Standing up for what’s right can mean risking everything.
Though Johanna and her older brother, Karl, lost their parents to Nazi rule in Germany, they have not stopped standing up for their beliefs. Now Communism is in full force in East Germany and they have been imprisoned along with their friend, Franz, for their resistance efforts. Johanna falls ill and becomes delirious with fever. Is there anything that can be done or will Karl and Franz be forced to watch her slowly die? As her life literally flashes before her eyes, will Johanna have the strength-and desire-to survive?
I'm at a loss on how to review this story completely. It was a very short story (12 pages) and the summary already says everything.
We get so little information about the characters that I cannot form a full opinion. There was no plot or climax or pacing for me to comment on.
Taking it just for what it is, a short story. We are introduced to a war torn land and specifically a few people that are trying to survive. Johanna has fallen very ill and is having these visions/stupor of people coming in and out talking to her. She's unclear on what's true or memories of the past. When she is conscious they explain to her what has happened and then very quickly it summarizes the rest of her life in a few paragraphs.
After reading it, it is something I would have expected as a prologue, or included into an anthology of short war stories rather than a stand alone short story for purchase alone. I was definitely expecting something longer, at least a novella.
It was very well written and has great potential with fully formed characters to be a great novel. Both interesting and intriguing, just way to short.
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