Survival. It whispers throughout this novel. It speaks to the reader to marvel at the spirit that drives you to love enough to send your child to the unknown. It lifts you through its words to moments when surrender means defeat. It celebrates the heart in those moments when peace is no longer an illusion. A masterful take of devotion. Happy reading

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the e-ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Allende for years, although her work tends to be a little uneven. She has an amazing ability to pull together interesting connections and issues into her narratives, and here she does it again by connecting a child separated from his parents as they attempt to save him from the Nazis and a young girl torn from her family at the US/Mexican border while seeking asylum.

I really really wanted to enjoy this book, unfortunately the style was not for me. This novel feels like it was rushed to publication. The writing, like all Allende’s work, is strong, however it is missing the character development and heart that I have so enjoyed in her other work. This book is full of exposition in place of creating a solid and engaging world. There are lots of “however”s and “but”s and long passages explaining the immigration systems or Nazi systems when the story itself is a better teacher. Because of the heavy exposition we are only given short scenes of mainly dialog, each of these scenes is crafted to sell the POV of the book instead of building characters that will show us the way. This book is a missed opportunity. It reads like a really really long treatment more than a finished narrative, which is too bad.

If lots of exposition doesn’t bother you, then you may like this book. It has a lot of potential. I am a show me don’t tell me person so it just didn’t fit my reading.

I made it to 40% in this novel. I really enjoyed the beginning storyline but when it go to more present times the authors constant insertion of personal politics made me stop reading.

I read fiction for entertainment and maybe to learn about another time and place. The world is a confusing place right now and the last thing I want is a lecture from an author.

I will always appreciate Ms. Allende's writing but I hope her next book is written without any political leanings.

Since I did not finish this novel I will not post my review on any purchasing sites.

Thank you Netgalley and random house publishing group for providing me an arc.

This story is about stolen innocence and children having to find their way in life. Children are forced to rely on strangers for food or shelter. They maybe hopeless but Allende shows us that we are not lost because “the wind knows us”. Allende is able to balance emotional pain by showing us how the characters are resilience. It’s a moving story, drawing parallels between humanitarian crises in different times and places.
I don’t think this will be one of my favorite novels from Isabel Allende, I enjoyed her writing and I feel many readers will find the topics to be highly relevant and relatable. Very happy I got the chance to read this before publication.

I have to applaud the author for taking on the current immigration crisis in our country with our politically charged environment. Using two different timelines Isabel Allende writes about the pain and hardship of the children sent to England by their parents during WWII to escape the atrocities of the war while giving them what they felt was the best chance for survival. She also takes on the current border crisis and the devastating effect on the children. A little more character interaction with a little less description would have been my preference but overall it is a poignant book that needs to be told. ##TheWindKnowsMyName #IsabelAllende
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CONTENT WARNING: antisemitism, death, suicide, violence, depiction of Kristallnacht and a pogrom, mention of rape, discussion of genocide, racist microaggressions, mention of a massacre, trauma, xenophobia, blood, mention of torture, mention of alcoholism, mention of domestic violence, grief, forcible separation of children from their parents, racism, sexual assault of a child

I’ve been a fan of Isabel Allende since I read The House of the Spirits, and I discovered an author who could actually make me enjoy magical realism. And I know it’s a bit early since this novel doesn’t release until June, but it’s Women’s History Month, and what better way to celebrate than to read a book written by Latin America’s first successful female authors? So I naturally went into this with high expectations.

The book starts out in Vienna, on the eve of Kristallnacht. We’re introduced to the Adlers, a small Jewish family with a five-year-old son, Samuel, who is a violin prodigy. Allende quickly introduces the sweeping changes that have occurred in Vienna after the Germans have come and taken over, and takes the reader through the traumatizing events of Kristallnacht. While Dr. Adler is seriously injured in the pogrom, and in the hospital afterwards, Mrs. Adler and Samuel are protected by a neighbor. Mrs. Adler does everything she possibly can to secure visas out of the country for the three of them, but ultimately is only able to get Samuel out of Austria, on the last Kindertransport to England.

Samuel arrives in England at a young age, alone and a refugee in a country where he doesn’t speak the language and has no idea what is happening. There weren’t any counseling services available, and he just did his best to fit in and make his new life work by pushing everything down and retreating farther into himself. It wasn’t until years later that he actually found out what had happened to the rest of his family, but by then he was already working to build his own life.

We’re then introduced to Leticia, a young girl in El Salvador. She was suffering from a health issue and finally was able to seek treatment at a distant hospital. Her father brought her there, and since they were away from their village, they were the only survivors of the El Mozote massacre. She and her father then made their way to the United States, where they slowly rebuilt their life.

Finally, we meet Anita. She’s a blind seven-year-old girl who fled to America with her mother in an attempt to seek refuge from violence. However, the restrictive policies at the US border led to the traumatic separation of Anita from her mother, and she was thrust into a system that wasn’t prepared to handle her appropriately.

