Amanda Barratt grabbed my interest in her new book when I interviewed her about it, and I knew I had to read it. I am so glad I did!

Set in Germany during WWII and based on the true story of Sophie Scholl, a member of a student-lead resistance group called The White Rose, this is a book everyone should read. I had never heard of the White Rose Resistance, and so I'm delighted Amanda took up the challenge of writing a fictional account based on facts. While Sophie is the main character in the book, the author has allowed the reader to be a sort of "fly on the wall" by writing in the first person and giving us their take on why they joined the resistance. So we are not only privy to Sophie's thoughts, but also her brother Hans' and other members of the group as well.

The only fictional characters in the book are Annalise and Kirk, but this well-developed story with its carefully crafted characters will have the reader wishing they were real. I found this book incredibly hard to put down. The courage, faith and sacrifice of Sophie, Hans, Alex and others made to warn their fellow Germans is a testament to all those who stand up for truth and stand against tyranny.


This book is a definite keeper, and if you are a homeschooling mom (and who isn't in the time of COVID-19?), you need to make this book part of your curriculum.


Kudos to the author! You made history real and gave a voice to those who gave their lives for freedom.

I received this book courtesy of Kregel Publications through NetGalley.

The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt




Synopsis : The ideal of a new Germany swept up Sophie Scholl in a maelstrom of patriotic fervor - - that is, until she realized the truth behind Hitler's machinations for the fatherland. Now she and other student's in Munich, the cradle of the Nazi government, have banded together to form a group to fight for the truth: the White Rose. Risking everything to print and distribution leaflets calling Germans to ride up against the evil permeating their country, the White Rose threads a knives edge of discovery by the Gestapo.

My thought's : I have to begin by saying, this book about Sophie Scholl was a page turner, remarkable story line and intriguing. the book isn't just about Sophie, but about a group of friends. The author is able to make you feel like you are part of the book. What a remarkable group of young people whom had the courage to stand up for what they believed in. To go against the most horrible man in history. To know what might happen to them if they were caught. They stood on their beliefs, with God as their anchor.

Thinking through this book, I don't know if I would have been able to do what they did. Would I be able to stand up for what I believe and know that no matter how hard thing's got God is with me and has a plan for everything.

Recommend : I will recommend this book to friend's and family though Amazon, Bookbud, Netgalley, Barnes and Noble, Facebook, Goodread and my blog.

Rating : 5 out of 5

Disclaimer : I received this complimentary e-book copy from the author and publisher for a honest review. All thoughts and feelings are mine.

'Show me what to do. You, O Lord, are my only solace.'

I have studied the Holocaust for decades and when I saw the subject of Amanda Barratt's newest book, I knew this would be interesting. The books is not directly a Holocaust related book, but indirectly.

'What worth do you ascribe to freedom?

Amanda Barratt gives us the true story of Sophie Scholl and some of her fellow compatriots who acted to renounce Hitler and his ideas for Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. These young college students wrote and mailed/passed out leaflets in direct opposition to the Nazi regime.

'What little I have to offer, I will give. No matter the cost.'

Barratt tells their story with writing so stellar it grabs your mind and refuses to let go. I knew the outcome of Sophie Scholl's story before reading this book, and yet Barratt makes Sophie's life and her friends' lives come so alive! She puts you 'in' their lives. You feel their pain, their fear, their determination to try and make Germany a better place, a place free of a tyrant's rule, a place where lives mattered and not just lives that tyrant thought were worthy.

'Our instincts for evil have been nurtured. Once, acts of violence were condemned. Now, they're condoned. As long as the targets those deemed deserving.'

Incredibly well written and heartrendingly told, this book will stay with you. It's not a quick read. It takes time to absorb. While it is based on fact, parts are fictionalized but Barratt stays totally true to the facts. This book is impeccably researched and well worth reading. Bravo!

*My thanks to Kregel Publications for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are expressly my own.

WHAT PRICE, FREEDOM?

“In the end, it comes down to the worth you ascribe to freedom. What price you’re willing to pay.”

It is a rarity when a World War II historical fiction novel comes along that takes my breath away with the depth and breadth of it. THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS is such a novel. It was inspired by the true story of a group of German young people who made a conscious choice to take a stand against evil during WWII. At many different times, it made me stop and evaluate my life and my commitment to God.

Normally, a novel this size only takes me a day or two to read depending on what is going on in my life. I took my time with this so it was more like three or four days of reading because I was so emotionally involved with the characters. Barratt’s writing style is so fluid that it makes me feel as if I was one of the young adults caught up in the Resistance, too! Her main characters have become MY FRIENDS, and I wish I had known about them sooner!

