The Medallion

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke is a wonderful and poignant historical novel. Having read another book by this author, I was very interested in reading this one and was not disappointed. With an intensely emotional impact, this story keeps the reader's attention from start to finish. The story portraying the German occupation of Poland during WWII and the aftermath of the war is told from two couple’s perspectives and it is apparent the author has an excellent grasp on the history of that era. The horrors of the upheaval of the Jewish peoples, the division of families, the difficult decisions individuals had to make to survive, the grueling work of forced labor, the trains to the death camps are realistically illustrated. Family loyalties, faith in God, Adonai, and forgiveness are central themes throughout. Can one child bring redemption to the two couple’s lives? Hope springs eternal even in the darkest of hours…it is always amazing to me that individuals who have lived through the barbarity and brutality of war still dare to hope—just a little—for the future. This is not a 'happy forever after' type book but a thought-provoking, soul-searching book that is rich and complex in its message. All in all, this is a book not to be missed. I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke is a stand-alone story of World War Two. Warsaw, Poland was a very dangerous place to be in 1939. The Nazis had invaded and were bent on the annihilation of all Jews. This is a story of just some of the heroes. When it looks like the very end has come Rosa sends her small daughter out of the ghetto with only a half of a medallion as her hope of ever finding her again after the war. The courage and sacrifice of the people during the war is always so powerful. As I read this story it was at times, hard to see the print because of the tears in my eyes. The author did such a great job of bringing the characters to life. Their struggles, their fears and finally their courage to not give up knowing that God is always in control and will not leave you even in your darkest moments. I received this book from Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review.