Gabriel Savit gives World War II a new meaning in this galling and heart-wrenching, realistic work of literary art titled Anna and the Swallow Man. Through extensive character and plot development, Sanskrit analyzes the life of a young girl and her adoptive guardian as they try to survive the perils of World War II in Poland and surrounding areas. The novel is a refreshing addition to the WWII genre, told not from the eyes of a Jew surrounded by ghettos and concentration camps, but from a little Aryan girl looking into this desolate world. Frankly, it offers a different perspective (in all due respect) in comparison with what we have become accustomed to, literary masterpieces such as Anne Frank’s Diary and Schindler’s List, to name two among the many.
Regardless of its setting, the story is also an excellent addition to the world of ‘coming of age’ novels. Young Anna begins her journey as a little girl and ends up becoming a young woman over the course of many years, learning lessons from the mysterious ‘Swallow Man’ along the way. It beautifully portrays the fragility of friendship and life.
A book this well-written has not arrived at bookstores and libraries in a very long time. I have no doubt about this, being a book enthusiast myself. This is not your typical teenage romance. This is a story grounded in reality, and it talks about growing and maturing in a knowledgeable and somewhat morbid way.
**SPOILER ALERT! SKIP TO NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU DON”T WANT TO BE SPOILED!**
If this book is targeted at a high school audience, as I believe it is, the ending needs to be refined. I’ll share with you my conclusion, and it may not be correct: The Swallow Man, whoever he was, was some type of research scientist working for the Germans, and was spooked off somehow. He’d had a daughter named Greta somewhere down the road, and she died. Devastated and alone, he left whatever home he had, and set out to live a life of solitude. However, he found a little girl named Anna, and she reminded him so much of his own daughter that he took her in. The shoe at the end was either Anna’s or Greta’s – I’m not sure. This is based upon assumptions and subtle implications that were not entirely clear while I was reading.
**END OF SPOILER**
Outside of the ending, the book was captivating and poignant. I would recommend it to other book and history lovers. It is truly an epitome of young adult fiction mixed with reality that has a touch of delight and disdain. It is a new take upon the events of World War II and focuses on the stories of the people who lived through it.