The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Title: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction

The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells the story of Lale, a prisoner in Auschwitz during World War II who managed to work his way to the more "privileged" position of Tätowierer (tattoo artist) - seemingly against the odds. He falls in love with a fellow prisoner, Gita, one of the first women he had to tattoo with a prisoner ID number. During their time at the camp, they find a way to maintain their romantic relationship amidst the suffering, loss, and hardships they had to endure. Their story shows the power of love and perseverance during times of extreme adversity. 

Please note: This is a fictionalized story based on a real couple's relationship during World War II. "Fictionalized" and "based" are the key words here, as there is some controversy surrounding some of the factual details recorded in the book. I'd recommend reading the book and then checking out this article, along with conducting some of your own research, to decide for yourself what you think about the changes that were made.

- Sarah P.

Check out The Tattooist of Auschwitz @ the library.

Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict

Title: Carnegie's Maid

Author: Marie Benedict

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction

Imagine that you are newly arrived ashore from Ireland and its grim poverty, and someone calls out your name as if they have been expecting you for a custom-made job... Would you take the bait even if you were not the person they were expecting? Young Clara Kelley does answer and is quickly whisked away to Pennsylvania. She has to quickly pretend that she knows how to be a ladies maid, and not only that, a good one for the exacting Mrs. Carnegie, mother of the self-made steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. The deception seems to be working until Mr. Carnegie develops feelings for Clara Kelley. What will her fate be when the high-society world into which she has moved finds out about who she really is?

- Elizabeth

Check out Carnegie's Maid @ the library.

The Importance of Being Kennedy by Laurie Graham

Nora Brennan, an Irish immigrant to America, has accepted the position of nurserymaid to Joseph and Rose Kennedy's nine children. As their nurserymaid Nora witnesses old Joe Kennedy as he grooms his sons for political office and sees how Rose prides herself on raising well-rounded, respected Catholic daughters, who will one day make wonderful wives. While the picture may look perfect from the outside, Nora's account of life with the Kennedys' shows that is anything but the truth as there is always some sort of malarky going on.

Much emphasis is given on the older Kennedy children including Joe, Jr., Jack, Rosemary, and Kathleen often known as Kick. Nora's not afraid to say it like it is personality tells stories of Joe, Jr. trying his best to impress his father, often to no avail. She tells how Jack is often not well, and spends much of his time seeing doctors and in bed recuperating from some sort of ailment. Nora's tells the heartbreaking story of her favorite Kennedy daughter Rosemary. Unlike the rest of her siblings, Rosemary worked tirelessly to keep up with constant knowledge the Kennedys prided themselves on. Often falling short due to a mental handicapher father had her lobotomized in the hopes of reducing the emotional outbursts she suffered from. Sadly the procedure left Rosemary in a worse state. Nora is the first to say how unfair it was that Rosemary was sent to an institution in Wisconsin and all butforgotten about. And finally, Nora freely discusses the rift that happened in the Kennedy family, when devout Catholic Kick married an English Protestant, resulting in Rose rarely speaking to her own daughter.

Though Nora Brennan is fictional, Graham's The Importance of Being Kennedy tells many true Kennedy stories with wit, charm, and humor in this book. For avid historical fiction fans or those fascinated by the Kennedy's this book is sure to be a wonderful read.