Briar Rose is a captivating novel that intertwines the tale of Sleeping Beauty with the history of the Holocaust. The story follows a woman named Becca who is on a quest to uncover her family’s past, particularly her grandmother's experiences during World War II. Through this journey, Becca learns about the hidden horrors and struggles endured by her family, reflecting the broader themes of memory and the impact of historical trauma on future generations.
The narrative weaves between Becca's contemporary search and her grandmother's fairy-tale-like stories, drawing parallels between the fantasy of Sleeping Beauty and the harsh realities of survival during the Holocaust. This dual narrative structure emphasizes the importance of storytelling in preserving history and coping with trauma, as well as the ways in which fairy tales can resonate with real-life experiences.