Rating: 
Summary: A good read
Review: Initially, I found the story to be slow, because you start with a man shooting another, but as you get to the end, you understand why that happens. The story starts in Present day N.Y.C.,and ends in present day Sheyelles Island. But, the bulk of it happens in Italy during WW2. I liked Train, but he didn't have a clue. Bishop was an opportunist period.(Preacher my foot) Stamps was trying to go by the rules, but figuring out that the rules were not written with him in mind, which creates a tugging of the conscience if you will. Hector, for the reason that he was a dark skinned Puerto Rican, ends up in this Negro unit. What got me is the fact that the superiors knew that they were likely in the midst of German territory, and felt that they were "dispensible". Yet, they kept telling them to get a "German"prisoner. That was a mess up indeed. Yet, the book is good, it keeps your interest due to this kid, who is a miracle indeed. When I finished reading the book, I enjoyed it. Not only that, the answers to which they were looking for were there anyhow.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterful Storyteller
Review: James McBride paints a vivid picture of war torn Italy in 1944. He paints a picture of love, honor, sacrifice and miracles amidst the backdrop of hate, selfishness, outright evil and destruction. It is a story about people and it is a story about what we can do to each other, both for good and for evil. You will find yourself drawn to the characters and you will wish you had the chance to meet a few of them in your lifetime. Have you visited Italy or wish to? Have you gazed out across her valleys and admired her hills and wondered about the stories those ridges and valleys could tell? Have you gazed lovingly at a weathered Nonna with kind eyes sitting in her doorway shelling beans and considered what her eyes have witnessed and what she has experienced? It is amazing that she is even alive. This story is a moving glimpse into a time in the history of our world that can never be forgotten. I loved this book and am recommending it to everyone I know. Thank you James McBride, you are a brilliant story teller. Thank you for every bit of research you put into this book. The acknowledgements at the end were just as wonderful to read as the rest of the book. Let's continue to honor the men and women who fought for us with honor. They are heros.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterful Storyteller
Review: James McBride paints a vivid picture of war torn Italy in 1944. He paints a picture of love, sacrifice and miracles amidst the backdrop of hate, selfishness, outright evil and destruction. It's a story about people and it's a story about what we can do to each other, both for good and for evil. You will find yourself drawn to these characters and you will wish you had the chance to meet a few of them in your lifetime. Have you visited Italy or wish to? Have you gazed out across her valleys and admired her hills and wondered about the stories those ridges and valleys could tell? Have you gazed lovingly at a weathered Nonna sitting in her doorway shelling beans and considered what she has experienced as a child? It is amazing that she is even alive. This story is a moving glimpse into a time in the history of our world that will never be forgotten. I loved this book and am recommending it to everyone I know. Thank you James McBride, you are a brilliant story teller. Thank you for every part of the research you put into this book. The acknowledgements at the end were just as wonderful to read as the rest of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Miracles of World War II
Review: James McBride's latest book, Miracle at St. Anna, forces the reader into the world of Italy during World War II. At first, this novel seems to be a typical war story. However, this story is told from a unique point of view, that of black soldiers. When one usually thinks of WWII, white men storming battlefields in France or Germany comes to mind. However, this novel deals with a much deeper issue than racial discrimination. It examines the human spirit and what it takes to find one's true self. It also praises the brotherhood of man and reminds the reader that everyone has the power of love within.
The book starts in the battlefields of Italy. Soldiers of the 92nd division advance across a river towards the German stronghold. It is then that the reader is introduced to a central character, Sam Train. He is a huge black man from Virginia who grew up poor and slaved all his life on a farm that he didn't even own. Train is carrying something unusual at his side. In his bag rests the head of a famous statue, Primavera, that he found amongst the ruins of a bridge in Florence. At first he tries to sell the statue head but later it becomes something of a lucky charm for Train. He believes it makes him invisible. In his own mind, he thinks that no harm can come to him while in the battle because of the Primavera's protection. This influences Train's decision to run through German gunfire to save a stranded Italian boy. They quickly escape to the safety of the mountain forest. The boy is wounded and Train quickly grows affectionate toward him. He sees qualities in the orphan that he has never known a white man to possess, such as innocence, trust, and love. In the oy's eyes, Train sees himself.
