LILAC GIRLS

"It's a miracle all this beauty emerges after such hardship, don't you think?" asks one character to another, about her lilacs that only blossom after a harsh winter. The same could be said of this unforgettable story based on a group of survivors of Ravensbrück, a Nazi concentration camp for women. Told from the perspective of a real life New York socialite whose support brought their story to light, a Polish camp survivor and a German doctor, Lilac Girls is beautiful, haunting, heartbreaking and important. Read it and then pass it along to a mother, daughter, sister or friend. The female bonds in this story are something special to share.
There are lots of food references throughout this story, but this Polish poppy cake (makowiec) was an easy choice. It appeared during a rare moment of joy and light - and showed that even in the most dire of circumstances, hope can still exist.