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Sarah's Key

by Tatiana de Rosnay (Goodreads Author)

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Anjali said: " Anjali Thakor
4/5/12

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

“She grabbed him, but he wriggled out of her grasp and slithered into the long, deep cupboard hidden in the surface of the wall of their bedroom. The one they played hide-and-seek in…maybe he’d be sa Anjali Thakor
4/5/12

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

“She grabbed him, but he wriggled out of her grasp and slithered into the long, deep cupboard hidden in the surface of the wall of their bedroom. The one they played hide-and-seek in…maybe he’d be safe there after all…The men would never find him” (8).This is what ten-year-old Sarah believed as she locked her brother in the cupboard, hoping to keep him safe, and promising to release him upon her return. She and her parents then proceeded to follow the French policemen who were going door to door, arresting Jewish families in the middle of Paris on the 16th of July, 1942. This horrible event is better known as the great Vélodrome d’Hiv roundup.

60 years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in Paris with her husband, Bertrand Tezác, and daughter Zoe, is assigned to cover the history of the Vel’ d’Hiv in commemoration of its 60th anniversary. Her research brings her across Sarah’s story, as she was recorded as one of the children taken in the roundup. She becomes determined to find out what became of her. Her slight obsession with Sarah leads Julia to notice a very familiar-looking cupboard in her own apartment, to begin questioning her marriage, and to discover a very dark family secret that has been kept hidden for 60 years. As Julia puts it, “And I knew that I would no longer rest, no longer be at peace, until I found out precisely what had become of Sarah Starzynski. And what the Tézacs knew and were so reluctant to tell me” (144).

This book was extremely engaging, for the most part. The history and facts behind the Vel’ d’Hiv and the bravery of fictitious young Sarah proved to be an interesting and thought-provoking combination.”With Rachel, she had made up her mind. They were going to escape. They were going to leave this place. It was that, or die” (87). Sentences like these leave readers in awe of the sheer bravery, determination, and will power of these young victims. Although Sarah’s character is fictitious, her courage lives within the pages of the book.

Although overall the book is incredible, with a unique, French twist on World War II, there are times when it becomes somewhat boring. Julia’s personal life often interrupts the flow of the book and the story of Sarah, which was not central to the plot and thus very distracting. For example, Julia finds out that her husband has been having an affair with another woman. Also, when Julia finds out she is pregnant again, Bertrand responds by saying, “‘I don’t want to be an old father…We can’t keep this baby, Julia’” (105). Although this type of drama might have been interesting in another story, it felt out of place in this book, and the frequent interjections were irritating and dry. In general, however, the book was incredibly interesting and well-written. ...more "

Apr 09, 2012 01:25PM · see review