The first part of the novel Sarah's Key consists of two separate story-lines that eventually converge into one narrative. One story is told from the perspective of Sarah Starzynski, a young Jewish girl living in Paris who is a victim of the Vel' d'Hiv roundup of 1942. The second perspective is that of Julia Jarmond, a modern day journalist who is researching the roundup 60 years later.
Tatiana de Rosnay's choice to include two contrasting stories adds interest and suspense to her novel. Readers are constantly left hanging as the story and time frame switch between Sarah and Julia. Additionally, readers are forced to make their own connections between the two stories as the plot progresses. Overall, this was a smart choice by de Rosnay because it creates a more emotional connection between readers and characters while keeping them engrossed in the story.
However, Sarah's narration does not continue throughout the entire novel. Once the connection between Sarah and Julia has been made, Julia becomes the primary narrator. This again adds interest because readers desperately want to know what happened to Sarah after the war. The only way to find out the truth is to discover it along with Julia as she uncovers the past. In this way, the two story-lines become one cohesive narrative that blends France's past and present.
Tatiana de Rosnay's choice to include two contrasting stories adds interest and suspense to her novel. Readers are constantly left hanging as the story and time frame switch between Sarah and Julia. Additionally, readers are forced to make their own connections between the two stories as the plot progresses. Overall, this was a smart choice by de Rosnay because it creates a more emotional connection between readers and characters while keeping them engrossed in the story.
However, Sarah's narration does not continue throughout the entire novel. Once the connection between Sarah and Julia has been made, Julia becomes the primary narrator. This again adds interest because readers desperately want to know what happened to Sarah after the war. The only way to find out the truth is to discover it along with Julia as she uncovers the past. In this way, the two story-lines become one cohesive narrative that blends France's past and present.