Not Without My Sister by Marion Kummerow
Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Holocaust
Read: 13th March 2021
Published: 25th March 2021
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
1944, Germany. Two sisters seek to overcome impossible odds to be reunited, in this utterly devastating and unforgettable novel about sisterhood, courage and survival.
All they had left was each other. Until the Nazis tore them apart.
After years of hiding from the Nazis, Rachel Epstein and her little sister Mindel are captured by the Gestapo and sent to the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen. The only ray of light for either girl is that they are together.
But on arrival they are separated. As she’s seventeen and deemed an adult, Rachel is sent to work in a brutal factory whilst four-year-old Mindel is sent into the so-called “star” camp for Jewish prisoners. All on her own, Rachel knows her sister will have no chance of survival—unless she can find someone to take care of her.
Working in the windowless, airless factory—filling munitions casings with chemicals that burn her fingers and make her eyes sting—the only thing that keeps Rachel going is the thought of her little sister. Because if there’s even a chance Mindel is alive, Rachel knows she must try to save her.
But, separated by barbed wire, and treated brutally by SS guards who do not even see them as human beings, can either of the orphaned sisters ever dare to hope that they’ll find their way back to each other? And to freedom?
A completely heartbreaking, utterly gripping tale of courage, loss and overcoming impossible odds, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Ragged Edge of Night and The Orphan’s Tale.
MY REVIEW:
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Marion Kummerow's beautiful but heartbreaking story NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER.
Although the market is literally flooded with these types of books, there are some that stand out amongst the rest. NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is one of them. Unlike many others of its kind, it is not bogged down with historical fact and descriptions, giving it a textbook-type feel, but focuses on the actual on the two sisters and their stories. This makes it a page-turner, but not in the usual sense, but rather in the way the reader wants to know if the sisters survived the terror and deplorable circumstances in which they found themselves in.
I must add that this book was inspired by author Marion Kummerow visiting the former concentration camp Bergen-Belsen in Germany where she was viewing an exhibition about children in concentration camps. There was one particular photo that caught her eye. It was of a very young girl - of no more than 4 or 5 years old - with a stuffed animal in her arms. The photo is indeed very moving and heartbreaking. You can see the photo and read about Marion's visit to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. After seeing this photo, Marion was inspired to create the character of 4 year old Mindel.
Enjoying a quiet, hardworking life on their small farm in Bavaria Germany, Rachel and Mindel Epstein live with their parents and two brothers, Israel (10) and Aron (7). They are Jewish, but non-practicing, though that matters not to the Nazis. Mindel has just turned 4 and the children have been sent out to collect fruits to preserve for the winter months, although Mindel has eaten half of her basket already. As they neared their farm, the old woman Mindel was always frightened of as being a witch warns them not to return home as the Nazis have arrested their parents and laid claim to their farm. With nowhere to go, the children survive by hiding in the outbuildings of neighbouring farms and finding small morsels of food to fend off starvation. When they receive word that a convent will take them on as orphans, a friend of their's arranges for papers to be falsified to allow them entry into the safe haven.
Then in the blink of an eye, 4 year old Mindel and her 17 year old sister Rachel were snatched by SS officers and sent to various Nazi concentration camps before ending up at Bergen-Belsen. Upon arrival, the sisters are immediately separated with Rachel imprisoned in the women's camp and Mindel sent to the neighbouring compound known as star camp.
All at once, Mindel went from the safety of Rachel's presence to being all alone with only her rag doll Paula. She didn't even have her cup for the tasteless soup that was dolled out to them in rations as Rachel held on to them both...and the rule in the camp is "no cup, no food". So Mindel found herself not only alone, but without food also. Star camp, she was to discover, was filled with young children like herself and women of various nationalities like Dutch and Russian...although Mindel had no idea what that meant. A young lad named Laszlo took Mindel under her wing, found her a cup so she could receive rations and introduced her to the other children. Although Laszlo was just 7 years old, he became Mindel's best friend, brother and protector. He taught her how to survive the deplorable conditions of the camp by teaching her how to get scraps of food and collecting various items that could be used as currency in the future. They survived by making everything a game - such Jews and the SS as well as who could wrap their hands around their ankles or wrists the most and who was the thinnest.
One day a woman told Mindel about the orphan's barracks at the far end of the camp, run by a woman and her husband who take in various children and care for them as their own. Mindel thought this sounded wonderful and told Laszlo about it...but he wasn't so thrilled. He said they take care of each other and don't need anyone else. Besides, he says, you can't trust adults. But Mindel begged and pleaded until Laszlo relented on the proviso that he would make no promises. But as soon as they met Mother Brinkmann, Mindel felt safe and knew that she wanted to stay there. Laszlo wasn't so keen but he grudgingly agreed. Soon, it felt as if it were a real home outside of the confines of the camp. Here, in the orphan's barracks, they were largely left alone. There were no roll calls and the SS left them to their devices. Although there were around forty children, and they each had to share their bunks, it was clean and they were cared for. Mother Brinkmann read them the same story every night from the only book they had but the most favourite part of all was the stories about Fluff. All the children loved the adventures of Fluff, a dog who took them out of the confines of the camp and into a whole different world of adventure and discovery. Everyone looked forward to hearing about Fluff each night with the children taking turns in choosing his adventure.
