I
have to admit that I worried with this one about the warning one of my MA
tutors gave me about this project: “It could get too grisly.”
I
always argue that endings in teen and YA novels should be upbeat with hope
though don’t need to be too neat and tidy and certainly don’t have to be “happy
ever after”. I’ve all but finished the Hani
strand. One more chapter to go. I’ve surprised myself by making it much more
upbeat than I’d ever expected. The Special Class can now be taught in the open.
Two main characters have returned safely – one from a labour camp and one from “helping
the Americans with their enquiries” – and the main character in this bit, Hani,
has obtained a scholarship to study to become a special needs teacher. Fortunately
her parents will cover her living expenses.
It
is all tempered a little by the fact that they have lost the war, that they know
that something sinister has happened that has been hidden by the war and they
do not know where Clara Lehrs is. Doctor Kühn spells it out for them.
“There is of course
some way to go,” said Doctor Kühn, as he poured the wine. “It will be a quite a
long time before we can get good supplies of food and fuel. We have lost the
war and there will always be something a little uncomfortable about that.” His
face suddenly became very serious. “There were some things very wrong about
this war and what it was hiding. And we have to face that.”
I’ve chosen not to
disclose the fate of Clara Lehrs within the book (exterminated in Treblinka, September
1942). Enlightened readers will probably guess and I shall admit it in the
appendices.
Will this bring
that balance? I observe a similar balance in Kinder / survivor reports. It is
terrible that they had to leave their families like that. Some were actually
treated very badly here. Many never saw their parents again. But many were
treated with great kindness and it is certainly impressive that people managed
to find the £50 sponsor money (equivalent of about £3600 today) and pay for the
further upkeep of the children.
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