Return of the Swallows

Hamburg, 1938.
Fifteen-year-old Asta and her twin brother, Jürgen, are rushing home from school. The atmosphere in the city is tense – the synagogues have been devastated, and Asta doesn't smile as much as she used to. She's too afraid.
When a friend stops her and Jürgen on the street, the world she knew shatters. German soldiers have dragged their Jewish parents out into the street by force, and if Asta and Jürgen go home, they too risk arrest.
Asta has no time to process the painful loss of her parents, knowing she must flee. With her beloved brother, she embarks on a harrowing journey across Germany to Denmark, to their only living relative, Aunt Trine, whom they have never even met.
Squeezed into a van with other refugees, she prays for a miracle for herself and Jürgen. Crossing the border is a crime punishable by death, and eventually, she and Jürgen must travel on foot through the snow-covered forests between Germany and Denmark. When armed soldiers with dogs catch Jürgen, Asta manages to escape, and all she can do is cling desperately to hope. One day, she will find her twin, her other half, again. No matter what it costs…
A gripping and poignant story that will break your heart and give you hope. Fans of Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah, and Catherine Hokin will be enthralled by the story of a brave brother and sister seeking refuge in the darkest times of our history.