Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Cilka’s Journey” by Heather Morris, St. Martin’s Press, Oct.1,2019

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Cilka’s Journey” By Heather Morris, St. Martin’s Press, Oct. 1,2019

WOW! Heather Morris has written a second novel to follow “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”, called “Cilka’s Journey”. Cilka is one of the characters in the first book, and Heather Morris, the author writes about Cilka as the main character in “Cilka’s Journey”.  The novel can be read as a stand-alone. The Genres for this Novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction.  The time period for this novel is World War Two and After. Please be aware that this is a powerful, heartbreaking, emotional, devastating, and traumatic story during evil times. There are many Kleenex moments. The author describes her characters as good and evil. Cilka is described as complex and complicated, strong, courageous, kind, and does many things to survive.

At sixteen years of age, Cilka is sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The Commander in charge of the camp notices Cilka and sets her aside. Cilka does what she has to do in order to survive. Some of the things, she is forced to do, seem to deeply affect her, long after she is released.

When the Russians come to free the camp, Cilka is taken as a prisoner for “sleeping” and aiding the enemy. This time she is sent to a Siberian Prison Camp. This is what makes this story so unique. Not only is Cilka a Jewish girl that was in a Concentration camp, she now is a prisoner in a Russian prison camp for many years.

Cilka fears danger and death every day. The conditions are deplorable. A young physician notices a caring side of Cilka and tries to help her. Will Cilka ever be free? Will she ever be able to forgive? Will Cilka ever be able to find the ability to love? I would highly recommend this vividly descriptive well-written story.