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Partly autobiographical, this is the second title in Judith Kerr's internationally acclaimed trilogy of books following the life of Anna through war-torn Germany, to London during the Blitz and her return to Berlin to discover the past... It is hard enough being a teenager in London during the Blitz, finding yourself in love and wondering every night whether you will survive the bombs. But it is even harder for Anna, who is still officially classified as an "enemy alien". Those bombs are coming from Germany - the country that was once her own. If Hitler invades, can she and her beloved refugee family possibly survive? This was previously published as The Other Way Round.
As the Blitz ravages London, a teenage refugee named Anna struggles to reconcile her German heritage with the existential threat posed by her homeland. Anna navigates the precarious social landscape of wartime England while grappling with the label of "enemy alien," a status that complicates her burgeoning romance and daily survival. The narrative follows her internal conflict as she balances the typical anxieties of adolescence against the backdrop of global catastrophe. Through a grounded, observational lens, the story captures the physical instability of a city under siege and the psychological toll of displacement.
This work is widely recognized for its understated approach to the profound trauma of exile and war. Readers often highlight the author's ability to maintain a sense of normalcy within the chaotic environment of the London Blitz. The narrative is frequently praised for its lack of melodrama, allowing the protagonist's quiet resilience to serve as the primary emotional anchor. It remains a staple in historical fiction for its authentic representation of the refugee experience during the twentieth century.
Page Count:
334
Publication Date:
2002-01-01
Publisher:
Collins
ISBN-10:
0007137613
ISBN-13:
9780007137619
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