Despite her new home in the orphan's barracks with Laszlo and Mother Brinkmann, Mindel still yearned for her sister and wondered if she was still alive. She knew she had been taken to the compound beyond the wire fence but she had never seen or heard from her again...her parting words "I love you Mindel. I promise I will find you again!" rang in her ears but after many many months Mindel wondered if it were true. Would she ever see Rachel again? She had to believe she would. So when Laszlo came up with a plan to escape to Switzerland, Mindel refused to leave for fear of never finding her sister again. Besides, at least here she was safe with Mother Brinkmann.
When Rachel was wrenched away from her sister and imprisoned in the women's camp, she made every effort to find out where Mindel was. She knew her little sister would not survive these harsh conditions on her own but her questions largely fell on deaf ears. In Bergen-Belsen, you needed all your energy to look after yourself. There was nothing left for anyone else. But Rachel would not be swayed. She despaired over how a little girl, a toddler no less, could possibly manage the deplorable conditions they were in. She soon learnt that Mindel would more than likely be in star camp which was just beyond the wire fence in the next compound. But the fenceline was heavily patrolled and there was no way to cross over. Unless she went to the infirmary...then she could get a message to the star camp than she was looking for her sister. But that came at a cost...usually in cigarettes. But as Rachel had none she had to find ways to earn the coveted cigarettes. When she finally had enough, she was suddenly selected and sent to another camp miles away to work at the munitions factory. Rachel could have cried...she was so close.
Life was tough at the munitions factory. While the work wasn't hard, her body paid the price with the chemicals used to pack the bullets turning her hair orange, her skin yellow and creating breathing difficulties. After an accident resulting in burns to her hands and broken ribs, she is sent back to Bergen-Belsen to recover from her injuries. She finds herself in the camp's infirmary - ironically, where she had been trying to get all along - and asks makes enquiries about Mindel. When she next sees the nurse she learns that a little girl who says she is 4 is looking for her sister called Rachel. It's Mindel! Rachel is elated. Her sister is alive. She asks the nurse for another favour but is declared well enough to return to work and is sent back to her barracks. Before she could make any further enquiries, she is sent out to yet another camp to work in the salt mines. Conditions are so bad that Rachel gives up. She sees no point in going on anymore. Every time she gets close to finding Mindel, something happens to stand in her way. Mindel is probably dead anyway...so what is the point anymore?
With so many books relating the atrocities of the horrible experiences endured in these camps, Marion Kummerow has given us something so uniquely different. A child's perspective. As seen through the eyes of Mindel. And while what Rachel suffered was deplorable, it was Mindel's story that touched me the most. It is unique and heartbreaking to say the least as little Mindel navigates her way through the horrid conditions to find hope through compassion. Some of the things she saw no child should ever have to see. There is even a short appearance of two well known real life siblings who are wise beyond their years and help give Rachel hope. And you'll wish you could hug all of the children in star camp, some of whom were born there and know no other way of life, but mostly the toughened seven year old Laszlo for his care and protection of a frightened little girl.
Written in an easy style, NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is a touching story that will tug at your heartstrings and you will find yourself reading through tears as it comes to a close. Although fictional, the appalling conditions and the cruelties of the Nazis are well documented truth upon which books of this genre are generally based. The vivid descriptions are horrific and a stark reminder of the atrocities that took place in reality and in the hope that they will never ever happen again.
I enjoyed the oscillating perspectives of both Rachel and Mindel in each alternate chapter as the sisters take turns to tell their stories. They are both complementing and different in contrast to the other. While Rachel sees the horrors and the camp for it is amidst the systematic neglect and starvation and cruelties, Mindel's naivety protects her unaware of the depths of horror that take place around her. Your heart will break as you follow Mindel's story and you just want to wrap her in your arms and keep her protected forever.
NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is poignant and heartbreaking but is not without hope. That even in those darkest times when it would be easier to give up, there is hope. As Rachel and Mindel carry hope in their hearts that they will see each other again, that this war will end and that there is a better and brighter world out there waiting for them...if they can just survive the war.
Grab your tissues because you will need them! NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is so emotional, so heartbreaking and so brutal at times that it will live with you long after you have finished.
A book to inspire, NOT WITHOUT MY SISTER is perfect for fans of this genre. A definite 5 star read!
I would like to thank #MarionKummerow, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #NotWithoutMySister in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.
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