us this beautiful yet painful story and help educating us in a way. I know this is fictional. But I also know a lot of this was researched and was not fictional and my heart goes out to all those people who suffered through that time and still struggle.
I'm not going to recap the book. All I can say is once I started I couldn't put it down. It is definitely a MUST read. It is emotional but it did have some laugh out loud moments. And left you with HOPE and HEALING at the end.
June 5, 2022
Shari J. Ryan has quickly become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her stories break your heart and then put you back together again. This story is another dual timeline story starting in Czechoslovakia in 1942.
This is a definite must read. Now whenever I see Shari J. Ryan has written another book has become a must for me.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this story. All opinions expressed above are my own.
This is a definite must read. Now whenever I see Shari J. Ryan has written another book has become a must for me.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this story. All opinions expressed above are my own.
October 26, 2018
The depth of this story has tangled my heart . My heart is still so attached to this story and I am not sure it will ever let go. While this is obviously a fiction story all that Annie went through and her growth into adulthood given these trials wrecked me but in a great way. This story has so much love and loss and is truly a magical tale
November 18, 2018
This was such a unique story and I have found myself thinking about it even a week after finishing it. It was more like a women’s fiction story for me which was a nice change of pace. What a history Annie had and unraveled over the years. A beautiful story that will capture your heart and make you think about long after you turn the last page!
October 26, 2018
Where to start?
I really enjoy Historical Fiction, but I have a deep love for a specific time period. I devour books written around and during World War I and World War II. For me, they embody all of the fear, struggle, loss, love and passion in a time of great change and upheaval. Shari J Ryan's The Other Blue Sky is all of those things and more.
Annie's whole world turns upside down when she overhears her mother and father talking about Annie's need for a birth certificate. What will they do? Will someone come looking for Annie? Confused and curious, Annie sets out on a lifelong journey to find out who she really is. Along the way, she discovers that the place and circumstances of her birth put her into a very small and unique group, that love is more than an emotion, it's a connection, that sometimes knowing something is more difficult than never having learned it and that despite her feelings of not belonging, she is more loved than she could ever have imagined.
This is story is so well written, but what impresses me the most is the amount of research and attention to detail that went into this book. From a strictly historical perspective, this book is spot on. I'm going to tell you straight up that you are going to need tissues for this book. Man, I haven't ugly-cried like that over a book in a long time. Happy, hopeful tears; tears shed from a place of compassion; tears of grief. I cried them all, and it was soooo worth it. If you haven't read Ryan's book Last Words, do it. It is a prequel of sorts that sheds light on Annie's journey from a different direction.
I really enjoy Historical Fiction, but I have a deep love for a specific time period. I devour books written around and during World War I and World War II. For me, they embody all of the fear, struggle, loss, love and passion in a time of great change and upheaval. Shari J Ryan's The Other Blue Sky is all of those things and more.
Annie's whole world turns upside down when she overhears her mother and father talking about Annie's need for a birth certificate. What will they do? Will someone come looking for Annie? Confused and curious, Annie sets out on a lifelong journey to find out who she really is. Along the way, she discovers that the place and circumstances of her birth put her into a very small and unique group, that love is more than an emotion, it's a connection, that sometimes knowing something is more difficult than never having learned it and that despite her feelings of not belonging, she is more loved than she could ever have imagined.
This is story is so well written, but what impresses me the most is the amount of research and attention to detail that went into this book. From a strictly historical perspective, this book is spot on. I'm going to tell you straight up that you are going to need tissues for this book. Man, I haven't ugly-cried like that over a book in a long time. Happy, hopeful tears; tears shed from a place of compassion; tears of grief. I cried them all, and it was soooo worth it. If you haven't read Ryan's book Last Words, do it. It is a prequel of sorts that sheds light on Annie's journey from a different direction.
