Josef

Josef is one of the main characters of the book, although his story isn’t focused on nearly as much as the other main character, Lenka. Josef is an obstetrician that’s haunted by his memories of the war. He lost his family and his wife to the Germans.

He ends up marrying a fellow refugee, but his heart still belongs to his lost love. Josef cares greatly for his kids, which feel like the one bright spot in his life. He’s dedicated his life to helping children because he feels like it’s the only way he can try and make up for all the lives that were lost during the holocaust.

As a youth, Josef was a very different person. He was very charismatic and even a bit rebellious. His father wanted him to be a doctor, and while Josef was very smart, he wanted...