1941, Berlin. The streets are swarming with Nazi’s. Hanni’s husband, the good doctor has been murdered and her mother is very ill. Even though it breaks her heart Hanni must send her daughter Lea away. Only 12 years old, Hanni wants to keep Lea safe and far away from the nightmare that has invaded their world. She secretly engages Ettie, the Rabbi’s daughter, to use her forbidden knowledge and create a golem to protect Lea during her travels. This mystical creature of Jewish folklore looks human but has no soul, she is as strong as one hundred men. Throughout their escape to France and the three years afterwards, Ava faithfully guards Lea’s life. From the convents that hid Jewish children to the brave French Resistance that led them through the mountains to Switzerland, countless hero’s saved thousands of lives. This magical story filled with dancing birds carrying messages of hope and the angel of death eerily filling his notebook will take you to a fairytale version of a very real atrocity, remembering the many who tragically disappeared and the few who survived. Author Alice Hoffman is the extraordinary talent to bring this story to life.

Alice Hoffman’s novel, The World That We Knew, begins in the spring of 1941 in Berlin with the murder of Hanni Kohn’s husband Simon during a riot outside the Jewish hospital. When she is not permitted to bury him and his body is used for animal feed, the world itself does not have room for all her grief. With rules changing by the hour for Jews and so many deaths that the death angel no longer has room for all the names in his Book of Death, Hanni becomes desperate to find a way to save her daughter Lea.

In despair, she finds her way to the rabbi’s daughter, who has broken tradition by listening in to her father and learning things a female should not know. The daughter Ettie creates a golem, an otherworldly creature, whose sole living mission will be the protection of Lea. The golem Ava, Lea, and Ettie and the Levi brothers, Victor and Julien who start out in Paris the same spring live lives of danger, hiding, and resisting for themselves and others as their lives intertwine and they try to save those who are being rounded up by the Nazi concentration. The story leads them to a school in the mountains where three thousand Jews were saved. Azriel, the Angel of Death, hovers continuously in the background, taking his toll. Then there is the instruction in the Lea’s locket that Lea is not supposed to see until Ava has helped her reach safety, yet both she and Ava get a glimpse.

On the flyleaf before the first chapter the quote from Exodus 23:9 gives the theme of the book. “The strangers in your midst shall be to you as the native-born, for you know the stranger’s heart, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Many of the secondary characters, who hold their place in the book well, follow this mandate.

This novel, carefully researched, feels real even down to the characterization of the golem and the death angel and keeps the reader wanting just one more chapter before she closes the book.

I have read quite a few novels within the last year in the WWII fiction genre and The World That We Knew is completely different than all of the other novels in this genre that I have read. Though the summary does mention a mystical Jewish creature, I think I skimmed over that part as I was surprised, and a little skeptical and disappointed, when Ava was introduced. I soon moved beyond these feelings and grew to like Ava. How can you not? She is a devoted protector of Lea who ends up providing so much more than anyone expected. Is this a story of folklore, fairy tale, magic realism? Hard to determine or classify it, but, nevertheless, it is such a unique way to experience and read about the horrific times during WWII and The Holocaust. I ended up really liking this book and I found the writing and story to be beautiful and emotional read. Don't get scared away if you normally don't read these types of books, give it a chance. I am so glad that I did.

"If you do not believe in evil, you are doomed to live in a world you will never understand," is the start to this hauntingly beautiful book . And so accurate for 1941 Berlin when Hanni Kohn, a Jewess, knows she must save her 12 year old daughter, Lea, and get her away so she can survive. She cannot leave herself as she is caring for her paralyzed mother.

She goes to a Rabbi for help but it is his daughter, Ettie, who creates a mystical creature, a Golem, designed to protect Lea at all costs. This golem, Ava, and Ettie set out for Paris and then on to a convent where they fight to save other lives. It is quite haunting, spiritual and mystical and so beautiful that it was difficult to read. I can't stand the evil that exists but am so inspired by the goodness that also exists.

I am now going on vacation from WWII novels. There have been so many this year on this time period and I am, on a personal level, unable to keep reading about the true evil in the world. This book was enough to fill my soul and quite beautiful but enough is enough.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alice Hoffman for this wonderful book in exchange for a fair review.

