The Girl From the Train

(Paperback)

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Description

Six-year-old Gretl Schmidt is on a train bound for Auschwitz. Jakb Kowalski is planting a bomb on the tracks.

As World War II draws to a close, Jakb fights with the Polish resistance against the crushing forces of Germany and Russia. They intend to destroy a German troop transport, but Gretls unscheduled train reaches the bomb first.

Gretl is the only survivor. Though spared from the concentration camp, the orphaned German Jew finds herself lost in a country hostile to her people. When Jakb discovers her, guilt and fatherly compassion prompt him to take her in. For three years, the young man and little girl form a bond over the secrets they must hide from his Catholic family.

But she cant stay with him forever. Jakb sends Gretl to South Africa, where German war orphans are promised bright futures with adoptive Protestant familiesso long as Gretls Jewish roots, Catholic education, and connections to communist Poland are never discovered.

Separated by continents, politics, religion, language, and years, Jakb and Gretl will likely never see each other again. But the events they have both survived and their belief that the human spirit can triumph over the ravages of war have formed a bond of love that no circumstances can overcome.

Praise for The Girl from the Train:

A riveting read with an endearing, courageous protagonist . . . takes us from war-torn Poland to the veldt of South Africa in a story rich in love, loss, and the survival of the human spirit. Anne Easter Smith, author of A Rose for the Crown

• Full-length World War II historical novel
• International bestseller
• Includes a glossary

Reviews

' Right from the start, Joubert sets up a palpable, tension-filled atmosphere and visually striking landscape. Mixing factual events with fiction, Gretl and Jakob offer interesting viewpoints on the world around them.' - 4 1/2 starred * RT Book Reviews *
'Readers will adore intrepid Gretl and strong Jakb in this story of war, redemption, and love. * Publishers Weekly *
Joubert reminds readers how love triumphed over the difficulties faced by WWII survivors as they navigated new boundaries, revised politics, and the old faith prejudices that defined post-war Europe. * CBA Retailers Resources *

Author Bio

International bestselling author Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years before she began writing. Her stories are known for their deep insight into personal relationships and rich historical detail. She's the author of eight novels and a regular fixture on bestseller lists in The Netherlands and in her native South Africa. She is the winner of the 2010 ATKV Prize for Romance Novels. Facebook: irmajoubertpage