Led by duty, three of Train's comrades, Hector, Bishop, and Stamps, go after him to bring the soldier and boy back to safety. Hector is a Puerto Rican from New York. He acts as their Italian translator. Bishop is a man from missouri who poses as a preacher to swindle people out of money. He lcaims the only reasonhe followed the men into the mountains is because Train owes him fourteen hundred dollars from poker. Their leader is lieutenant Stamps, a smart, cool-headed man from Virginia who hopes to work his way up the military ladder even though he is black. They finally find Train with the wounded boy and set out to find a hospital and the rest of their company. But htey cannot escape the Tuscan mountains.
McBride does an excellent job of showing a minority soldier's point of view. During WWII, racism was still very much alive in the United States and transferred over to military politics. As McBride demonstrates, the black soldier's position during the war was a difficult one. In the case of the 92nd division, white captains would routinely sacrifice black soldiers over whites, as far as which company would be in more danger. McBride claims that Stamps and his comrades were sent to fight in the front lines because they were thought of as dispensible by the military. The author creates a new perspective of the military during WWII.
McBride's characters routinely feel depressed and rejected by their world. Many soldiers are "convinced that the white man is trying to kill them." Furthermore, why should black soldiers fight for a country that doesn't even appreciate them? While arguing over whether or not a white captain would send a search party after them, Bishop reminds Stamps of a certain day at training camp. On a sweltering hot day in Arizona, the black soldiers had to eat outside the restaurant on paper plates while German POWs sat inside "eating ice cream with the white MPs guarding them." Despite all of the obvious racism, Stamps holds on to the belif that their commander is "fair" and will send someone to get them. On the other hand, the Italians treat the black soldiers as equals. They do not care what color the men are because they give the villagers hope.
McBride raises the question of one's true "home." Is home where one is born and raised or is it where one feels free and able to live a fulfilling life? It would be easy to assume that many black soldiers would want to stay in a foreign country where they were treated with respect rather than go home to a country that treated them as second class citizens. The "miracle" at St. Anna is rather a self-fulfilling miracle that is accomplished by each soldier before the church of St. Anna in Bornacchi. All four men experience a self-awakening moment brought on amongst war and despair. In this Tuskan village, they discover the true meaning of life above the boundarys of racism and prejudice. McBride creates the Italian orphan as a representation of the power to love unconditionally, even after devastation and loss. Likewise, to the American soldiers, the boy represents an unconditional love that they have never known in their own world and a hope for the future. The story, as a whole, convinces the reader that there are such things as miracles and they can be achieved by anyone.
Rating:
Summary: An ambitious war story full of emotion...For McBride fans!
Review: Journalist James McBride, author of the best-selling memoir The Color Of Water paints a picture using a true historic incident as a backdrop to illustrate something out of the ordinary in his latest offering, Miracle At St. Anna. The author weaves a poignant story where a German SS unit massacred more than five hundred civilians. There were five or six survivors, including a small child, closely associated to the character Sam Train in the story.
From this scenario, the 'miracle' takes place as Train encounters a marble head that the Germans shot off a statue during a ferocious firefight. Train, looking for anything to salvage as a good luck piece, retrieves it believing that the head of the statue makes him invisible to the German front. In being rescued, the boy regards the giant Train in awe as his personal savior giving the story color and feeling. I felt that the heart of this story is relived through the eyes of the author as he uses timely vignettes interacting different aspects of each character's interpretation of whether there's a true need to fight. The fact that the author attempted to lace the main story with yet another point of contention says more for his courage and willingness to illustrate an analogy distinctive to a segment of military lore. History's Buffalo Soldiers whose hey day after the Civil War were known for their tenacious heroics and bravery, but more often than not was ignored by the U.S. Army for what they stood for, adds intrigue to give the story a special bent. Coming home after the war there were no parades, no slaps on the back, and certainly no equal status afforded them in putting their lives on the line. The parallels to these famous figures to the characters that McBride offers here raises questions, thus allowing for a unique dilemma: How do you fight for freedom across the water when there's no freedom at home? In tackling this subject, the author veers from the original focus causing a shift in storyline stability. The aforementioned is such a larger concern that one would wonder whether it would be served better as the subject of another book! However, value warrants itself above mediocrity with superb character makeup. The characters: Train, a slow dim-witted man from North Carolina; Bishop, a self-claimed egocentric minister; Hector, the Puerto Rican radio man; and Lt. Aubrey Stamps, the man who is given the unenviable task of molding this unit into a cohesive set of men to do the job assigned. I felt that the author did a wonderful job of assigning flavor to the story and making all of them congruous to the roles they play. In doing so he's able to engage the differences among them.
