Little Girl Lost (Richard & Judy's True)

Eva and Barbie's story are not unique among the thousands of displaced persons at the end of WWII criss-crossing what was left of Germany.

However, what makes this book unique is the child-like quality and perspective in which this story of a 7 year old on the road with her older sister is brought to our attention. There are no great analyses or delving into too many thoughts; how could one also remember everything from such a long time ago except those images which have burrowed themselves deep into the human emotion.

It is easy to read, even more so in the German translation, and one cannot put it easily down, so transfixing are the real-life adventures of the two girls. The book certainly also helped put in perspective aspects of some of my own family's war time stories.

I can recommend this tome as one of the interesting and personal footnotes of history. A story of individual stories that touched lives, told with simplicity, dignity and childlike innocence in a period when humankind was at its worst but also at its best.

Hungering for More Description (4/6 people found this helpful)

Something different from the usual child neglect and abuse novels, but not well written. The author has an interesting and unique plot about the long walk home during the last days of WWII in Germany. But she remains the good little girl by not describing in too much detail the emotions and hunger she felt, the deprivation and dirt, the slaughter and stench around she and her sister. She mentions these things, but it's all very clean, and I'm sure their walk was anything but clean. I would have rather been inside the child's head than observing from afar. And ... the end part about her son and other family really isn't part of the story, and would have been better reserved for the author's annual Christmas letter to friends.

An amazing true story of courage (1/1 people found this helpful)

This isn't normally the type of book I would pick up but I was given it as a gift. Once I'd started it, I couldn't put it down. What an unbelievable experience to go through at such a young age. It was like being on an emotional rollercoaster and I was relieved to make it to the end. The story stayed in my mind for many days after and I have talked about it alot since. This should be on the curriculum - today's mollycoddled have-it-alls could learn something about humility and selflessness.

A lesson (1/1 people found this helpful)

I read this book and cried a few times. It was so well written, you could almost feel the tension and the fear of a very scary time. I found my heart beating a bit faster and hoping that Barbie and her sister were safe. As one of the previous reviews said, you learnt more about the difficulties of war reading this book than any of the history books or lessons learnt at school.
Thank you for sharing your story and for being part of our history.

Excellent (6/6 people found this helpful)

A powerful book that makes you think. All I have learnt about the War is at school and mostly the politics of it. This book doesn't provide you with politics or a story of the war with details of events (and the author makes this clear) but something much more powerful, a personal and true insight into the terror, unimaginable situation which war inflicts and the power of human sprit. It is hard to believe that a seven year old had to endure so much and I have the utmost respect for Barbie and her sister Eva. The story of Barbie is gripping and written well in my opinion. Additionally unlike many of the 'Richard and Judy' books which I don't enjoy I believe this is wholly worthy of 5/5 stars.

Barbie Probert-Wright, Jean Ritchie

Reader Reviews:

The Hour of the Women (1/1 people found this helpful)

Hungering for More Description (4/6 people found this helpful)

An amazing true story of courage (1/1 people found this helpful)

A lesson (1/1 people found this helpful)

Excellent (6/6 people found this helpful)

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