When I originally selected this book, I did not notice that the focus time period was 1882. I thought I was selecting a book about the persecution of the Jews in World War II. After I realized the story took place many years before WWII I was even more intrigued by the story.
A young girl disappears from her small Hungarian village. Everyone in the town is quick to blame the Jews for her death even though a body has not been found. Julie, a good friend of the girl who vanished remembers that she seemed very sad when she last saw her, and she just can’t bring herself to believe that the Jewish people committed the crime. Julie tries to focus on her own problems which consist of her mother who is dying, her abusive father, and a younger sister for whom she is responsible. But then she notices that the Jews have been beaten and a boy about her age has been turned into a puppet for the court. After enduring beatings and threats against himself and his family, Sam will say whatever the authorities want him to say in order to save his family and himself. Julie can’t shake the idea that the truth must be told, no matter what the cost.
This book takes a good hard look at the darker side of human nature. It also examines how the character of people will change during times of war and fear. Beware of the choices you make and how simple words can fuel an unimaginable fire which could consume an entire town.
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