I really enjoyed this epistolary WWII novel about a WWII POW camp that was being built in Ironside Lake, MN, former home of Johanna Bergland, a student of linguistics at the University of Minnesota. Johanna had a full-ride scholarship to the college and was looking forward to graduating and moving to London to be a translator of books. The US Army wanted her to be the translator at Camp Ironside for the German POWs. Johanna was offered the job which she rejected a couple of times until her full-ride scholarship was mysteriously revoked. The pay was very good so she finally decides to leave college for a year and take the job. The town was very hostile about having a POW camp there and they are not very welcoming to Johanna. As Johanna begins working with the prisoners, she starts to see them in a more sympathetic light which causes her to wonder who she can trust and who she can't.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the ARC of this fantastic page turner in exchange for an honest review.

This fabulous book is a must read for fans of the “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” It’s about small town life in Minnesota during World War II told entirely in letter correspondence. Johanna Berglund is our heroine and is being forced to leave university life behind and return home to live with her parents. Her scholarship was cancelled so that she would agree to work as an army translator at the German POW camp that is opening up not far away. Johanna is sarcastic and witty and her directness definitely rubs her neighbors the wrong way. At the beginning of the story, you also realize that she’s going to eventually be on trial for treason. The reader spends the rest of the novel trying to figure out why.

This was definitely a page-turner and also sheds some light on some of the little known aspects of war-time American life. There were German POW camps across the United States and Japanese-American translators embedded with army units fighting in the Pacific theater while their parents were incarcerated in Japanese internment camps. This book delves into the history of both.

Travel back in time to 1944. Ironside Lake, Minnesota has been chosen as a German POW campsite. During the day, the POWs will be day laborers on local farms. Jo Berglund has been hired as the translator for the camp-she'll translate letters and notices from German to English and vice versa. When a scandal erupts, the town will be forced to confront issues of prejudice, loyalty and faith.
I really enjoyed the epistolary format, Green was able to capture the individual voices of Jo, Peter, the town residents and the soldiers. I really liked Jo-she's intelligent, has strong opinions and has some awkward social interactions. I would love to return to Ironside Lake and catch up with Jo and Peter. Things We Didn't Say deals with themes of faith, segregation and love. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will want to read Things We Didn't Say.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

What an amazing debut novel!
I've not read very many epistolary novels, and find the quality in this book simply outstanding.
It did remind a bit of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", but perhaps only because that's the only other book I've read in recent times of a similar style.
Johanna Bergland is strong, smart, and determined, and is just an all-around wonderful heroine.
She gets derailed from her plans to attend college because of the war.
Her scholarship is removed, and she is forced to take a position as secretary at a POW camp close to her hometown of Lake Ironside.
The story is written with humor, funny little quirks, very realistic characters, and gives a look at a place and time during the war that is not often talked about. The descriptive details brought this scene to life, and I could almost watch it play out in front of my eyes.
This is a story that will linger in the corners of my mind for a long time.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The story starts with treason. Johanna Berglund, an opinionated language genius happily enjoys her life at the university studying dead languages. After all, dead languages seem much less confusing than living, breathing people. But when the army decides to build a prisoner-of-war camp for Germans in her tiny Minnesota town, Johanna’s life changes. Whether she wants it to or not.

Everyone pressures her to return home and take up the job of translator and censor for the new POW camp, but Johanna has no desire to return home again. Ever. No matter what anyone says. She has her heart set on studying in Oxford, England when she finishes her undergraduate studies, and taking a semester out to meet everyone’s expectations doesn’t seem right, or fair.

And she especially doesn’t want to return to a place where she feels her reception will equal that of the POW’s. How does a patriotic, yet reluctant recruit end up accused of treason in the middle of Minnesota—far from the horrors of World War II?

There’s only one way to find out—reading stacks of letters.

Why I Loved This Book

Not since Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead have I read an epistolary novel that has moved me to tears. In today’s world of emails, text messages, and instant messaging, we forget the quiet satisfaction of letters mixed on paper and baked in the postal system. Letters that reveal our true selves—not only to the recipient but to the sender as well.

