“A touching story of heroism and loss, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of love to transcend the most unthinkable circumstances.” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris From the internationally bestselling author of The Orphan Collector comesa haunting and lyrical tale of love and humanity in a time of unthinkable horror. The debut … of love and humanity in a time of unthinkable horror. The debut novel from a powerful voice in historical fiction, this resonant and courageous saga of a young German woman during World War II and the Holocaust is a must-read for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Alice Network.
“Bloom where you’re planted,” is the advice Christine Bölz receives from her beloved Oma. But seventeen-year-old domestic Christine knows there is a whole world waiting beyond her small German village. It’s a world she’s begun to glimpse through music, books—and through Isaac Bauerman, the cultured son of the wealthy Jewish family she works for.
Yet the future she and Isaac dream of sharing faces greater challenges than their difference in stations. In the fall of 1938, Germany is changing rapidly under Hitler’s regime. Anti-Jewish posters are everywhere, dissenting talk is silenced, and a new law forbids Christine from returning to her job—and from having any relationship with Isaac. In the months and years that follow, Christine will confront the Gestapo’s wrath and the horrors of Dachau, desperate to be with the man she loves, to survive—and finally, to speak out.
Set against the backdrop of the German homefront, this is an unforgettable novel of courage and resolve, of the inhumanity of war, and the heartbreak and hope left in its wake.
“A haunting and beautiful debut novel.”
—Anna Jean Mayhew, author of The Dry Grass of August
“Ellen Marie Wiseman boldly explores the complexities of the Holocaust. This novel is at times painful, but it is also a satisfying love story set against the backdrop of one of the most difficult times in human history.”
—T. Greenwood, author of Keeping Lucy
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Have read everything this author has written.
I have always been fascinated by the events of World War II, and how they came about. This marvelous story was one I could not put down, and even read it a second time. The story is about seventeen-year-old domestic Christine, who knows there is a whole world waiting beyond her small German village. It’s a world she’s begun to glimpse through …
The Plum Tree is two novels in one. It’s an emotionally wrenching story of one German family’s war experience from 1938 to 1945. It’s also the author’s attempt to share recollections from her own German family during the same period. It’s quite a sympathetic portrait of ordinary German citizens, most of whom come across as critical and unwilling …
I enjoyed reading from the perspective of a German Girl. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that there were German citizens who were victims of the war. Interesting characters, good story.
Great read ! The characters are so real drawing the reader deeper into the historical fiction as if you knew them
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.
Was a great read loved it
Loved the book, a real page turner.
Very moving — highly recommend to anyone who enjoys WWII novels!
Ellen Marie Wiseman has pulled back the curtain on what it was like to live in Germany during WWII . Her characters are as vivid as they are diverse. Her story punctuated with horrors and fears and defiant courage. I’m amazed that this is Ellen’s debut novel and interested to read her next. Worthwhile read.
Rebecca Rosenberg Novelist
THE SECRET …
Loved this book.
Wonderful book. I felt like I was right there.
One of the best historical fiction novels. Time period is WWII and this presents a side of the war we as Americans know little about and that is the war from the perspective of Germans who did not support the Nazis. Heartbreaking at times but so moving and so informative.
Can’t say enough about how fabulous this book is. A must read for war genre …
Inconsistent in the plot information: the church bells are removed to be melted down and then they are ringing when Hitler comes; mother cuts 8 slices of bread when only 7 members of the family are there. She doesn’t remember what she wrote before. Author has a good idea to show how not all Germans were Nazis and how most Germans suffered during …
I absolutely love this Author. Everything I have read of hers is exceptional.