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The Road We Took
In 1933, before World War II, and the Holocaust, the world was unaware of Hitler's plans to exterminate millions.
Author Cathy A. Lewis discovered a tattered leather suitcase containing her deceased father's journal documenting his six-week trek through Europe in 1933 while on his way to the 4th Boy Scout World Jamboree.
Inspired by her father's historical recount, The Road We Took is the four-day epic tale of a desperate group of Jewish citizens attempting to escape Nazi-occupied Germany.
Fascinating characters come together in a narrative of extreme courage, budding adolescent love, and their fight for survival.
Life in Germany will never be the same as Hitler and the Nazis advance their propaganda campaign, to systematically murder the Jewish population.
And this was only the beginning.
Author Cathy A. Lewis discovered a tattered leather suitcase containing her deceased father's journal documenting his six-week trek through Europe in 1933 while on his way to the 4th Boy Scout World Jamboree.
Inspired by her father's historical recount, The Road We Took is the four-day epic tale of a desperate group of Jewish citizens attempting to escape Nazi-occupied Germany.
Fascinating characters come together in a narrative of extreme courage, budding adolescent love, and their fight for survival.
Life in Germany will never be the same as Hitler and the Nazis advance their propaganda campaign, to systematically murder the Jewish population.
And this was only the beginning.
390 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2022
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 15, 2022
The Road We Took by Cathy A. Lewis is a thrilling debut novel based on her father's harrowing experience in Europe as he traveled to the 4th Boy Scout World Jamboree in 1933. Spanning four days, the story will break your heart as it describes the desperate attempt by persecuted Jews to escape Nazi Germany. A dark yet ultimately hopeful tale so worth reading. Out February 15.
Thank you to the author for the review copy; opinions are mine.
Thank you to the author for the review copy; opinions are mine.
February 7, 2022
I am not sure if the author meant for this to be read as a YA. The Road We Took definitely has that feel to me, which isn't a bad thing at all. I think this would be a good read for both teens and adults.
I would say this would be appropriate for teens from 14 and up. However, that being said, there are vague references to child sexual abuse so I would definitely keep that in mind and read this before providing copies to any young minds.
This is a fairly quick read, and flows very well. The characters are loveable and despicable, as intended, and this story will have your heart brimming and breaking.
With books like these I can't help the revulsion I feel towards the Nazis and their treatment of ones they deemed inferior. I also can't help the tears that fall while reading experiences that people suffered at their hands. I will never understand that sort of thinking.
The Author's Note at the beginning of the book should be read, as this is based on a true account of her father's journey in Germany at the start of Hitler's rise.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Books Forward for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
I would say this would be appropriate for teens from 14 and up. However, that being said, there are vague references to child sexual abuse so I would definitely keep that in mind and read this before providing copies to any young minds.
This is a fairly quick read, and flows very well. The characters are loveable and despicable, as intended, and this story will have your heart brimming and breaking.
With books like these I can't help the revulsion I feel towards the Nazis and their treatment of ones they deemed inferior. I also can't help the tears that fall while reading experiences that people suffered at their hands. I will never understand that sort of thinking.
The Author's Note at the beginning of the book should be read, as this is based on a true account of her father's journey in Germany at the start of Hitler's rise.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Books Forward for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
January 5, 2023
Full Disclosure: I'm writing this review for my 80-something father who is not on Goodreads or active on social media, but absolutely *loved* this novel.
I had purchased and gifted this novel to my father because he is a life-long Boy Scout and leader and I knew he'd find this novel gripping because of the author's father's insolvent with the scouts during WWII. He devoured the book, saying "I very much enjoyed it."
Sounds like a highly recommend to me!
I had purchased and gifted this novel to my father because he is a life-long Boy Scout and leader and I knew he'd find this novel gripping because of the author's father's insolvent with the scouts during WWII. He devoured the book, saying "I very much enjoyed it."
Sounds like a highly recommend to me!
February 12, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5/5
If you don’t know this about me already-I am a huge WWII history buff. My Dad’s side of the family is Jewish, and ever since I read Anne Frank’s book and watched the movie when I was younger I have been so interested in this part of our history.
I even did an Eastern Europe tour traveling from Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary. I was able to go to Auschwitz which was such an eye opening experience and one I will never forget.
