Mini book review: The World That We Knew, by Alice Hoffman, Simon & Schuster

A little Alice Hoffman, anyone? In The World That We Knew, Hoffman writes about the French Resistance during the Second World War, but in her particularly special way. Fans of Hoffman – who is one of my favourite writers – will know she always mixes in a little magic into her stories of families, women and love.
And The World That We Knew is no different. It tackles one of mankind’s darkest hours, but tells the story through women’s strength, resilience and power.
Hoffman’s name may not be a household word, but she has written more than 30 novels, including Practical Magic, which you might remember was a 1998 movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The World That We Knew is one of her best.
The story begins in Berlin, where a Jewish mother sends her 12-year-old daughter away for her only chance at safety, even though it breaks her heart to do it. The mother sends her daughter off with the protection of a female magical Jewish creature called a golem, created from clay with the help of a Rabbi’s daughter.
The daughter, the Rabbi’s daughter and the golem travel to France, spending the fateful final years of the Second World War intertwined with the French Resistance. It all comes together in this story of love, heartbreak, sacrifice and more. Did I mention there is a heron involved? Enjoy.