For those of us rusty on our historical knowledge of Germany during Hitler's regime, this book is an intriguing glimpse from one family who are German refugees. Their struggle westward ahead of the Russian army is told with wonderful and heart wrenching detail. Visually the language offers us a chance to feel the cold snows and a march that seems to be destined for failure. The author ties in historical references based on the unpublished diary of a Prussian refugee who fled. Dynamics of faith, love, joy and strength are deeply entrenched in this work of fiction. Author perspective allows us to also understand the intrinsic fear involved in being of any race because at some points there is no discretion involved in the killing and torture. Humanity is held under a microscope and in many cases found to be brutal, sadistic and unfeeling.
I found myself hoping at every page turn that a miracle would happen and that the main characters would survive. Still, hope is not enough and this book inspires one to realize that the ruin of flesh and faith is an ongoing problem throughout history and also present times.
I give this book a 5* out of 5*.....a magnificent story that makes me want to read it all over again.
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