In his novelization of the life of Helene Hannemann, a German woman, Escobar tells the lesser-known story of how Romani were targeted in the Holocaust. Helene's husband and five children, all of Romani heritage, are rounded up one morning in Berlin. Although personally exempt from deportation, Helene refuses to be separated from them. Escobar details the stifling and inhumane conditions of the family's journey by train to Auschwitz and the first days of turmoil and confusion after Helene's husband, Johann, is separated from them. Dr. Mengele, the real-life, notorious figure known for his horrific experiments on children, learns of Helene's presence and chooses her to run a nursery and school in the camp. This job affords somewhat-better living conditions, but no one is ever safe. Through it all, Helene struggles not to lose hope or her humanity. This fictional rendering of Hannemann's life provides another lens through which to view the Holocaust.--Joan Curbow Copyright 2018 Booklist