WW2 children - any recommendations

[OstrichSized]

I'm looking for a Christmas present for my MIL. Her own story is so interesting I thought that maybe she'd like to read of others.

She was shipped to Sweden at 5 years during World War 2 and spent 4 years with a family. During that time she forgot her own family and language. She did reunite with her 'Sister' from the Swedish family a few years ago.

Has anyone read books with a similar story that they could recommend?
Much appreciated.

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

I have the English German girl on my shelf. I haven't readit yet but it is about kindertransporten (is that right). It looks good.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I don't know of any, but hope someone can help. You MIL's story sounds very interesting - has she thought of writing her own book?

[OstrichSized]

I'll look that one up, thanks Mixedmama
Duchess I must ask her if she'd be interested. Even if it was just for keeping a record.

[elkiedee]

Out of the Hitler Time by Judith Kerr is an anthology of her memoirs. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is a children's book about having to leave Nazi Germany, but it's still very much worth reading, and although the omnibus and the other two memoirs are published as a children's book, they're really not at all, especially the third.

The Blue Door - Lise Kristensen - a family in a Japanese internment camp in Indonesia during WWII

Where did your mum come from?

[R2PeePoo]

How about this one. I just finished it and its excellent, easy to read and comprehensive.

[highlandcoo]

Not quite the same as your MIL's story, but for anyone interested in the Kindertransport, Far To Go by Alison Pick is worth a read.

Our local book group linked up with AP by Skype for a Q&A session, and one fact that stayed with me, when she described her research for the novel, was that the authorities employed someone specifically to pull the children out of their parents' arms when the time came to put them on the train. Having moved heaven and earth to arrange for their children to leave, when it came to it these poor parents couldn't bring themselves to physically let go. Heart-breaking.

AP wrote the novel before she became a parent and said she would have found it almost unbearable to contemplate some of the events she alluded to if she'd had children at the time of writing. Also interesting that she decided to reclaim her Jewish heritage (from a couple of generations back) after having written the book.

[OstrichSized]

Thank you those ideas.

That's so sad about what those parents went through Highland. I am sometimes amazed by how strong people can be. My MIL said she had forgotten her own family and came to beleve the Swedish one was hers, then she was uprooted again to be sent home. That mustve been like losing her family twice.

[GingersarealwaysToms]

The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert is beautifully written. It's three short stories in one volume. One of the stories is about three children who have been abandoned by their parents, making their way across Germany during WW2. Their parents were members of the SS. Completely different view point to your MIL but quite thought provoking.

[sashh]

Another vote for when Hitler stole pink rabbit. Also the silver sword, Carrie's war, er............... I'll be back.

[MimsyBorogroves]

How about 'coming home' by rosamund pilcher? It's a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, but I love it.

[maillotjaune]

Sandi Toksvig has written one, can't remember the title but think it's based in her relatives' experiences in - Denmark? Sweden? Might fit the bill.

[careergirl]

I straight away thought of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

[nightcat]

My recommendation, it's brilliant and quite recently published:

A Lucky Child