The Border of Truth by Victyoria Redel

The novel, The Border of Truth, is a present day story set in NYC juxtaposed against the time in Europe just prior to WWII.  The current story centers on a single, middle aged woman, Sarah.  Sarah is a Prof. researching the writings of a famous writer who died in Europe during the war.  Sarah is also in the midst of adopting a child from any war torn country that will permit an adoption.  The Holocaust escape story is told almost entirely in letters by a 17 year old Belgian boy, Itzak, who is fleeing Nazi persecution via whatever means necessary.  Itzak is writing his life's story to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt while pleading for her assistance to enter the U.S.A.  Itzah is travelling alone on board the Quanza, that  landed in NYC in Aug. 1940.  Entrance for most of the immigrants on board was denied.  The obvious irony to the reader, unbeknownst to Sarah, is Itzah, a.k.a. Richard, her father, has not revealed to her his true history.  Itzak's letters reveal his life as a boy in Brussels, his amazing means of escape and his guilt  for self-preservation.  The Border of Truth examines how history is recounted, what constitutes a family and why understanding the past matters.  Itzak wrote the First Lady, "Sometimes I think we need to tell our stories more than any one needs to hear our stories.  Maybe just so that anticipation or happiness can be reached for again."  The intertwining stories in The Border of Truth compell the reader to question how we discern perfidy in our lives & the world in which live.