The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: A Novel of War and Survival by Louise Murphy 320 pages

I got to read this book again because it is a selection for the library book clubs this year.  I love this retelling of the Hansel and Gretel fairytale.  The elements are all there: Hansel and Gretel, the stepmother who forces their father to leave them in the forest, the bread crumbs, the witch and even the oven.

Oh but it is so different too.  This is a story of two Jewish children in Poland during World War II.  The stepmother forces their father to leave them in the forest so they have a chance to survive as all four are fleeing from the Nazis.  The witch is Magda, who is part gypsy, and has avoided being sent away to the camps by the Nazis.  She takes in the children and fights to protect them.

This is a beautiful, sad, uplifting, horrifying, wonderful tale of what we humans do so wrong and so right.