This is an amazing book because it is a WWII historical fiction book inspired by the author’s fathers story! How amazing is that? To think that anyone had to live through what the Jewish people had to experience at the hands of the Nazi’s is heart breaking.
This is an amazing story of Strength, perseverance, and friendship. It is eye opening and makes one realize that despite the lows are country has experienced over the past couple of years-we should be thankful we are not living in the era of the Nazi’s and their hatred to so many. The loss of innocent life’s, and the torture that the Jewish people, among many others, had to experience.
If you don’t know this about me already-I am a huge WWII history buff. My Dad’s side of the family is Jewish, and ever since I read Anne Frank’s book and watched the movie when I was younger I have been so interested in this part of our history.
I even did an Eastern Europe tour traveling from Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary. I was able to go to Auschwitz which was such an eye opening experience and one I will never forget.
This is an amazing book because it is a WWII historical fiction book inspired by the author’s fathers story! How amazing is that? To think that anyone had to live through what the Jewish people had to experience at the hands of the Nazi’s is heart breaking.
This is an amazing story of Strength, perseverance, and friendship. It is eye opening and makes one realize that despite the lows are country has experienced over the past couple of years-we should be thankful we are not living in the era of the Nazi’s and their hatred to so many. The loss of innocent life’s, and the torture that the Jewish people, among many others, had to experience.
March 19, 2022
A MUST READ of 2022. I highly recommend this book for a variety of audiences - those interested in WWII historical fiction, compelling family lineages (inspired by the author's real family history), and explorations of identity and how characters interact with each other and the world. I couldn't put this book down; it kept me hooked and wanting to know what happened to each character next! Simultaneously intricate and easy to read. As a chef by training, Cathy's keen observation skills come out through this novel - you'll feel like you're there!
(I received an advanced reader copy and my opinions are my own.)
(I received an advanced reader copy and my opinions are my own.)
April 11, 2022
In 1933, before WWII had started, Hitler was building an army of young men in Germany. At this time, the author’s father was on an American Boy Scout six-week trip through Europe. The author’s father kept a journal of his trip including their final four days in Germany before returning to the United States. Even though many of the characters in this story are fictional, many of the events are based on the author’s research and observations included in her father’s journal.
Through alternating chapters, we learn about the main characters in this story including Wolfie, a German boy who joins the Boy Scouts on the final leg of their journey, his father, the boy scout leader and his son, and a young violinist and her instructor. These characters’ lives come together after a life-changing event as Wolfie is returned to his German home. Over just four days in Germany, the Boy Scouts will witness horrific events and face adversity with courage and grace.
It was amazing to me to realize that WWII hadn’t even started but concentration camps were already filling with Jewish citizens. The Hitler Youth were being indoctrinated and forced to follow Hitler’s plan or receive damaging repercussions. Their regular parades through the cities were reminders of Hitler’s growing leadership. Hitler’s speeches and events were attended by many and the Germans were in awe of his future plans. Sadly, we know how this turned out, but at this time the German citizens appeared to be enamored with and almost hallucinated by Hitler.
“For as long as I live, I will never forget the sound of their boots striking the pavement.”
The novel begins with a shocking event that has repercussions for the Boy Scout troop as they spend their final days in Germany. There is quite a bit of abuse and violence in this story. I honestly had to put the novel down several times as it was a bit too difficult for me to read while there were similar horrors happening in our world at the same time. But, I do feel like this is an important story to be told. I was amazed at how easy it was for the German people to take Hitler’s oath and spout the hatred for some of their own neighbors and friends who were suddenly considered to be added to a list of people to be removed from society.
Many of the characters in this story relied on their faith to get them through the most horrific of times. They never lost hope and found joy in the smallest moments of their days. Even in the midst of brutality, there was a smile or a prayer that kept them going, persevering through the pain and suffering. They are reminders to me to appreciate the small moments in my life to focus on the good parts of each day.
“You can stay stuck here in your anger, or you can give him a chance and hear what he has to say.”
Those who like historical fiction based on real people or events will find an appreciation for this story. I’m shocked that there really was a Boy Scout trip through Europe in the 1930s because it seems like such a huge undertaking even without the Hitler experience added to it. To have little to no communication with the group over the six weeks seems hard to imagine as a parent.
