In 1939 Berlin, twelve-year-old Hannah Rosenthal and her family board the SS St. Louis, a luxury ocean liner bound for Havana. As Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, they carry the hope of safety in Cuba, but political shifts lead the government to refuse the ship entry. Decades later in New York City, Anna Rosen receives a package from an elderly aunt she has never met. This correspondence pulls Anna and her mother to Havana, where they piece together the history of the relatives who were forced to build lives in exile after being turned away from every shore.
History enthusiasts read this book to understand the specific bureaucratic failures and international indifference surrounding the SS St. Louis voyage. It appeals to those interested in the long-term psychological effects of displacement across generations. Readers walk away with a detailed perspective on the Jewish community's struggle for integration in mid-century Cuba and the persistent weight of inherited trauma. The narrative provides a factual look at how political decisions made in a single week can dictate the geography of a family for nearly a century.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2016
- Language
- EN