In recent years, there have been copious novels about the Holocaust. In The World That We Knew, Alice Hoffman takes a very different approach to this subject, using magical realism to portray her characters. There are six main characters in this novel and what happens to them is realistically rendered, told from alternating POVs. The narrative incorporates documented historical happenings, specifically: the Vél d'Hiv roundup of Parisian Jews in 1942; the French Resistance; the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE) (French Jewish Society for Rescuing Children); and the willingness of the Huguenots in Chambon-sur-Lignon to provide a haven for Jews fleeing the Nazis by hiding them in their homes and by helping them flee to neutral Switzerland.

There is a lot of tension as things go from bad to worse for the six protagonists. One thing that I did not appreciate is the fact that there is a lot of foreshadowing throughout the novel, hinting at who will survive and who will not. Other than that, The World That We Knew is a well constructed novel that presents a less well known story of what took place in France during WWII.

Of note: 32 actual residents of Chambon sur Lignon (in the département of Haute-Loire where much of this novel takes place) were awarded the title Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, and in 1998 Yad Vashem presented the village with a special diploma of honor in tribute of their humane conduct during the war.

I wanted to read this because I love Alice Hoffman, but I was hesitant because I'm having a bit WWII/holocaust fatigue. It is hard to enjoy these books and yet an important part of history that shouldn't be forgotten. I think i would recommend this book highly to someone that has not read too many of these types of stories as it was well researched and had strong characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Alice Hoffman for the opportunity to read and review her latest book. While I wouldn't say magical reasoning books would be on the list of my favorite genres, when written by Alice Hoffman, they deserve 5 stars.

This is a beautifully written, heartbreaking, yet hopeful book of love and loss, mostly the loss of a mother's love. Set during World War II, Hanni is a mother in Berlin who knows that she must leave her daughter, Lea, to give her any chance at life. Hanni's own mother is bedfast and Hanni is duty-bound to stay with her. She wants someone who will love Lea like she does and goes to a rabbi's home for assistance. There, the rabbi's daughter, Ettie, helps Hanni create a magical golem, Ava, who is sworn to protect Lea at all costs. Lea and Ava travel throughout Europe trying to stay alive and together, meeting a cast of characters all doing the same.

Meticulously researched and teaching us more atrocities of this time period, we are also left with the hope that love brings. I loved all the blessings, prayers, thoughts of souls and visions of both protective angels and the angel of death. Highly recommended.

Alice Hoffman does it again! She takes you to a place in history and makes you feel as though you experienced it first hand. The World That We Knew does just that, it takes on a journey through history and teaches you history through the eyes of strong characters.

The World That We Knew is a WWII story - mixed with the magical realism elements that Alice Hoffman delivers so well. Every time I read one of her books, I just find myself sinking into the magic of her writing.

When I received the ARC, it came with a letter from the author and I'd like to quote part of it because I feel like it describes this book better than I could:

"I've come to understand that fairy tales are perhaps the most autobiographical of all stories, containing the deepest psychological truths. They are the original stories, handed down from grandmothers to grandchildren, told by firelight or starlight. Each one is a cautionary tale. These are the stories that explain the sorrow of real life, but also assure us that once upon a time there was a woman or girl who managed to rescue herself.

Once you tell a story, you are not forgotten. This is what our grandmothers wanted us to know, that is what I realized while writing about the journey of three characters who refused to be silent: Lea, a young girl who is sent away from Berlin to ensure that she will survive. Ettie, the daughter of a rabbi, who is as brave in the real world as she is in the world of magic. And Ava, a mythic being whose only purpose is to protect the stranger who affects her life in ways she could not have imagined.

Fairy tales tell us that we may be lost, we may be forsaken, but there is a path."

I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading - both were great ways to take in this story. While the audio was very well done and narrated by Judith Light - I sometimes found myself getting a little lost while listening. I'm not sure if this was on me or the book but I did more rereading than I usually do on audiobooks.

Thank you very much to Simon & Shuster, Netgalley and Librofm for the advance reading and listening copies.

