Unlike other novels which have alternating storylines between present day adults and their grandparents during World War II, the format of this is not the stand one of alternating chapters or even anything like this.
Similar to the way the author's style is lyrical and poetic, the storylines meander in a less formal structure. It's a character driven novel and you really feel the love and the ache of loss between the family members.
The two main characters are Annelise and her granddaughter, Clare. Annelise is a young woman when things in Germany start to become uncomfortable for Jews. She's a dreamer and is always looking for the next great thing. She works with her parents in their bakery where she meets the man she will marry. When things get impossible for the Jews in Germany, Annelise and her husband have the opportunity to leave Germany and head to the United States. But what about Annelise's parents?
In present day Wisconsin, Annelise's granddaughter, Clare is going through some tough times when she finds her grandmother's letters and comes to some realization about the importance of family connections.
Fox's author's note at the end of the novel added an extra dimension to the experience of reading this fairly short novel.
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