DESTINED TO WITNESS Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany

This memoir about WWII by an African-German has unusual appeal for its perspective. Massaquoi was at first seduced by Nazi pageantry and later horrified to discover the regime had no place for a person of mixed heritage. Peter Jay Fernandez creates realistic characters and conversations, and pronounces the plethora of German words and phrases with ease. Fernandez's delivery is easy to understand and pleasant to listen to, almost convincing us he is the writer himself. While nothing in this story is as "spellbinding" as the book jacket promises, the wartime experiences are told with detail and nuance that maintain a high level of attention. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]