One Last Shot: The Story of Wartime Photographer Gerda Taro

In this well-researched historical volume told via diary-like free verse, Wilson (The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin) recounts the inspiring journey of steadfast Gerda Taro (1910–1937) toward becoming a renowned wartime photojournalist. The narrative begins in 1917 Stuttgart, where seven-year-old Gerda Pohorylle comes to terms with the fact that her Jewish parents gave their children “good German names” to keep them from standing out. Despite this, Gerda still frequently experiences a feeling of Anderssein, or “being other.” She’s inspired to pursue photography after a friend’s uncle purchases a portable camera, and uses her newfound love of the medium to document political activism in Leipzig. When she meets photographer André Friedmann, the two develop an intense romantic and professional connection, eventually choosing new names for themselves: Robert Capa and Gerda Taro. Together, the pair photograph the anti-fascist movement and the Spanish Civil War, netting them critical acclaim. Wilson’s imagined Taro is fiercely independent and endlessly passionate about her vocation and its importance in preserving pivotal moments in history. This perceptive volume utilizes fluid, first-person present narration told with a joyful tone amid violent fascism to deliver a snapshot into an intriguing life. Ages 13–up. Agent: Roseanne Wells, Lucinda Literary. (Jan.)