by Gavriel SavitPublisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN by Gavriel Savit is a captivating and enveloping story about a young Polish girl, who is left defenseless and alone at seven years old after her father is taken to a concentration camp by Germans in 1939. By chance she meets a fascinating man who can speak to birds and comforts her when she is lost. She follows him, having no one else to turn to, and although he initially resists, they begin to travel together through the forests and swamps of Poland, running from the impending dangers of WWII.
Everything about this story is wonderful. The situational irony of Anna’s experiences reveal horrors that Anna can’t understand, giving an interesting perspective to her experiences in the war. The story is gripping and at times heartbreaking. Although incorporating a bit of magical realism, the story is a real and moving depiction of the suffering in WWII. Each character is given extreme care by the author who carefully crafts their stories and interactions and each character grows throughout the book, often out of love for sweet, innocent Anna. The writing is beautiful and expressive, giving fascinating detail as the story slowly unfolds. This was an amazing book and I recommend it to any teens who enjoy historical fiction and a subtle yet thrilling story.
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