Lewis puts the reader in Hitler’s Germany and stirs up a lot of emotion as we follow these characters through some of the darkest moments in their lives. She doesn’t make everything neat and tidy at the end because unfortunately, life in Germany wasn’t neat and tidy for the people at that time. Be prepared for an emotional conclusion and one that will leave you thinking about these characters for a long time.
“I’d like you to never forget that good can happen. We must always pursue the good regardless of the circumstances.”
Through alternating chapters, we learn about the main characters in this story including Wolfie, a German boy who joins the Boy Scouts on the final leg of their journey, his father, the boy scout leader and his son, and a young violinist and her instructor. These characters’ lives come together after a life-changing event as Wolfie is returned to his German home. Over just four days in Germany, the Boy Scouts will witness horrific events and face adversity with courage and grace.
It was amazing to me to realize that WWII hadn’t even started but concentration camps were already filling with Jewish citizens. The Hitler Youth were being indoctrinated and forced to follow Hitler’s plan or receive damaging repercussions. Their regular parades through the cities were reminders of Hitler’s growing leadership. Hitler’s speeches and events were attended by many and the Germans were in awe of his future plans. Sadly, we know how this turned out, but at this time the German citizens appeared to be enamored with and almost hallucinated by Hitler.
“For as long as I live, I will never forget the sound of their boots striking the pavement.”
The novel begins with a shocking event that has repercussions for the Boy Scout troop as they spend their final days in Germany. There is quite a bit of abuse and violence in this story. I honestly had to put the novel down several times as it was a bit too difficult for me to read while there were similar horrors happening in our world at the same time. But, I do feel like this is an important story to be told. I was amazed at how easy it was for the German people to take Hitler’s oath and spout the hatred for some of their own neighbors and friends who were suddenly considered to be added to a list of people to be removed from society.
Many of the characters in this story relied on their faith to get them through the most horrific of times. They never lost hope and found joy in the smallest moments of their days. Even in the midst of brutality, there was a smile or a prayer that kept them going, persevering through the pain and suffering. They are reminders to me to appreciate the small moments in my life to focus on the good parts of each day.
“You can stay stuck here in your anger, or you can give him a chance and hear what he has to say.”
Those who like historical fiction based on real people or events will find an appreciation for this story. I’m shocked that there really was a Boy Scout trip through Europe in the 1930s because it seems like such a huge undertaking even without the Hitler experience added to it. To have little to no communication with the group over the six weeks seems hard to imagine as a parent.
Lewis puts the reader in Hitler’s Germany and stirs up a lot of emotion as we follow these characters through some of the darkest moments in their lives. She doesn’t make everything neat and tidy at the end because unfortunately, life in Germany wasn’t neat and tidy for the people at that time. Be prepared for an emotional conclusion and one that will leave you thinking about these characters for a long time.
“I’d like you to never forget that good can happen. We must always pursue the good regardless of the circumstances.”
January 30, 2022
Set in 1933 with flashbacks to 1925, this heartbreaking novel is based on vivid stories from the author's father's diary and stories he told her as a child. In 1933 her father was part of an American Boy Scouts group which spent six weeks in Europe en route to Hungary to an annual jamboree. Talk about an interesting perspective! The bulk of the novel takes place in Munich and Dachau. Despair, heartbreak, hatred, love, faith, courage and hope are themes. The beauty of music is one of the threads running through the story.
The Boy Scouts group traveled through Europe and one day witnessed pure evil. Few knew what was going on (and those who did were too terrified to say anything) so the group leader was determined to find out. At that time Nazism was still fairly newish and Hitler fervour was emerging. The story follows the group's journey as well as other storylines including a Jewish woman who boards with a staunch Nazi supporter and experiences at Dachau which all wrap up seamlessly at the end with several surprises along the way. The extreme horrendous treatment of Jews is impossible to fathom. Their only "crime" was being Jewish. But they protected each other and prayed together. Such courage in the presence of evil! My favourite characters are Maddie and especially her music professor, Stanislaw.
