My Thoughts:
Angelo
Bianco lost his mother at the tender age of eleven and then his father shipped
him off to Italy to live with his grandparents.
He would stay with them were they worked as custodians for a wealthy
glass maker and he would go to seminary and become a priest in the Catholic
Church.
Batsheva
(Eva) Rosselli lives with her father, Camillo, in their home in Florence and
has a wonderful life. She is a talented
violinist even at her young age of nine and she is surrounded by loving
family. She is very excited for the Bianco’s’
grandson to come live with them so that she can have someone close to her age
to play with. Later, as they grow into
their teens Eva falls in love with Angelo but he is promised to God. How will she live with this unrequited love?
As Angelo
and Eva grow and become best friends the world around them is changing. Hitler and his Gestapo are slowly taking over
Italy and life begins to change. Eva and
her father are Italian Jews and soon they must sign over their home to the Bianco’s’
so as not to lose it and other sacrifices must be made in order to survive. When the war strengthens, Angelo must find a
place to hide Eva within the Catholic Church but she is not one to hide out and
do nothing.
This is a
beautiful story of fighting, survival, family and love! This isn’t just a
romance but of standing up and fighting against wrongs and helping others. You will cry and smile many times while
reading this but it is worth it. Ms.
Harmon tells a great story with beautiful characters not just surviving but making
a difference during one of history’s most horrific times. Angelo and Eva put
aside their personal conflicts and feelings to help hundreds if not thousands
of refugees go into hiding. They are
true heroes with an amazing story.
If you enjoy WWII
historical fiction this will be one of your favorites! 4/5 stars
Favorite quotes:
“Sand and ash. The ingredients of glass. Such beauty created from nothing.”
“But I am convinced God is not just my God or Angelo’s
God. He is God. He wouldn’t be God if he was only God to some of his children…would
he? …Does it matter what we call him?”
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