There is an ongoing discussion in this country about how the ancestors of slavery view and deal with this American history. In a similar fashion, Curtis Urness’s novel, Stars and Crosses, addresses the issue of the Holocaust through the fictional children of that historic tragedy. It is presented in a very human and personal way, on one side, a Polish Christian, Chic, and the other a Polish Jew, Ruth. We learn through their relationship and questioning and reasoning that understanding the Holocaust from those that lived in the villages or towns is not that easy or can be defined in simple good vs. evil terms. Interspersed throughout the story are family, friends, and others whose involvement reveals feelings, biases, indictments, and vindications. Stars & Crosses shows us the hurtful remnants of a tragic event but also finds redemption as well.
