This is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a long time. The viewpoint was a bit different than what is usually written. It captivated me from the beginning.

“Look at them. They’re literally being worked to death.”

I don’t typically read historical fiction, and I certainly don’t read much World War II books because it just breaks my heart. However, every now and then I’ll give another try to historical fiction and every so often I’ll give a World War II book another shot.

So, apparently this was a debut novel, but it certainly didn’t read like one. It was very well written and researched with just enough facts and fiction to meld the story together.

It was so disheartening to read, but such a good book. I liked the perspectives. It was so very atmospheric. As a reader I could so clearly picture what was being described…the black rain/ashes, the poor conditions and abuse and mass murders. The scene with the little boy…where you didn’t even have to read what happened, because it was implied and was so heartbreaking.

The author delicately crafted this story taking you through each step the characters took and the series of events when their world changed.

WWII was such a disgusting and devastating time in history, it takes true talent to make the story come off the page in the way that Reit does in this book. It’s so heavy though I need a mushy light hearted romance to get me outta my sad head.

I definitely recommend this one.

*I received an audiobook copy of this book for my honest review from netgalley.com.

What a great book! I wasn't sure about this story when I first started it, as I have read so many different holocaust books over the years. Yet this book did something different. Not only did it give some context to what it must have been like when the Jews first tried to leave or deal with Nazis when they first started taking over Germany, it also gave a picture of what it was like for these refuges when they had to deal with the Germans moving over the European continent and the fear that must have existed after feeling relief from the freedom they had obtained. I also thought it was interesting to have included the parts about the camp in the Netherlands, which is not a camp that I have really read about. While many books deal with Auschwitz, and this book does a bit as well, I have never really read a book dealing with Jews who were in the "designer" transport camp in the Netherlands. I also enjoyed the story of rescue in Poland. I do wish that there had been a bit more of character development towards the end, but overall, I really enjoyed the book, and especially enjoyed the conclusion, and the hope that we were left with.

I am an avid reader of WWII historical fiction. However, his book introduced me to new aspects of the holocaust. I was interested in the author’s notes that some of the characters in the book were real people. I was not familiar with the Westerbork transition camp in The Netherlands. A tale of family and friendship as well as the ability to persist amidst an horrific situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Very poignant read. These books never get any easier to read. Once you begin you don’t want to put it down. Extraordinary lives how they made it through I’ll never know. Very well written

Beyond the Tracks by Michael Reit

The story starts in Berlin, Germany 1938

The city is painted in red Swastika banners, and soon everything starts to change for all Jewish citizens
as buildings are destroyed, houses are burned to the ground, and people are disappearing.

Jacob Kagan and his parents decides to pack all necessary belongings and tries to take the 1st train out of
Berlin. The end up in a Dutch refugee camp of Westerbork, were Jacob meets up with his best friend
from Berlin. Westerbork is transformed into a transit camp with weekly trains bound for the Eastern concentration camps.

Jacob tries everything in is power to keep his family and friend of the dreaded transport list. But how far is he willing to go, and how much is he willing to risk?

Thank you very much Netgalley and Michael Reit for this amazing but heart braking read.

This was a good read, one that showed one young boy's struggle to avoid the Nazi's detection at all cost and ensure his safety, away from the concentration camps, particularly Auschwitz. Jacob fled when he say his friends and neighbours disappearing from all around him. His escape took him to Holland but before long the Nazi invasion of Holland meant he wasn't safe there either. We meet Ethan too and many others, and we learn about their families and their lives as they pass through Westerbork, en route to other detention camps including the infamous Auschwitz. While the subject matter is grim, there was light to be found too between these covers and I did enjoy this account of one of the darkest times of the history of the modern world.

Interesting story about Dutch Jewish people and friendship during WWII. I was unfamiliar with any transport camps in Western Europe.

I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. Reit opened my eyes to transit camps which I knew little about. It’s over arching theme is about the perseverance of friendship and family. I truly enjoyed the authors notes and exploring more into the lives of the real people behind the historical fiction. A must read for historical fiction lovers!

A good story that talks about that I enjoyed reading. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Long a historical fiction fan, this is an outstanding WWII book telling about Jacob Kagan , and how he finds himself in the refugee work camp of Westerbork in the Netherlands. The struggle to stay alive is compounded by trying to not ending up on a transport to a concentration camp further east. Well written with memorable characters.

i really enjoyed reading this, the author was able to take a hard topic and create a respectable fictional book. I really enjoyed reading this.

Beyond The Tracks follows the story of Jacob and his family as they flee Germany for the Dutch immigrant camp- Westerbork. When the Germans invade the Netherlands, the camp becomes a transit camp and this is where the majority of the story takes place.

I’ve read a lot of historical fiction books about the Holocaust but this one was told from a new perspective for me.

I enjoyed the book although I did find the writing just a little bit stiff at times but it didn’t put me off. I was impressed that this was the Authors debut novel, It was clear a lot of time and research was put in to this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

An incredible tale, especially important as only by remembering festivities of the past can we move forward in our views and prevent similar occurrences in the present or future.