I could see early on the parallels in each of these stories—three children fleeing violence and certain death in their home countries and seeking refuge in different countries, where they weren’t always welcomed with open arms. However, I didn’t realize how closely intertwined these stories would become. I loved how the stories wove together from three separate tales into a single storyline.

This isn’t an easy story to read. It talks about the long-lasting effects of trauma and the unique ways in which people cope with it. For Samuel, his music was his means of escape. Anita uses a magical world that she created using her imagination. And for Leticia, she copes by simply not thinking about it, much like her father. However, each of them are affected differently, and were exposed to different levels of violence and threats. I especially liked the chapters from Anita’s point of view, which provided insight into her mindset and were more of a stream of consciousness narrative, while Samuel’s were somewhat reflective, looking back over the years of his life.

The portrayal of a character with a disability was done beautifully in this book. Anita was never babied, and was depicted as an independent character, specifically saying “I can do it myself.” I liked seeing the way that the people around her didn’t underestimate her abilities simply because she was visually impaired, but instead found ways to work with her disability and allowed her to still learn how to do many things on her own. In addition, instead of doing things for her, they rearranged her living environment to be more suitable for her needs, demonstrating a respect for her that was a beautiful thing to see.

This was a quick read that I found myself engrossed in. I liked seeing what was going on through the eyes of the different characters, and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next, and what would ultimately happen to Anita. There are some mild elements of magical realism in the story as well, with a clairvoyant grandmother in the story, and possibly some psychic abilities in one of the characters, although this isn’t delved into in detail. There are also some ghosts that are mentioned, although they don’t play a major role in the story. However, I struggled to feel emotionally connected to some of the characters, and felt most connected to Anita and Selena, but overall this was still a good read that I’d recommend.

I was able to read this in advance of publication thanks to Netgalley! I was super excited to read this book, as I love Isabel Allende's intricate storytelling. Overall, I liked the story and the interweaving and parallel storylines. However, I felt the style this time was different than some of her previous works in a way that was jarring and at times detracted from the story. Usually I feel Isabel Allende's stories develop the characters deeply and we see who they are through their stories; this story relied heavily on the characters having dialogue with each other and telling each other who they are, which I tend to find way less interesting and painfully obvious instead of the subtle art of storytelling. Overall, i enjoyed the story, but definitely enjoyed Samuel, Leticia and Anitas POV chapters way more than Selena's.

The Wind Knows My Name is a powerful, heartfelt book that brings together the past and present day. Samuel Adler is 6 years old in 1938 Vienna, a Jewish boy during the start of WW2. His mother secures a spot on the Kindertrain sending him to safety in England.

2019 Arizona, Anita Diaz is a seven-year-old girl seeking refuge with her mother in the United States, They are torn apart and separated at the border.

Isabel Allende masterfully tells their stories. She develops vivid characters that draw you in. Although rooted in tragedy, we witness the resilience of these children, and the adults willing to risk all to help them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

4.5 stars

Isabel Allende has such a way with words. So many of her books are evocative- full of feeling and poetry and characters that draw you deep within the novel. This book is no exception. It is utterly engaging with characters that grab you by the throat and at various points have you choking back tears. She uses the connection of separation from one's parents to highlight the problems that arise from this horrible tragedy. To that end she begins the book with Kristallnacht in 1938 Vienna where a young boy is sent on the Kindertransport, without his parents, to England so that he might be safe from the Nazis. Contrasting with the above scenario, is a young blind girl who tries to escape from El Salvador over the Mexican border but is detained and separated from her mother. A determined social worker and pro bono lawyer diligently attempt to locate her mother while the child is shunted from shelters to foster families.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I don’t think it was one of her best. Connecting the two themes felt like a stretch although it is neatly tied at the end. Allende uses the novel to highlight the injustice in the border “situation” and exposes the difficult work trying to reunite families. She also takes the opportunity to rage against the presidential policies on border issues. The pages do turn themselves, however, culminating in a solid 4 stars out of 5.

What a beautiful novel of a young Jewish boy separated from his family as part of the kindertransport and a young girl separated from her mother as they fled El Salvador. 80 years separate their stores, but Isabel Allende manages to to interweave them into a tale of lost innocence of a child and them finding a new path in life. I had to force myself to put it down to sleep I loved it so much.

Thank you @netgalley and Random House for this ARC of #thewindknowsmyname in exchange for my honest opinions.

