Eleanor's Story cover

Eleanor's Story

by Eleanor Ramrath Garner

ELEANOR'S STORY is the dramatic autobiography of Eleanor Ramrath Garner's youth, growing up as an Americanan enemy alienin Berlin during World War II. This story of everyday life under the Hitler regime begins when Eleanor is nine years old. She and her family must move, in the depths of the Great Depression, from New Jersey to Germany, the only place where her father, a German immigrant, can find work. But the war breaks out as her family crosses the Atlantic, and Eleanor's family find themselves stranded in Germany during one of the most tumultuous and frightening times in history. While in Germany for seven years (1939 to 1946), Eleanor tries to fit into her new world while at the same time attempting to maintain her American identity. But the realities and horrors of war soon press upon her and her family. The Ramraths face separation, starvation, illness, devastating Allied bombings, the final battle for Berlin, the Russian invasion, and vengeful Soviet soldiers. ELEANOR'S STORY is a journey of self-awareness and independence, inner strength and hope. Eleanor Ramrath Garner has created an honest, intimate and personal story that promises to forge an intense bond with readers, young and old alike.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?