Jacobs tale is an extremely emotional abolishment one. Forced to flee their lives through what is essentially extreme prejudice that has been allowed to rise to toxic levels, they suffer repeatedly as they struggle to find accolade where all they wish forbid to be able to live their lives peacefully.

A very important and interesting story, it really makes you think about all the atrocities that happened disingenuous period of time, and the importance of remembering and not simply striving to forget.

This is a brilliant story about life as a Jew during the Second World War.
Jacob lives with his family and helps his father run his own pharmacy until the Germans decide the Jews are not allowed to run their own businesses.
Jacob and his family decide it’s time to flee Germany and after a very stressful time, they eventually board a train to the Netherlands.
They live in a camp which at first has a village atmosphere but soon the Germans take over and it’s a work camp used as a point of transit to get Jews to the concentration camps.
I loved the way Jacob never gave up and always found a way to help others and make the best of the situation.
Whilst this isn’t a true story the author did a lot of research and some characters were real.
I really enjoyed this book and would like to thank NetGalley Connect for the opportunity to read this book.

What happen to the Jewish communities in WWII must never be allowed be to forgotten. This was a story told from a new perspective for a me. A man. This tells of how harrowing life was . It also reminds us that family and friendships are everything.
A must read. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review

This book was a really interesting read. Beyond the Tracks gives insight to the Holocaust in a different way than I expected. The family ties and bonds of friendship show just how much pain and suffering individuals went through during the Holocaust.

This book shows tremendous research from the author and I'm looking forward to reading future books.

I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Germany is a terrifying place in 1938 and when people start disappearing in nightly raids, a young Jacob Kagan flees the country alongside his parents and finds himself in the Dutch refugee camp Westerbork. But he can only avoid the Nazis for so long and this book asks the question how far is he willing to go to save himself, his parents and best friend?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys books about the Holocaust or WWII stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Reit for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

#BeyondtheTracks #NetGalley

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for this book--this review is based purely on my honest opinion.

The story is set during the Nazi era. Jacob Kagan is a German Jew living in Berlin and he and his father are running their family pharmacy in Berlin. On the night of Kristallnacht, their pharmacy was nearly destroyed and realizing that they are no longer safe in Berlin, moves to Amsterdam to start a new life. Jacob and his best friend, Ethan also a German Jew move to Westbrook, a Dutch labor camp for Jews. When the camp was taken over by the Nazis, both Jacob and Ethan were appointed in the Jewish police. Jacob would do anything to save his parents and his best friend at any cost.

I am always a fan of Holocaust fiction or anything that is based on WWII era books. This book, is based on true events--the Polish Home Front, some of the characters like Zofia, Marian and Antoni are real, though Jacob is a fictional character, as the author says. As usual, reading Holocaust books would make me emotional and sad, at how many Jewish people and others who opposed Nazis lost their lives during the war. I really like the character of Jacob--despite being a part of Jewish police, he was opposed to brutality and would do work hard to save the loved ones. I admire those types of brave and courageous character and I am sure, that at that time, there were Jewish men, just like Jacob. The appalling conditions and descriptions of the train ride to Auschwitz was too real, cramped in a cattle car with people having no idea that they are being taken to the death. I also admire how Zofia and Marian, two Polish people would risk their own lives to save some of the Jews from the Auschwitz--I admire their bravery. The writing was flowing, making the reader transport back to those terrible times.

I would say, since this is the debut book of this author, he did a good job writing this book. He had done tremendous research, making the fiction into a reality thus transporting the reader back to those times. The horrendous conditions at the camp, particularly at Auschwitz, the harsh treatments imposed on the prisoners, both by the Jewish kapos or police and the Nazis were sometimes a bit too emotional to read and disturbing but one has to remember, this really happened in real life. Overall, this book brought me an emotional roller coaster ride. A very touching story about friendship at hard times, about true real friendship, that a friend would do anything, even if it means risking their own life.

EMOTIONAL HOLOCAUST FICTION ABOUT FRIENDSHIP AND FAMILY

I read a lot of historical fiction about the Holocaust and WWII so I feel like I have pretty much seen it all. But here Reit gave me something new - he showed me new places, new fates and new themes. For a debut novel this was very strong and I am looking forward to reading more from Reit in the future.

👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍

Atypical: Like I said, I read a lot of historical fiction about the Holocaust and by far most of them have some sort of romantic angle or romance at the centre of the story. Sure, there was a bit of romance here, but it was only a drop in the bucket. The central themes here are friendship and family which really spoke to me. Another atypical thing about this story was the places it took place. Most of the book takes place in the transit camp Westerbork, a place I had actually never heard of before. It was really great to get to explore a new, unknown part of the tragedy of the Holocaust.

Real life: I was really excited to read the Author's note and find out, that several of the people in this book were actually real, historical people. That is always a really great touch and it made me want to learn more about them.

Emotions: I cried while reading this book. I cry a lot at many different things, but a book that can make me cry is always a hit. It means that the characters, the plot and the circumstances are getting to me and have affected me in some way. That is the beauty of reading if you ask me.