I put off reading this one for a long time because I knew it would be an emotional read. And that was before I discovered that it is truly based on the life and experiences of one man. Though still historical fiction due to the license with which Morris paints her literary picture as well as the fact that memories don't always hold all of the details to tell a full story, this novel is really quite close to a biography. And yes, it was a VERY emotional read.

There are moments of levity and love and wonderful things, but this story is rife with things that made my stomach churn, my heart hurt, and my eyes fill with tears. It is heartbreaking, but still lovely. And had it not been based on a true story, there would be many who would easily say that there was just too much that seemed unlikely, both good and bad. So, those things that would otherwise have felt convenient to the plot instead filled me with hope and wonder at the human spirit and the humanity that can still remain in the direst of situations.

I know that many readers feel that there is too much WWII based historical fiction out there, or they just don't feel like reading it, or they're just (as I read one blogger write) "sick of Hitler". And I get that. But I don't think there can be enough of these stories out there. Not until everyone can recognize that there is some evil in humanity and that it takes the rest of the world stepping in and loving and caring for one another to keep in from getting a foothold. And this story...Lale's story...is a very important part of that. It needs to be read.