A Penny Always Has Two Sides

by Steffie Steinke

Steffie Steinke, born in Berlin in 1936, writes about the enduring love she had for her foster mother and the everlasting fear she had of her birth mother. The conflict made her shy and insecure for most of her young life. Later she was able to forgive, but the memories never left her. In her story she talks about the time when she was forced to live for five years with her mother, and what they experienced and witnessed during the time of Hitler's so-called glory, and his downfall. With her mother she lived through the bombing and destruction of Berlin. And later, when evacuated by Hitler to Poland, they survived the liberation of Poland by the Russians. The outrage they witnessed, and the suffering and sorrow this liberation caused innocent German mothers and children, will never be forgotten, nor will be the kindness of a Russian officer and a Jewish family, who saved their lives. When they returned to Berlin, Steffie was reunited with her foster mother. She realized how much love there was waiting for her, and the reunion affected her whole life and its events. She lived with her foster mother to experience the total destruction of Berlin and later the blockade where the Allied forces saved half of the city from starvation.

Genres: History, War, Memoir

318 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2010

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading this memoir. It is rare to read about World War II as seen through the eyes of someone from Germany and I think that it was so interesting to see this event through the eyes of Steffie as a young girl and how it impacted her while she was growing up. As is to be expected, there is a lot of violence and some parts were difficult to read and I almost couldn't believe everything she went through. All of this is ultimately balanced by the love that Steffie receives from her ''Muttchen'' (her foster mother) and also the nice touches of humour scattered throughout the book, which are welcome.

My only criticism would be that the writing is sometimes a little repetitive, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this book greatly.

[Dianne Kaucharik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sharing of one's life story through a memoir is a gift to readers. I do not expect flawless writing or any particular rhythm. With "A Penny Always Has Two Sides" I appreciated the simplicity in writing as it lent a conversational and intimate feel. With raw emotion, the author revealed her childhood relationships (in particular with her mother and foster mother) as well as her traumatic experiences as a German girl during and after WWII including the Russian occupation. Indeed "a penny always has two sides". Thank you for sharing your story Steffie Steinke.

[S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Penny Always Has Two Sides is an incredible life story of a child, a young girl, during WWII. The book reads like a motion picture film. It tells of the turbulent life of young Steffie, her foster mother and biological mother, the horrors of war, the struggle for survival, the mercy of those who help them and, finally, I would say, the resilience of the human spirit. A great read.

[Angie Mangino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Penny Always Has Two Sides
By Steffie Steinke
Inkwater Press
2010
Reviewed by Angie Mangino
Rating: 5 stars

This memoir of growing up in wartime Germany during World War II shows not only the author’s personal journey, but also a side of the war not known by those who learned of it solely from the history books. This woman’s personal history shares a truer and more terrifying story of what happened in Germany at this time – from before, during and after the war.

Parallel to the turmoil of the times is the turmoil through which this young woman lived in her personal family life. She had alternating periods in her life with her birth mother and foster mother, with the resultant conflict and confusion in her sense of self and identity. Mostly she lived a torn life, in fear with one and in unconditional comforting love with the other, as history and the war tore Germany into two.

Readers travel with the author from one mother to the other and from home in Berlin, to Poland, and eventually back to home in post war West Berlin before on to Canada for a new way of life. Yes, a penny does always have two sides, as do all people and all situations in life.

A compassionate human story, this book is for everyone who wants to understand better both the ravages of war and the conflicts in family life.

Angie Mangino currently works as a freelance writer and book reviewer. http://www.angiemangino.com

[Elizabeth Desole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks First Reads for the book.
I wish I could say better things about it. The middle section of the book contained a very compelling (if harrowing) story but the writing was very poorly done. It read like a 5th grader's essay. She is also stuck on what a bad mother she had. Despite dwelling so much on her clearly depressed mother, the story of her treatment as a German citizen in Poland after the war and her subsequent life back in a devastated Berlin was very interesting to me. I had actually never read a first hand account from that side.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting memoir containing two themes, treatment of German civilians during WWII and post-war intertwined with the author's own struggles with an abusive and neglectful mother. The author's experiences include fleeing Berlin to escape Allied bombing, mistreatment of German civilians (mostly women) by Russian soldiers at the end of the war, Post-War Berlin and the Berlin Airlift of food and supplies by Americans. Although Steinke was very young during the times she describes, she was able to cling to these memories and as an adult crafted an easy-to-read account.

[Lil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been a great book and will, in fact, be used as my example of why authors need editors. The writing is terribly poor - this isn't a fatal flaw, as many people with compelling stories aren't expert writers. She particularly needed someone who could help with the pacing - who could urge her, at the appropriate times, to get past her personal bitterness towards her mother and focus on (or at least connect to) the issues going on in Germany at the time. Instead, it was an awfully tedious read.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is easy to understand. The text is not complicated or misleading which is a relief for any young reader who is trying to understand the war and the politics that go along with it. The true story is straight forward and heart breaking. I think it would be a good read for everyone, but especially teens to really understand what growing up was like back then, compared to a normal childhood now, and truly appreciate not only freedom, but life in general.