Title: The Letter CarrierAuthor: L.C. Lewis
Publication: July 20, 2022 by Willowsport Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Rating: 5/5★
When the German march across Europe reaches France, young Michelle Naget and her family join the throngs fleeing for safety. But their flight ends in capture by the Nazis, with one member of the family taken, while the rest of the family is sent back to their village of Braquis, France, to serve the enemy who has commandeered their home.
For the next four years, the Nagets live in the crosshairs of the enemy living under their roof and of the neighbors who question the family’s loyalties. Every day becomes a test of faith for Michelle–in God, in family, in the hope that the Allies will come, and in the letters from a young French rebel named Légère who promises Michelle that she will be free again.
But when the Nazis’ torment increases, and the razor-thin line between life and death narrows for the Nagets, the family’s motto, “We do what must be done,” and Michelle’s faith in God, give her the courage to face her enemy and do whatever she must to protect the family she loves.
“My name is Michelle Naget Rogers. I came here today to tell you a story. My story. A story I tell because I don’t want it to ever be your story.”
The Letter Carrier by L.C. Lewis is the story of Michelle Naget who was a French girl of only eleven years old when Nazi Germany invaded France. The Nazis not only took her country and village of Braquis but also her home where she and her family had to serve them. Told through the perspective of Michelle, the next four years describe her life through the occupation and how she survived.
I absolutely flew through this book and could hardly put my e-reader down. Every spare moment I had I needed to read in this book, even if it was only for a couple of chapters. I was both fascinated and horrified at everything Michelle and her family went through while their home was taken over by the Nazis. I can’t even imagine how scary that must’ve been like but that’s why these stories need to be continued being told, especially today.
The author’s writing was also really good. It really hooked me into the story and honestly never let me go. I enjoyed seeing Michelle growing up, although she had to grow up faster than would normally be the case. At one point she had to be a mail carrier and by doing that job she saw and heard a lot of horrible things as well. She dressed herself to look like a boy as much as she could for obvious reasons. She was such a courageous girl and her story was told in a well-written and realistic way. I’d highly recommend this book!
“If truth is the first casualty of war, then surely childhood and innocence are close behind.”
Left: A photograph of the real Michelle Naget
Right: A photograph of her home
Left: A photo of the church which is featured prominently in the book
Right: A sketch an American soldier made of Michelle
A newspaper clipping about Michelle telling her story to a school
About the author:
Laurie (L.C.) Lewis will always be a Marylander at heart—a weather-whining lover of crabs, American history, and the sea. She admits to being craft-challenged, and particularly lethal with a glue gun, It’s documented that she’s craft-challenged and particularly lethal with a glue gun, which is why she set her creative juices on writing which was less likely to burn her fingers. She’s also a devotee of sappy movies, fried chicken, and twinkle lights.
She’s a RONE Award Winner (The Dragons of Alsace Farm) and was twice named a New Apple Literary Award winner in 2017 (The Dragons of Alsace Farm), and in 2018, winning Best New Fiction (Love on a Limb.) She is also a BRAGG Medallion honoree, and she was twice named a Whitney Awards and USA Best Books Awards finalist.
Sounds really touching, and the pictures you added here just made me feel more emotional 🥺 Thanks for sharing about this, Stephanie!
The pictures make it all the more real!
You know what struck me reading your review: that there are children right now in Ukraine possibly going through the same kinds of things (or similar) that Michelle did. And that says enough about humanity, which is scary.
I was thinking the exact same thing. So many parallels!
This sounds amazing. I love stories like this that dive into the true horrors of war, even if they’re hard to read at times.
This is one of the less graphic books going into the horrors of war but still grips you anyway
The age of the main character is what strikes me – most of what I read about WWII is about adults, so it’s interesting and heartbreaking to read from a child’s perspective.
Exactly and that’s also why I put in that second quote. It’s so true.
Stephanie,
Thank you so much for reviewing “The Letter Carrier,” and for helping me keep my promise to Michelle to tell her story in the hope that it wouldn’t become anyone else’s story. As one of your followers said, sadly, it’s happening in Ukraine. Your review was so touching. I thank you so very much for your support and for all you do to bring readers and books together. Warmly, Laurie L.C. Lewis
You’re so sweet, Laurie! I will remember Michelle’s story for a long time. ♥
What a touching story. Children are so often the victims of war.
Sadly enough!
This brought back so many memories of The Von Trapp Family Singers (and also, The Sound of Music). A difficult but also a powerful tale.
This sounds like such a gripping, heart-wrenching read, and horrifying that it’s based on a real story.
This story does sound horrifying and the fact that it is based off of a real experience makes it even more so. It is amazing to me that children are so resilient and have to live through these things. I will have to keep an eye out for this one.