Book Review: Tatiana De Rosnay - Sarah's Key

I saw Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay book on the Barnes & Noble website numerous times. The cover made me click to read about the book (who says not to judge a book by its cover?). Part of the book is set in WW2 in Paris and the other half is 2002 Paris. Each time, I thought, this book sounds too serious for right now, and I wouldn't add it to my library list.

At my last book club, my friend mentioned she just read this book and really enjoyed it. I said, oh yes, I liked the cover and wanted to read but was afraid it was too serious for my current mood. She let me borrow it from her. A few days later I finished my book and didn't get around to going to the library to pick up my other books on hold, so I grabbed this book before I walked out the door.

The book itself was easy language, easy to follow/understand. It was a historical fictional story about true events, which was quite sad. But I flew through the book in 3 train rides. I really enjoyed the two different stories that eventually come together at the end. It made you want to keep reading to find out what happened.

Sarah was a ten year old Jewish girl when her family was arrested in Paris during the Vel' d Hiv' roundup. I really enjoyed the story from the 10 year old's perspective; such an innocent and naive narrative. In 2002, Julia, an American journalist in Paris is writing a story about the 60th anniversary of the Vel' d Hiv' roundup. Astonishingly, Julia discovers many Parisians have no idea about the Roundup or don't want to admit to knowing anything. Little by little details emerge and Julia is obsessed about finding as much as she can about Sarah and her family and in turn, re-evaluates her life.

As soon as I finished this book I called my sister and told her she had to read it - she finished it in one day and called me to tell me she cried the whole way through. That surprised me, since I am the emotional wreck, and I did not cry - I thought I might at one point, but I didn't. It was one of the best books I have read this year. I never heard of this tragic event and it touched my heart that such horrible things happened and the struggles so many people had to endure. I highly recommend this book.