Alice Hoffman’s new novel, The World That We Knew, is possibly her best work. The story begins in 1941 Berlin. Hanni Kohn’s husband has recently been murdered in a riot outside of the hospital where he worked. Hanni is realistic about her future. She knows she must save the life of her twelve-year-old daughter Lea and she seeks the best way to secure Lea’s future. Hanni’s prayers are answered by Ettie, a rabbi’s disgruntled seventeen-year-old daughter. Ettie longs to prove her worth in the male orthodox world. Ettie once secretly observed her father making a golem and she is able to craft Ava, a female golem, from clay. Ava appears to be a woman, but she has no heart and possesses supernatural skills. She is created solely to replace Hanni in Lea’s life and ensure her safety. Hanni pays Ettie with her remaining jewels and train tickets that allow Ettie and her sister to flee Berlin. Hanni sends Lea and Ava to the home of distant cousins in Paris. As the years progress Lea finds love and Ava becomes more woman than a golem. Ava continuously protects Lea from harm. Ettie joins the resistance movement, fulfilling her desire to do the same important work as a man.
Hoffman’s plot is constantly in motion between many intriguing settings. The story moves among inspiring characters and surprising connections. The World That We Knew is Hoffman’s amazing creation and a book that should not be missed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was actually my first Alice Hoffman book and I will definitely look to read more from her. I usually shy away from WWII books as I like fun/escape reads but I love stories with magic and read such good reviews of this one I decided to check it out. I was not disappointed at all! This was a really fantastic and well thought out story. A Jewish mother was forced to send her daughter away to save her during the war. The rabi’s daughter who helped her escape created a magical golem to protect the daughter, Lea. It bonds them together for life and you follow them on a journey of friendship, love and hardship. I devoured this book quickly and would recommend it to anyone. It was a really original story and perfect for fans of historical fiction. The characters were so well developed and Alice Hoffman’s writing was really suberb. Warning: have a box of tissues ready!

I believe this is a special and unique novel. The author has created some wonderful characters, including a golem called Ava. Set in WWIi, a desperate mother hires a rabbi’s daughter to make a golem to protect her daughter as she tries to escape certain death in NZi Germany. Combines the war setting with magical realism.

{My Thoughts}
Over the years I’ve read many WWII stories, so it’s became really difficult to find new ones that feel fresh, but that’s exactly what I got with Alice Hoffman’s new book, The World That We Knew. Unlike many WWII stories, this is not about battles or camps, or even about Nazis. Those things are all there in the background, but The World That We Knew is really a story about relationships. Many characters whose lives intersect in different ways populate the book and those overlapping connections were what I most enjoyed.

At the onset of the book we meet Hanni, a German Jew determined to protect her daughter at all cost. She enlists the help of a Rabbi’s daughter, Ettie, to create a golem to protect Lea. This creature, Ava, does her job well, but is somehow more than anyone expected. Ava, Ettie, and Lea are at the heart of Hoffman’s story, but many others play key roles as the three travel to France and once there, fight to not only survive, but to resist. I loved this look at simple warriors in the French Resistance. Hoffman did a beautiful job juxtaposing the harshness of war with the motivation of love.

One touch and he changed her. This was the way dark enchantments worked, without logic, without cause. You are one thing and then the world pitches and you are something else entirely. A bitter fear was rising in Lea. Without knowing anything about what men and women did, she knew what came next. She’d felt it when he touched her. Ownership and desire.

As in all Alice Hoffman books, The World That We Knew, was populated with magical elements, starting with Ava. I really liked Ava, the idea of her being a golem created to protect a child, and the evolution she went through throughout the story. However, Hoffman included other magical elements that I felt detracted a bit from the larger story, even though they often were key to her story. I’d have liked to see a little less of the magical, but overall very much liked The World That We Knew.

Alice Hoffman's The World That We Knew is probably my favorite book so far this year. A carefully woven story based on escape throughout WW2 and traditional Jewish mythology, Hoffman truly brings her characters to life. I am a big fan of Alice Hoffman's writing, and this one exceed expectations. As you may guess, I was incredibly excited that Simon & Schuster gave me an eARC via Netgalley (in exchange for my fair and honest review - no difficulties on this one).

