{"product_id":"a-memoir-of-home-war-and-finding-refuge-birutas-story-9780578738253","title":"A Memoir of Home, War, and Finding Refuge - Biruta's Story","description":"\u003cp\u003eA compelling memoir of a Latvian war refugee's flight and displacement during WWII.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat if the comforts and security of your childhood were suddenly ripped away from you? In 1939, Biruta, a nine-year-old twin, lives an idyllic life with her sister and two physician parents in Riga, Latvia when WWII breaks out.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of three independent Baltic states, Latvia attempts to remain neutral during the war. Yet, the country is situated between two ruthless rivals: Stalin's Communist Soviet Union and Hitler's Nazi Germany. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the Soviet army occupies Latvia, the family flees to Germany during the last year of the war. In the Displaced Persons (DP) camps of Germany, Biruta comes of age, falls in love, and ultimately finds somewhere to call home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHardes, Lilita Z.:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - A first-generation American, LILITA ZVEJNIEKS HARDES, felt compelled to tell her mother's story. Lilita's retirement made returning to the joys of the written word possible. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by profession, she was a therapist in the Milwaukee area for 36 years. Growing up in South Dakota and spending most of her adult life with her husband in Wisconsin, they moved to San Diego to be near their two adult children and their families.","brand":"Hardes Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50678881321234,"sku":"9780578738253","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_63c06b22-9322-405f-8f5d-f5463cdddd33.jpg?v=1733895677","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-memoir-of-home-war-and-finding-refuge-birutas-story-9780578738253","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}