Review of The Guardian's Son

[Shrabastee Chakraborty]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Guardian's Son" by Anita Tiemeyer.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Guardian’s Son by Anita Tiemeyer is a historical fiction set in 1945, in the aftermath of World War II. When Major Grayson Pierce, an army doctor from America, inspected the Buchenwald concentration camp, the last thing he expected was to find a malnourished, flea-bitten child hiding under the sleeping quarters. He adopts the child and brings him home, asking his family to accept Joseph as their own. However, introducing a German-speaking Jewish child to an English-speaking family of devout Catholics raises intense cultural and religious conflict. Although Grayson insists on raising Joe as a Jew, his mother and sister want to convert him into a Christian. A civil war ensues inside the Pierce household, catching Joe in the crossfires. Will he have to leave the only safe refuge he had known ever since the war began?

Like most books from this period, this novel also had vivid, gruesome descriptions of the concentration camps that chilled me to the core. Joe’s unembellished accounts of the appalling incidents horrified me. An innocent child’s perspective made the fact even more dreadful that a group of fanatics had so callously squandered precious human lives.

In Tiemeyer’s competent hands, Joe’s character reached the pinnacle of perfection. As a survivor of the Buchenwald camp, severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder plagued his days, manifesting as night terrors and frequent bedwetting incidents. He refused to trust even the kindest gestures, fearing punishments for every misstep. The sight of a kitchen knife or a BB gun invoked his trauma, making him frightened and inconsolable. At the same time, his language barrier and communication gap to the Pierce family frustrated him. With a higher-than-average level of intelligence, this sensitive and aware child could perceive everything going on in the family. However, the years under extreme brutality skewed his perceptions. The title itself alluded to this. While Grayson accepted him as his son, Joe viewed him as his guardian. While reading, my heart went out to the poor child; I wanted to hug and soothe him.

Characterization was the strongest suit of this novel. Grayson’s natural compassion, along with the terrible scenes he had witnessed in the camp, generated a rare empathy. He was extremely patient with Joe, guiding him through his new life with loving care. Even with Joe as his charge, he never neglected his daughter, Irene, who was often resentful of the intrusion in her family. Mildred, Grayson’s sister, had a caring nature, too. However, her stern demeanor kept it obscure. On the other hand, Tiemeyer made Grayson’s mother so despicable that I couldn’t help hating the matriarch’s dogmatic and prejudiced views.

Religious and cultural differences played a prominent role in the story. The Pierce ladies were reluctant to accept anything that did not conform to their idea of civilized behavior. They stubbornly refused to let Joe use the German-to-English dictionary yet demanded he talked in English. They even concocted devious plans to convert Joe to Christianity against Grayson’s will. Their insensitive, uptight personalities infuriated me. I would credit Tiemeyer for creating these negative characters who could evoke such strong reactions in the reader.

I didn’t have any complaints at all. From a technical aspect, there were very few errors. Therefore, I rate this book a thoroughly deserved 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves character-driven historical fiction, especially those based on World War II. However, the concentration camp scenes were graphic, so I would urge the readers to exercise caution. Consequently, this book would require a mature audience.

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The Guardian's Son
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[Theana De lima Araujo]

This sounds like an intriguing tale, the way you describe it. I was unsure of what the story would be based on when I saw the cover. I must admit I am surprised, I thought it would centre on religion. From how you describe it, the story is a family feud caused by some controversial circumstances for the time. I like the story of the family, however, I doubt I could read a book where a child has PTSD and doesn't seem to find peace even in a completely different environment. Thank you for the excellent review.

[Kanchan Bhil]

When I saw the book cover I thought the book would fall under paranormal activity or will be set in the world of kings and battles. I read your review and the book seems to be about Joe's fight against his past. The story is about kindness and the differences of a family. I would definitely want to read this book. Thank you for this great review.

[Tarie07]

Post traumatic stress disorder and religious conflicts are very real issues. We have people constantly trying to force their religions on others instead of allowing those religions to coexist. This is a book I would definitely want to read. Thank you for the great review.

[Muhammad Ilham R]

In terms of religious differences and being forced to change religions, it is probably almost the same as what happened to me six years ago. The story is so interesting that it reminds me of my dark past. Thanks for the review

[DTamara]

Such a heartbreaking story.. Yet, full of hope, I will have to read it to make sure Joe is finally able to start healing. Thanks for such a nice review!