This historical fiction novel takes place at the end of World War II in Germany. Jutta Neumann and her three small boys escape the destruction of the American and British bombings of Berlin. They take refuge with a family member near the Baltic Sea. When the Russians advance from the East, they escape once again, ending up in Mecklenburg, Northern Germany, at a cloister, under the protection of nuns. Soon the Russians occupy the village and Jutta and her children are trapped. With her husband, a surgeon and a POW in the Soviet Union, Jutta must learn to fend for herself. Thus begins a life of hand to mouth existence. When an American family offers to send food and clothing in packages, Jutta has hope that her children will not starve to death or go in rags. A bond of friendship develops and grows between Jutta and the American mother, with the arrival of each package. Jutta's poignant letters tell the history of East Germany, the hopelessness, the fear, and the extreme measures a family must endure in the aftermath of war. Once her husband, Joachim, finally returns from the war, the two continue to protect and shield their children from the harsh realities of the Commmunist state. The power of love shines through in their otherwise gray and frightening world. The author is grateful to her Mother for her foresight in saving all the letters sent to her by Jutta Neumann. Through the letters and interviews with the adult children, the author was able to piece together this novel.
About the Author: Carol Grandin has lived in Germany, is proficient in the language and has had a life-long interest in German history and culture, especially relating to World War II and its aftermath. Her interest extends from the academic to the personal level, as is clear in this novel about an East German family helped by her mother in the postwar years. Packages from America is her first novel and is dedicated to her mother. Carol's background and expertise in historical fiction extended through her career as an elementary school educator. Her first love as a teacher was reading and children's literature. She developed and taught a special integrated five-month unit on Black History, from African slavery to the Civil Rights Movement. She is currently writing a book for school children about slavery in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Carol lives in Rhode Island with her husband, John, a retired Professor of German language and literature. Part of every summer is spent in Maine at a cottage she and John are renovating. This allows her time to visit with long-time friends and extended family members, and to write. In her free time Carol loves to spend time with her three grandchildren. She also loves to read historical fiction and maintains a family tradition of gardening.