The collection of correspondence from and to Johanna reveals not only her heart but the heart of her community. Like Atticus Finch, Johanna gets saddled with doing the job no one wants. As she struggles to find commonality with the POWs, the community reveals its prejudice, bigotry, and hate in ways that stun and surprise.

Things We Didn't Say is a delightful read. The entire novel is written in the form of letters between a smart and opinionated young woman, Johanna Berglund, and her many correspondents. Johanna is happily studying linguistics when her college studies are interrupted because she is needed as a translator for a newly established German POW camp in her Minnesota hometown. When Johanna is accused of treason, she produces all of her correspondence to show that this accusation is absolutely unfounded. Readers who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will want to check out this entertaining epistle.

I loved this book, the entire book is built on letters, becoming a lost art, and we get an indebth look at the life of Johanna Berglund. Johanna is a brilliant woman, and is fluent in languages, so she is persuaded to come home to her own town in MN and translate for the new internment facility being built there for German prisoners.
The time period is WWII and emotions and loss are high, patriotism, and now a camp is coming into their back yard.
Johanna's life is laid open here, along with her friends, mainly Peter, and your concern for him will certainly go up!
A don't miss book that gives a personal look into this period of time in our countries history!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

When one thinks of World War II, most often you think of Europe or the Pacific theatre. One rarely thinks about the POW camps that were right here in the United States. Things We Didn't Say, a debut novel by Amy Lynn Green published by Bethany House, focuses on just such a POW camp set in Minnesota.

Green uses a series of letters written between the various characters to tell the story. This unique device serves the two-fold purpose of both moving the story forward and also creates the body of "evidence" when lead character Johanna Berglund is accused of treason. The bulk of the letters are between Johanna, who serves as a translator at a German POW camp in her hometown, and Peter Ito, a Japanese-American who is teaching Japanese to future intelligence officers. Johanna, whom one might describe as "too big for her britches," is frustrated at being back in her home town rather than at the university. Her frustration at being in her small town combined with treating the German POWs as human beings creates conflict between Johanna and others in her town. However, her true test is still to come. The last few chapters of the novel were quite tense as you wonder what will happen and if Johanna will be found guilty or not.

While published by a Christian publishing house, I found that Things We Didn't Say does not contain several of the hallmarks of Christian novels. Prayer is mentioned frequently, but given calls for prayer during war time and the time period that was not unusual. The events in the story do cause Johanna to re-embrace her childhood faith towards the end of the story but not in an overt manner. As such, this book could gain a larger audience than it might otherwise. Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it well-researched. Others who enjoy historical fiction will enjoy it as well.

I received a complementary copy of Things We Didn't Say via NetGalley from Bethany House. I'm not required to give a positive opinion.

Things we Didn’t Say is Amy Lynn Green’s debut WWII novel set in the fictional town of Ironside Lake , Minnesota in 1944. Johanna is attending the University of Minnesota (U of M) on a full scholarship and has big plans for her future. While at the U of M, she meets Peter, a language instructor for military officers. She is forced to go back to Ironside Lake when she is pressured to be a translator at the camp for German POWs. Now their relationship is filled with letters that pass back and forth between the two.
This is an interesting book to read. The letters tell a nice story of two people forming a deeper relationship while separated. This story shows what it may have been like to be living during that time in the POW situation as well as what it may have been like for the loved ones at home. I enjoyed how the story portrayed Johanna as a caring person who treated the prisoners as human beings, treating them with respect and fighting for their rights. I also like the humor and need for faith in the story.
I received an ebook copy of this book from Bethany House publishers through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Let me start this review by saying that this book written entirely in letters, newspaper articles, written interviews, and transcripts of conversations. The reader does not have any interaction with the characters except through what they write, if and when they write. Or, you may experience someone’s opinion of them if they wrote it down.

On some levels, the format made the Things We Didn’t Say difficult to read. It felt as if I was jumping from one person’s head to another and it was a bit hard to keep up with who was saying what. It was also a bit disorienting because the minute I got into the character’s voice I was in some other person’s head.

