The True Story of Hansel and Gretel

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel takes place in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, where two Jewish children are left by their father and stepmother at the edge of a forest. The children adopt new non-Jewish names - Hansel and Gretel - to survive. A woman known as "the witch" takes the children into her isolated forest cottage, risking her life to hide them from German patrols. The narrative follows both the children's struggle and their father's parallel journey as he tries to stay alive and reunite with them. This reimagining of the classic fairy tale incorporates real historical elements of the Holocaust and Polish resistance movement. The forest setting serves as both refuge and threat, while villagers and soldiers move through the story as helpers or hunters. The novel explores themes of identity, survival, and the power of storytelling to preserve truth in times of darkness. It demonstrates how fairy tales can be vessels for carrying difficult histories forward.

Readers describe this as a dark, haunting Holocaust retelling that brings historical weight to the fairy tale. The book maintains a 4.16/5 rating on Goodreads from 12,000+ ratings and 4.5/5 on Amazon from 800+ reviews. Readers praise: - The balanced blend of fairy tale elements with historical reality - The authentic portrayal of Polish village life and resistance fighters - Strong character development, especially Magda the witch - The author's ability to handle brutal subject matter without sensationalism Common criticisms: - Too graphic and violent for some readers - Several reviewers found the first 50 pages difficult to get through - Some felt the fairy tale connection felt forced at times Many readers note this is not a book for everyone due to its dark themes. As one Goodreads reviewer stated: "This isn't a retelling meant to entertain - it's meant to make you think and remember." Multiple reviews mention needing breaks while reading due to the emotional intensity.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A young girl navigates Nazi Germany while living with a foster family who harbors a Jewish man in their basement.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys A Lithuanian teenager and her family face deportation to Siberian work camps during Stalin's cleansing of the Baltic region.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne The son of a Nazi commandant befriends a Jewish boy through the fence of Auschwitz, leading to consequences neither child comprehends.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay A modern journalist uncovers the story of a Jewish girl who locked her brother in a cupboard to protect him during the 1942 Paris roundups.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr The paths of a blind French girl and a German boy intersect in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

🌲 Though set during WWII, the novel reimagines the classic Grimm Brothers' tale by having a Jewish brother and sister adopt "Hansel" and "Gretel" as their names to hide their identities while fleeing the Nazis. 🏠 Author Louise Murphy spent three years researching the Białowieża Forest in Poland, where much of the novel takes place. This forest is one of the last remaining parts of the primeval forest that once stretched across Europe. ✡️ The novel draws parallels between the witch's oven from the original fairy tale and the crematoriums of Nazi concentration camps, creating a haunting connection between folklore and historical tragedy. 📚 Murphy was inspired to write the book after learning about Jewish children who survived the Holocaust by living in the forests of Eastern Europe, often helped by local villagers who risked their lives to protect them. 🎭 The character of "the witch" is transformed from a villain into Magda, a folk healer who becomes the children's protector, subverting traditional fairy tale expectations while highlighting the complex nature of human goodness during wartime.