October 23, 2018
This book is sneaky. I made it through the first half of the story and was starting to doubt my decision to have the tissues on standby. But I’ve learned from my history with Shari Ryan titles: I will need the tissues far more often than I won’t. The story kind of crept up around me, surrounding me with what appeared on the surface to be a very simple tale of a daughter’s search for her birth family. It wasn’t until I was neck-deep in the drama that I realized I had been carried out to sea by the powerful emotional undertow. Annie is a woman who is coming to terms with the life-altering events that happened both before and since her birth. Fisher is just the sweetest, most precious man ever to be a husband. Personally, I want a Fisher of my own. I loved having this opportunity to come back to this family and see Annie learn about her heritage, even if I do feel hollow and emotionally drained and I’m asking “why do I keep doing this to myself?”
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.
October 27, 2018
Such a powerful and compelling story! It will take you on an emotional journey with Annie, a missing child from The Holocaust. She is searching to find her true identity.
This story was raw, gritty, real, heartbreaking, full of angst, but it is also a tale of hope, strength, perseverance, and survival. It is beautifully written and the characters will enthrall you. The book is so powerful, it will stay with your for a long time to come. I don't want to spoil this beautiful yet heartbreaking story for you, so I am keeping my review brief. Just know that this is a beautiful tale and a must-read. Just be prepared to have your box of tissues handy. I highly recommend going on this journey.
This story was raw, gritty, real, heartbreaking, full of angst, but it is also a tale of hope, strength, perseverance, and survival. It is beautifully written and the characters will enthrall you. The book is so powerful, it will stay with your for a long time to come. I don't want to spoil this beautiful yet heartbreaking story for you, so I am keeping my review brief. Just know that this is a beautiful tale and a must-read. Just be prepared to have your box of tissues handy. I highly recommend going on this journey.
October 27, 2018
In 8th grade when we started learning about the Holocaust, I was intrigued. Years later I found out my great grandmother had escaped from a camp and my great grandfather was an American soldier that saved her. He brought her back to the US and the rest is history. So when I read the blurb, I just had to read this book. This is the first book I have read by Shari and I was hooked. I devoured this book in one day.
The Other Blue Sky is written beautifully. You'll need a box of tissues. Secrets don't stay a secret forever. But a mother will do whatever it takes to protect their own. I loved every second of this book and recommended it.
~Review by Crystal
The Other Blue Sky is written beautifully. You'll need a box of tissues. Secrets don't stay a secret forever. But a mother will do whatever it takes to protect their own. I loved every second of this book and recommended it.
~Review by Crystal
October 24, 2018
Wow another amazing book by Shari. I absolutely loved this book. Although it is a standalone I would recommend reading last words first to truly appreciate these amazing women.
This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story. This is the journey of how Annie learned that she was a missing child of the Holocaust. As a teen she overheard a conversation between her parents about them not having a birth certificate for her, and they did not know what they were going to do. That overheard conversation caused her to doubt everything she thought she knew about her life. She sets out on a journey over many years seeking the answers about her birth parents, and who she is.
The Other Blue Sky is a phenomenal book and is a must read. It will have you feeling so many emotions. Have your tissues ready.
This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story. This is the journey of how Annie learned that she was a missing child of the Holocaust. As a teen she overheard a conversation between her parents about them not having a birth certificate for her, and they did not know what they were going to do. That overheard conversation caused her to doubt everything she thought she knew about her life. She sets out on a journey over many years seeking the answers about her birth parents, and who she is.
The Other Blue Sky is a phenomenal book and is a must read. It will have you feeling so many emotions. Have your tissues ready.
October 17, 2018
Oh my gosh this novel was so good. I started reading and I could not put this novel down until the very last page. I finished a couple days ago and this novel is still in my head. It touched my heart and I think took a piece of my heart when I read it. At times the content was rough reading about such hate and racism, but the novel was so beautiful. This author's novel's just keep getting better. I loved it!
October 25, 2018
Wow, wow, wow!!! My heart is still racing and I’m not sure I’ve wrapped my head completely around this book quite yet. It was beautiful, emotional, devastating, and just incredible. I sometimes hate to admit that I like to learn about The Holocaust. How could I want to learn about something so horrific? I remember going to Washington DC in eighth grade and I remember vividly the exhibit called Daniel’s Story. It was The Holocaust Through a child’s eye. A story of you will. Like Ms. Ryan’s story. What better way to learn then through what I love doing most?
