The Berlin Zookeeper Summary
The Berlin Zookeeper, written by Anna Stuart and narrated by Katy Sobey, is a gripping historical fiction novel that tells the story of two women and their interconnected lives that span across decades. The novel is set in two different time periods: 1943 during the height of World War II and 2019 in contemporary Berlin.
The novel begins in 1943 when ten-year-old Adelaide and her newborn sister are orphaned after a bombing in Berlin. Adelaide turns to her mother’s friend, Katharina Heinroth, a zookeeper, who takes them under her wing and offers them a safe haven in the Berlin Zoo. As the war intensifies, Adelaide takes comfort in playing with the baby monkeys and caring for her little sister. But when Katharina orchestrates a daring plan to help children and animals escape the city, something goes wrong, and Adelaide is forced to make a promise that will change her life forever.
Fast forward to 2019, and Bethan Taylor, a young woman, finds herself drawn to an elderly lady named Ada, who seems lost in her thoughts, flitting between past and present. Ada talks of her childhood, spent in an underground bunker beneath the animal enclosures during the war. As she listens to Ada's story, Bethan is surprised to hear a familiar name - Katharina Heinroth - on a piece of paper she found in her late mother's jewellery box. Bethan is desperate to uncover the meaning behind the name and the connection to her mother.
As the two women's lives become intertwined, Ada and Bethan discover that they are linked by a long-buried family mystery. They must work together to uncover the truth and help each other heal from the pain of the past.
The Berlin Zookeeper is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that explores the themes of love, loss, resilience, and the power of human connections. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is expertly crafted, alternating between past and present, and seamlessly weaving the two timelines together. The historical details are well-researched and provide a vivid backdrop to the story, bringing to life the horrors and struggles of wartime Berlin.
Katy Sobey's narration of the audiobook is outstanding. She brings the characters to life with her expressive and nuanced delivery, capturing the emotions and complexities of each character's journey. Her voice is soothing and pleasant to listen to, making it easy to get lost in the story.
In conclusion, The Berlin Zookeeper is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those interested in World War II stories. It is a poignant and captivating novel that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading. The audiobook version, narrated by Katy Sobey, is an excellent choice for those who prefer to listen to their books, as her performance elevates the story to a new level.