Bigger issues are discussed in the book, but McBride seems to struggle at times reflecting on them in lieu of dealing with the moral questions that are implied throughout the book. As such, it becomes a matter of conjecture whether those questions are answered with clarity. Readers may find the last half of it an anomalous twisting of a good plot, and may find it disappointing. Switching to mainstream fiction efforts like this after writing serious literature may give the effect and propensity to scrutinize an author's work more closely than needed. Perhaps after a few more quality fiction titles under his belt, he'll be judged appropriately for a successful transition and great storytelling to boot. This could be the start that may give him a great start. This is truly for McBride fans! Buy this book where books are sold.
Rating:
Summary: A book to treasure and re-read someday
Review: Like his first book, "The Color of Water," Mr McBride again gives the reader of "Miracle at St. Anna" a book to read, treasure and someday re-read. Set during World War II, this novel is based on actual facts involving Black soldiers, known as the Buffalo soldiers, who fought in Italy. The story centers around the experiences of four soldiers and the impact of a young, injured, and traumatized Italian boy who they begin to care for. Each character becomes a very distinct, real person and the story unfolds with the drama of the war setting, while also exploring issues of race, cultural differences, and the impact of the war on the local Italians. Characters are so vividly drawn that they become real people, whom we truly care about.
This book is also an education about the Buffalo soldiers themselves, a historical topic which I, personally, never came across in 18 years of school. While the title implies a religious motif, in my mind it is not a religious book at all but rather one that explores the mysteries of life, values and humanity. Both the characters and the story combine to make this a truly memorable book and a great read, a book I would recommend highly.
Rating:
Summary: A book to treasure and re-read someday
Review: Like his first book, "The Color of Water," Mr McBride again gives the reader of "Miracle at St. Anna" a book to read, treasure and someday re-read. Set during World War II, this novel is based on actual facts involving Black soldiers, known as the Buffalo soldiers, who fought in Italy. The story centers around the experiences of four soldiers and the impact of a young, injured, and traumatized Italian boy who they begin to care for. Each character becomes a very distinct, real person and the story unfolds with the drama of the war setting, while also exploring issues of race, cultural differences, and the impact of the war on the local Italians. Characters are so vividly drawn that they become real people, whom we truly care about.
This book is also an education about the Buffalo soldiers themselves, a historical topic which I, personally, never came across in 18 years of school. While the title implies a religious motif, in my mind it is not a religious book at all but rather one that explores the mysteries of life, values and humanity. Both the characters and the story combine to make this a truly memorable book and a great read, a book I would recommend highly.
Rating:
Summary: Triumph of the Spirit
Review: Rarely have I encountered a book that moved me as much as James McBride's Miracle at St. Anna. Not only should it be declared an American classic, every college should make it part of their freshman reading list.
McBride engages the seldom mentioned subject of black combat soldiers in World War II. Four members of the famed 92nd Infantry Division (the Buffalo Soldiers), find themselves trapped behind enemy lines in Tuscany. Surrounded by Germans, the quartet rescues a small Italian boy who proves to be the catalyst in each man's quest for courage, love, sacrifice, and honor. The poignancy of their battle is emphasized by the ambivalence they each experience over fighting for freedoms in Europe that they are not afforded in their own country. Each man accepts the challenge, albeit reluctantly at times, exhibiting a depth of character and humanity previously unknown to them.
McBride weaves a theme of invisibility into the story that translates into the moral invincibility of the main characters. McBride has studied and practiced his craft well. I can honestly say that I feel privileged to have read his work. I hope to see more novels from him in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Believe in this Miracle
Review: Reading this story while our nation is at war, made me pay a different type of attention to the story than I might have normally (several US soldiers were killed a few days ago in Afganistan). The book moves over issues on race, class, religion, geography and love without being sappy, shallow, or irrelevant. It also takes great characters, improves them as the plot develops and completes them in the final pages so they are believable, likeable, and real. Richly written and deeply woven, this war story is a must read that shares history while delivering a very enjoyable story.
Rating:
Summary: I was there!
Review: Review of Miracle at St.Anna by James McBride, Riverhead Books. When I saw the title of the James McBride book Miracle at St.Anna I thought to myself : "could that be the same Sant'Anna di Stazzema that I described in my 1998 book Trapped in Tuscany, Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers? " I purchased the book and discovered that it was the same Sant'Anna and that the McBride story takes place in the same area of Tuscany in which I, as a young American boy, found myself trapped for the duration of World War II.
