• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •

Judith Kerr and her family had to flee from Berlin just before Hitler came to power. It was 1933, when the Nazis were making their presence known and Kerr's father who was a renowned writer was already in danger because of his strong opinions about Hitler. His life was at risk every time he stepped out of the house to broadcast on the radio. They were the lucky ones who were smart enough to gauge the situation well before it took a turn for the worse. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is based on Kerr's life and is narrated through a young girl named Anna. Kerr herself was nine when she left her home and hence this story is narrated from the perspective of a child.

When the Kerr family left Berlin, they lived in Switzerland and Paris before finally moving to London. The family which was once well-off is now having to struggle to make their ends meet. She watches her mother who never had to indulge in household chores is now sewing clothes or cooking food for the family, trying to save each penny. She wears the clothes that she has already outgrown because they were always broke. And her father who was a terrific writer had to settle for a lesser pay for his articles. Many countries were afraid to print anything against Hitler and this burnt a hole in his pocket. The heartbreaks are subtle in this book, one instance being how Anna misses her beloved housekeeper Heimpi who stays back in Berlin. Their lives in Paris and Switzerland are amusing as she talks about the cultural differences. The book ends with the family moving to England so that her father can have a better opportunity in writing for the newspaper. As an adult, there's a lot to read between the lines. Their innocence softens everything in this book. Which is why When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is unlike anything I've ever read when it comes to WWII. The illustrations are an added bonus :)

There are sequels to this one and I'm definitely going to read them too!