Liz Kessler

A powerful, heart-breaking, ultimately redemptive novel about three childhood friends in 1930s Vienna whose fates are closely intertwined, even when their lives take very different courses.

Chasing the Light

Karolina

Synopsis

A book based on the true story of three best friends living in Vienna: Elsa, Max, and Leo. They were leading a peaceful life full of love, laughs, and happiness. They could spend all days with each other and at their young age, they knew they will stay friends no matter what. However, they didn’t know yet what is coming their way. They felt the change when Elsa’s parents announced that they need to move to Prague in Czechoslovakia, as soon as possible because Vienna will soon become dangerous for Jewish people. Soon after, Max’s father has forbidden his meeting Leo and Elsa outside the school because of him being Jewish. They didn’t understand until the new rules were announced in the school and Jewish kids started to be treated worst than dogs. The war unexpectedly changed their lives and they had to learn how to live in this new and horrifying world of hatred and pain.

Book Review 

I don’t think I can review this book in a way that will reflect how heartbreaking and good this book was. I connected to all the characters from page one. They were all so pure and innocent. I couldn’t bear reading about all the things they had to go through. All the books I read about the second world war were mostly written from the point of view of teenagers or adults. However, if you read it from the point of view of kids it hits you a hundred times more. 

Elsa, Leo, and Max felt that they own their own world. They were the happiest people alive because they had each other. They shared their dreams, love, and ideas for the future. However, it all fell apart very quickly. Elsa and Leo had to face new rules that were introduced in their lives. They didn’t understand why it is happening to them. All the lies that were said about them, all punishments they received without any specific reason. They tried to think about the reason and failed because there was no actual reason they were targeted. I was reading half of the scenes with tears in my eyes. It was unforgivable how Jewish people were treated by their friends, neighbors, teachers, etc. I still cannot understand how people can treat this way human being. 

From the other side, we see Max’s story, which is the complete opposite of Joe’s and Elsa’s. Max moved with his parents to Germany. With his dad’s position as an officer, it wasn’t hard for Max to fit in and find new friends. However, he never felt the same feeling of happiness when he was with Elsa and Joe. It started changing with time when his father, the party, and school literally brainwashed him to hate Jews. He finally became a son his father was dreaming about. Max’s story wasn’t as dramatic as the other two kids, however, I pitied him a lot throughout the book. He tried to stay true to his feelings and friendship, however, everyone from each side tried to change him. He knew that the stories people say about Jews are lies, but people kept pushing him to start believing them and he finally did. His only goal in life was to make his father proud and it brought him only pain and emptiness in his life. 

I cried through the ending of this book like a baby. It was heartbreaking and the fact that the book was based on the true story made it even harder to read. I didn’t expect a happy ending, so I tried to prepare myself, but I don’t think it’s possible to prepare for the ending like this. Thankfully, besides the painful, and full of sadness scene, we also get something good at the end for which I am very grateful. I don’t understand why this book isn’t a best seller by now. This is the book everyone should read. The author deserves a stand-up ovation for this book. 

I would like to thank Liz Kessler, NetGalley and Simon, and Schuster UK Children's for providing me with this amazing book! It was the best book I have read so far this year!

Chasing the Light

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