Reading an Alice Hoffman book is always magical, and meant to be read slowly as each sentence feels a treat. Her books are such you can reread them and find something new each time, and her writing is nuanced, lyrical and magical all at once.
Her research for this book must have been extensive, because even with all the WW2 books I’ve read, I still learned something new such as the history of the Huguenots.
In 1941- Berlin Hanni Kohn desperate to save her daughter and get her far away, goes to the Rabbi’s house and receives help, instead, from his daughter, Ettie.Ettie is very smart and creates a Golem from clay and water in the shape of a woman, whose one job is to watch over Lea, and keep her safe until the end of the war. As a price, Ettie now has passage to Paris, along with her sister, Miriam. As Hanni takes Ava, the golem home she implores her to love Lea as her own daughter.
This is an incredible book to read, and I loved the writing and the characters. I can’t recommend this book enough.

WOW. WOW. WOW. This book combines the best of what Alice Hoffman does. Fascinating female characters, history, and magical realism. I was not ready for it to end, and likely will read it again.

What a poignant, beautiful story written by the queen of magical realism, Alice Hoffman. Set in Europe during the devastating time of the Holocaust, the Jewish folklore of the magical golem is brought to life in female form with the task of keeping a young girl safe from persecution. Told with a haunting, moral burden you will not be able to turn away from this book. It will resonate in your soul and mind long after the last page is read.

I highly recommend this book. It is due to be published in September. 2019.