THE GERMAN GIRL by
Armando Lucas Correa
The liner ST. LOUIS left
Germany with 900 German Jews bound for Cuba in 1939. Most had left behind their
fortune, their property and the heritage of many years. They carried with them
signed documents allowing them to stay in Cuba until their visa numbers allowed
them to move on to the US, Canada or Mexico.
The ship was not allowed to dock in Havana.
THE GERMAN GIRL follows Hannah, a young girl aboard the St.
Louis, from her sheltered life in Germany until her death many years
later. Finely crafted characters people
this tale of love and loss through the war, the Revolution in Cuba and the fall
of the Twin Towers. Hannah and her great
niece, Anna, carry the plot to its not-quite-satisfying conclusion. Conclusion aside,
this is a lovely book that sheds light on a mostly forgotten piece of World War
II history and the perfidy of Cuba, the US president and the other leaders of “enlightened”
nations.
Book groups will find much to discuss, especially with the anti-immigration
mood of current politics.
4 of 5 stars
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