Parallel Journeys

I saw Parallel Journeys by Eleanor Aver at my friend's house and borrowed it.  It is the true story of two young people who lived in Germany during WWII and the Holocaust--Helen Waterford, a Jew forced into hiding and then Auschwitz, and Alfons Heck, a fanatic member of the Hitler Youth.  The author uses Helen's and Alfons's real words and experiences, alternating throughout the book, to present a picture of the nightmare of this time period.

This was a very fascinating book.  I love books about the Holocaust because I want to acknowledge what happened and remember those who suffered, even if it's only by reading their stories.  It is unreal to think of all that Helen and the other Jews went through.  It was also very interesting to read Alfons's point of view and see what it was like to have been a teenager brainwashed by Hitler.  I found out in the end of the book that Helen and Alfons ended up meeting many years later in the US and began public speaking together on their experiences. This was a great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)