It’s a book about the Holocaust that involves a living, talking, doll. It isn’t poorly done and wouldn’t it be nice if magic existed and could help fight Nazis, and yes, the magic is probably an allegory, but none of that means that I’m going to be rah rah Dollmaker of Krakow. I feel like one of those cranky old ladies shouting Have some respect! I guess talking dolls and magic is an age-appropriate way to introduce children to some of the horrors we humans have managed to inflict on other humans (I think The Dollmaker of Krakow is marketed as an advanced middle-grade novel), and may be more tactful than how I learned about the Holocaust — I’m assuming that my grade four teacher had watched Sophie’s Choice the night before because she more-or-less detailed the plot to a bunch of ten-year-olds one morning — but I don’t know if I’d want my daughter to read The Dollmaker of Krakow until after she’d read something more factual, like Anne Frank, because magic doesn’t save us (unless you’re going all My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic on us). Maybe read The Dollmaker of Krakow, but go go punch a Nazi in the face afterwards.
The Dollmaker of Krakow by R.M. Romero went on sale September 26, 2017.
I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.