But then, I began to feel a real admiration for this new-to-me author. It takes a lot of skill to create a mishmash of literary pieces written in different voices from different viewpoints and have each voice remain distinct. I would still have enjoyed being in the middle of the action instead of being told about it after the fact in a letter it or newspaper article but I imagine this is how Charles Donohue Jr. felt ( no, I’m not going to tell you who that is. If you wanna know, go read the book).

After a while, some of the characters became real to me and I could identify their voice even without seeing the tags identifying the letter writer.

Things We Didn’t Say is a commentary on humanity–we can allow our fears to either drive us to take risks to better the world we live in or cause is to lash out in hate at each other. It’s a reminder that we can choose to treat even those we perceive as enemies as neighbors and see their humanity even when they have done inhumane things.

It’s a reminder that God is with us in the silence and He will make a way when there seems to be no way.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publishers through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

My anticipation of this book was on a bit of a roller coaster, first giddy excitement at the thought of a epistolary novel set during WWII, my absolute favorite time period, then fear that it wouldn’t be as good as I hoped especially since it was a debut, then back to excitement because it just HAD to be good! And thankfully it more than exceeded my expectations and I absolutely loved it!
Amy Green provides a unique and fresh new voice in the Christian Fiction world and I was captivated from the very start! It amazed me how she managed to make me fall in love with characters simply through letters. Jo was fiery and spunky and I absolutely loved her no holds barred approach, her unsent letters with her snarky replies were some of my favorites to read. Peter was the perfect quiet hero, the calm and thoughtful way he approached everything was just the balance Jo needed and I loved that she trusted him enough to let him speak into her situations.
The prison camp was such a fascinating setting and I truly admired the way the author, through Jo, spotlighted their humanity even though they were the enemy. Too often we write people off because they’re on the other side without stopping to consider how they are just like us in so many ways.
This story had me on the edge of my seat and made me quite frustrated with the craziness of life that kept interrupting my reading! If you try one new author this year, let it be this one, you won’t be disappointed! I definitely wasn’t and I’m anxiously awaiting what the author has in store for us next!

Brilliant format.
The whole book is told in the format of letters written. Set after the war with both Germany and Japan. A brilliant yet snotty young girl Jo is in college, finally escaping her small home town, when during the war she is pretty much forced to return home and act as an interpreter at a POW camp. Her best friend is a Japanese American guy who is a teacher of language for interred young men preparing to go overseas. The story opens with Jo being charged with treason. She fought going back home and putting her dreams on hold but her scholarship sponsor forces the issue.
It was uncomfortable at first reading a story in this format, but it didn't take long to find it brilliant. There is so much you learn about each of the people in the letters and you can read between the lines. Friends from collage, friends from home, German prisoners, people from the small community. All weave the story. Expertly. With family of German heritage I always wondered how they felt as Americans here during the war, what it was like with German POW camps nearby, how they were treated in this small town. This story gives you a possible glimpse. A sleepy small town becomes full of hostility, examples of the humanity of the prisoners soften the opinions of many. Hard to put down!
#ThingsWeDidntSay #NetGalley
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love Johanna. Passionate, compassionate and a little bit of a spitfire. Reading the letters felt like reading someone's heart. Very enjoyable a nd Unputdownable!

When a story begins with an accusation of treason, it is certain that drama will ensue. Amy Lynn Green's quiet build-up of character identities, romance, and the power of language is a testament to her skill and patience as an author. Despite knowing where the story was going, nothing was revealed too quickly, and the hints and seeds planted throughout developed the story beautifully.

This epistolary novel follows Jo(hanna) Berglund, a prodigious linguistics student at the University of Minnesota, who is recruited by the US Army to interrupt her studies and return to her tiny hometown of Ironside, MN to serve as the translator and censor at a German prisoner-of-war camp. Spunky, spirited, and (mostly) self-confident, Jo reluctantly agrees to take the post. Through letters to her university friends Peter and Olive, and the occasional fiery exchange with the editor of the local paper, Jo wrestles with her faith, her patriotism, and her relationships.

