About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition or the 'new normal' that follows a period of crisis. While set at the end of WWII, this memoir is less about history and more about the psychological complexity of returning home to find that everything and everyone has changed. It is an essential choice for children who feel like they no longer fit into their old roles within a family or social circle. Johanna Reiss recounts her experience as thirteen year old Annie, emerging from years in hiding to a world that wants her to be 'normal' again. The story honestly depicts the strain on family bonds, the grief of losing a mother, and the guilt of surviving. It is a realistic, sophisticated look at resilience that validates the messy, slow process of healing. Suitable for middle schoolers, it offers a profound lesson on how courage is found in the quiet moments of rebuilding a life.
