Today I'm featuring David Michael Slate's just released WWII novel, The Vanishing as an added benefit I had the pleasure of chatting with David about the novel. So sit back and read all about this unique read.
Enjoy!
ASIN: B09V5R7XFM
Publisher: Library Tales Publishing
Release Date: 09-29-2022
Length: 242pp
Source: Author for review
Buy It: Amazon/ B&N/ IndieBound
Free on Kindle Unlimited
ADD TO: GOODREADS
Overview:
To save her best friend from the horrors of Nazi Germany, an invisible girl must embark on an utterly unforgettable journey of redemption and revenge. The Vanishing is fierce and loving, devastating and compelling, a breathtaking blend of history, fiction, and magical realism.My Review:
The Vanishing
David Michael Slate
David Michael Slater’s latest work of fiction is brutal
and brilliant bringing back the horrors of Jews living during the reign of
Hitler in Nazi Germany. Readers see the atrocities through the eyes of Sophie,
an invisible pre-teen girl who uses her gift to help in particular her little
friend Giddy and also her fellow Jews as they are subjected to one unspeakable
inhuman act after another. The author doesn’t pull punches with the savagery
but he also gives his brave characters unrelenting faith that the tides will
change. Sophie is the definite star of the story, determined, strong, wise
beyond her years yet the author doesn’t mind painting her with normal flaws of
a pre-teen only child for the audience to fully witness her transformation from
victim to hero of the tale. There are some other standout characters, Giddy for
one is so young to have experienced such barbarity but he’s also an old soul
and an inspiration to others. There are many, many villains in this story each
one more savage then the next and will all leave the reader with a nasty taste.
WWII stories are so important and should never be forgotten especially now when
so few who lived through these times are with us. They should never be
forgotten also because of the fragility of life and freedoms and the ugly truth
that this kind of barbaric ethnic cleansing still happens today in parts of the
world. If you love WWII stories and don’t mind ones that are dark you will love
this book. Fans of Pam Jenoff, Kristin Hannah or Kristin Harmel and other WWII
authors will find this unputdownable.
Since 1938 Sophie Siegel’s papa has moved their family of
three from German town to German town trying to outrun the growing
anti-Semitism since Adolph Hitler came into power finally settling in Ortschaft
in 1940 where it was said that the Jewish population lived in relative peace.
That all changed in late 1941 when the Nazis made new rules for Jews and bit by
bit started taking away rights and privileges. Since the Jewish kids couldn’t
go to school Sophie spent most of her time with her young neighbor Giddy playing,
reading and just making the most of a terrible situation. Then in late 1942 when
Sophie was 12 she witnessed the atrocity of the Nazi monsters when her parents
were killed by Nazis officers while she hid in the closet. Sophie was ready for
her fate too but when the closet door opened the Nazi soldier couldn’t see her
and the next day when all Jews were evacuated she learned that she had turned
invisible. So she made a vow that since she had this new gift wherever it came
from she would watch over her Jewish community and especially Giddy and his
family helping them in any way they needed. She had no idea what lay ahead.
Praise:
"A remarkable book." ~ Steve Stern, Author of The Frozen Rabbi and Winner of the National Jewish Book Award
"It has often been said that we need creative ways to illuminate the horrors of the Holocaust for each new generation. David Slater’s novel, The Vanishing, has accomplished this remarkable feat. An important and fascinating read." ~
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director, Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
"A tragic, yet beautiful story that deserves a place on the shelves among some of the greatest literature penned on the Holocaust." ~ Mark A. Cooper, author of the Edelweiss Pirates series
"A vivid journey through every emotion in the human experience." ~ Michael P. Spradlin, New York Times Best Selling author of The Enemy Above and Into the Killing Seas
"Took my breath away and held it until the very last page." ~ Felice Cohen, author of What Papa Told Me
"A moving, compelling, and highly dramatic novel." ~ Richard Zimler, author of The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon and The Gospel According to Lazarus
"A page-turner... reminiscent of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief." ~ Julia Moberg, author of Presidential Pets, Animal Heroes, and Historical Animals.
