Starred review from April 15, 2014
Breslin makes a chilling debut with this retelling of the biblical story of Esther set in the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia during World War II. Rescued from a firing squad by an SS officer, Hadassah Benjamin, hiding under the false identity of Stella Mueller, is pressed into service as a secretary for the Kommandant. But in order to save herself, she must stand by as her people are sent to their deaths at Auschwitz. Still, she senses that Col. Aric von Schmidt might be sympathetic and appeals to him on behalf of the people in the camp. They hatch a plan to save as many of the prisoners as they can from the deadly place, but eventually their ruse is discovered. VERDICT The atrocities of Nazi Germany come alive in this heart-rending tale of love, loss, and redemption. Breslin's stark portrayal of the treatment of the Jewish people by the Nazis will shock readers. Fans of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy complex dramatic stories, will want to pick up this title.
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