NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • One million copies sold! Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this remarkable debut novel reveals the power of unsung women to change history in their quest for love, freedom, and second chances. “Extremely moving and memorable . . . This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.” —Library Journal (starred review)
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
USA Today “New and Noteworthy” Book • LibraryReads Top Ten Pick
“Harrowing . . . Lilac illuminates.”—People
“A compelling, page-turning narrative . . . Lilac Girls falls squarely into the groundbreaking category of fiction that re-examines history from a fresh, female point of view. It’s smart, thoughtful and also just an old-fashioned good read.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“A powerful story for readers everywhere . . . Martha Hall Kelly has brought readers a firsthand glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories. A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered. . . . I was moved to tears.”—San Francisco Book Review
“[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days. This is a part of history—women’s history—that should never be forgotten.”—Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of China Dolls
“Profound, unsettling, and thoroughly . . . the best book I’ve read all year.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
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Very good story based on true account.
I first read this book in 2016. I just reread it for my book club. I love that it profiles Polish Women from Ravensbruck, a WWII German concentration Camp. The story of Poles during WWII has not been told widely, and in this case, it’s of double value because all the main characters are women. The story intertwines three different characters, from very different viewpoints and lives. It is well-written, especially for a first novel by the author. I am very familiar with the topic of WWII and concentration camps, and the author got her history correct, something that is important to me, especially with fiction that is “based on a true story.” One interesting difference between the hardback version I first read, and the paperback edition I read now, I find odd. I remember a lot more pictures of the “rabbits,” or women, especially showcasing their time in the US at the end of the book. It dawned on me at my book club, that without these, the rest of the members didn’t quite see it as real. Why the publisher would do that, I don’t know.
The amount of love that was put into the characters and into the hopes and dream is incredible. The realistic manner of how females during world war two and how Americans acted while their allies were in peril.
The author took on a huge project and did incredibly well with her chosen characters. It is story best told as a mini-series, because so much time passes and it is hard to convey the character growth. Great research and I want to know more about the Polish girls experience in America.
A very sad story, but a great read from World War 11.
This book is based on some historical truth and at times was difficult to read, despite the fact that I couldn’t put it down. Three women in three difference countries experience WWII. How their lives intertwine and the suffering experienced. Highly recommend!
Such an excellent book, particularly if you enjoy books written in the WWII era. Also love books that characterize strong women, and I loved how this one highlighted three. So hard to put down!
This is easily one of my favorite reads! It allows you to revisit the history of WWII but engages you with the human feeling and emotion brought on by such a turbulent time. It parallels three individual experiences that allow you to view opposing perspectives with more empathy than you anticipated.
I enjoyed it, but not the best of the many books about women during WWII
I’m always hesitant to pick up novels that occur during the height of WW2, especially if it deals heavily with the Holocaust. With so much love for this book, I couldn’t resist and I’m really glad I didn’t. This was an amazing depiction of a facet of the Holocaust that I had not heard about before. Using three major characters to tell the story was fascinating and amazingly well-written. While much of the characters’ interactions were fiction, along with a few characters themselves, I felt the author still did the main story justice. The fictional accounts managed to elevate the story to a wider audience, without detracting from the facts. I never fail to learn something new about this time in history and I’m always intrigued to learn more. I know that this is in direct contradiction to my previous comment about being hesitant to read these types of books, but what can I say? History is fascinating and we can never learn enough.
I found this to be such a touching story. From the time I picked it up, I just wanted to keep reading. This is based on history details that we didn’t learn about in school, at least not in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is certainly a touching and multidimensional story.
This is a heartwarming story of three women who endured World War II in Poland and Germany and the families they gave up, then brought together. This is a complex story of their lives and loves and what they did to survive.
Well-written, fast paced novel detailing a subject that is so gruesome, most people prefer not to think about it. Despite the topic, I love that the author wrote it from a female perspective. Three brave, courageous women, dealing with the worst attributes of human nature. How one gets caught up in the patriarchal times, flinging to the wind her first and better judgement; how one simply lives the horror; and how the last overcomes the times and does what we women do best: Stand in our Power! Modern women need to honor the brave women of times gone by. Life is still not equal for our sex, but it was worse before, and we need to build on the forward momentum that the women before us fought to secure for us.
It’s been 2 years since I read this book and it still haunts me. My copy has even been passed around my school and family. I LOVED this book and think it is an important read for anyone who wonders how the holocaust happened. It lends an important perspective on how susceptible civilization is to opening a gateway for pure evil. A must read.
Weak plot line. Not worth the time
This is an unbelievable story and a must read.
nothing original.
Based on a true story, Lilac Girls, chronicles the history of three women from the beginning of World War Two through the 1960s. It’s heart-wrenching, well researched and beautifully written. From New York, to Poland, to France and Germany we see how the lives of thee women intertwine in a story that keeps you captivated from beginning to end.
Three compelling stories
We read this book for our book club and had a lively discussion about it. The consensus was that everyone liked this book.