Review Detail

College student Lilah is still grieving over the death of her mother. She tries to reconnect with her grandfather, who refuses to discuss his past. Everything Lilah's known is turned on its head after she receives a mysterious letter from Italy. In that letter, a fellow student, Tommaso, claims to have found a lost family locket. While in Italy, Lilah learns about her grandfather's missing sister and her part in the Italian resistance during WWII. This knowledge has her grandfather open up about his tragic past, and for Lilah to learn more about her own family history.

What worked: Engaging, mystery of the truth behind a family heirloom during WWII. This story has two different timelines. There's the contemporary time with Lilah searching for the truth behind her grandfather's refusal to speak about his childhood, and in the process, to get closer to him. The second timeline is her grandfather's sister Bruna's story. As a Jewish teen, she avoids being rounded up by the Germans and ends up joining the resistance. Her story is one of hope, defiance, and resistance. It's also a story of being true to who you are, even when the world labels you as the enemy.

I found Bruna's story fascinating and was totally engaged. The LGBT romance part is tragic, but also has hope in it. During Mussolini's time in power, such relationships were not only frowned on, but it was also dangerous. Bruna was not only Jewish but queer.

Lilah's story was one of coming to terms with not only the death of her mother, but also reaching out to her distant grandfather. The reluctance to speak out about the war was very realistic. The only thing that took me out of this story was all the direct translations. Also, the backstory could have been woven throughout.

The Holocaust story needs to be told, especially now with the growing number of those who deny it.

Moving story of resistance and survival in the face of evil. Also, the power of love in difficult, trying times.