She made me FEEL their struggles of righteous indignation and wonder what I would have done had I been in their situation. Would I have been one of the ones that “abandoned it all for the sake of the call?” Early in the book she mentioned the Confessing Church pastors were sent to Dachau. I have personally been there, seen the documentaries, viewed all the displays, walked the grounds, and visited the barracks. I stood in the gas chamber and had the door closed and locked behind me. It is a feeling I will never forget. My experiences made reading this novel so much more real and important to me.

We must NEVER forget the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives in the battle for our freedom!

Here is another favorite quote that helped the students then and can certainly help us all now: “This morning, before I left, my mutter told me God goes with us everywhere. And that even if we aren’t where we want to be, He can use us for good. I thought it might comfort you to know that as you return to Berlin.”

This novel has been added to my Top 20 Most Influential Books List. I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Kregel Publications & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

I have read A LOT of World War II stories. One of my two favorite genres to devour. I have read plenty of stories which show the plight and hurt of the Jewish people. I have read the plight of the soldiers who have done the hurting. But I have always wondered why no one actually stood up to the soldiers and Hitler. Anyone could see the harm he was causing to people. I heard a lot of good news about Amanda Barratt's first novel, My Dearest Dietrich, but I haven't read it YET. When I read the synopsis for The White Rose Resists, I knew it was the missing piece in my World War II information. I really couldn't wait to see what some Aryan college students who do to defy Hitler. Barratt's writing is a delight. The words flow easily from the page to my imagination. I love how she allowed the characters to be normal people who didn't set out to do something extraordinary; they saw an injustice and wanted to fix it. Admirable. There is some romance. There is some moments of breath catching. There is moments of sighing in relief because they didn't get caught. I can't wait to add this story to my physical shelf with all my other World War II novels. Definitely original and unpredictable. I can't wait to see what else Barratt researches and allows to come alive for readers. Something to keep an eye out for.

I received a complimentary copy of The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt from Kregel Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Amanda Barratt has pierced the center of the target with her book, "The White Rose Resists." Barratt has intricately woven her tale into the tapestry fibers of a true to life historical thriller. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. If you have never heard of Hans and Sophie Scholl, that is okay because Amanda Barratt will introduce you in such a way that you become old friends. Annalise, Kirk, Alex and others join the Scholls to create a team determined to do what is right, all the while knowing the consequences they could face if caught by one of the greatest evils the world has ever known, the Nazis. This book will have you experiencing every possible emotion as you join the journey in "The White Rose Resists."



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

The White Rose Resists
A Novel of the German Students Who Defied Hitler
by Amanda Barratt

Independent Publishers Group
Kregel Publications
Christian
Pub Date 26 May 2020



I am reviewing a copy of The White Rose Resists through Independent Publishers Group
Kregel Publications


Sophie Scholl and Annalise Brandt are brave women who are willing to stand up for what they believe even at the cost of their lives.


At first the idea of a New Germany had Sophie Scholl in a maelstrom of patriotic fervor. But when she realizes the truth behind Hitler's machinations for the fatherland. Now she and some of the other students in Munich, the cradle of the Nazi goverment came together to form a group to fight for the tru itth: the White Rose. The group risks everything in order to print and distribute leaflets that ask for Germans to rise up up against the evil that has taken hold of their country, the White Rose treads a knife's edge of discovery by the Gestapo.



Annalise Brandt was attending to the University of Munich to study art she had no intention to get wrapped up in a conspiracy. Annalise was after all the daughter of an SS officer who had been brought up to believe that the Fuher's leadership was divinely appointed. But as she learned more from her friends, the more she questions the Nazi Propoganda.



Before long Annalise joins the ranks of her friends, student by day, resister by night. When the stakes increase. They are all forced to confront the deadly consequences meted out to any who dare to oppose the Reich.




I give The White Rose Resists five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

When author Amanda Barratt asked for early readers for her new release, The White Rose Resists, I responded immediately. I had just finished reading A Promise for Tomorrow (her contribution to The Heart's Stronghold novella collection) and I previously enjoyed My Dearest Dietrich (2019). In my mind, I could expect another well-crafted story and that's just what she has delivered.

I gravitate to historical fiction because stories make learning fun! Through her novel, Barratt introduced me to two historical figures—Hans and Sophie Scholl—and showed how their passive resistance to the Nazi regime left an indelible mark on German society. Days after I finished reading I couldn't stop thinking about the Scholls and the ultimate sacrifice they were willing to make for their fellow man. I decided to read it again; then I asked my son and husband if they had ever heard of them. It's that sort of book... one you want to discuss with others.  

For me, Barratt struck the perfect balance between fact and fiction. She explains in her author's note how Kirk Hoffmann and Annalise Brandt were fictional characters—inspired by people she encountered while researching the White Rose. While I'll remember Hans and Sophie Scholl for their brave stand against tyranny, Kirk and Annalise were memorable in their own right due to the hope their faith brought to this tale. Love conquers all. 

