The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy
In 1993, middle-aged Clara Vogel is in search of her father’s identity. Her late mother spoke little about her experience in wartime Germany, but she left one clue—a rare porcelain Viking. During the 1920s, Bettina Vogel is a freewheeling artist in Weimar Germany when she meets Jewish Austrian student Max Ehrlich. They build a life together as the Nazis rise to power. When the couple’s attempt to escape Germany is thwarted, they are separated. Max is transported to Dachau and is eventually sent to the Allach porcelain factory on the concentration camp’s grounds to work as a sculptor, while Bettina is quickly married to a Nazi officer who encourages her interest in art as long as she keeps her work socially acceptable. But Bettina’s rebellious spirit lives on, and an unexpected reunion with Max leads to a shocking collaboration that alters their future. With its well-researched plot, engaging characters, and dramatic twists, Freethy’s debut works as both a World War II love story and a testament to the ability of art to speak truth to power. Readers of Heather Morris and Kelly Rimmer will be captivated. — Nanette Donohue (Reviewed 10/15/2023) (Booklist, vol 120, number 4, p29)