Bluebird

The year is 1946, and German teenager Eva has come to the U.S. in search of justice. With her is her friend Brigit, who is near catatonic after having been raped by Russian soldiers. After establishing this premise, the action switches to Germany in 1945, where we meet two other teenage girls, Inge and Annemarie, who are actually Eva and Brigit. The girls' identities have been changed due to their involvement in Project Bluebird, a terrible experiment linked to the concentration camps. Once in the U.S., the girls are given a place to stay by the American Friends Service Committee, where they meet Jake, who is to be their guide. Meanwhile, Eva, in her pursuit of justice, also searches for her fugitive father, a doctor, who has fled to America and who may not be what he seems. Cameron's plot-rich novel goes on a bit too long, and a section at the end seems anticlimactic. Nevertheless, the story is intriguing and sure to interest lovers of books about WWII.

This complex, intrigue-filled novel follows Eva Gerst, a teenage German refugee during the final months of WWII. When they arrive in New York City in August 1946, Eva and her largely nonverbal friend, Brigit, are welcomed, housed, and fed by the American Friends Service Committee. Eva, though, is burdened by a guilty secret: she is the daughter of a celebrated Nazi doctor who led medical experiments on prisoners at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp before purportedly escaping to America. Eva has made a deal to find and surrender her father to the American government, but her personal quest is to kill him. Initially alternating between Eva's point of view and that of another German girl, Inge von Emmerich, in wartime Germany, the narrative builds into a suspenseful thriller with many twists--some surprising, some predictable--and a blossoming romance between Eva and a young Jewish man assigned to help her adjust to life in America and who becomes enmeshed in her mission. Cameron melds historical events into the generally credible personal journey of a young woman confronting the truth of her past. An author's note details the numerous little-known wartime and post-war programs that so firmly ground the story. Main characters are presumed white. Ages 12--up. (Oct.)

Gr 9 Up--In 1946, Eva and her traumatized sister Brigit arrive in New York City, having left the rubble of Berlin and postwar Europe behind them. However, there is no peace for Eva. Their arrival to America was the result of a rotten deal Eva made, one involving American and Soviet spies and Nazi doctors. Eva knows about Project Bluebird--an experiment run by the Nazis in concentration camps where innocent victims were tortured for the purpose of mind control. Eva knows about this because her father was the one who designed the experiment. Having broken free from Nazi teachings, Eva just wants justice for the victims and vengeance for herself. Cameron delivers another outstanding historical novel. Clearly meticulously researched but deeply engaging and immersive, the narrative seamlessly blends fictional characters and events with real people and places. The plot unfolds through two time lines in alternating chapters, building suspense as readers are driven to discover the true horror of Project Bluebird and Eva's search for justice. Trigger warnings may be required when recommending this as there is implied sexual assault, graphic depictions of concentration camps, and some violence. Readers already experienced with World War II and postwar historical fiction will already be aware of the realistic content found in the genre. VERDICT An excellent follow-up to Cameron's The Light in Hidden Places, great for the author's fans and those who enjoy Cameron's works and books by Monica Hesse, Michelle Barker, and Markus Zusak.--Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

The story of two teenagers at the end of World War II: one raised by Nazis, the other a German immigrant new to the United States. It's 1946, and Eva is arriving in America, a refugee from Germany. The narrative then flips to 1945. Sixteen-year-old Inge has been raised a Nazi, her doctor father a prominent figure and integral part of the concentration camps. In the aftermath of the war, Inge realizes the atrocities her father and her people were responsible for and vows to atone for the murdered innocents. These are postwar young women hoping to do right by their complicated pasts, the story alternating between their points of view. While the horrors of the Holocaust are certainly discussed, the brutal realities of postwar Germany and the gray areas between good and evil offer a lesser-seen view of World War II. Cameron slowly, delicately weaves these seemingly disparate stories into one seamless storyline. As the two merge into one, there are twists and turns and plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments, even if the pace is a little inconsistent. The grim realities will stay with readers long beyond the book; the truths shared are honest but not gratuitous. All of the main characters are White, though African American artist Augusta Savage plays a minor role, and some background characters are people of color. An important, well-executed work of historical fiction. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.