Official Review: Divine Providence by Erika Ursula Friedman

[Theresa Moffitt]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Divine Providence" by Erika Ursula Friedman.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Divine Providence by Erika Ursula Friedman is a fascinating look at life in Berlin during and after World War II as seen through the eyes of a child. The author was a child of Jewish descent during the war and describes in great detail how she was able to survive without being sent to a concentration camp. This was largely due to her mother’s efforts to find safety for herself and her children.

Erika’s father was in the military during the war, so her mother was left to support herself and her children on her own. Because her mother was of Jewish descent, the German government refused to recognize her marriage and her children were considered illegitimate. This was significant at the time because she was therefore unable to receive financial support for her children from the government during the war. The author describes the kindness of the people that helped them during this time and the ruthlessness of those that tried to harm them. It was shocking to learn that neighbors would yell at a young girl and blame her for causing the war because she was Jewish.

This is a well-written and interesting account of life during the war in Berlin. It was emotional to read of the struggles faced by the children living in that city at the time. It was heart-wrenching to read the details of the author’s mother and her efforts to secure safety for her young children and food for them to eat. The author did an excellent job of conveying the fear she felt during this time and the way it became a matter of daily life for those living in Berlin at the time.

I have read many books about World War II, but this book really focused on the human element. It is unique in that it is told through the eyes of a child. She describes going to school, playing with neighborhood children and other aspects of daily life. It was fascinating to read and enlightening to me. The author had many brothers and sisters and she includes information about them both during and after the war.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in World War II and its aftermath, especially the human aspect. The author provides insight into daily life and the struggles of the average person to survive during and immediately after the war. However, there were quite a few typographical errors in the book that prevent me from giving it a perfect score. For that reason, I give the book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.

Admin note: The errors outlined in this review have since been corrected by the author.

******
Divine Providence
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Kirsi Cultrera]

It breaks my heart what they did to Jews in Germany and surrounding areas during World War II. I have read numerous books, fiction and non-fiction about this topic but never before have I seen one that concentrates on telling the story from a child’s point of view. It must have been an eye-opening experience to read the story of Erika Friedman and her family. It is hard to imagine what they must have gone through and how they survived. There are so many who lost their lives during World War II. Thanks for the tip, I will definitely put Divine Providence to my reading list!

[Harty]

I like this story and its focus on the second world war. I like the hope filled themed prevalent in it and especially how Erika avoided the concentration camp because of her mum. Nice review.