The Italian Ballerina
A World War II Novel
by Kristy Cambron
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Pub Date Jul 12 2022 | Archive Date Aug 12 2022
Thomas Nelson--FICTION | Thomas Nelson
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Description
At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save innocent lives in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon.
Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy's Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness sweeping through the quarantine wards--a fake disease known only as Syndrome K--she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Jewish Italians from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. Soon a little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, and Julia is determined to reunite the young dancer with her family--if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.
Present Day. Delaney Coleman recently lost her grandfather--a beloved small-town doctor and World War II veteran, so she returns home to help her aging parents. When a mysterious Italian woman reaches out claiming to own one of the family's precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to travel to Italy and uncover the truth of her grandfather's hidden past. With the help of the woman's skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question.
Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of World War II Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving a single life can impact countless others.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780785232193 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 384 |
Featured Reviews
Kristina B, Reviewer
The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron is another brilliant example of her historical dual timeline stories. I have fallen in love with her writing style, her deep understanding of historical events and how they impacted people's lives, and her challenging spiritual arcs. I cannot pick which timeline I fell in love with more–the contemporary or historical–as the characters are so incredibly written and full of life. As usual, she does an excellent job of blending the years between the stories, bringing the past to life in the present, and delicately intertwining the frailty of the past with the realities of the present.
This story is beautiful in its exposure of the goodness in humanity and the persistence of life to keep moving on despite the evil in the world. I fell in love with the story instantly. I hoped. I cried. I sighed as I closed the back cover. It will not disappoint.
For lovers of historical fiction/romance or dual timeline stories, this is a must-read and one of my favorites of 2022.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Jamie P, Librarian
Loved this books. Was able to get lost in the WWII world and vividly picture the scenes. a roller coaster of emotions and thoughts, but a totally enjoyable ride!
Sheila S, Reviewer
The Italian Ballerina was such a moving novel. There was so much that was unique about this World War II novel. I've been reading many books from this time period and this novel clearly shone above many others. It is a time lapse novel from Rome 1943 to present day. The time shifts were easy to follow. The characters were very much the highlight of the novel. The "band of heroes" as they are referred to are two American soldiers and an English ballerina. They do the very unselfish act of helping Italian Jews hide away from the Germans. The soldiers went into a war zone to save the life a young Italian Jewish girl. All of these people make up a puzzle that the later generation has to figure out.
This is my first Kristy Cambron novel and I can assure you it won't be the last. She has a beautiful, flowing writing style that completely immerses readers into another place and time. The emotions elicited from reading this novel are strong and heartfelt. Knowing that so many of these novels are based off of true events make the story even more intense. World War II was an ugly stain in world history but also brought out some of the most shining heroes ever found throughout time.
I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina to all adult readers. Reading this novel was an experience that will stay with me for a long time.
Reviewer 769752
Beautifully written. Kristy Cambron does a phenomenal job weaving this story about the harshness of war and the holocaust. I loved the side stories and how well she flipped between past and present. Highly recommend!
Becca P, Reviewer
The Italian Ballerina was a fabulous story. It's a split time novel set in 1943 and in present day.
I really liked this story. Historical fiction is a wonderful way to learn about hidden gems of history that you may know know. The way the author weaved the present and the past together create a compelling story.
I didn't know much about this "disease" and how it saved tons of Jewish people. It was well portrayed and I learned a lot.
I liked the family heirloom aspect of this as well. I always like a good mystery.
I recommend this book to my family and friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. I also purchased a copy for myself. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Lynn H, Reviewer
This is an excellent book! No other words needed! I really enjoyed reading this book! Thank you for a great book!
Christine P, Reviewer
This story was absolute amazing and enthralling. I was immersed in the story from the first page.
Cambron did such an amazing job telling the story of this group of Italians, stuck in Nazi-held Italy, and how they went against the grain to save innocents.
As I love books about this era, I'm always looking for some that take place outside of London. While those are vastly interesting to me, I find stories from behind enemy lines, so to speak, so much more gripping.
Seeing Italy from this perspective was thrilling.
I could not put this book down.
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