Sarah's Key Summary & Key Insights

Tatiana de Rosnay's "Sarah's Key" intertwines two narratives set decades apart, exploring the lingering trauma of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, a devastating event during the Nazi occupation of France. The novel's present-day story follows Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in Paris with her French husband. Julia is assigned to write an article about the 60th anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, a dark chapter in French history where thousands of Jews were rounded up and deported to Auschwitz.

While researching, Julia discovers a hidden key in a wall of a house she is visiting – a house that, unbeknownst to her, was once inhabited by a Jewish family. This discovery opens a window into the past, leading Julia down a rabbit hole of historical investigation and emotional discovery. The past narrative unravels the story of Sarah Starzynski, a 10-year-old Jewish girl living in Paris during the occupation. Sarah, along with her family, is brutally arrested during the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup and deported to Auschwitz. Before being taken, in a desperate act to protect her younger brother, Michel, Sarah locks him in a cupboard, believing it will keep him safe. This act, driven by a child's desperate hope, haunts both her story and the novel's present.

Sarah's story is one of unimaginable cruelty, fear, and loss. She experiences the horrors of the concentration camp and ultimately survives, only to be plagued by the guilt of leaving her brother behind, a burden that affects her for the rest of her life. The novel unfolds Sarah's desperate attempts to find her family after liberation, only to be met with heartbreak and the crushing weight of their absence. Her eventual life, while finding some measure of peace, is forever scarred by the trauma.

The parallel narratives converge as Julia, through her research, uncovers Sarah's story. This journey isn't simply a journalistic pursuit; it becomes a deeply personal and emotional one for Julia, triggering reflections on her own family and the choices they made during wartime. Julia's quest to understand Sarah's past also sheds light on her present-day relationship with her husband, bringing to the surface long-unaddressed issues and ultimately forcing her to confront her own anxieties and family history.

"Sarah's Key" powerfully explores themes of guilt, loss, the enduring legacy of the Holocaust, and the importance of confronting difficult historical truths. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to connect the past with the present, demonstrating how the atrocities of the past continue to resonate in the lives of those affected, both directly and indirectly. Through Julia and Sarah's intertwined stories, de Rosnay creates a poignant and moving tale that underscores the lasting impact of historical trauma and the necessity of remembrance.