In 1941 Berlin, a mother realizes the only way to protect her daughter from the growing Nazi threat is to send her away, and in order to do so, she enlists a Rabbi's daughter to create a creature that will love and protect her daughter the way that she would, a golem, Ava. She, Lea, the daughter, and Ettie, the Rabbi's daughter, go forth into the world, with stories forever intertwined.

While the story truly centers around Ava, Lea and Ettie, we gather characters as we go, watching how their stories twist and braid together. No character feels too insignificant or to minor. Reading felt quite like watching a pattern be woven on a loom, at first colors and shapes seem isolated and individual, and then the pattern forms and becomes connected and solid. As the story flows, even the smallest of characters make their mark and change the flow of the story.

Hoffman weaves us a fairytale, however, she is doing so out of real historical events. The research done for this book is incredible, and you feel almost like you're learning a bit about both the French Resistance during WWII and Jewish folklore. This is reinforced with Hoffman's additional reading list at the end in case you're interested in more history behind these. In this, it's also to keep in mind there is historically accurate violence and for those who need it, TW (Trigger Warning) for the first part, in which a non-descriptive sexual assault occurs.

I know I'm being less specific than my usual reviews, however, it's hard to put pen to paper every single thing I love about this book without writing a book of my own. I can't wait to see what Hoffman writes next.

This new book by Alice Hoffman is fantastic.  I thought I had read every type of WWII book that could be written, but then I read The World That We Knew. I love historical fiction but I'm a real sucker for magical realism, and as usual Alice Hoffman does it so well.  The creation of a magical golem to protect the young main character, Lea,  adds to the story in great ways without detracting from the overall serious nature of the plotline. I'm not particularly religious, but enjoyed the incorporation here of the appreciation of God, whether through a Jewish or Christian lens.  The story is absolutely tragic and heartbreaking, highlighting the true cruelty and unfairness of the world that we live in. However, the beauty of humanity is shown, as well, through great comraderie with friends, family, and strangers alike. I definitely recommend this book!

I rated this novel 4.5/5 stars or 4/5 on Goodreads. The discerning factor was that there were a few deaths at the beginning of the novel that I didn't connect with. I didn't feel terribly sad for the characters and I didn't feel too shocked that they died. By the end of the novel I was crying my eyes out because of the emotions I felt for all of the characters and the sacrifices they had made. I cried for Ettie, Victor, and the heron. And I cried for what I thought would happen to Ava. I think this was such a beautiful story and I'm so happy to have read it. I have posted my own review on my Instagram account and tagged Simon and Schuster found here -> https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xTWAUgbdc/

The World That We Knew begins in Berlin during World War II. After an incident with the Nazi police, Hanni Kohn, knows she has to do something to protect her 12 year old daughter Lea. After her pleas for help were ignored by the local rabbi, his daughter Ettie agrees to help. The women create a golem, a mythical Jewish creature, named Ava to protect Lea. The story follows these strong women on their journeys through hiding and fighting, from mountain tops to villages nestled in the foot hills of mountains to make this beautiful tale of history and magic.

While at it’s heart it is a love story, The World That We Knew is more than just that. It has themes such as what it means to be a mother, love and how it comes in so many shapes and forms, what it means to sacrifice for those whom we love. There are so many intertwining stories going on, but the novels webs and flows along with it perfectly. One of my personal favorite parts of the story were the making of the golem. It was unfamiliar, magical, and at it’s core it had so much womanly strength. The story has a lot of symbolism in it, which was wonderful to unpack.

To sum it up, The World That We Knew is a historical fiction fairy tale that I think anyone who enjoys a little magic and Alice Hoffman will love as much as I did. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. A novel that Hoffman admitted she didn’t want to write at first, but it is a novel that will stick in it’s readers hearts for a very long time.

