Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Baker's Secret

The Baker's Secret
The Baker's Secret
Author: Stephen P. Kiernan
From the multiple-award-winning, critically acclaimed author of The Hummingbird and The Curiosity comes a dazzling novel of World War II -- a shimmering tale of courage, determination, optimism, and the resilience of the human spirit, set in a small Normandy village on the eve of D-Day. — On June 5, 1944, as dawn rises over a small town on the No...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780062369581
ISBN-10: 006236958X
Publication Date: 5/2/2017
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 11

4.2 stars, based on 11 ratings
Publisher: William Morrow
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 7
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
Read All 3 Book Reviews of "The Bakers Secret"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Baker's Secret on + 273 more book reviews
WWII, French village near Normandy, villagers trying to continue their lives while being controlled by German soldiers. Their rations are dwindling, many face starvation but Emma the baker's apprentice finds a way to provide bread to many. She also develops a crafty way of bartering supplies from one person to another, helping many survive. The whole time she's helping others, she never believes the Allied Troops will arrive so when they do, she's still wary.
The author writes well but the story drags on, many characters aren't fully developed, and at times the details of an event or activity are tedious. Overall, an ok read, certainly not one that makes me want to read more of his books.

Interesting phrase: Thus did life and liberty depend upon a distant ruler who did not speak the people's language but felt at ease commanding them in his. The guttural ruled the elegant, the command replaced persuasion, the shout overwhelmed the subtle.
justreadingabook avatar reviewed The Baker's Secret on + 1710 more book reviews
Meh, This was a somewhat typical WWll story. A baker's apprentice has to take over after the owner is taken away to the camps.
The girl is brought to the attention of the Kommadant due to her bread making and is ordered to make 12 loafs a day for his men and she then starts adding straw to the bread to make extra loaves to feed those in her village.
Slow going and characters never develop much after the first couple of chapters. I understand that life in war time can be the same day after day and this is just what you are going to read about.


Genres: