From the Bookshelf of Retro Chapter Chicks …

The Baker's Daughter

Sarah McCoy

Start date: June 1, 2014

Finish date: July 12, 2014

Why we're reading this: WWII is such a riveting time in recent history, this story should prove to be interesting seeing it from …more
[close] WWII is such a riveting time in recent history, this story should prove to be interesting seeing it from a different view point.

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May 31, 2014 Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, favorites

A World War II historical fiction piece that parallels the German Baker Elsie and her family to the contemporary period in the US with the challenges of Reba and her fiancé's experiences as a Mexico/US border patrol. Readers are introduced to savage local soldiers as well as the changes affecting Elsie's bakery and her moral/ethical dilemma of Nazi politics. From the contemporary era, readers learn of the moral/ethical challenges of immigrants entering the US illegally and those affected by the A World War II historical fiction piece that parallels the German Baker Elsie and her family to the contemporary period in the US with the challenges of Reba and her fiancé's experiences as a Mexico/US border patrol. Readers are introduced to savage local soldiers as well as the changes affecting Elsie's bakery and her moral/ethical dilemma of Nazi politics. From the contemporary era, readers learn of the moral/ethical challenges of immigrants entering the US illegally and those affected by the conditions of these people. Readers also learn of the mental hardships that Reba encountered from her father's own experiences during wartime in Vietnam.

I enjoyed the story of Elsie. Having traveled to Garmisch many years ago, I could envision the events unfolding towards the end of the WWII, making the events that much more real. The story truly came alive with Elsie and her family and her Tobias. (side note: I fearfully nibbled my nails while reading about the sweet bird Tobias' fate.) The clash of culture is also emphasized with Elsie, Hazel, and their Mutti's/Opas expectations (marriage, Lebensborn, influences of US culture), which in part were to support the Fatherland.

The second part story is a contemporary coming of age story, accepting our past and moving forward in life. Reba comes across as disturbed and non-committal, due to her family background specifically her father's mental hardships after the Vietnam War. Her fiancé, Riki, had a better head on his shoulder, delving into dilemmas faced as a Border Patrol at the Rio Grande. Riki's ethical dilemma of the treatment and policies towards immigrants is similar to the ethical debate on German ethical treatment to Jews and the Lebensborn Program.

I genuinely enjoyed reading about Elsie's life in WWII , a lot of sacrifices were made to survive the war from hiding songbirds, to feigning an engagement to save the family time and time again. I also enjoyed reading about Elsie's preoccupation with US culture from acting out "Libeled Woman," Robert Frost poetry, and tokens representing US culture (baked bean cartoon/comic).

The criticism I have to offer the book: provide a better evolving friendship between Elsie and Reba. The two women are advertised as strong women, with Reba's strength making its appearance as she befriends Elsie & Jane. In addition, I'd love the author to have focused more on the story of illegal immigration and comparing it to the moral/ethical issues in Nazi Germany. ...more

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