Bold, Bright Spirit: a compelling story of courage and resilience in World War II

By: Martin Lake

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Nine-year-old Oscar Rosenfeld chases his runaway kitten, delighted to be outdoors after months of being cooped up in a small Viennese apartment. His parents and sister Miriam race after him in alarm. He immediately runs into two policemen who catch hold of him. But they have no intention of returning him safely to his family. Their faces contort in disgust and rage. For Oscar has Down’s Syndrome and as such is targeted by the Nazis for extermination. Oscar’s parents fight to save him, their father is killed and their mother is beaten to the ground. Her last words to Miriam are to take Oscar and flee.

Miriam is only fourteen years old, a young, unworldly Jewish girl in a regime which considers her an enemy. She is traumatised and alone but swiftly makes a desperate and courageous decision. She and Oscar embark on a journey across the continent to an aunt they have never seen. It calls on all of her remarkable intelligence, resourcefulness and determination, all her boldness and spirit. Every step they take is dogged by the menace of an ever-expanding Nazi empire.

She finds her aunt in Athens but all too soon the Nazis conquer Greece. Miriam and Oscar escape to Crete but within days have to flee again, eventually reaching safety in Egypt. But finally, when she believes that that they are safe, Miriam agrees to return to Germany to discover the secret of the Nazi’s terror weapons. And there she discovers something that will haunt her for ever.

“Bold ,Bright Spirit” by Martin Lake

A powerful and moving WWII story that gripped me from the first page. I was deeply touched by the courage of a young girl , not yet 18 , who risked everything to protect her brother with mental challenges after the parents were brutally killed by the Nazis . Heartbreaking yet inspiring , this book stays with you long after you finish it.

Fantastic

This is the best ww2 book I have read this year so far. I hate that it’s over……..now I have to wait for the second book to be delivered since audio don’t have it.

Adventure

believable adventure during wwII..gripping...edge of seat story. will recommend to friends. moving on to the next book.

Intelligence and Bravery of Miriam, plus her dedication and love of her family especially Oscar.

The whole story was moving reflective of what it was like during WWII for the Allies and especially the Jews.

Everything Falls Into Place too Conveniently

An interesting story, but it lacks believability. Every crisis has a too convenient solution. The virtual voice can't get things quite right, so listeners must be willing to tolerate mispronounced words, odd rhythms, and strange inflections in sentences.