Franzisca’s Box is a story of war that affects three generations of women who will never find peace until they call for a ceasefire in their own wars and surrender to forgiveness and love.
Mystery, betrayal, murder, and passionate love were things Sofia Lazar only experienced as a movie producer. All of that changed after her grandmother’s sudden death when she comes face to face with an unwanted revelation contained in a tattered box. The meager contents of the box take her back to her childhood and the fantastic bedtime stories that Abuela, her grandmother, used to tell her of a heroic warrior girl named Franzisca. Now, two decades later, fragments of Franzisca’s stories creep back into Sofia’s life, tying Franzisca and her grandmother to an unknown past. With the memories of her childhood bedtime stories to guide her, Sofia sets out to piece together her grandmother's mysterious history, leading her to discover the truth behind her life. Set against the backdrop of World War II Romania, the immigration of Nazi criminals into South America, the later years of the Military Regime in Argentina during the 1980s, and present-day California, Franzisca’s Box is a story of war that ultimately affects three generations of women who will never find peace until they call for a ceasefire in their own wars and surrender to forgiveness and love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqxl8_8sJc&t=3s
Professional Reviews
Five Star Review-- Readers' Favorite
Franzisca's Box by Sandra Perez Gluschankoff is a modern day story that looks back in time to World War II Romania, and the horrors and consequences of Nazi criminals. The story unfolds from Sofia's and the narrator's or other characters' points of view and also alternates between the past and present. Sofia's grandmother (Claudia), her abuela, passes away and Sofia is set on a path of extraordinary and frightening discovery as she slowly uncovers the truth about Claudia. The contents of a box give clues to indicate that the stories her grandmother used to tell her when she was a child hide some horrifying and astonishing real life events. Somewhat alienated from her mother, Sofia is initially left to piece the puzzle together with the help of a young man, Daniel, who was concerned to track her down and who needs answers as much as Sofia does.
Sandra Perez Gluschankoff's story is brilliantly written, heart breaking yet fascinating, and had me hooked from the very start. All the various parts of the plot and the characters are cleverly interwoven into the story, and I love the way it all unfolds slowly and gradually, never giving anything away. I felt as though I was accompanying Sofia on her journey of discovery and putting the clues and pieces together with her. Her mission at first seems almost impossible with so many extraordinarily puzzling clues - the tales of Franzisca, the Norah Wellington cloth doll etc. But in time everything connects and weaves together into one story that will suddenly make complete sense. And there are some real "ah-ha" moments along the way. Gluschankoff's characters are strong, well-defined, and believable - inserted into some real life or historical events. Sofia herself has a commendable courageousness that sees her persevering, determined to discover and understand, regardless of the horrors and shocks she uncovers.
The author's portrayal of some of the horrific traumas and acts of abuse or evil that befell many Jews at that time is honest and vivid, and leaves the reader in no doubt that this had consequences and effects on future generations. This is a story about survival, compromise, love, revenge, and repercussions. Importantly, it is also about forgiveness and the need to lay the past to rest in order to move forward in peace. Recommended
TopTen Best Fiction Books by Latino Authors for 2016-- The Latino Author
The author has skillfully combined mystery,murder, and passionate love all into a story that will keep tugging at you fora long time. In the book, Sofia Lazar, a movie producer, experiences the lossof her grandmother but also comes into contact with a tattered box. What's inthe box? I won't spoil the story for you; however, I will tell you that thecontents of the box will take you on a journey you didn't expect. The story isback dropped into World War II Romania and Nazi criminals immigrating to SouthAmerica. What a magnificent weave of story, history, and plot. This is definitely a book to read.
Goethe Awards for post-1750 Historical Fiction-- Chanticleer Awards
Finalist
Winner "Official Selection" in the Historical Fiction category of our 2016 New Apple Annual Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing
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