Green's writing is fantastic, and she inhabits the different voices of her characters so effectively. As acknowledged in her Author's Note, it doesn't matter at all that I can't picture the characters because I fell in love with them anyway! The politics and prejudices of 1944 are depicted in such an honest and interesting way, and I learned so much about German POW camps, the experience of Japanese-American soldiers, and lovers of language during this period of American history (which is so special for a novel in the highly saturated WWII fiction genre).

My only critique is that the jump backwards in time at the beginning of the novel paired with the epistolary style made it a bit difficult to get my bearings at first. Several characters were introduced in the first few letters and documents, and it took me a little longer than I would have preferred to figure out who everyone was and how they all connected. That said, it is absolutely worth pushing through a little bit of confusion (likely easier to do in a physical copy to flip back and forth between pages) because the rest of the novel is truly engrossing.

This novel helped me get out of the reading slump I'd found myself for a few weeks, uncharacteristically avoiding fiction.

Things We Didn't Say is written in epistolary form, my favourite style, and it focuses on a year in Johanna Berglund's life, a linguist student turned US army translator. I liked the unknown (to me) perspective on World War II. It's always interesting to look at that time period from a different angle. I don't think I've read a WWII novel set in US before.

There is a lot of depth in this apparently easy to read novel. I admit this was my reasoning going in: something light to make me want to read fiction. I liked how different mysteries were hinted at and scattered thoughout the novel, but it was done without it being overbearing or just for the sake of creating something to keep the reader interested. The characters have depth and personality, so the novel was full of relatable moments for me. Getting to distinguish a character's voice solely through letters is not something easily achieved, but the author did it.

It was also fascinating to learn about the US Prisoner of War camps in the Midwest and the attitude the locals had towards these prisoners. I found the topic of the other, the foreigner, the one of a different race very relevant to the history of US, and especially relevant these days. However, it is applicable to anyone, not just Americans. The struggle with one's faith and how we can accept God's plan was another theme the novel dealt with.

There is a delicately presented love story unfolding, but I especially appreciated it not being the focal point. It was cheeky how the angle of the false romance was added in. Since romance is not the main point of the novel at all, it made the novel even better for me. What it focused on were the relationships in a small community, the power of the written word, the value prayers have for the one who prays, the importance of holding strong to what you believe in, and the willingness to give up something good for something even better. Funny how a story of the mid -1940s has echo in the 2020s.

It's the sort of novel you speed through towards the end because you want to learn how it all ties together, but at the same time you don't want it to end. I enjoyed reading Things We Didn't Say a lot and I look forward to reading more from Amy Lynn Green, an original voice on the Christian Historical Fiction scene.

The subject of POV camps built in the United States during WWII is seldom discussed. It's a time in history that few want to investigate deeply. But the presence of enemy soldiers on American soil was sure to draw a strong response from the local residents and those Americans employed in the camps were not exempt from that response.

This story is told through the letters written to and from the POWs and their keepers. It is a style that requires skillful writing and well thought out reader's reactions. Amy Lynn Green has done a masterful job of telling Jo's story utilizing only these letters.

Johanna Berglund has been coerced by fate and the US Army into accepting a translator position at the German POW camp located near her hometown. Jo was never on good terms with her neighbors, she saw no reason to keep her opinions to herself. So when she returns, her homecoming is not a warm, welcome one. As she carries out her duties, Jo learns to see the prisoners as people, they have families and emotions that evoke a strong reaction to some of the directions she is ordered to complete. The story as it unwinds will paint a picture of a young woman with a conscience that will lead her to speak out and ultimately find her charged with treason. I ran the full gamut of emotions with her from sorrow to anger and back again. This is definitely a story that should be read and shared.

This is a fascinating book. The story is told by a series of letters written during WWII. Most of the tale concerns a POW farm labor camp in Minnesota and the translator who worked there. I also live in an area where POWs lived and worked. Post-war, many stayed to become American citizens because in the USA they could own land and be their own boss. The story is entirely believable and well-written I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Love the history that this book has to offer. What a wonderful read for those that love books dealing with WW II. The story offers a glimpse in to what Americans dealt with in POW camps and the Germans who worked in them. The main character Jo (Johanna) has a fun, snarky, and sarcastic personality that makes the book even more enjoyable.
It’s a story about history sprinkled with intrigue and romance. Loved the use of letters in the writing of this book. It brought a new dimension to the telling of the story and a way for Jo to prove she had not committed treason.

