This is a thought-provoking WWII novel about Jewish brothers Ian and Daniel, and while the writing style is a bit different to what I’m used to, I enjoyed it and at times found it hard to put down. This novel provides a history lesson as well as a glimpse of the bravery, sacrifice, and suffering of those trying to survive WWII, made all the more dangerous because of being a Jew. The author addresses the emotional toll on survivors, both during and in the aftermath of the war, as well as reflecting on the impact the events had on the families of survivors, even decades later. The characters are well developed and relatable and their respective journeys are heartbreaking yet also full of hope & strength.

A great debut novel and well worth a read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

"A beautifully written and wholly unique wartime story of two brothers from Poland pulled into World War II and separated—from home, each other, and their father--for the next decade with the stark possibility of never meeting again. Henry Rozycki masterfully weaves the stories of brothers Daniel and Ian during wartime with a more recent-day character, Henry, who signals to the reader that at least one brother survives the war and has a son. Walk the Earth as Brothers is not your typical battle story of soldiers with guns hiding in foxholes, but rather each brother’s distinct struggle to survive the ever-changing and harsh circumstances facing secular Jews at the time. They are pulled in different geographical directions, challenged with ethical choices to find food and shelter, and write an occasional letter to the other, though not convinced it will ever be received. Each brother finds fleeting moments of hope and comfort, the chance to work in their studied professions, from Siberia to Romania, France to Great Britain. Throughout the journey, the reader navigates Rozycki’s mellifluous prose with the forward momentum centered around two questions: will the brothers survive and will they ever meet again? 

I especially liked the themes of morality presented in the novel, as younger brother Ian grapples with ethics and what it means to be a good man and older brother Daniel slowly comes to realize his failures as the eldest brother in protecting his family after the death of his mother. These realizations—so much more poignant due to lack of communication at the time in history--propelled the narrative through the most desperate of times. I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out how the story ends."