Across Great Divides is a timeless story of the upheavals of war, the
power of family, and the resiliency of human spirit. When Hitler came
to power in 1933, one Jewish family refused to be destroyed and defied
the Nazis only to come up against another struggle—confronting apartheid
in South Africa.
Sixteen-year-old Eva and her twin sister, Inge, witness their lives
in Berlin change before their eyes. Their best friend, Trudy, betrays
them when she becomes a member of the Hitler Youth. A valuable family
heirloom, a beautiful emerald and diamond pendant necklace, is
confiscated by the Nazis as they continue to harass Jewish families and
businesses.
Their younger brother, Max, a member of the underground resistance,
sees even greater danger ahead. Their father, Oskar, a diamond merchant
with a thriving business, refuses to leave his beloved Germany and
believes Hitler will eventually fail. Their mother, Helene, the elegant
matriarch of the family, holds her family together.
The family is conflicted whether they should leave home. But after
the devastation of Kristallnacht in 1938, they finally flee Germany with
the help of the underground resistance after hiding many diamonds. They
seek refuge in Antwerp, but war follows them as Belgium is occupied by
the Germans.
A young German man, a nun, a countess conspiring against the Nazis,
and a winegrower secretly hiding Jewish children, help them to escape
Europe. They hike over the Pyrenees Mountains while eluding German
patrols and Spanish informers. Then, they spend agonizing days on a ship
bound for Rio de Janeiro that is targeted by a German U-boat. As Rio’s
diamond business is corrupt, they decide to go to South Africa, another
diamond market.
In Cape Town, Eva encounters an impoverished colored woman, Zoe, who
is in need of work. The family hires Zoe as their maid and shields her
and her daughter, Zola, from the dangers they face in the slums of
District Six and from the horrors of apartheid, which are all too
reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
But, when Max gets into trouble with the South African police over
his participation in an anti-apartheid march, will he be subject to
imprisonment?
In a thrilling conclusion, the family comes to terms with the evils
of society, both in their memories and current situation in South
Africa.
Publication Date: June 19, 2013
Formats: Ebook, Paperback 223 Pages
Genre: Historical FictionFormats: Ebook, Paperback 223 Pages
Get your copy at AMAZON
Praise for Across Great Divides
“Monique Roy writes an rousing story about a Jewish family leaving
Germany during the start of WWII with the Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS) hot on
their tails. The author must have paid attention at SMU because her
prose is excellent.” – Rick O
“The story in this novel is its best feature. It’s a fascinating look
at one family’s survival of the Holocaust and their experiences on the
other side of the fence in apartheid South Africa. It’s that dichotomy
that makes this story so intriguing.” – Sarah Gruwell
“Across Great Divides” is a wonderful tale of resilience, family, and
following your moral compass. Author Monique Roy, based this inspiring
story on her own grandparents journey across countries, continents, and
beliefs to try and find safety from the Nazis. – Madame Librarian
About the Author
Monique loves writing that twitches her smiling muscles or transports
her to another time or place. Her passion for writing began as a young
girl while penning stories in a journal. Now she looks forward to
deepening her passion by creating many unique stories that do nothing
less than intrigue her readers.
Monique was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and her grandparents
were European Jews who fled their home as Hitler rose to power. It’s
their story that inspired her to write Across Great Divides, her debut,
historical fiction novel.
Monique holds a degree in journalism from Southern Methodist
University in Dallas and is also the author of a children’s book Once
Upon a Time in Venice. In her free time, she loves to travel, play
tennis, pursue her passion for writing, and read historical fiction. In
2008, she was chosen by the American Jewish Committee’s ACCESS program
to travel to Berlin, Germany, on the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht,
to explore German and Israeli relations along with 20 other Jewish
professionals from across the U.S.
