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Escape from Berlin #2
Remember Me
Young Marianne is one of the lucky ones. She has escaped on one of the first kindertransporte organized to take Jewish children out of Germany to safety in Britain.
At first Marianne is desperate. She does not speak English, she is not welcome in her sponsors’ home, and, most of all, she misses her mother terribly. As the months pass, she realizes that she cannot control the circumstances around her. She must rely on herself if she is to survive.
In this exciting companion to Good-bye Marianne, Irene N. Watts has created a memorable character, and a story that is ultimately about hope, not war. Based on true events, this fictional account of hatred and racism speaks volumes about history and human nature.
At first Marianne is desperate. She does not speak English, she is not welcome in her sponsors’ home, and, most of all, she misses her mother terribly. As the months pass, she realizes that she cannot control the circumstances around her. She must rely on herself if she is to survive.
In this exciting companion to Good-bye Marianne, Irene N. Watts has created a memorable character, and a story that is ultimately about hope, not war. Based on true events, this fictional account of hatred and racism speaks volumes about history and human nature.
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
7 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Irene N. Watts
28 books13 followersIrene N. Watts is a German-born Canadian writer and educator. She was born in Berlin in 1931 and lived there for seven years. She moved to the United Kingdom by way of Kindertransport and was educated in England and Wales. Watts earned degrees in English literature and modern history at Cardiff University.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 6, 2023
2.5 stars
For some reason, I was under the impression that this was a memoir for young readers. It is for young readers, but not a memoir. It is possibly based on the author's experiences as one of the many Jewish-German children on the Kindertransports in 1938 or maybe other Kinder’s that the author knew. I admit, I felt this did take away from the story. Historical fiction based on real people always hits harder, and is usually more detailed.
Anything related to the Holocaust is difficult to make accessible to younger readers without completely traumatizing them, but I think Irene N. Watts handled it well. It also makes sense that Marianne wouldn’t know much about what was happening back home in Germany or even around Britain as Hitler began his attacks on the Island. For some things, such as what happened to her father, we are left to make our own conclusions based on the information given, and what we already know about the reality of that time and place.
I want to mention one part of this book that really stood out to me. As would be expected in a book of this topic, Marianne faces antisemitism, accusations of being a spy for Germany, and hostility for being from the ‘enemy nation’. I would be surprised if these weren’t included because they were an unfortunate, unfair reality for Jews and Germans during both world wars. I would have liked Irene N. Watts to make the cruelty of this behaviour more clear to readers. No one gets punished or reprimanded, no one expresses their disapproval for the unkind words and actions towards Marianne, and I think it’s important that young readers are made aware that this cruelty cannot go unpunished and ignored. The scene where two ladies start screaming at Marianne, calling her “Christ killer” was particularly horrifying, especially knowing that this still happens a lot to Jewish people. This time of year, Easter, is also when this occurs more frequently. I was very upset when the only thing anybody does about this is to move Marianne to another foster home (and one that isn’t much better) and say "That was a poor start." It wasn’t Marianne’s fault!
Just so I don’t end on that sad note, there is a lot of moving around and quick passing of time in this book, which made me feel a bit lost. I think more pages could have been spent on Marianne’s relationships with her friends Bridget and Lucy, and her cousin Ruth, and her lack of good relationships with many of the other characters in this book.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad read unworthy of my time. It told an important story about events I don’t know much about, and I was excited that part of the story was spent in Wales, even though the characters there weren't great.
For some reason, I was under the impression that this was a memoir for young readers. It is for young readers, but not a memoir. It is possibly based on the author's experiences as one of the many Jewish-German children on the Kindertransports in 1938 or maybe other Kinder’s that the author knew. I admit, I felt this did take away from the story. Historical fiction based on real people always hits harder, and is usually more detailed.
Anything related to the Holocaust is difficult to make accessible to younger readers without completely traumatizing them, but I think Irene N. Watts handled it well. It also makes sense that Marianne wouldn’t know much about what was happening back home in Germany or even around Britain as Hitler began his attacks on the Island. For some things, such as what happened to her father, we are left to make our own conclusions based on the information given, and what we already know about the reality of that time and place.
I want to mention one part of this book that really stood out to me. As would be expected in a book of this topic, Marianne faces antisemitism, accusations of being a spy for Germany, and hostility for being from the ‘enemy nation’. I would be surprised if these weren’t included because they were an unfortunate, unfair reality for Jews and Germans during both world wars. I would have liked Irene N. Watts to make the cruelty of this behaviour more clear to readers. No one gets punished or reprimanded, no one expresses their disapproval for the unkind words and actions towards Marianne, and I think it’s important that young readers are made aware that this cruelty cannot go unpunished and ignored. The scene where two ladies start screaming at Marianne, calling her “Christ killer” was particularly horrifying, especially knowing that this still happens a lot to Jewish people. This time of year, Easter, is also when this occurs more frequently. I was very upset when the only thing anybody does about this is to move Marianne to another foster home (and one that isn’t much better) and say "That was a poor start." It wasn’t Marianne’s fault!
Just so I don’t end on that sad note, there is a lot of moving around and quick passing of time in this book, which made me feel a bit lost. I think more pages could have been spent on Marianne’s relationships with her friends Bridget and Lucy, and her cousin Ruth, and her lack of good relationships with many of the other characters in this book.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad read unworthy of my time. It told an important story about events I don’t know much about, and I was excited that part of the story was spent in Wales, even though the characters there weren't great.
October 28, 2019
4 stars
I read the first book of this series, Good-bye Marianne: A Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany, almost 6 years ago. Not sure why it has taken me so long to follow up with books 2 and 3.
