LAYOUT AND INTERIOR DESIGN WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
“Elwinga’s Watch is so much more than just a pocket watch - it links the lives of three young people in countries occupied by fear and violence during World War Two and the Spanish Civil War. The pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together as the main characters tell their stories: Moshé Abramsky, a Jewish boy who is sent to an Auschwitz subcamp, Sophie Vogel, a girl from Berlin whose father works for Nazi Germany and Josefina Expósito, a young girl from the Canary Islands, haunted by the memory of the Dawn Brigades snatching her father.
This exciting historical novel based on true stories will pull on your heart strings although always offering a glimmer of light to keep our hopes alive.
What the critics say:
“Books can offer many things. Some books offer pure pleasure, some are functional and some combine joy and facts. Elwinga’s Watch falls in this last group.”
El Copo y la Rueca Literary Blog
“This book promotes social values such as freedom, justice, tolerance and respect for Human Rights.
Ateneo Español de México
“Divided into short easy-to-read chapters, this story pulls you in from the word go and plunges you into our more recent history.”
University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: pandemic reading
“A historic novel initially intended for younger readers, but which has won over an army of adult fans since it hit our bookshops.”
Canarias 7
WHAT OUR READERS SAY
I loved Elwinga’s Watch! The story is perfect with a fresh autobiographical style that I haven’t come across before.
Joaquín
You identify and empathise with each character right from the get-go. The story’s descriptions really help you picture where they live, what they see and the air that they breathe. You feel like you’re right there with them.
Juana
Don’t leave me like this....tell me that there’s going to be a second part!! I loved it and I read it all in one sitting.
Luzía
I’m still reeling from it. I’ve just finished reading this brilliant novel. Congratulations, such a beautiful story on a point in history that was truly dreadful for humanity.
Belén
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Sandra Franco Álvarez was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She loves novels, picture books and haiku. She is at the helm of Bilenio’s Alargavida publishing company for children’s and YA literature. She has had twelve stories published, mainly for children and young adults, her natural habitat. All her work revolves around nature, friendship, values and promoting human rights.
Juan José Monzón Gil was born in Telde, Gran Canaria. He is a high school teacher who has made Historical Memory films such as the short film “El Paseo” and the feature film “La Sima del Olvido”. As an author, he has published the historical novels “Elwinga’s Watch” and “The Return of Elwinga’s Watch”.