Erika Madden

Year of the Angels Erika Madden

With World War II raging in the mid-1940s, ten year old Lisl and her younger brother Dieter find joy and magic in unexpected places. Through imagination and make-believe they escape the hate and horrors of Hitler's reign. The quarry near their home is their secret hideout; they fantasize about prehistoric treasures and dream of better times while digging for petrified seashells. Food, heating fuel, clothing and safety are scarce, but like the high stone wall around her town in Germany, the strong family bond of a courageous mother and four siblings offers Lisl protection. Through air raid and artillery attacks, the family endures the war's last five months. Survival is uncertain as enemy forces surround and then occupy their town of Mainbernheim in April of 1945. Lisl and Dieter meet the dreaded enemy; they discover the frightening monsters they had envisioned are only human. Their interactions lead to confusing encounters?some heartwarming and humorous, others ugly and hateful. Lisl is forced to face reality when her father returns from fighting on the Russian front. He is a broken man plagued by survivor's guilt. As his unpredictable behavior threatens to tear the family apart, Lisl feels a different kind of war has invaded their home. The author's childhood experiences during World War II inspired this moving story as seen through the eyes of young Lisl.