So this is the third book in my life that has made me cry. It's heartbreaking and despite being a middle grade book, does absolute justice on the topic of the WWII invasion of Poland and Auschwitz. This book went there! YA books don't even tend to go there. it's not a fairytale ending. It beautifully balances being horrifying (to scare a middle grade audience) while also emphasizing the true acts that took place in this time and place.

The magic element made it bareable to read and really emphasized that we all have a choice to be good or bad and that choice will be our legacy.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning and my only complaint is that there weren't more of them.

I originally borrowed this book from the library but now I'm going to buy my own copy.