The way this book is written is quite hard to get into at the beginning. But actually makes for a wonderfully different approach to a historical novel. It was encouraging to me to stand for what I believe in and to remember the dreams, even those that change. God is often in the changes and is always guiding each of us. Such a good reminder.

A very interesting story based on events in a German POW camp in Minnesota during WWII. Young Johanna Berglund begrudgingly comes home from the university to become an interpreter for the prisoners. Entirely created by letters written by Johanna and others, this book gives readers an interesting look at this little known piece of history. Johanna is a fascinating character with quite the wit. I know many readers will find this story enjoyable. I found it harder to read being all letters.

Johanna Berglund in going to the university in Minnesota during WWII when she is forced to leave the university and return home to her small town in Minnesota and work as an interpreter at a very unpopular German POW camp. She becomes more sympathetic to the inmates as time goes on, which makes the local townspeople not trust her and accuse her of treason...who to trust! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I can never resist an epistolary novel and this is one of the best I've read. Chronicling just under a year in the life of a brilliant linguistics scholar toward the end of World War II, this story takes a hard look at our nation's treatment of entire ethnic groups while we were at war with their native country. Effectively forced to work as a translator in a POW work camp in rural Minnesota, Jo Berglund, who had befriended an American young man if Japanese descent at the university, finds herself in an impossible position because of her insistence on seeing the German prisoners not as a collective enemy tool but as individual human beings.

When a book challenges your thinking and makes you look hard at your own thoughts and attitudes and motivations, it’s an excellent book. That’s exactly what Things We Didn’t Say did for me. It was a wonderfully told story that really made me think.

I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley.
The entire book is written in letters and notes to/from different characters so it took a little longer for me to get into the story. I came to admire the main character Johanna for her dedication to her studies and her "tell it like it is" attitude as she was forced into another path rather than be able to stay at university working on her studies during WWII. She becomes a translator at a POW camp in her hometown then has to deal with being arrested as a possible traitor to the U.S.

This was a well written story about part of our history I was unaware of, German POW camps in the Midwest. I enjoyed the characters and it dwelt well with the struggle of racism, and the need to accept others as individuals. It worked out the hard issue of loving your neighbor when your neighbor is also you enemy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of an honest review.

I read every detail of this book, including the author's note at the end. I learned that this is the author's debut novel, which I never would have imagined!! This story is incredibly well-written in an epistolary manner (which might be a turn off to some, but I really enjoyed).
This book caught my attention from the very beginning, where it talks about a "civilian charged with involvement in prisoner-of-war-related crimes is a complicated affair." I was like, what? What happened? You might be asking yourself that very question right now...and it you are dying of curiosity like I was, I can guarantee you will not be disappointed...a truly great story on so many different levels.
There are not a lot of physical details given about the characters, but you get to know them through the letters. I am actually glad that we are not given a lot of details, or that might have spoiled the image that we get of them.
I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, but the style of writing really intrigued me and I had a hard time putting the book down to get anything else done. Johanna is the main character and I loved her sharp wit and humor. Yes, humor. I never expected to laugh out loud or be snickering through a "historical" read, but that is exactly what I did. Especially in the letters that never got sent. It was really refreshing to see a book that could have really been heavy, given the nature of the story (war), written in such an effortless way, that really kept my attention. (So, during this pandemic season, do not let what could be the "serious" nature of this book be a turn off to you.
This book had many layers, including elements of suspense and mystery, it really made you wonder who the enemy was. If you are like me, you won't wonder for long, you will simply read until you learn the truth. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who likes historical fiction, books written in letter form, captivating novels or just a well-written book.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Unique writing style:
It was a nice change having this book be in the format of only letters, telegrams and newspaper articles and I thought it gave us insight into a number of different characters and perspectives. I was surprised how captivating this writing style could be and I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.
I thought the author did a good job of highlighting the injustices experienced by prisoners of war interred in the USA during WWII. I grew very fond of Johanna, a linguistic student brought in to translate at a German POW camp and I liked seeing her personal growth and development. Her simple romance with Peter was also really sweet. This book had underlying themes of faith, trust and love woven throughout.
Overall I really enjoyed this debut novel and I look forward to reading upcoming books by this talented author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, you will love this book! The author, Amy Lynn Green, does an amazing job of both entertaining and informing her readers in this story of a linguistics student who is hired as a translator at a POW camp for a German soldiers in Minnesota. One thing to mention is this story is told completely through letters, telegrams and newspaper articles. It’s not my favorite style but it really works this time, I definitely recommend getting this book when it comes out in November!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoy WWII novels so this looked intriguing. The story entirely told in letters was delightful. I didn’t expect to say that about a story of treason and POW’s and war but this book is so well written. It is beautifully descriptive without being overly wordy making it light and fun to read. I loved the main character Johanna’s witty sarcasm and the detail of her letters. She was far from the only character in this story that had depth and made you immediately want to know more about who they were. It was one of those books that kept me reading late into the night and at every opportunity during busy days.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was utterly fantastic! I will start by saying that it is an epistolary novel (told in the form of letters, telegrams, and notes, etc.). Some people don't like that style because it generally is difficult to tell a story well in that manner, but Ms. Green overcame that obstacle beautifully. The story was told well in that format, without taking the reader out of the method or making the letters sound un-letter-like. That this was set in the 1940s when letter writing was the best way to communicate long distance helped to set the stage smartly.