I've read 38 books so far this year and The White Rose Resists is a true standout! Whether you enjoy non-fiction titles like The Hiding Place and Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl or prefer historical novels by authors like Melanie Dobson, Sarah Sundin, Susan Meissner, and Jennifer Chiaverini, this is a must-read title for YOU!

My Favorite Quotes:

"I’m ashamed of the fearful thoughts crowding in, eclipsing all else. If I give into my fear, I’ll be no better than the rest. Buckling beneath the oppressing hand of the Reich out of cowardice."

“In the end, it comes down to the worth you ascribe to freedom. What price you’re willing to pay.”

"The laughter of childhood is a casualty of war."

“Anxiety is like hunger. The longer it gnaws at you, the more used to it you become, though it doesn’t make enduring it any easier."

“It takes effort to feel hate. Indifference is easy.”

"It’s humbling, this daily, childlike reliance, but faith has given me courage outside of myself."

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS by AMANDA BARRATT is the true story of the student resistance movement, The White Rose, which was started by students at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich in 1942, This book is a real masterpiece, beautifully written, at the same time desperately sad and incredibly inspiring. The courage shown by these young people, their willingness to die for their fellow man and their unconditional love for one another, based on faith in God, really spoke to me.
It is interesting to see WWII from the German perspective, from those who were horrified by Hitler's inhumanity and madness. From those who wanted to save their beloved country from destruction. From those who wanted to " be doers of the word, not hearers only" (James chapter 1 verse 22) and who, as Christl said, believed that "only action provides absolution."
Whilst Hans and Sophie Scholl, Alex Schmorell, Christl Probst, Willi Graf and Traute Lafrenz are real heroes of the resistance movement, Annelise, the daughter of standartenfuhrer Brandt, and Kirk Hoffmann, are fictitious characters. However, Annelise and Kirk's romance really adds to the story.
An incredible amount of research has gone into this book. I really recommend The White Rose Resists as a book that will bless you and that will truly stay with you..
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley and the Independent Publishers' Group. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

2020 Top Pick! Author Amanda Barratt displays a masterful touch with a powerful story.

This beautiful novel relates the tale of Sophie and Hans Scholl, their real-life collaborators, and two winning fictional characters, who pit their youth and passion against the unforgiving Reich. The first person, present tense POV pulls readers into the story and allows them to watch events unfold through their own eyes. Barratt’s deft hand with details brings history to life without overpowering the rich emotions at the heart of this novel. And that ending . . . perfection!

5+++ stars! A winner! Can’t wait to share this with my students!

Best Quote: “Someday perhaps my story will be told, and others will remember. That to witness wrong and stay silent is as much a crime as committing evil oneself. That youth does not exempt one from responsibility.” ~Sophie Scholl

Amanda Barratt’s novel “The White Rose Resists” is inspired by true events that take place during World War Two in Germany. It is as eye opening as it is heartbreaking, thoroughly captivating and harrowing.

Annelise and Kirk are added, as fictional characters, to a cast of real-life heroes who stand up against the Nazi regime through their leaflets which dispute the government’s war propaganda and share the true horror of the treatment of Jews and those who fight back.

“My footsteps on the cobblestones are too loud. My heart drums inside my ears. What if I’m stopped? Searched? They’ll read the words we’ve written to rouse our deaf countrymen and call it sedition. It will mean arrest. Imprisonment. I can’t think beyond that. If I do, I might stop walking altogether.” - From “The White Rose Resists” by Amanda Barratt

My school education focused a lot of our time on World War Two but from the Allies perspective and to read about how the Germans felt, trapped in their homeland, silenced and abused, helpless to aid friends and neighbours is fascinating and chilling. I had never seen this side before.

“My vater is one of the few Confessing Church pastors remaining—a dwindling group of dissidents who refuse to bend to Reich Church policies. A crucifix, rather than a portrait of Hitler hangs on the chapel wall, a Bible, not a copy of Mein Kampf, rests on the altar in the run-down building Vater rents for services.“ - From “The White Rose Resists” by Amanda Barratt

As one can imagine, the Nazi government does not respond kindly to what amounts to treason in their eyes and the ending is so sad. Whilst the impact of these brave young activists lives on, the loss of their lives is tragic.

Despite the pain and the anguish, the book is one of hope. It is filled with Christian insights and the belief that good overcomes evil. The leading characters each have a deep faith born of wrestling well with God over the atrocities of war. As we face COVID-19 around the world, I was encouraged by their testimony that through all this we will triumph,

It is beautifully written, keeping me hooked on every word from the start. This is one that will live with me for a long while. It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!