In 1940, after leaving Munich for Prague several years earlier, Hannah Kaufman and her family realized they had to escape persecution and move to Palestine. Although they had all the necessary paperwork and tickets ready, plans changed unexpectedly, and Hannah remained in Prague with her grandfather Oskar. Believing he had bought a lakeside cottage, Oskar and Hannah traveled to Berlin to live in a Jewish community called Theresienstadt. The illusion of a comfortable life quickly vanished when they discovered the cottage didn't exist. Their new home was a prison. Unlike the work camps and concentration camps in the East, Theresienstadt was created for propaganda to convince the world that the Jewish people were well-treated and content. Hannah decided to work diligently, hoping for the day when she would be reunited with her family in Palestine.
Hilde Kramer, a staunch supporter of Hitler, secures a position at the Reich Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda. Aspiring to be a filmmaker, she is happy to be assigned to a team heading to Theresienstadt to produce a film depicting a flourishing Jewish community.
The Girls of the Glimmer Factory is a moving book. Author Jennifer Coburn brings attention to Theresienstadt, a ghetto that might not be familiar to many readers. Hannah is a resilient young woman who finds strength in the ghetto and joins a resistance group. Hilde, who appeared in Coburn's previous book Cradles of the Reich, symbolizes the many misguided people who blindly accepted the lies and hatred spread during this tragic historical period. If you are interested in World War II stories, this well-researched book is one to read. The issues of propaganda, prejudice, and hatred remain pertinent.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this powerful book in advance.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction.
Publication Date: January 28, 2025.
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