Happy Release Day!
Congratulations Mary
on the release today of
Out of Place!
Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany by Mary E. McKnight
Military Families, 384 pages
Published December 3, 2024 by She Writes Press
For fans of coming-of-age narratives and feminist journeys, an empowering tale of one teen’s quest to establish her own voice as an Army Brat living in Cold War–era West Germany.
Relocated with her family to Cold War–era West Germany, Army Brat and middle sister of three Mary grapples with the torment exacted by her older sister, the high moral expectations of her military father, and societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles during the rise of the feminism movement. Through the transformative power of place, travel, and the people she encounters, Mary embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning about social justice and finding her voice in a world still shaped by male dominance.
Rich with historical context, Out of Place is a poignant and compelling exploration of identity, personal growth, and the enduring strength that comes from embracing one’s purpose.
My thoughts about Out of Place ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"Prologue: Can and will people ever be able to see Germany as "a good guy? I can only answer for myself. I do."
This coming-of-age story gives the reader an idea of what life was like in the 70s in post-war Germany. Mary, the middle daughter of three girls, their military-trained father, and their 'military wife' mother lived in Germany for the three years of their father's assignment. I was growing up at about the same time that this story took place so it was very interesting for me to see the joys and struggles that another girl was going through, even though our circumstances were completely different.
Life as a young teen is not easy but then to be living in a whole other country would compound the struggles. Mary and her sisters made the best of it and were able to learn so much, about themselves and others, during their time there. The family dynamics were very interesting—the challenging relationship between Mary and her older sister, the rigid husband and the wife, who bends to her husband's wishes. And then, of course, there is the crush on the older neighbor boy. Who hasn't experienced that?
I loved when the family traveled and I was able to go along with them and experience it right along with them. The author does a wonderful job describing their outings, and frankly, I was a little jealous that they were able to go to the places that they did and see the things that they did.
Out of Place is a lovely memoir that reads like an entertaining fiction work, while also sharing so much of what postwar Germany was like from the eyes of a teenage girl. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the different spin on a historical story was refreshing.
I received an ARC of Out of Place and this is my honest opinion of the book.
About the author
Mary E. McKnight is an avid observer of people, a teacher of young children, a co-owner of an herb garden (Split Stone Farm LLC), a painter, and a lover of cats. She lives for kindness, creativity, and her amazing daughter. Her writing is the creative expression that feeds her soul, and she enjoys writing in a variety of genres. If she wasn’t her, she would probably be the Lorax. She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her partner and their tortie, Abbey Rhodes.
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