Remember Me: A Spanish Civil War Novel

I received an ARC of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, author Mario Escobar, translator Gretchen Abernathy, and publisher Thomas Nelson. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. Remember Me is an outstanding look into the civil war of Spain from November 1934, and the story of the Children of Morelia, the Spanish children in exile in Mexico from May of 1937 through the end of 1940 when the decision was made to return the children to Spain. We focus on the three Alcalde siblings, Marco (16), Isabel, and Ana The author tells us that the Spanish Civil War was a river of tears and blood. All civil wars are bad - brother against brother, but the Spanish Civil War was tragic to a degree impossible to fully understand. The conflicts between the rebels and the Republican government and It's loyal citizens began in 1934 and by the time of the coup in July 1936 the citizens of the country were already hungry, afraid, and without much hope. By 1937 thousands of Spanish children had been dispursed into European countries, from Russia to England, Belgium, and France, and some to Argentina and Chile in South America. But Europe was now very unstable, and Mexican President Cardenas and his wife Amalia Solorzano made provisions to handle up to 500 Spanish children in the small town of Morelia, Mexico. By the summer of 1937, many Spanish families had decided to send their children across the sea to safety in Mexico at this invitation of the Mexican government. 470 children were sent by train to Bordeaux, France, and then by ship across the turbulent Atlantic to Vera Cruz, and then to a boarding school set up to continue the education of those Spanish children, along with a few Morelia Mexican children. It was many months after the children's arrival in Mexico before the parents of those in exile were given their location and address to write them. And of course, mail at that time took months to travel from Madrid to Mexico. Communication between the family members was sporadic and months went by between letters. In September 1939 Poland was invaded by Germany, and World War II was declared and grew to include most of Europe and Asia. Family members' children in Mexico were just hanging on, uncertain of their future, afraid for their families back home. When can they go home? Is there home and family left to return to?

I struggled with this emotive and heartrending story. While it was informative and well written the emotional tone was intense and heavy with anguish and tragedy. Combine that with the described abuse, neglect, senseless brutality, and unfathomable atrocities the powerless children and citizens suffered; and it is easily understood why I frequently needed to put my Kindle down and seek out something more pleasant before my heart ruptured. I confess to being completely ignorant of this period of history as well as of the history of Spain in general. Although I do have a keen memory of seeing a picture of the ruthless dictator Franco while dressed in his resplendent uniform in my 5th grade elementary school textbook and wondering if he was part owner of the canned pasta company that made my Spaghettios. Apparently, history has never been my forte! Amongst the heinous scenarios of corruption and unobstructed abuse at the hands of the religious figures and institutions set up for their care were gripping storylines that led to profoundly deep and insightful observations, inner musings, and revelations as experienced through the eyes of a young adolescent in untenable circumstances. These passages were written with thoughtful prose that was so poignant it was almost lyrical and caused me to read them several times while stealing my breath and burning my eyes and throat. Mario Escobar broke my heart – he has mad skills.