My family always gives me an exasperated sigh when we have to return to the house to check to see if the garage door closed or the curling iron was successfully unplugged. This sense of leaving something undone is a heritage I inherited from my mother, as did my sister. Image young Sarah’s panic when she realizes that she left her little brother locked in a hidden cupboard in her family apartment. When the French police came for her family, Sarah thought they would return within the day. She hid her little brother as a way to protect him. Her parents had not shared the reality of what would probably happen should they be taken away. When her parents were sent away, Sarah did her best to return to her little brother. Her quest to return to her brother and the legacy of that quest are the basis for Tatiana De Rosnay’s popular novel Sarah’s Key.

I was reluctant to read this book. Knowing the basis premise, I was afraid that it would just be too tragic. Once I finally decided to read it, I was instantly engrossed in the dual story of the World War II era Jewish family and the modern French/American family. De Rosnay wove the two tales together with a touch of intrigue that compelled me to keep reading. She provided elements of history and romance that balanced the tragic element of war. The ending was a little bit unsatisfying, leaving a few dangling elements. Sarah’s Key spent a great deal of time on the Bestseller’s Lists and a quick read revealed exactly why. I was sad to let the characters go when I finished this book – a true sign of a good novel.