One thing I did not know before reading this book is that there were POW camps here in the US during WWII. This book brought in unique facets of the War and how it impacted the US in the POW camps, the language training schools (to train soldiers to speak Japanese), and the internment camps. In addition to being educational in that regard, and having an enjoyable story-line, I absolutely adored the characters. Johanna is no doubt the type of person my child would be if I had one. With my no-nonsense attitude and my husband's wit and sarcasm, Johanna was the perfect combination of us and I found myself relating well to her on those grounds. I loved her spirit and her way of going about things and I loved how Peter grounded her and kept her focused on the right things. I adored Pastor Sorenson and his steady faithfulness, and Cornelia Knutson gets an award for best supporting character - I just adored her - and her collection of hats!

Because the letter writing happens over time and there's a natural time of progression, the character growth happens fluidly and naturally. I loved to watch Johanna grow and blossom in her circumstances and struggles as she wrote to Peter, Olive, Annika, Pastor Sorenson, Cornelia, and even the POWs. The faith thread is solid in this one as Johanna struggles with the concept of unanswered prayers and those around her encourage her in her faith. This book took me through all of the emotions. I would be laughing one moment at something that Johanna or Peter said and then all of a sudden, I've been punched in the gut with a truism brought abut by that same anecdote. There were thoughts on race relations (Peter, as a Japanese American dealt with a good deal of racism, and the German POWs noted that the American treatment of Blacks wasn't so different than their treatment of Jews), faith struggles, lost friendships, and regrets. The story-line was redemptive and moving, though, as these things were all worked through. This was one that definitely makes you think and is entertaining as well. That this is the author's debut novel makes this even more impressive. Ms. Green is now on my "watch list" of authors and I plan to read whatever she releases next!

Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was not obligated to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

This is a lovely novel which looks at WWII through the eyes of Johanna Berglund and the letters she both writes and reads as a translator for the US Army at a POW camp for Germans in rural Minnesota. Up to now, Johanna has lived a life of study; she was on the path to study at Oxford. She's not happy about the translation work initially but then finds herself sympathetic fo the prisoners, in part because she begins to see them as people with families like her own. And there's Stefan, a prisoner who begins to enter her heart. Don't worry about the fact that this is a novel comprising letters- the emotion flows wonderfully through the writing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of WWII fiction will relish this different angle and all readers will appreciate it for its thoughtfulness.

A story based on true events. POW camps of the Germans were at times place in small towns. The reaction of the townspeople is prevalent in this story.
It is also a story of a woman and her studying of languages. Joanna is fluent in German. Thus she is called from her studies to act as interpreter in the German POW camp. The things she learns and the men she meets will change her life. This story is both interesting and educational. Recommended.

