Sarah’s Key is a historical fiction novel about the holocaust and its consequences. The author, Tatiana de Rosnay is a Franco-British writer and Sarah’s Key (trans. Elle s’appelait Sarah) is the eighth book that she has written. Like several of her other books, Sarah’s Key approaches several themes that need to be discussed, which is centered around the Holocaust, which is a solid theme on its own.
“Who am I” is a question brought forth several times throughout the book, since the difference in behavior and treatments were heavily based on who people were. If you were a part of the Aryan race you would have many benefits, while, if you were a Jew, you would be put into a “labor camp” and probably die in a gas chamber or though a mass shooting. The theme is consequently a lot bigger than a “coming of age” novel, though the same themes are deliberated.
The reader doesn’t only learn more about the problems and hardships Jews had during World War II, they also get as close to a personal relationship to the events as possible being in this day and age. This is important as to remember in order to prohibit such a world war to ever break out again. Therefore, even though this book is one of many on the Holocaust, it is in no means a less important book to read to learn more about history and the world in general.
