This book gives the reader a different twist to the World War II story: a young, blond Jewish girl from Poland uses her looks to take on a new identity as a Christian Pole. The story of how Marisa gets to that point and the life she lives as a “non-Jew” is an intimate look at German society during the war.

I liked the book and yet it seemed to skim the surface. I wanted a bit more “oomph” or something. There were scenes of brutality but somehow I never got the emotion I would’ve expected, although the main character was believable, for the most part. Marisa was a conflicted character, the time and place felt very well researched, and the book itself presents an interesting case for keeping love in your heart during extremely challenging circumstances. I think for younger teens, this is a good choice for Holocaust fiction.

Rated: Mild (for younger readers), for scenes of violence and potentially upsetting subject matter. It would be “none” for adults.