So much to love about this book, including photographs. Though not an enjoyable read, it is important and engrossing. I read it on Holocaust Remembrance Day. It brought tears to my eyes a few times and moved me a great deal. It was interesting to read about the propaganda in particular and learn more about symbols, wrist bands, Lebensraum and how people viewed Hitler, many with unbelievable devotion bordering on swooning. There is something incredibly special about this book...utterly haunting and captivating.
My sincere thank you to Books Forward and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this unmissable book. How on earth is it a debut?!
The Boy Scouts group traveled through Europe and one day witnessed pure evil. Few knew what was going on (and those who did were too terrified to say anything) so the group leader was determined to find out. At that time Nazism was still fairly newish and Hitler fervour was emerging. The story follows the group's journey as well as other storylines including a Jewish woman who boards with a staunch Nazi supporter and experiences at Dachau which all wrap up seamlessly at the end with several surprises along the way. The extreme horrendous treatment of Jews is impossible to fathom. Their only "crime" was being Jewish. But they protected each other and prayed together. Such courage in the presence of evil! My favourite characters are Maddie and especially her music professor, Stanislaw.
So much to love about this book, including photographs. Though not an enjoyable read, it is important and engrossing. I read it on Holocaust Remembrance Day. It brought tears to my eyes a few times and moved me a great deal. It was interesting to read about the propaganda in particular and learn more about symbols, wrist bands, Lebensraum and how people viewed Hitler, many with unbelievable devotion bordering on swooning. There is something incredibly special about this book...utterly haunting and captivating.
My sincere thank you to Books Forward and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this unmissable book. How on earth is it a debut?!
January 13, 2022
This is such an amazing story that is based on actual events of the author's father's time in Europe in 1933. Imagine being a young man on his way to a Boy Scout Jamboree and the adventures they must have had at that time. Granted, not everything was wonderful as the characters are thrown into Nazi-occupied Germany and the beginnings of their attempts to rid their country of the Jewish population.
This story is told from multiple points of view and the time in 1933 covers about four days. There are flashbacks to 1925 that give us a deeper understanding of some of the characters and how they became who they were eight years later. I don't know if I have a favorite character or perspective because each gives us a look at their life and the trials and tribulations they endured from a fanatical rule. It also reminds us what a terrible time in history this was and all those that were harmed because of their religious upbringing.
There is a little bit of a mystery tied into this story, who killed one of the characters and why? The answer is not surprising but I won't reveal too much, you'll have to read the book to find out.
It is interesting how all of the lives intersected and came together in the end. I started putting a few of the pieces together but not everything, so it was a treat to uncover details that brought this story full circle. If anything, this reminds us to be thankful for what we have in this world.
We give this book 5 paws up.
This story is told from multiple points of view and the time in 1933 covers about four days. There are flashbacks to 1925 that give us a deeper understanding of some of the characters and how they became who they were eight years later. I don't know if I have a favorite character or perspective because each gives us a look at their life and the trials and tribulations they endured from a fanatical rule. It also reminds us what a terrible time in history this was and all those that were harmed because of their religious upbringing.
There is a little bit of a mystery tied into this story, who killed one of the characters and why? The answer is not surprising but I won't reveal too much, you'll have to read the book to find out.
It is interesting how all of the lives intersected and came together in the end. I started putting a few of the pieces together but not everything, so it was a treat to uncover details that brought this story full circle. If anything, this reminds us to be thankful for what we have in this world.
We give this book 5 paws up.
February 11, 2022
I liked that it was based on diary entries from the author's father. I would have liked more info on what was true and what was fictional. At times I felt like I was reading a middle grades novel due to the reading level. The story would be appropriate for young adults as there are several teenagers among the main characters. There are some mature topics but they aren't overly graphic and would be typical of other WWII YA fiction. Read my full at Girl Who Reads.
February 22, 2022
It is reassuring to see important personal histories captured so eloquently. This will ensure that we continue to keep lessons from the past alive and in the minds of generations to come. The author does a great job of bringing her father’s story to light and balances well, I think, fictionalising his experiences in an appropriately balanced way. Full of love and respect throughout, this book will terrify, enlighten and educate all readers.
