The Girl in the Striped Dress

The Girl in the Striped Dress by Ellie Midwood was amazing! It is "another Auschwitz" book without being just another Auschwitz book! This is a dual timeline - during WWII and after the war during the Nazi war crime trials. It is based on a true story in which Helena, an inmate, survives the camp and marries one of the SS men - Franz Dahler - in what appears to be the first documented case of Stockholm Syndrome but before it had a name.

What did I love about this story:

• It was true and well-researched
• The author provides copious author notes documenting her findings
• The characters are very well-developed
• As a reader, I became Helena and, for a time, understood her

You know I love a book with great characters, and Midwood delivered. We see the development of Helena as she arrives in Auschwitz, gets the Kanada detail, struggles to survive, and eventually falls in love with her captor. Because of Midwood's writing style, readers immediately connect with Helena and want to see her live a happily ever after. But it isn't until the very end that you will decide if that ending should be with Franz or not. And which way you decide will be completely up to you!
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I highly recommend this book for lover's of historical fiction, those who want to see another side of WWII concentration camps, and readers who enjoy a nontraditional love story. Let me know what you think!