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The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, by Louise Murphy
Title: The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
Author: Louise Murphy

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Summary via back cover: "In the last months of the Nazi occupation of Poland, two children are left by their father and stepmother to find safety in a dense forest. Because their real names will reveal their Jewishness, they are renamed 'Hansel' and 'Gretel.' They wander in the woods until they are taken in by Magda, an eccentric and stubborn old woman called 'witch' by the nearby villagers. Magda is determined to save them, even as a German officer arrives in the village with his own plans for the children.

A haunting novel of journey and survuval, of redemption and memory, The True Story of Hansel and Gretel powerfully depicts how war is experienced by families and especially by children, and tells a resonant, riveting story."

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It took me forever to finish this one. I've been ridiculously busy these past few weeks, but school is almost over, so I'll have a lot of time this summer. Today I had 100 pages left, so on my three hour break between classes I went right through it. Anyways, I picked up this one at my local Borders. At first I was quite captured by the cover, and then when I read the back, I had to have it. Anything to do with fairytales captures my eye.

The book starts off with Hansel and Gretel (renamed to hide their 'Jewishness') being left to fend for themselves in a Poland forest. Their father and stepmother took them there to save them from the Nazis, which were close on their tale. Although Hansel and Gretel are only children, they are incredibely smart and strong willed. Gretel leads the way with her younger brother in tote, as they brave the forest in search of someone to take them in. After a few days of this, this find a little cottage at the edge of a small village. The cottage is inhabited by Magda, "the witch." Although a bit frightening at first, Magda is really harmless and in the end, she is willing to risk everything to save Hansel and Gretel from the Germans. This is a new twist on the classic fairytale. It includes many of the original elements of the 'real' story, such as the trail of bread crumbs and the oven. There are also, of course, many new characters who were not in the fairytale. This includes the beautiful Nelka (Magda's neice), and Telek, the outsider. Both characters play a pivotal role in the lives of Hansel and Gretel, and help to shape their characters. Nelka and Telek also bring a bit of romance into the novel, to lighten up things a bit. I would also have to say that Telek is my favorite character.

I really really enjoyed this book. This is not for the light-hearted. It features some truly horrific events that occur. I knew when I picked up the book, it was based on the WWII era, but for some reason I did not expect to read some of the things I read. This includes gas chambers and mutilation of children. But overall, I really thought this was a well written book. I have this book a 4.5 because I don't know if I could read it again. Although I really liked it, I don't know if I'd like to ever make it a reread. But I do recommend this book to everyone, but historical fiction fans in particular, as well as people interested in the WWII era, and anyone who loves fairytales.

Rating: 4.5/5