The Baker’s Secret, by Stephen P. Kiernan (2017)
The Baker’s Secret takes place in the small coastal town of Vergers in Normandy during World War II in the years before D-Day. The novel focuses on Emmanuelle, known as Emma, who learned how to bake as an apprentice to “Uncle” Ezra. After the town came under Nazi occupation, Ezra was shot and killed for being a Jew.
Emma was then ordered to bake 12 loaves of bread each day for the Nazi soldiers occupying the town. Food for the villagers was scarce, but Emma was given an extra ration of flour for her bread. Emma found that, with her extra rations, and by stretching the dough with ground straw, she could meet her daily quotient for the occupiers, with extra loaves to share with the villagers. By doing this, she also set up a secret network of bartering and exchange with the other villagers for supplies each needed for survival. She siphons off fuel from a Nazi officer’s motorcycle to provide additional fuel to the fishermen for supplying fish.
After Captain Thalheim commandeers her home, Emma and her grandmother find ways to adapt, while still quietly rebelling against the Nazi’s orders. While the town people continue to be optimistic that the Allies will come and save then, Emma feels no such hope. Still, she preservers and continues to do what she can to help her fellow townspeople.
As D-Day draws near, hope in the village seems to fade. This novel described the horrors of war, but also focused on the strength that keeps people alive when all seems lost.
This book was very well written.
Read: July 8, 2018
5 Stars