March 20, 2022
Highly recommend this book! If I’m being honest, I don’t always make time to read but I started this one and quite literally couldn’t put it down. Accurate depictions of WWII era, and important descriptions of the American perceptions of Hitler and the Nazi regime. Extremely important for the modern world and readers to understand how atrocities and prejudice build - so we can work to make our world a better place where hatred has no place. The book is incredibly descriptive and transports you right to the characters’ lives, and forces a deep connection as you truly understand their motivations for their actions. Something in here for everyone! Would make a good book club book.
March 2, 2022
Totally new perspective of the Holocaust by an American Boy Scout stuck in Germany
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022
Inspired by the author's father's historical recount (a journal) and stories shared with her during her youth, The Road We Took: Four Days in German 1933 is an epic tale of an American Boy Scout who discovers by coincidence four desperate Jewish citizens attempting to escape Nazi Germany.
When young American boys, before the war as atrocities witness a horrific beating of a German friend. "Why didn't I do anything to help him? Why didn't any of us go to his aid and rescue him?"
Cathy A. Lewis' has written a well-crafted and nail-biting account of the friendships made, the unspeakable horror of four Jews, and their harrowing story of working to escape.
I've read lots of books on WWII and the Holocaust. But, this one sticks out for me as being distinctly different.
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022
Inspired by the author's father's historical recount (a journal) and stories shared with her during her youth, The Road We Took: Four Days in German 1933 is an epic tale of an American Boy Scout who discovers by coincidence four desperate Jewish citizens attempting to escape Nazi Germany.
When young American boys, before the war as atrocities witness a horrific beating of a German friend. "Why didn't I do anything to help him? Why didn't any of us go to his aid and rescue him?"
Cathy A. Lewis' has written a well-crafted and nail-biting account of the friendships made, the unspeakable horror of four Jews, and their harrowing story of working to escape.
I've read lots of books on WWII and the Holocaust. But, this one sticks out for me as being distinctly different.
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2022
A historical fiction based on the author's father's real-life experiences. It's interesting to think about what is from real life and what is fictional.
An emotional read that will you have in tears but also provides a bit of hope at the end. Perfect for fans of the WWII Historical Fiction genre.
Thank you to Books Forward Publishing for this gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
An emotional read that will you have in tears but also provides a bit of hope at the end. Perfect for fans of the WWII Historical Fiction genre.
Thank you to Books Forward Publishing for this gifted copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 6, 2025
While I am the author of this book, I read it for the first time in its published version.
I found the story to be inspiring, hopeful, and deeply resonating.
It resonates deeply for one reason because of the rise of anti semitism we see in the world today.
We hear the names "Nazi" and "Hitler" bandied around like they're nothing or have a consequentially "different meaning" than originally intended. I personally take great issue with this poor usage of names that are associated with the most brutal, evil, and dastardly acts in modern history.
After spending three months researching Germany and the origins of the Nazi Party, I guarantee you, no one person today in the US even closely resembles the heinous evil that "Nazi" and Hitler" represented.
For those who died during the reign of terror in Germany and eastern Europe, casual usage of those names does a disservice, and is a show of disrespect, intended or not. I wish people would just stop It.
Regarding The Road We Took, there are lessons to be learned, the characters discover much about themselves through this tumultuous journey. The pace of the book is admirable, considering it is the first novel. While there are heartbreaking and thrilling moments, there are also times of triumph, where a few characters find a type of redemption. Some are not as fortunate.
All in all, the book is a reminder of how quickly hate can spread, but so too can love, hope and positivity.
I found the story to be inspiring, hopeful, and deeply resonating.
It resonates deeply for one reason because of the rise of anti semitism we see in the world today.
We hear the names "Nazi" and "Hitler" bandied around like they're nothing or have a consequentially "different meaning" than originally intended. I personally take great issue with this poor usage of names that are associated with the most brutal, evil, and dastardly acts in modern history.
After spending three months researching Germany and the origins of the Nazi Party, I guarantee you, no one person today in the US even closely resembles the heinous evil that "Nazi" and Hitler" represented.
For those who died during the reign of terror in Germany and eastern Europe, casual usage of those names does a disservice, and is a show of disrespect, intended or not. I wish people would just stop It.
Regarding The Road We Took, there are lessons to be learned, the characters discover much about themselves through this tumultuous journey. The pace of the book is admirable, considering it is the first novel. While there are heartbreaking and thrilling moments, there are also times of triumph, where a few characters find a type of redemption. Some are not as fortunate.