I’ve wanted to know Annie’s story since Last Words. I needed to know her story, her happy ending, about her life. It was just something I needed and when I realized Ms. Ryan was in fact giving me that I was over the moon excited!! And boy did she not disappoint. I’m pretty sure my heart had been ripped out and put back together several times but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t want to go on to much detail because you’ll want to experience every single thing for yourself. But know this, you’ll take away everything from this book. And even to the very end there’s a lesson. Love people, not hate. We’re all different. Let’s love and accept instead of hate and degrade. Love. Learn from the history of this country. Love. Just love. Let Annie, Amelia, Charlie, Emma, Jackson, Fisher, and company teach you about love!!!
I’ve wanted to know Annie’s story since Last Words. I needed to know her story, her happy ending, about her life. It was just something I needed and when I realized Ms. Ryan was in fact giving me that I was over the moon excited!! And boy did she not disappoint. I’m pretty sure my heart had been ripped out and put back together several times but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t want to go on to much detail because you’ll want to experience every single thing for yourself. But know this, you’ll take away everything from this book. And even to the very end there’s a lesson. Love people, not hate. We’re all different. Let’s love and accept instead of hate and degrade. Love. Learn from the history of this country. Love. Just love. Let Annie, Amelia, Charlie, Emma, Jackson, Fisher, and company teach you about love!!!
October 24, 2018
5 BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONAL STARS!! Beautiful words again from this phenomenal author. Annie's story will be engraved on my heart forever. This story is so beautifully written with all the feels, my emotions were all over the place while reading this book. Shari J. Ryan is by far in my top 5 authors, she can write any genre and turn it into a 5 star read. I highly recommend this book for 2018.
October 25, 2018
An amazing heart tearing, soul wrenching journey of survival through a nightmare only the survivors know.
It's a book by Shari Ryan. You're either going to laugh until you pee your pants or you're going to cry until you want to curl up in a ball and hide. I don't think I have managed to read any of her books without having the desire to hug someone with all of my might by the time the story is at its end.
It's a book by Shari Ryan. You're either going to laugh until you pee your pants or you're going to cry until you want to curl up in a ball and hide. I don't think I have managed to read any of her books without having the desire to hug someone with all of my might by the time the story is at its end.
October 24, 2018
Another EPIC book written by Shari Ryan..
Shari is the queen of breaking our hearts..When she told me she was writing Annie's story, I was thrilled and very excited. What I wasn't prepared for the was the emotions. The Other Blue Sky takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Annie's story is powerful and heart shattering. She is a survivor, born in an Holocaust camp. She just wants to know who she is and where she came from. This is probably one of the most powerful books I have ever read. The Other Blue Sky will leave you with emotions that will stay with you for a while, if not forever...
Another 5 star EPIC read by Shari Ryan...
Shari is the queen of breaking our hearts..When she told me she was writing Annie's story, I was thrilled and very excited. What I wasn't prepared for the was the emotions. The Other Blue Sky takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Annie's story is powerful and heart shattering. She is a survivor, born in an Holocaust camp. She just wants to know who she is and where she came from. This is probably one of the most powerful books I have ever read. The Other Blue Sky will leave you with emotions that will stay with you for a while, if not forever...
Another 5 star EPIC read by Shari Ryan...
October 24, 2018
Devastatingly beautiful! This story will take your breath away, again, and again and again... And, just when you think you couldn't cry anymore... you will...in a good way. Talk about "mind benders and heart breakers"! This story does all of the above! I loved, loved, loved how we learn of Annie's story...and her love with Fisher is like none other! #relationshipgoals, right there! The Other Blue Sky is a must read!! I loved the visits from Amelia, Charlie, Emma, and Jackson from Last Words. The 2 stories tie together beautifully.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews