Book Description
Day in, day out, servant Rosalie is forced to aid in the harrowing medical selections at Auschwitz, marking prisoners as “fit” or “unfit” with trembling hands. She once thought “unfit” meant they’d get the help they needed. Now she knows the devastating truth: “Fit” means they live another day, “unfit” means they don’t…
Every day, her heart breaks further as she hopelessly scans the crowds for the face of the man she loves, torn from her a year ago simply for being Jewish. Praying that he’s still alive, Rosalie desperately tries to save as many other men as she can—risking everything by marking them as fit and hoping her act of rebellion isn’t noticed.
Then one icy morning, she looks up from her list into the stunning green eyes of the man in her line—the man her heart beats for. And now the real fight begins, as Rosalie risks her life to save Stefan’s again and again. But then one morning, Stefan isn’t there. Rosalie frantically searches for him, blood turning to ice. He’s gone. But how far will she go to find him? And can he stay alive without her until she does…?
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My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE GIRL WITH THE LIST by Shari J. Ryan is a heart wrenching, gripping, and emotional historical WWII fiction story featuring a young Polish midwife and a young Jewish man who fall in love before the Nazis come to their small Polish town and both ultimately end up in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Rosalie witnessed the death of her mother, the town’s midwife, and sister while giving birth alone in their cottage at the age of eight. She was determined to make up for not helping her mother by becoming a midwife herself and saving everyone she could. She helps a Jewish family delivering their youngest and falls in love with their eldest son, Stefan. When the Nazis come and takeover Stefan’s family’s factory, Rosalie gets scooped up by a Nazi officer who has heard of the amazing midwife and needs her for his wife in their home on the Auschwitz concentration campgrounds.
Rosalie is forced to aid the Nazi officer not only in their home, but in the camp deciding the fate of the lined-up prisoners as fit or unfit for work. Fit prisoners were sent to the factories and farms, while the unfit were eliminated. For a healer this was soul-stealing, but she was determined to help as many as possible while always watching for the eyes of the man she loved.
One morning she looks up and her nightmare comes true. Many times, she must make decisions to try and save Stefan but is his new determination better or worse. All the while her employer knows of their connection and is determined to torture Rosalie as much as Stefan. When Stefan disappears, Rosalie is determined to find him no matter what the cost.
This book was so difficult to read at times, but I also could not put it down because I was so invested in Rosalie and Stefan. Knowing from history how many people died in the camps and especially those that the doctors experimented on, had me on the edge of my seat every time Stefan disappeared from Rosalie’s lists. Rosalie was not only treated poorly physically by her Nazi employers, but the officer psychologically torments her using her morality, ethics, and compassion for others against her. I loved the continual references to time that a human has on this earth, the preciousness of every hour and minute, and Rosalie and Stefan’s belief in their love being able to transcend time. Make sure the tissues are close while reading this book.
I highly recommend this story of love, resilience, and bravery during a horrific time and in a horrific place.
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About the Author
Shari J. Ryan is an award winning USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over 40 novels, with more than 700,000 copies sold and translations in 13 languages. She writes emotionally evocative WWII fiction inspired by true stories that have resonated with readers around the globe. Her work has earned Top 100, Top 10, and #1 chart rankings, as well as two Rone Awards.
As the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten.
For Shari, writing is more than a passion; it’s a way of expressing herself and connecting with others. She strives to share the emotions she experiences with every reader who picks up one of her books.
Shari holds a bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University and began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer until 2012, when she discovered her true calling in writing novels.
Some of Shari’s bestselling books include The Nurse Behind the Gates, The Stolen Twins, The Bookseller of Dachau, The Doctor’s Daughter, and The Last Words Series—gripping stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A lifelong Boston girl, Shari now lives in a small town in the suburbs with her adored husband and two incredible sons, who make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
Social Media Links
Website: https://sharijryan.com/
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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-girl-with-the-list-by-shari-j-ryan
