I'm a massive fan of Ellie's writing, so as soon as I this title on NetGalley I had to apply. And then as soon as I was approved, I downloaded it and devoured it. So you might wonder why it's only got stars. Because this genre (Holocaust fiction) pretty much only ever gets 4, I reserve 5 for true stories. This was so close to a 5 though.

As always with Ellie's books, there was a lot of suffering in the pages. This particular story depicts in some detail the sights that the US army were faced with when they liberated Buchenwald and Dachau. It also contains descriptions of child sexual abuse, so read with caution.

But it's also a story of hope, strength and friendship. It shows the heartbreaking lengths women will go to in order to help other women. It shows the strength of a mothers love for her child, and the child's love for her unborn sister.

Some of the characters and events in this book are true, others are composite characters. Which is which is clearly defined in the authors note at the end of the book. And some are based on Ellie's own experiences. Thank you for sharing those with us readers. I hope you have found healing.

A thoroughly detailed and heartbreaking historical fiction. I adored Maggie and her spirit and spunk. Despite her trauma in childhood she still fights for what’s right and her bond with her sister was especially beautiful. There was relevant commentary on society at the time, including the racism and sexism at the time and the treatment of those with mental illnesses. The last few chapters had me tearing up, I just loved this book simple as. A brilliant historical fiction with strong characters and an incredible story.