American Shoes

 Book 51 of my 2021 Reading Challenge

American Shoes by Rosemarie Lengsfeld Turke

Summary (via Goodreads)

expected publication date: February 2022

Set against a backdrop of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, the reign of Nazi Germany, and the entire course of World War II in Europe, American Shoes recounts the tumultuous childhood of a young American girl and her family trapped within a country that turned against itself, where human decency eroded and then vaporized. Forced to grow up in the midst of endemic fear stoked by a ravenous madman, American Shoes portrays the breakdown of a society from a child’s point of view, deep inside a land where millions of law-abiding citizens were targeted as threats, and then removed for extermination.

This is the story of a brave girl who, despite not being Jewish, was perceived to be one of those threats and was compelled to keep her American identity secret for fear of her family’s arrest, concentration camp placement, or worse. Fighting to see through a relentless barrage of Nazi lies and propaganda, caught within a nation where resistance or opposition meant incarceration if not certain death, American Shoes illuminates one family’s struggle to survive against impossible odds as a cataclysmic world war marched closer and closer until it was upon them.

Vividly told for the first time after seven decades of a family’s collective silence, American Shoes reveals the story of a brave and spirited young girl named Rosel who refused to accept the new order of a world gone mad, inside a society that became more sinister and macabre than any childhood nightmare could ever be. Driven by the faint memories of the land where she was born—a hazy beacon that guided her toward freedom and a new life—this is the story of Rosemarie Lengsfeld Turke.

First Impressions/Judging a Book by Its Cover

I chose this book while browsing on NetGalley (full disclaimer below).  The cover and title intrigued me enough to look at the description.  Based on the description, it appears to be a perspective I haven't heard much about - an American family living in Germany at the time of WWII and how they had to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

It's listed as a biography geared to middle grades so I'm not sure how detailed it will be.  I'm anticipating this would be one my daughter would be interested in reading as well.

My Opinion

4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**

Since this book is marketed to younger readers it starts with "precautions for parents and teachers" about the contents of the book.  In my opinion, this book is an accurate representation of her memories.  She didn't sugarcoat the tough stuff but also didn't use graphic descriptions in an exploitative way.  While each child's sensitivities are different, if a child is interested in reading about the Holocaust and the adult feels they can handle the information, this book would generate interesting discussions.

The book is digestible for a young reader but reading between the lines as an adult and especially a parent, my heart was in my throat the whole time.  The text was simple and emotional.  It made my heart hurt that she was so stoic since it was probably a form of protection.  She made a good point about the difficulties for children to find any sort of consistency to rely on; their development would be stunted if they survived because of all the unpredictable changes and breakdown of society.

It was a viewpoint I hadn't read before.  As a young child, she was an American citizen who ended up stuck in Germany for years with her parents (who had immigrated to America but were still German citizens) when the borders closed while they were visiting family.  Her father ended up getting drafted and another child was born in Germany so when the war ended, she had to travel home to the US by herself as a teenager; as the only American citizen in her family, she was the only one who qualified for the evacuations.  

I'm not clear if these are her sketches or not but I assume they are and they add a nice touch.