All in all, the book is a reminder of how quickly hate can spread, but so too can love, hope and positivity.
October 25, 2023
Based on real events of the author's father's time in Europe in 1933, this book is amazing. Imagine being a young man at a Boy Scout Jamboree and the adventures you must have had back then. Granted, it wasn't all great since the characters were living in Nazi-occupied Germany during the beginning of their attempts to get rid of the Jewish population.
It covers about four days in 1933 and is told from multiple points of view. We see flashbacks to 1925 that give us a deeper understanding of some of the characters eight years later. My favorite character or perspective is hard to pick because each gives us a look into their lives and the trials and tribulations they endured under a fanatic leader. Also, it reminds us of what a terrible time in history this was and all those that were harmed by their religious upbringing.
There's a little bit of mystery in this story, who killed one of the characters? I won't tell you too much, you'll have to read the book to find out.
I'm fascinated by how all the lives intersected and came together. It was fun to uncover details that brought this story full circle after piecing together a few pieces but not everything. It's a reminder to be thankful for what we have.
It covers about four days in 1933 and is told from multiple points of view. We see flashbacks to 1925 that give us a deeper understanding of some of the characters eight years later. My favorite character or perspective is hard to pick because each gives us a look into their lives and the trials and tribulations they endured under a fanatic leader. Also, it reminds us of what a terrible time in history this was and all those that were harmed by their religious upbringing.
There's a little bit of mystery in this story, who killed one of the characters? I won't tell you too much, you'll have to read the book to find out.
I'm fascinated by how all the lives intersected and came together. It was fun to uncover details that brought this story full circle after piecing together a few pieces but not everything. It's a reminder to be thankful for what we have.
November 23, 2021
The Road We Took by Cathy A Lewis
This story is a fictionalized account of the author’s father’s experience. Set in pre-World War Two, it takes place is Germany, Austria and Hungry. A German teen meets an American Boy Scout and a friendship blooms. The depth of friendship is beyond belief and is inspiring. The German teen and his father meet a disastrous fate with the American teen and his father attempting to intervene.
Tied into the story are the fates of several characters of Jewish background and the horrific discrimination they face.
The level of hatred shown by the Nazis is sad but true. Unrelenting hate and consistent telling of the huge lie that Jews were responsible for all of post-World War One Germany’s ills underpins much of the stories drama.
Gangs of gun toting brown shirts and jack-booted Gestapo all following a moral less leader provide a wealth of villains.
It was an interesting look at Germany and the rise of a narcistic despot.
This story is a fictionalized account of the author’s father’s experience. Set in pre-World War Two, it takes place is Germany, Austria and Hungry. A German teen meets an American Boy Scout and a friendship blooms. The depth of friendship is beyond belief and is inspiring. The German teen and his father meet a disastrous fate with the American teen and his father attempting to intervene.
Tied into the story are the fates of several characters of Jewish background and the horrific discrimination they face.
The level of hatred shown by the Nazis is sad but true. Unrelenting hate and consistent telling of the huge lie that Jews were responsible for all of post-World War One Germany’s ills underpins much of the stories drama.
Gangs of gun toting brown shirts and jack-booted Gestapo all following a moral less leader provide a wealth of villains.
It was an interesting look at Germany and the rise of a narcistic despot.
February 7, 2022
#bookfeature #bookreview
This was a 2021 read for me, another heartbreaking WWII story based on stories from the Authors’ father’s diary.
The Road We Took by Cathy A. Lewis is a breathtaking debut novel. Author Cathey A. Lewis found her deceased father’s torn and frayed leather suitcase containing the journal he used to document his journey through Europe in 1933.
The is a heroic story of a group of Jewish citizens struggling to escape Nazi-occupied Germany. These people are desperate and wrenched every line of their story broke my heart.
I really admired the characters and even right now that I am writing this, I have goosebumps remembering their fight for survival.
I have read and watched so many documentaries about the concentration camps and I want to visit them one day and have a walk through this painful time of history.
If it was this heartbreaking for me to read this story, I wonder how much pain the author experienced writing it.
This was a 2021 read for me, another heartbreaking WWII story based on stories from the Authors’ father’s diary.