I read the story with much interest hoping to have a better understanding of the relationship between the African-American soldiers of the 92nd Infantry division and the Italian people from Tuscany. During WWII I was located in the village of Diecimo, 10 miles from Lucca, in the Serchio River valley leading to the Garfagnana region and the towns of Barga, Sommocolonia, and Castelnuovo. Diecimo was located in the widest part of the valley, which became part of the German Gothic Line of defense. My mother, father and I arrived from Boston in Diecimo the first of August 1939 for a short vacation. My mother and father emigrated to Boston in 1920. Both were native of Diecimo and each had parents living in the village. Shortly after our arrival my father suffered a life threatening heart attack, thus we remained trapped in Italy for the duration of the war.
In mid July 1944 the German command forced the evacuation of the valley. We managed to escape, carrying what we could, and hid out in the village of Convalle, a short distance from Sant'Anna di Stazzema, until we were liberated on September 30 by the Buffalo soldiers of the 92nd Infantry Division.
James McBride describes the relationships between the African-American soldiers and their white superiors in a very realistic way. He also explores the relationship between the Italian citizens, the Partisans and the American troops so that the reader has a very good understanding of the feelings between the various groups during the time of war.
When the Negro soldiers (as they were called then) arrived in Diecimo I was 14 years old. As a child I lived in Brighton, which is a suburb of Boston, and it was very common to associate with people of various races and ethnic backgrounds. The people of Italy had been exposed to people from the African Italian colonies of Somalia and Ethiopia via newsreels, magazines and newspaper articles and photographs . It was common knowledge that the people from Africa were black skinned people. One of my teachers had spent time in Somalia with her husband, both were teachers in Africa. When the black soldiers arrived in Diecimo the villagers thought that they were simply Americans and that they were the ones who liberated Italy from the Fascists and the Germans. The soldiers were greeted with open arms, and the people were relieved that the was would be over soon. The soldiers were very comforting to the people and gave them food and clothing. In exchange people offered soldiers rooms and beds in their houses, which were far better than sleeping in tents during the cold and wet winter.
As soon as the 92nd Infantry Division soldiers arrived I made myself available to them as an interpreter and helper. I helped them unload supply trucks coming from Leghorn and helped them deliver the supplies to companies and squads stationed in the nearby areas. The front line was established in the Barga area, about 8 miles from Diecimo and there was always the danger of bombardments. During the evenings many soldiers visited our home because we spoke English and we reminded them of an American household. Soldiers brought food supplies and often my mother prepared a nice hot dinner for them including fresh vegetables and eggs which they craved. We also offered plenty of wine for the soldiers. There was no electricity; the only available light was derived from filling a coke bottle with American gasoline, stuffing a cloth wick in the bottle, then carefully lighting the wick with a match. We were fortunate that the "Molotov cocktails" did not explode!
On Christmas Eve 1944 we hosted a Christmas dinner for several African-American soldiers. My mother prepared a good dinner using available food from the village, supplemented by U.S. Army food. We had a candle lit dinner, drank wine, sang Christmas carols, and the soldiers danced to American music with my mother, our teacher friend and another lady. This was a memorable and unforgettable evening that I will never forget.
At that time, unknown to our guests, the Germans were planning a major battle near Barga and during the night began to push theAmerican soldiers back into the valley. James McBride describes the battle in his book and the Americans suffered many casualties.
The massacre at Sant'Anna di Stazzema occurred on August 12, 1944. Five hundred and seventy persons, mostly women, children and old people were killed in the piazza, not in the church of Sant'Anna. It was a reprisal towards the Italian people who helped the Partisans. The German soldiers were under the command of Major Walter Reder, a 29 year old from Austria. Miracle at St.Anna evolves around Sant'Anna and brings together soldiers and a small Italian boy. A relation ship develops between the boy and a giant chocolate soldier named Train. I enjoyed the book, the story give me a better understanding of how the African-American soldiers felt about the war, a better understanding than I had from my first hand experience with the Buffalo soldiers. I questioned a few technical things in the story. The electricity in Italy was different than U.S. electricity during that period of time U.S. electricity was 60 cycles and 120 volts. Italian electricity was 50 cycles 240 volts not compatible with U.S. electrical devices. It would not be proper to plug in a telephone or radio to charge the batteries. At that time telephone or military radios were operated on D.C. provided by non-rechargeable batteries. Electricity was not available for a long periods of time during the time period in the book because generating stations and transmission line were destroyed by the war.
I highly recommend Miracle at St.Anna along with my book Trapped in Tuscany, Liberated by the Buffalo Soldiers. One can better understand the relationship between the Italians and the liberating U.S. Army troops.
Tullio Bertini
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