Publication Date: July 6, 2026
1938, Germany. “Be brave, little one,” her mother whispers. Dagmar holds her hand tightly through the train window, trembling, trying not to cry. But as the train lurches forward, they are torn apart, and her mother is swallowed by the darkness.
As the train carries her far away from home, ten-year-old Dagmar’s hand tightens around her sister’s. As little Heike leans in, her acorn-coloured eyes wide, Dagmar is terrified she won’t be able to keep her safe…
Dagma heart aches for her mother but only children were allowed on board. The carriage is crowded; a small boy hugs a battered teddy bear and cries for his father. A girl her own age whispers that this train is rescuing Jewish children. But their families have been left behind…
As the train jolts along the track, Dagmar holds her breath. Her scuffed suitcase, with everything she owns inside, bangs painfully against her. Dagmar and Heike have nobody else but each other; what will happen to them? And will they ever see their mother again?
A tear-jerking and unputdownable wartime novel inspired by the stories of what was later known as the Kindertransport. From USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate, this heart-breaking and uplifting novel is perfect for fans of Orphan Train, Sold on a Monday, and Diney Costeloe.
To escape the Nazis, two young Jewish girls are among the children transported from Germany to England.
Author Marty Wingate details the heartrending experiences of family separation in The German Sisters. Dagmar, 10, is put in charge of her 5-year-old sister, Heike, as they settle into temporary lodging with the Quakers.
While young Dagmar eagerly awaits reunification, the author illustrates the struggles within the Kindertransport. For a young child like Heike, waiting for the unknown end of a war to seek attention and love isn’t realistic.
The author demonstrates the intense emotions experienced not only by parents who must send their children away with strangers, but also by children who must adjust to unfamiliar surroundings for an extended period of time.
The German Sisters highlights resiliency during challenging circumstances.
Marty Wingate is a USA Today best-selling author of both mysteries and historical fiction. Marty enjoys weaving humor into her books and creating characters—from quirky and loveable to sinister and duplicitous—that leap off the page. Before embarking on her series about the London Ladies Murder Club with Bookouture, Marty published three contemporary cozy mystery series (the Potting Shed, Birds of a Feather, and First Edition Library books). She has also published two standalone books of historical fiction and found stories of the past to be compelling. She’s delighted to combine her penchant for both mysteries and histories to bring her readers more satisfying stories. Marty currently resides near Seattle, Washington.
