The Midwife of Berlin by Anna Stuart

We meet Ester as she thankfully is leaving after surviving Auschwitz, but sadly leaving without her daughter that the Nazis ripped from her arms after giving birth in the camp.

We then meet Ester as she works as a midwife and is still looking for her daughter who has a tattoo under her arm that Ester put there so she could be identified after the war.

She had no luck but did adopt Olivia who we meet as she is chosen to train for the Olympics.

We also meet Kirsten and Uli. Kristen was adopted and her brother Uli who was born after his mother was raped during the war.
 
We follow all the characters as they struggle with what happened to them and the devastation they felt when secrets about them were revealed.

I enjoyed the personal side of this marvelously researched book and learning about the Berlin Wall. 

Ms. Stuart truly lets the reader feel the horrors of Auschwitz and what the residents went through for 28 years with the Berlin Wall.

Historical fiction fans and fans of this time in history will devour this book.  4/5

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy.  All opinions are my own.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. 

She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. 

Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. 

History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. 

Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers. 

You can reach her on Facebook @annastuartauthor or Twitter @annastuartbooks.