The Road We Took by Cathy A. Lewis is a breathtaking debut novel. Author Cathey A. Lewis found her deceased father’s torn and frayed leather suitcase containing the journal he used to document his journey through Europe in 1933.
The is a heroic story of a group of Jewish citizens struggling to escape Nazi-occupied Germany. These people are desperate and wrenched every line of their story broke my heart.
I really admired the characters and even right now that I am writing this, I have goosebumps remembering their fight for survival.
I have read and watched so many documentaries about the concentration camps and I want to visit them one day and have a walk through this painful time of history.
If it was this heartbreaking for me to read this story, I wonder how much pain the author experienced writing it.
March 31, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a gripping work of historical fiction based on the author’s father’s journal preceding the Holocaust.
As a reader that gravitates towards WWII-centered historical (non)fiction novels, it can be difficult finding a story that really stands out, but this was one of them. I was on edge the whole time, knowing what could be awaiting the characters on the next page. I also was interested by the backstories of the characters and how twisted everything was in Germany and surrounding areas in that time for a multitude of people. There were characters I hoped to see again and others I wished I’d never met.
Books surrounding the Holocaust can take me a long time to read, usually due to the heaviness of the content, but this was easier to digest. The author did a great job intertwining the storylines and bringing the characters to life.
This was a gripping work of historical fiction based on the author’s father’s journal preceding the Holocaust.
As a reader that gravitates towards WWII-centered historical (non)fiction novels, it can be difficult finding a story that really stands out, but this was one of them. I was on edge the whole time, knowing what could be awaiting the characters on the next page. I also was interested by the backstories of the characters and how twisted everything was in Germany and surrounding areas in that time for a multitude of people. There were characters I hoped to see again and others I wished I’d never met.
Books surrounding the Holocaust can take me a long time to read, usually due to the heaviness of the content, but this was easier to digest. The author did a great job intertwining the storylines and bringing the characters to life.
September 2, 2024
Cathy A. Lewis brings a surprisingly unique addition to the world of Holocaust Literature in her "4 Days in Germany 1933," account, THE ROAD WE TOOK. Surprising are the protagonists, an American Boy Scout troop making their return home from a European jaunt through Austria & Hungary to Bremen, Germany, where their ship to America awaits them. Within a narrow span of 4 days, in August 1933, we witness the mishaps and atrocities that befall the troop. We get to know amazing people, the characters, their connections to the troop and to each other. BUSTER, RAYMOND, WOLFIE, FREDERICK, STANI, ELENENA, MADDY ~ we experience living deeply through these lives. We fervently turn the pages. We feel the surge of courage, loyalty and conviction in their heroic actions ~ responses to evil. We experience the miracle of faith and love.
THE ROAD WE TOOK is a story based on the author’s father’s 1933 travel journal, an American Boy Scout, ~ he is BUSTER, age sixteen. In 1995, this journal was discovered in an old leather briefcase, by Buster’s daughter, Cathy A. Lewis. After years of research and refinement, the story is expertly composed and brought forth to the world.
IN 2024 we can relate to the bitter hatred, cruelty and division, the weaponization of systems, the climate of fear that was Nazi Germany. We experience it poignantly here and know at once this story is relevant to us, has purpose, TODAY!
THE ROAD WE TOOK is a story based on the author’s father’s 1933 travel journal, an American Boy Scout, ~ he is BUSTER, age sixteen. In 1995, this journal was discovered in an old leather briefcase, by Buster’s daughter, Cathy A. Lewis. After years of research and refinement, the story is expertly composed and brought forth to the world.
IN 2024 we can relate to the bitter hatred, cruelty and division, the weaponization of systems, the climate of fear that was Nazi Germany. We experience it poignantly here and know at once this story is relevant to us, has purpose, TODAY!
March 17, 2022
I was immersed in this book and didnt want to put it down. From the beginning wasnt sure I was ready to read a book about the subject since so much is going on in the world right now I was looking for a lighter read. Well I was wrong this story unfolded and there are so many uplifting moments also and food for thought it was well worth my time and attitude towards the future. Cathy weaved a very compelling story around her fathers diary-well done!
August 6, 2025
This book was amazing! I was hooked right from the start and couldn’t put it down! A must read!
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