Ava and Shalom wrapped around my heart while breaking it at the same time. My mind engaged with unique storytelling, copious historical details and intricate characterization. The book took me to places of disquiet, anguish, disgust, sorrow, anger, joy and hope. Though difficult to read at times due to the Holocaust subject matter, I am so very glad I did. Sometimes we need sobering reality to gain perspective. The thing is, what happened in the story happened to many, many real people. Millions of innocents were persecuted, humiliated, tortured, demoralized, dehumanized and slaughtered by evil. The authors did not gloss over the cruelty of the Nazis, especially the SS, but also included many sweet moments of happiness.

Set near the enchanting Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber from 1921 to after World War II, artist Hanz met his lovely wife Maria, married and settled on a grain farm with animals and garden. Hanz was also a caretaker. After experiencing the heartache of childlessness, it was serendipitous that newborn twin girls were left in their barn with a note from their Jewish mother who couldn't care for them. The couple told everyone they were their biological children, including the girls, which worked at first. A German boy was also adopted into their loving household. But the Nazis later came. Families were ripped apart. Betrayals occurred. Many were killed outright, others were taken to concentration camps where they experienced the terror that was Dr. Josef Mengele. Ava and Shalom's birth mother sought Hanz for help in desperation, placing many in danger. But danger came from all over, causing widespread pain and fear.

The significance of the deer and tree was touching. The nature writing was poetic and gentle. Characters ranged from kind and caring to horrifying and despicable. Plots and subplots flowed seamlessly and engaged me from beginning to end. Those who read World War II Historical Fiction ought to priorize this one. You won't regret it.

My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this achingly beautiful and memorable novel.

Should you choose to read this deeply moving and truly unforgettable story, you’ll meet twins Ava and Shalom who navigate the highs and lows of life after it changed in an instant.

Raised thinking they were of German heritage, they are shocked one day to discover that they are Jewish. Once this secret is revealed, it doesn’t take long before they’re arrested and the scramble to save them begins.

I appreciated a glimpse into the girls’ lives prior to it being stolen by tragedy as it made the harrowing events more impactful. Suddenly, the holocaust didn’t just happen to a group of people in a faraway country long ago. It happened to people I’d just met and felt connected to. For days after reading this book, I kept wondering how resentful I’d be if something was kept from me and later revealed, with devastating repercussions, by the one person who had my best interests at heart. How could I forgive them? What if this stranger had never arrived at the farm that night? The paradoxical pull fascinated me.

I’d never heard about the British Schindler, Sir Nicholas George Winton, and the hundreds he saved who later became known as Nicky’s children, so I appreciated the lessons. I have been to Rothenburg and my memories of this beautiful Bavarian town have now been reshaped to include possibilities such as the one mentioned in this book. There's always so much history just below the surface.

By giving Ava and Shalom a voice, the authors reminded me of the danger of keeping secrets, the resilience and hope that can be found amid the devastation, and the lengths we’ll go for loved ones.

This isn’t an easy read. It’s uncomfortable in parts. We should never forget what happened during WWII.

I was gifted this copy by BooksGoSocial and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Nothing I say will ever do this book justice and it is a book that will stay with me forever, I will never forget the characters, the story or the writing. I could talk about it all day but I wouldn't be able to without spoilers so please just read it and I know you will love it

What a read.

It is difficult to put into words the emotions I felt while reading this book. It really is a rollercoaster of feelings and thoughts.

It is a book to be read and remembered and one that I will be talking about for a long long time..

This was a gripping, heart wrenching story that draws you right into that time thanks to it's historical accuracy and attention to detail. I loved that the story covered both before and during the war so you really got the entire picture. I've ready countless WWII books and this one is easily top 10 maybe even top 5. Just wow.

I cannot put into words the many ways this book affected me. It is so well researched and so realistic. I will never forget the characters and their struggles and the strength they showed at this horrible time in history. This will literally break your heart and then put it back together. I intend to tell everyone about this book because it is one in a million. I just can't say enough good about this but you will have to read it.yourself to realize just how phenomenal it is!

This book is one of the best books I have ever read, the descriptions of the family, fields, love and horrors brought tears to your eyes but you kept on reading, it is very rare for me to be disappointed I have finished it, how can I beat this book.

Ava and shalom twin sisters bought. Up by a German family, not knowing they were Jewish and the way they were treated by the Nazis during the war is horrific,

There is many books written about the concentration camps but this one is so descriptive you can actually feel the pain and the hunger.

Would give this book ten stars if I could but five will have to do.
Thanks netgalley for sharing this book with me.

Ava and Shalom by Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz is an extraordinary and heart-wrenching tale of identity, family, and survival set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. This novel grips you from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go, weaving a story of love and sacrifice amidst humanity’s darkest era.

The twins, Ava and Shalom, are beautifully drawn characters—complex, resilient, and deeply connected despite the invisible fractures in their world. Raised by the Wolffs, a loving yet tragically unaware couple, the girls believe themselves to be German through and through. Birkin and Bornz capture the innocent joys of their early lives with tenderness, making the eventual revelation of their true heritage all the more devastating.

When war shatters their idyllic life, the pacing becomes relentless, reflecting the suffocating fear and danger that defined life under Nazi rule. The arrival of their birth mother, a ghost from a past they never knew, is an emotional turning point that reframes everything they thought they understood about who they are. The authors handle this moment with a careful balance of raw emotion and historical realism, making it feel both intimate and monumental.

The journey from Rothenburg to Auschwitz-Birkenau is depicted with brutal honesty. The horrors of the camp are not sensationalized, but the narrative doesn’t shy away from the unbearable pain and tragedy of the Holocaust. Yet, through it all, the bond between Ava and Shalom remains a beacon of hope, a reminder of the unbreakable ties of family even when stripped of everything else.

Birkin and Bornz’s prose is lyrical yet grounded, creating vivid imagery without losing sight of the emotional gravity of the story. The contrast between the pastoral beauty of the Wolffs’ farm and the cold, mechanized terror of Auschwitz is stark and unforgettable.

At its core, Ava and Shalom is a story about identity—how it can be shaped, hidden, or stolen, but never fully erased. It asks profound questions about faith, belonging, and the choices we make when faced with unimaginable evil.

This novel is not just a moving historical narrative; it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a powerful reminder of the cost of hatred and ignorance. It’s a five-star masterpiece that will stay with you long after you turn the last page, leaving you in awe of the strength found in even the darkest of times.