Book Review: Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

I found Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay on the new fiction shelf at my local library. When I'm checking out books from the new fiction section, I always judge a book by its cover. There are so many books that it is impossible to read the synopses for all of them. I was drawn to the cover of this book and when I found out that it was set in World War II Paris, I was sold. As a historian, I love nothing more than settling down with a great historical fiction novel. I love imagining how things used to be through the eyes of someone I can relate. The fact that it was Holocaust history made it even better for me.

Sarah's Key is a dual-story told from both 1942 and 2002. The novel begins in July 1942, when Sarah, a ten-year-old Jewish girl is arrested in Paris with her parents during the Vel' d Hiv' roundup. Her story is alternated with the story of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist who lives in Paris and is assigned to write an article for the sixtieth anniversary of the roundup. Although she has lived in Paris for more than twenty years, Julia knows nothing of the roundup and finds that many Parisians are just as ignorant (or is it indifferent?). As the story continues, Julia discovers the horrible details of both the roundup as well as the fate of young Sarah and her family.

Sarah's Key is a historical story of loss and love, set during one of the most horrific periods in modern human history. Tatiana de Rosnay, a French woman, tells a poignant tale and reveals a very sensitive issue in French history. The roundup is generally a very taboo topic because it was conducted by French collaborationist police rather than by Nazi forces. Sarah's Key is a fantastic story, drawing the reader in with the first paragraph. I could not put this book down until it was finished and when it was, I was breathless. I thought I had pretty much read it all as far as Holocaust fiction goes, but Tatiana de Rosnay proved me wrong. This book was excellent, if not just for the history but for the believable and touching character that is Julia Jarmond. She is so easy to relate to that it is difficult to resist getting caught up in her investigation of the round up and in her relationship with her husband. Ms. de Rosnay has managed to create two fabulous stories and wrap them up in one pretty, breathtaking book. This book has made a place for itself on my shelf of all-time favorites. Highly recommended.