Themes: 🗣️multiple narrators, 🔀interwoven stories, 🇺🇸🇦🇹🇸🇻, 👧🏻👦🏻🎻

My thoughts: 🙂😢😩😊

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Samuel is separated from his mother whom he never sees again when he travels to England on a Kindertransport. Anita, a blind child, fleeing from El Salvador to the U.S. border, is separated from Marisol, her mother, whom she never sees again. Selena, an advocate for forgotten women and their seized children, enlists Frank, a high profile lawyer, to get involved.in Anita’s case. Samuel, now an old man, is widowed and living with his devoted housekeeper, Letecia, during the pandemic. He has his whole life carried a WW I military medal, his talisman. Anita has carried her belief that she is not lost because the wind knows her name. These two abandoned and abused children from different eras have so much in common. Can their sad stories somehow weave together? Can they help one another find a special land that can only be seen with the heart? Isabel Allende has given us a true tapestry of beauty in her latest work.

Such a poignant rendering of the effects of war and immigration on children in WWII and present day. It's also a story of what mothers will do for their love of the children. I plan to buy and recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for a ARC of this book!

I was so excited to read this book, I just love Isabel Allende's stories. I love that she can write about an entire life, and she is so great about weaving details into the story that will show up later. She has such a way with words. I was so looking forward to that in this book, and while she delivered a moving story, I felt that it was missing a lot of details and storylines that could have been included. It felt rushed at the end, and I could have gone on and on. It was as if I received an abridged version.

This is a story of a young boy displaced from his home and family during WWII and how his life eventually intersects with a young girl who has lost her mother in their desperate attempt for asylum in the US. They are connected by the girl's cousin, who experienced her own horrific tragedy as a child (but also at the hands of governmental forces out of her control).

There was just so much potential for this book. So many characters were introduced and then killed or left by the wayside. I loved what was there, but it could have been so much better. Still a 4/5 stars because Allende really is just a master

I usually avoid reading any books that have anything to do with the holocaust because they are too real, and painful, for me to handle. It is a raw feeling as if I have been there, although I haven't. I am not even Jewish.
I did visit the holocaust museum in DC and I was changed by it.
Either way, I am too sensitive for these books.
I did read this one. I will read anything Isabel Allende writes for the rest of my life. The writing in this book is so beautiful.
I want to thank the author for introducing me to El Mozote. I think that is why I love Allende so much. The research is unmatched and at times I feel like she is channeling people who actually lived through these things.
I love how she brought the events forward to show us what is happening at the border.
This is a truly wonderful read for learning and empathy building, but it is also a really great novel in general.

Another beautiful book by Allende. The story of an immigrant mother and daughter and what happens to them after they illegally come to America.
4 stars!

I really adored this book by Isabel Allende. As always, Isabel always writes unbelievable stories. The book shows a few characters in each perspective. In the past Samuel had to go through tough times as well in the present Anita. It also talks about war, separation, immigration and everything else. Thanks to the publishers of Random House and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for a review.

I absolutely loved this book. I’m a firm believer that more books like this one need to be written, published, and read. The stories in this book were heart wrenching but so full of hope and love.

In the beginning, I didn’t realize that the characters in the different stories would meet. Their encounter happens late in the book but is worth the wait. Like other books by this author, this is a story about family (in this case, found family). I fell in love with every member of this unconventional family. Various characters in this Allende book are refugee immigrants. Each character has their own unique experience. However, each character’s story is about bravery and perseverance. Anita’s story, of course, was the most compelling.

I’m excited to see more authors write and publish stories like this. I think it’s crucial that authors raise awareness of important human rights issues, like the treatment of immigrants in the US. I would recommend this book to anyone who can read.

Allende is one of my favorite authors of all time and I am not disappointed by this novel. Her fiction generally has a lot of magical realism woven within, but this one has only a sprinkling. It's takes a back seat to important humanitarian issues - improper treatment of immigration detainees as well as violence, particularly against women, in Central and South America.
The book outlined the plight from several points of view and is never preachy. Allende simply points out facts in ways that engage you and touch your heart.
This is a don't miss, for sure.

Isabel Allende has done it again. She effortlessly pieces together three beautiful but tragic stories in such a magical way. You can tell she did her research, especially regarding El Salvador. I was downright impressed, especially since our stories are very seldom told. Such an impactful story!

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Some books move slow or are hard to begin. This is not one of them, but the first page I was obsessed and in these worlds she created. I was also angry. At the treatment of Jews in Nao Europe, at the CIA meddling in Central America, at the separation of children at the border, at human cruelty, how children in the system suffer. And that this book was over. When I turned the page and saw the story was done, I was upset that I won't know what happens to the characters, I don't get to see them or learn more about them. It is a satisfactory ending, she wraps everything up, leaves no ends dangling, concludes all, but this was such a world full of sadness, fear, love, support, found families. Not one I was happy to be suddenly kicked out of,

I could be convinced to give this 4 stars-- the chapters told by the kid were skimmable and while I am sure her imaginary world held great symbolism, I wanted the main story,. But for me a 4 star book is one you enjoy reading but a 5 star book sticks with you, makes you look at the world differently, changes your life a bit and this book does.

I always find I either love Allende books or can skip them. This one falls in the love category, I've read some stinker books lately and this one restores my hope that great books exist.