49 pages • 1 hour read
The German Girl
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Book Brief
368
Novel • Fiction
Cuba • 1930s
2016
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa interweaves the stories of Anna Rosen, a 12-year-old in New York in 2014, and her great aunt, Hannah Rosenthal, a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Berlin in 1939. Anna's narrative revolves around her trip to Cuba to uncover her father's past, while Hannah's centers on her ill-fated voyage aboard the MS St. Louis. Major themes include loss, displacement, and intergenerational trauma. The novel includes themes such as death, war, and suicide.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
43,942 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa is lauded for its compelling and emotional narrative, capturing the plight of Jewish refugees during WWII. Readers praise the vivid historical detail and evocative storytelling. However, some critique the pacing and predictability of the plot. Overall, it’s a moving, if somewhat imperfect, historical novel.
Who Should Read The German Girl?
Readers who would enjoy Armando Lucas Correa's The German Girl are likely fans of historical fiction that interweaves personal and historical tragedy. They would appreciate novels like Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, which also explore World War II through deeply emotional, character-driven narratives.
43,942 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Anna Rosen
Anna Rosen
A 12-year-old girl from New York City living in 2014, whose personal journey to Cuba to discover her family's past closely connects her experiences with those of her great aunt, Hannah.
Alma Strauss (Hannah’s Mother)
Alma Strauss (Hannah’s Mother)
A proud and elegant woman in Berlin with a strong influence on her daughter Hannah's identity, balancing her vibrant love of culture with prolonged periods of depression.
Anna’s Mother
Anna’s Mother
A literature professor at Columbia University, who struggles with the loss of her husband and experiences similar depressive episodes to those of Alma, yet occasionally displays bursts of vitality.
Leo
Leo
Hannah's best friend in Berlin in 1939 and fellow passenger on the St. Louis, whose youthful friendship with Hannah suggests the possibility of a deeper bond as they explore together.
368
Novel • Fiction
Cuba • 1930s
2016
Adult
18+ years
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