On the Other Side

by Marianne Smith

"On the other Side" is a story about a young German girl, her family, and friends. The events take place in a quaint, old city in the foothills of the Taunus Mountain region near the Rhine. The story begins with the mysterious disappearance of her father suspected due to political provocation. The family's pains, sufferings, and difficulties continue to escalate amidst the war-torn surroundings of World War Two. In the midst of increasing pressure and opposition from Nazi influence her mother, a woman who fears and loves God, finds strength to look toward a brighter future. Although on the other side of the political arena and facing its threats, dangers of war, bombings, and hunger, provisions and safety arrive at just the right time. Seeking refuge from the turmoil that beset her life, the young girl, still in her teens, draws strength from her mother's example in order to overcome startling challenges which face her as she approaches a new era in America. This story is based on facts, historical events, the writer's first-hand experiences, and recollections.

346 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2009

Reviews

[Angus Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical WWII memoir. Smith provides a fresh look at this period. It's not about concentration camps and pogroms, it's about a young girl torn between a grandmother who is Nazi, a mother who is a devout Catholic, and a neighborhood where people disappear for seemingly no reason in the lead up to the war. Smith includes fabulously innocent scenes, such as coming face-to-face with Hitler and sneaking around his hotel room. Whether you are religious or not, the triumph of faith over fascism makes a highly compelling read.