My Long List of Impossible Things

Gr 9 Up–Sixteen-year-old Katja just wants to be a concert pianist, but it’s simply impossible. Living in post–World War II Germany under Russian occupation means that all energy is devoted to surviving. When Katja, her sister Hilde, and their mother are forced to leave their farm, they must rely on the help of distant relatives; but the journey is marked with tragedy and terror. As Katja and Hilde struggle to make themselves indispensable to their relatives, Ilse and Otto, Katja constantly gets into trouble for impulsive actions. The consequences are great as the Russians and Katja’s German neighbors are merciless. Throughout this, Katja and Hilde process the guilt of the German people for the actions of the Nazis and try to avoid the punishment of the Russians. Barker explores a difficult side of history, the treatment of German civilians after World War II, without resorting to making her characters stereotypically heroic or villainous. The brutality of life under occupation is not covered up, and rape, assault, and murder are discussed. For readers who enjoy complex explorations of the past, Barker’s characters and balance of history with fiction make this book a worthwhile read.