“The Girl from the Train” by Irma Joubert, originally published in Afrikaans in South Africa, is a beautiful and gripping love story that can now be read in English.
“Girl” is the story of young Gretl Schmidt, a World War II orphan taken in by young Jakob Kowalski, a member of the resistance fighting the Nazis in Poland. The novel follows their journey and sacrifices over the years, sending Gretl to South Africa in hopes of being adopted. We follow her through the years as she rises from the ashes of her past and becomes, eventually, a strong woman.
Joubert weaves an amazing story filled with redemptive messages — compassion; deciphering between a loving, forgiving God and a punishing God; lies and their impact and destructive force; truth and honesty with one’s self and others; second chances; love and sacrifice; and grace and forgiveness — God’s forgiveness, forgiving each other and forgiving one’s self.
As someone important in her life tells Gretl, “But I believe in a loving God, who, through grace, forgives us when we ask for forgiveness.”
The author beautifully develops the characters of Gretl and Jakob, as well as offering many delightful supporting characters. “The Girl from the Train” is a great historical fiction read that will stir your heart and, at times, bring tears to your eyes.
This book is set to be released Nov. 3
Five stars out of five.
Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.