Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
Pages: 294
Publication Date June 12, 2007
Source: Bought
Genres: Historical Fiction
Goodreads
Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.
First Impressions
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay was incredibly sad and no matter how fictional tears your heart.
Impressions While Reading
First, I thought Tatiana de Rosnay did a good job describing the backdrop of that time in history. She excelled in getting the point across of these horrid times.
Through Julia, we get the aftermath of the discovery of Sarah’s secret hiding place and the fate of Sarah Starzynski. Not only does the Vélodrome d’Hiver become retold but also adds salt to the wounds of those who survived and witnessed this parade of sorts bringing memories who wished to be lost up to the surface.
Final Impressions
Sarah’s Key is a wonderfully written story that keeps you thinking throughout. It is also a very moving read. In general, with a key to a cupboard as concrete evidence that it occurred.
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