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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

Based on the true story of the Cook sisters, who smuggled valuables out of 1930s Nazi Germany to finance a daring, secret operation to help Jews find hope for a new life in England British sisters Ida and Louise Cook enjoy their quiet, unassuming lives in south London. Ida writes romance novels, and Louise works as a secretary. In the evenings, the sisters indulge in their shared love for opera, saving their money to buy records and attend performances throughout England and Europe, becoming well-known by both performers and fellow opera lovers. But when Hitler seizes power in 1933, he begins targeting and persecuting German Jews, passing laws that restrict their rights and their lives. The sisters continue their trips to the German opera houses, but soon, Jewish members of the opera community covertly approach the sisters, worried that they will be stripped of their wealth and forced to leave their homes and the country. Danger looms on the horizon, threatening to spill across all of Europe’s borders. Ida and Louise vow to help, but how can two ordinary working-class women with limited means make a difference? Together with their beloved opera community, the sisters devise a plan to personally escort Jewish refugees from Germany to England. The success of the plan hinges on Ida and Louise’s ability to smuggle contraband jewelry and furs beneath the watchful eyes of the SS soldiers guarding various checkpoints. But how many trips can they make before someone blows a whistle? Or before the final curtain falls on G…

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The Opera Sisters

by Marianne Monson

Reviewer: Rachel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 18+

Overall Book Review:

The Opera Sisters by Marianne Monson is based on a little-known true story. This incredible tale is centered on two women and their desire to make a difference during World War II. To provide background information and setting for the story, Monson involves real historical characters, as well as a multitude of scenes, details, and facts. Thankfully, the book’s layout is intentional, with headings over different sections to provide clarity. Main characters Louisa and Ida are delightful and their love of opera is contagious. These hard-working sisters initially seem naive regarding world events, but soon take matters into their own hands. Monson writes with great detail and description, including loads of figurative language. Interspersed through the sisters’ narrative are heartbreaking accounts about the horror of war. The novel’s theme of the power of music – that it connects despite differences and comforts in times of hardship – is compelling and memorable. Monson includes a bevy of great resources at the end of the book, including an afterword, Author’s Note, discussion questions, recommended reading list, and notes from sources. The Opera Sisters is a story that needed telling and Marianne Monson was the right author for the job.

Review of an Advance Reading Copy from the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 1 mild obscenity; 1 derogatory name.

Violence/Gore: Several verbal threats included in opera lyrics; multiple secondhand reports of violence including suicide, a submarine torpedoed, casualties in war, religious persecution, bombings, beatings, the D-day battle, and life in concentration camps; multiple incidents of brief violence include bombings, physical violence against Jews, people forcibly taken from their houses; a few brief scenes of property destruction due to bombings; several non-detailed scenes of violent death including suicide, bombings, and murder; several brief, yet intense scenes of violence involving Kristallnacht, murder, life in concentration camps, Pearl Harbor and Dunkirk.

Sex/Nudity: A few sexual references are made in opera performances and/or lyrics.

Mature Subject Matter:

World War II, Pearl Harbor, Kristallnacht, Anti-Semitism, Jewish persecution and programs, book burnings, round-ups and concentration camps, smuggling, suicide, murder, propaganda.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Characters drink wine during a conference and dinner party, character jokes about having a drink, sangria is drunk at dinner.

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
3
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
6
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
2
10

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About the Reviewer

Rachel
My mother was the one who sparked my love of books. Long before school instruction, she sat me down and taught me to read. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and bookmobile to find great books. My first loves were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lingren. Now as a mom and speech pathologist, I am constantly looking for good, clean books to use at home and in therapy. I enjoy reading many different genres, but my favorites are usually historical fiction. I married my best friend, the “boy next door”, and we have a beautiful little girl who we often find sprawled out on the floor, flipping through picture books. Together our family likes to swim, run and play tennis. Besides reading, I also love to bake, garden and travel.

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