Children and Fire

Library Journal: In this latest from Hegi (Stones from the River), the story weaves between present and past, with characters linked to crucial moments in history beginning with February 27, 1934, the first anniversary of the burning of the German Reichstag (Parliament) in Berlin. While an arsonist has been named responsible, not everyone accepts the official version of the event that transformed the lives of the German people. Meanwhile, in the fictional village of Burgdorf, Germany, a young teacher strives to protect her students and herself from propaganda and fear in these early days of Hitler's regime. She cannot believe that the Nazis will last, but meanwhile, to keep the job she believes she was destined to fill, she must conform to behavior that is repugnant to her. Guiding, modeling, and lovingly supporting her young charges through tumultuous times, she endeavors to discover the depth of her own moral courage. VERDICT This novel is a lyrically written, emotionally powerful portrayal of a brilliant teacher battling the tragic effects of one man's hubris that shattered not only a town but the entire world. Most fiction readers should consider. [See Prepub Alert, 11/22/10.]—Joyce J. Townsend, Pittsburg, CA