The novel opens with Cato Bontjes van Beek's standing in Berlin's notorious Alexanderplatz Prison in March of 1943. Cato stands beneath a tiny barred window of her jail cell, pondering how she received a conviction of treason against Hitler. She quietly retrieves a flower her mother placed on her clean laundry. Friedman describes Cato's isolation and longing for human company, and her hope that her death sentence will be commuted to life in prison. Cato copes by singing and waiting daily for the sunlight to shine through her tiny window.
Friedman flashes back to 1920. She introduces Cato's parents and their families. She describes their backgrounds and lets readers know how Cato entered her warm, noisy, and exhilarating family on November14, 1920.
Friedman takes readers through Cato's life, showing in many ways that she.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 366 words. This
Short Guide contains 3,087 words (approx. 10 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Short Guide with our Flying against the Wind: The Story of a Young Woman Who Defied the Nazis Access Pass.
