Ava and Shalom: Winner of the Kindle Book Award (Literary Fiction), Shortlisted for the Hemingway Book Award (Wartime Fiction)

“A deeply moving and truly unforgettable story of love and survival. A must-read that celebrates family, resilience, and the enduring power of hope!” – The International Review THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, TWINS AVA AND SHALOM ARE LED TO BELIEVE THEY ARE GERMAN . . . UNTIL ONE NIGHT THEY FIND OUT THE TRUTH . . . In the summer of 1921, outside the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Hanz Wolff finds twin baby girls in a wicker basket in his barn. Wrapped in woolen blankets embroidered with the Star of David, a note begs the German farmer and his barren wife to love and raise them as their own. Believing it to be a gift from God, the ecstatic couple keep the newborns’ Semitic heritage a secret, claiming that Maria had birthed them at home. The Wolffs live in familial bliss as the girls grow into lovely, intelligent young women, shielded from the smoldering hatred and discrimination toward the Jews and others in Nazi Germany. But when the outbreak of the Second World War plunges Europe into chaos and terror, that which is hidden is threatened to be exposed. One night a desperate Jewish woman comes to the farm, banging on the door, pleading for help to hide from the Schutzstaffel (SS) who have just slaughtered her entire family . . . It’s the girls’ birth mother! Soon secrets that have been long held for twenty years are revealed, profoundly altering everyone’s lives forever . . . From the award-winning authors of The Consequence of Anna comes a new, riveting WWII story about life before and during the Holocaust for Jewish twins, Ava and Shalom, raised as Germans. A heartbreaking yet triumphant tale of tragedy, bigotry, and hatred, superseded by love, art, and music, with many twists and turns leaving the reader breathless. A story that ultimately celebrates the true power of love, family, and the human spirit. Reader praise for Kate Birkin and her books . . . "Remarkable! An extraordinary writer tells an extraordinary story!" – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon "This is why I read, to find the exceptional. A classic in waiting!" – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon "Some writers have a special gift. This writer has it!" – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon "Absolutely brilliant. Never have I been so emotionally moved by words!" – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads "The characters come to life. Brilliant, beautiful, and poignantly written!" – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ BookBub View Less