In this book, with the Gestapo searching houses, Marianne is put on a Kindertransport out of Germany, by her mother, trying to keep her alive. She is 12 years old and all by herself. She ends up in Britain with a family who had lost a young daughter and is smothered and expected to replace that dead child. When they find out she is Jewish they throw her out. Her next stop is a household looking for a maid. Not knowing the English language very well, and none of the families knowing any German, she again felt very alone. When Germany invaded Britain Marianne was again transported. This time to Wales. Another new language she did not know, but a nicer sponsor and a loving family. Throughout all this time she was waiting for her Mother to be granted a visa to travel out of Germany and reunite with her.
This story is fiction, but based on actual events that happened to the books author when she only 8 years old fleeing London in 1938 just before the start of WWII.
The next and last book of the trilogy, Finding Sophie, tells the story of seven year old Sophie who traveled on the Kindertransport with Marianne to London. Marianne knowing Sophie was also alone and very scared did her best to look after Sophie while on the train and while gathered to be distributed to sponsor families in London.
I read the first book of this series, Good-bye Marianne: A Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany, almost 6 years ago. Not sure why it has taken me so long to follow up with books 2 and 3.
In this book, with the Gestapo searching houses, Marianne is put on a Kindertransport out of Germany, by her mother, trying to keep her alive. She is 12 years old and all by herself. She ends up in Britain with a family who had lost a young daughter and is smothered and expected to replace that dead child. When they find out she is Jewish they throw her out. Her next stop is a household looking for a maid. Not knowing the English language very well, and none of the families knowing any German, she again felt very alone. When Germany invaded Britain Marianne was again transported. This time to Wales. Another new language she did not know, but a nicer sponsor and a loving family. Throughout all this time she was waiting for her Mother to be granted a visa to travel out of Germany and reunite with her.
This story is fiction, but based on actual events that happened to the books author when she only 8 years old fleeing London in 1938 just before the start of WWII.
The next and last book of the trilogy, Finding Sophie, tells the story of seven year old Sophie who traveled on the Kindertransport with Marianne to London. Marianne knowing Sophie was also alone and very scared did her best to look after Sophie while on the train and while gathered to be distributed to sponsor families in London.
June 10, 2017
This story is about a young Jewish girl who manages to get out of Nazi Germany before the war. Her mother sends her on the Kindertransport where she is taken to London, England. The author writes well about her problems of adjustment into a new household. She is a Jew so she's not welcomed much. She does manage to make a friend Bridget who is kind to her. The Forster family is quite cold and is using her almost as a domestic. Then she gets evacuated to Wales. The second half is not as good as the first half. Overall it's moving in parts and the ending is obviously happy as it's a kid's book. I empathized with the feelings of Marianne as she tried to adjust to her new surroundings.
May 5, 2017
This book was super short so it's awesome for a quick read. It felt quite juvenile (but what can I say) so I felt like a lot of aspects were missing from the plot and everything. However, it was an interesting book.
March 19, 2017
This is a welcome addition within the series because the point of view places young readers directly in the shoes of a displaced refugee. The setting half a century ago allows deep discussions of the circumstances, feelings, and consequences of war and oppression without the baggage of current events. eventually, though, the comparisons can and should be discussed.
April 15, 2013
gr 5-7 174 pgs
1939 England/Wales. 11 year old Marianne is afraid to leave home on the kindertransporte but she tries to be brave. Her mother has told her that the kindertrnsporte is just for children and that the adults must wait their turn. Marianne hopes their turn is soon. "Aunt" Vera, who has taken her in, treats her like a servant, insists on calling her "Mary Anne" and is never happy with anything that Marianne does. Together with her new friend Bridget, they try to find a job for Marianne's mom, a requirement for her mother to get a visa. When war breaks, Marianne is again relocated. This time to Wales. The couple that takes her in insist on calling her Mairi and comparing her to the daughter they lost. Marianne holds onto the hope of one day being reuntied with her mother and havinga place to truly call home.
Companion to "Finding Sophie" and sequel to "Goodbye Marianne"
1939 England/Wales. 11 year old Marianne is afraid to leave home on the kindertransporte but she tries to be brave. Her mother has told her that the kindertrnsporte is just for children and that the adults must wait their turn. Marianne hopes their turn is soon. "Aunt" Vera, who has taken her in, treats her like a servant, insists on calling her "Mary Anne" and is never happy with anything that Marianne does. Together with her new friend Bridget, they try to find a job for Marianne's mom, a requirement for her mother to get a visa. When war breaks, Marianne is again relocated. This time to Wales. The couple that takes her in insist on calling her Mairi and comparing her to the daughter they lost. Marianne holds onto the hope of one day being reuntied with her mother and havinga place to truly call home.
Companion to "Finding Sophie" and sequel to "Goodbye Marianne"
February 13, 2013
In this book the author writes about the children that were taken from their parents, they were put on a train and taken to Berlin. Miss Baxter was a very nice to the little children. They really didn't care if they have siblings. When they got separated they just sat there with their heads down. Young Marianne is one of the lucky ones. She has escaped on the first Kindertransport organized to take Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to safety in Britain. At first Marianne is desperate. She does not speak English, she is not welcome in her sponsors’ home and most of all she misses her family. The Kindertransport and the effort to provide homes for refugee children in Britain are based on actual events that took place just as World War II was breaking out.
September 29, 2007
The true story of a Jewish girl who is sent as a refugee to England in 1938.
March 24, 2013
I distinctly remember reading this book in a sunny corner of the library.
January 24, 2014
Not a fan of authors who feel the need to write the thoughts of the main character in italics, it seems like an insult to an intelligent reader who can infer these thoughts on their own.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews