Forget-Me-Not: Memories of Germany (1939-46)

Rating:
Summary: Compelling True Story
Review: Forget-Me-Not by Ruth S. Ozan held my atttention thoughout, not only because of the compelling honesty of voice and perception of the narrator but because this true story moves in surprisisng ways that enlightened my understanding of what it might have been like to have been an innocent child of German heritage who is taken from the United States to Germany just prior to the outbeak of World War II -- and having had to experience existence there throughout the war while keeping United States citizenship a secret. The characters in this book are well-defined with consistent clarity of description and language. Ruth the writer manages to stay true to young Ruth's mental, emotiona,l and spiritual states in this unusual coming-of-age story. The provocative tale shows clearly how ordinary people get caught up as victims themselves of actions of those in power over them. This story that takes place over half a century ago seems very real today in light of the present power struggles and the powerlessness most of the world's citizens feel in response to it. Young Ruth has great spirit that rises above her fears, and with such, she finds ways to endure with hope and forgiveness. A good source of history and social studies.
Judy Light Ayyildiz, author of eight books