Anna at War
Anna Schlesinger is twelve years old in 1938 when she is reluctantly sent by her loving parents on the Kindertransport from Germany to England to escape persecution as a Jew. Anna is charged with looking after a parentless baby called Ezra on the train. The amount of responsibility placed on a twelve-year-old would be staggering to most young readers. Anna and Ezra’s bond carries them through that train journey.
Thankfully, families are found for both Anna and Ezra though what happens to him is not revealed until the end of the novel. Anna goes to stay with Auntie Rose and Uncle Bert and their children, Molly, thirteen and Frank, seven. The family is kind though the author highlights the fact that Molly is jealous of Anna’s cleverness. Molly then does something unforgiveable and stupid. She shows one of Anna’s treasured letters from her parents to the school bully, who is spreading anti-German sentiment. This was a very realistic subject to touch on as many children experienced prejudice or dislike in this situation.
Molly and Anna’s relationship begins to mend when the three children find a German spy in their barn. This incident stretches credulity especially as they decide, initially, not to report him to the authorities. Anna has very strong feelings against this as she is still dealing with the results of trauma from Nazi-related incidents in Germany. After being caught with a gun at night, she must explain herself to the authorities who, unbelievably, engage her as a spy. Can she ensure the German spy is brought to justice while keeping herself safe?
This book seems to be in two parts, but the dual strands of history and spy narrative fail to fuse convincingly.
