The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa

Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781760851248. pbk., 303 pgs.
(Age: 12+) What would you do for someone you love? A Daughter's Tale is a fictional story, based on true events of WWII, about a mother, Amanda Sterling and her daughters and the difficult decision she has to make to protect her children. The decisions Amanda had to make were heartbreaking but it was a matter of survival. We also meet some extraordinary characters along the way that risk their own lives to help others, while others were . . . . what can I say?
If you liked reading Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or The Book Thief by Markus Zusak you probably enjoy this one.
I think Armando Lucas Correa has done a great job writing about a major event in our history that was very horrific. He has managed to tell us a story of horrible things that happened during WWII. He tells us a story about Amanda and Julius Sterling and how their lives changed in 1939, when the Nazis descend into Berlin. Their family is broken apart. Correa has managed to keep the details of their story lighter compared to other historical fiction books based on events during WWII. The horrific parts are not too graphic. I think this is good because it won't freak out students as they read. And I would let them read A Daughter's Tale. Yes, you will get emotional about some of the stuff that happened but it doesn't go into graphic details.
The story is also based in 2015, New York. An 80-year-old Elise Duval receives a phone call from a lady that gives her letters written to her by her mother during WWII. This is a part of Elise's past she has forgotten. I personally felt for her. As I was reading I did recall some of the atrocities of what the Germans did to the innocent people. I especially, remember hearing about what had happened in the little French village Oradour-Sur-Glane . . . you will have to read the book to find out more. Also the French Resistance.
The characters were likable and you could picture them in your head. I must say my favourite was the priest at the orphanage.
The one thing I love about historical fiction, you always learn something you didn't know before and I did reading A Daughter's Tale. I think this a great read to learn and remember about what happened during an important part of our history. It's something that no one should forget.
Also, well done to Nick Caistor on his translation of this wonderful story into English so we all can enjoy reading The Daughter's Tale.
Maria Komninos