My Interview with David Michael Slater:
David hi! Welcome to The Reading Frenzy. I
really enjoyed your new book The Vanishing.
Tell my readers a little about it.
Thank you
so much. I think this part of the promotional blurb describes it well: To save her best friend from the horrors of
Nazi Germany, an invisible girl must embark on an utterly unforgettable journey
of redemption and revenge.
Will you tell us where the story idea came
from?
The
Holocaust plays a role in various ways in a lot of my work, so there’s that.
Then there’s the frightening increase in general hatred and bigotry we’ve seen
over the past few years. But I must admit that the story was primarily
generated by the simple thought that an invisible character living through the
Holocaust could make for a compelling story.
Why did you pick Sophie, a 12year old girl
to be your protagonist?
One would
hope that depictions of Nazi atrocities through the eyes of any character would
be moving, but seeing them through the eyes of an innocent and hopeful child, I
thought, would create maximum impact and generate the most possible empathy. A
child that age also has the greatest capacity for growth and transformation,
for better or for worse.
Why did she need to be invisible?
There is
some ambiguity about Sophie’s condition, which is intentional, and I’ve read
some fascinating analyses from readers already. But, on the most practical
level, her invisibility allows Sophie to witness virtually all the myriad
horrors of the Holocaust in a way no real person ever could have. I think it,
paradoxically, makes her both less and more human.
I noticed on your website you have this
listed as YA/Adult
Do you have a certain age group that you’re aiming for?
There was
much discussion about this issue. But because the protagonist is a teenager,
it’s pretty much locked into being a YA title. That is okay with me (mature
YAs), be we are expecting this to be a “crossover” book, meaning that it will
appeal just as much to adults. Some adults won’t look twice at a book labelled
YA—and it’ll be a shame if some folks miss The Vanishing for that reason.
WWII fiction is my favorite genre, mostly
because there are so few that remain alive that lived through it whether as a
soldier, civilian or victim of war crimes.
Why do you think it’s important to tell these stories?
In the
oft-quoted, oft-ignored words of words of George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember
the past are condemned to repeat it."
David I’ve been looking on your website
and you’re an author with a wide range of reads from children’s picture books
to YA, Adult fiction and non-fiction (In fact I’m seriously thinking about
buying Wingnuts
but I’m not sure I have ½ a brain) 😉
Do you have a favorite genre to write?
Normally,
whatever book I’m working on is, by virtue of having all of my interest at the
time, my favorite type of book. But in general, magical realism is my favorite
style of writing, regardless of the age range it’s intended for.
Speaking of David the author, would you
please share your becoming an author story?
I enjoyed writing
and reading as a child, but the idea of becoming an author never occurred to
me. Then, in college, I read Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead,
the brilliant play by Tom Stoppard and suddenly found myself writing a
similarly absurdist style play. To my amazement, it wound up getting produced.
That still didn’t make me think writing was in my future in any significant
way. But then, in grad school, I read some magical realist short stories by
Jorge Luis Borges and found myself writing stories like those myself. And then
it just kept going, and here I am, twenty plus years later, with nearly thirty
books in print!
David thank you for taking the time to
answer my questions, good luck with The Vanishing!
My
pleasure. Thanks so much for your interest.
Are
there any author events/signings planned for The Vanishing?
Not yet,
but we hope to have some big news soon from Hollywood!
About the author:
David Michael Slater is an acclaimed author of books for children, teens, and adults. David was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He teaches middle school in Reno, Nevada, where he lives with his wife and son. See davidmichaelslater.com for more.
www.davidmichaelslater.com
www.facebook.com/dmsauthor
http://davidmichaelslatersofficialblog.blogspot.com
@DMSauthor
Sounds excellent Debbie, I think I have my fill of WW2 stories such as this but still important to put in front of readers of today. The terrible thing is it is still going on - the atrocities that is.
ReplyDeletevery true
DeleteAn invisible witness who can help during a horrific time is an intriguing premise.
ReplyDeleteit was definitely unique
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