I don’t often pick up a book with magical realism in it, most of the time I just don’t get it, and because of that I don’t enjoy these books as much I would like to. However, Alice Hoffman’s books are a must read for me, and this book was no exception, magical realism or not. Once again, I was truly captivated with the story and its poetic writing, and I allowed myself to be fully submerged in the author’s world of magical realism. It was a beautifully written story of love, hardship, grief, sacrifice, courage, and hope. The characters were superb, and I loved them all. This book is one of a kind, and I think it is a must read for everyone that loves historical fiction and is willing to suspend their disbelief just for a little while to fully enjoy the talent of Alice Hoffman’s writing.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

As a lover of all things Alice Hoffman, I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of The World That We Knew. As it turns out, Hoffman is just as exceptional when writing about France and Germany during World War II, as she is when writing modern tales.

Hanni is desperate to get her daughter out of war torn before they are sent to the camps. She pays Ellie, daughter of a powerful rabbi, to perform forbidden magic and create a golem out of clay. The golem's purpose is to protect Lea until the war is over. Ettie bargains for tickets for herself and her sister to flee to Paris along with the golem, named Ava, and Lea. Nothing turns out as planned and the women are forced to do whatever it takes to survive. They are helped by many people, and help many people in turn - falling in love with handsome. reckless Resistance fighters along the way. Ava grows more human each day, but retains the magic she needs to protect Lea. The heron on the cover plays an important part in the story, weaving different groups together and helping Ava bear what she must, as does Azriel, the Angel of Death.

This was an excellent story, well told with characters that seemed real. Its not a happy story and Hoffman stays true to the events and situations of the Holocaust. She doesn't romanticize anything, yet injects the entire story with her signature dreamy narrative and gentle magic. While written for adults, there is nothing in it to prevent young adults from reading it as well. Read it if you love World War II fiction, or just want a really excellent tale of family and hardship and love.

I’m very hit or miss when it comes to books that feature magical realism. The one author whose books are an exception to that is Alice Hoffman. When I saw that she had a new novel coming out, I immediately requested it, especially once I saw that it was set during WWII. I know WWII fiction has dominated the historical fiction market for a while now and that it seems like every possible story has already been told, but I was also sure that Hoffman would bring something new to the table. And I’m happy to say she did not disappoint.

With The World That We Knew, Hoffman delivers a powerful story of love, sacrifice, and survival. It begins in Berlin in 1941, where a Jewish woman named Hanni Kohn is faced with an impossible decision. She knows it’s time to get her family out of Germany before it’s too late, but she also knows that her elderly mother is too sick to travel and will refuse to leave her home anyway. Hanni make the heart wrenching decision to stay with her mother but to send her own daughter, 12-year-old Lea, away so that she has a chance to escape from the Nazis and survive. Hoffman does a beautiful job painting a portrait of a mother who is willing to do absolutely everything she can for her family, even if it means sacrificing herself. Hanni’s love comes through loud and clear in every sentence as she desperately seeks someone who can help get Lea out of Germany.

The story takes a magical turn when Hanni is directed to a rabbi who can help her. It isn’t the rabbi who eventually helps, however. It’s his daughter, Ettie. Ettie has watched her father at work for years and she knows how to create a mystical Jewish creature called a golem. A golem is a creature made out of clay whose sole purpose is to do whatever its creator asks it to do. In this case, Ettie asks the golem, who she and Hanni name Ava, to serve as a protector for Lea and to do everything in its power to ensure she does not fall victim to the Nazis. The rest of the story revolves around Lea, Ava, and Ettie whose lives become intertwined as they each strive for survival in wartime Germany and then France.

I don’t want to say anything else about the plot because I think each of their journeys is best experienced spoiler-free, but I will say that the story explores many powerful themes that resonated with me. It explores love in many different forms, including the love between a mother and child, the love between sisters, and even first love, which somehow still manages to blossom even in the middle of a war zone. Hoffman also explores sacrifice, resistance, and the strength and resilience that it takes to survive in such a dark time. With her inclusion of the golem and even Azrael, the Angel of Death, The World That We Knew almost reads like a fairy tale or fable and it’s that element that raises Hoffman’s version of historical fiction to a level all on its own.

Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors not just because her writing is gorgeous, but also because she uses magical realism in a way that is truly captivating. I don’t know how she manages to do it so consistently and effectively, but the magic she infuses into her stories always ends up seeming so convincing and authentic that it leaves me with a feeling that perhaps there is a little magic in the world after all.