About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is beginning to question the 'sanitized' versions of family history or is struggling to reconcile their love for an elder with that person's problematic views. This story addresses the painful intersection of aging, memory loss, and the unearthing of uncomfortable ancestral truths. As Hilly's grandmother, HeidiGran, succumbs to Alzheimer's, her slipping filters reveal a past linked to Nazi Germany and a secret identity that shatters the family's sense of self. It is a sophisticated exploration of how historical trauma and prejudice trickle down through generations. Parents will appreciate the book's refusal to offer easy answers, instead providing a framework for discussing racism, the ethics of secrecy, and how to maintain empathy for a relative whose past actions or current words are hurtful. It is best suited for mature readers ages 13 and up due to its heavy themes of wartime atrocities and modern day hate crimes.
