The Red Ribbon

October 8, 2018
Adlington brings her background in fashion history to this Holocaust novel, which takes place at Birchwood (part of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex) during the final years of the notorious Nazi concentration camp. Based on a true but little-known aspect of the camp, the book focuses on 12 female prisoners who sew fashionable clothing for high-ranking Nazi women. Thanks to her height, 14-year-old Ella, skillfully trained in sewing by her grandmother and passionate about creating beautiful clothing, passes for 16, the minimum age for a seamstress, and becomes one of the most prized workers in the Upper Tailoring Studio. Working alongside her is fragile, dreamy Rose, a consummate storyteller who quickly becomes Ella’s closest friend (Adlington also hints at a romantic relationship). Their dream of opening a dress salon together after the war helps keep their spirits alive. The relationships Ella develops with her barrack boss and one of her “clients” (a female guard) sometimes lack credibility, as does Ella’s obsession with couture in the midst of abuse, hardships, and tragedies. Still, this is a raw depiction of the struggles experienced by prisoners at Auschwitz. Ages 12–up.