I’ve just become an Amy Green fan. Have you ever watched someone finger weave? Or knit? Or stitch together an intricately-designed quilt? I can’t do any of those things, and I’m enthralled by watching those who can. But I do write, and I’ve been studying WWII POW camps on the home front, and maybe that’s why I am so in awe of Amy Green’s first novel (according to the author’s note). Using a very atypical story format, she has written what seems like a giant quilt pattern of relationships and story layers and laid each piece perfectly into place, seaming together a powerful story rich with history, intrigue, and emotion. And like a finger-weaver, she kept hold of numerous threads at once and managed to snug each one tightly into place. She also resisted the urge to give away too much too soon, and I found myself trying to read between the lines of “things we didn’t say” to ferret out hints. All this combined it gave me a powerful reading experience. The story itself, written through letters by various characters, all pointing to a charge of treason against the sharp-edged yet endearing protagonist, is a format that had to have been extremely challenging to write, especially since much of the correspondence overlaps in time and through distance during the second World War. I applaud her skill, and most of all, her attention to historic detail. This definitely makes my top reads list of 2020. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green In this well researched and thought-provoking story in which little known particulars of of war-time American life are brought to light. The story features both he history of the German POW camps that were scattered across the United States and of the Japanese-American translators serving with army units in the Pacific theater while their families were incarcerated in Japanese internment camps. The narrative presented through letters, newspaper articles and court records make for a different approach to a historical novel. Joanna is a unique and special character as is Peter. All of the characters are well developed and reliable. Very interesting and entertaining read.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

When I first started reading, Things We Didn't Say, I was surprised to find that it was a novel full of letters and documents. I found that refreshing in a book. I loved that an entire story could be told entirely through correspondence and newspaper clippings. Despite a different-than-usual approach to writing a novel, it kept my interest and was able to surprise me as to how it would be toward the end of the book. Things We Didn't Say introduced me to a part of WWII history that I was unfamiliar with--POWs in America from European countries. I appreciated the Author's Note at the end of the book that spoke of the inspiration for the book and gave historical context to it's setting. I recommend Things We Didn't Say to anyone who likes books set in WWII and anyone that's looking for something that's different than your typical historical fiction novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

It's hard to believe this is Ms. Green's debut novel. Wow. It's plain to see that she put a lot of thought and research into this book. I had no idea that there were German POW camps in the US during WW II. It did take me a bit to get used to reading the epistolary style of this book, but I enjoyed it. It made me think about when I was younger and had pen pals. I actually miss the act of writing letters instead of texting.

Johanna was so strong, smart and witty. I loved watching her grow in her faith and I especially loved Peter. He was kind and encouraging and such a good friend to Johanna. I highly recommend this book.

Dear Amy,

All is well here in Maryland. Missing Minnesota as most of my social media posts might allude to. I was so glad to be home for the first snowfall of the year though. It'll carry me through until I can get back in January. I have to admit, I'm glad that the weather stays in the 70s here in Maryland during November. I get to wear shorts and t-shirts here longer than I ever did in MN.

I have to tell you, I just finished "Things We Didn't Say" and was blown away! Are you sure this was your first novel? it certainly didn't feel like it. Have I ever mentioned I've never read an epistolary novel before. I have watched the movie "The Potato Peel Society of Guernsey" but I haven't read a book created by all letters!

Having not read a book that was based on written letters, I wasn't sure if it would appeal to me or if it would keep my interest. Well, I was hooked the moment I started reading! I was so nervous for Joanna Berglund right from the get-go. Can I tell you that I had no idea we had POW camps in Minnesota?! I didn't grow up there so maybe my kids learned about it since they did.

I really enjoyed the getting a feel for the relationship Jo has with the people in her life through her letters. Of course, being the romantic that I am, I enjoyed Peter's letter exchanges the most. Interesting that I say that now because I think in the 40s I probably wouldn't have had the same response.1

Jo going back to Ironside Lake when her dreams lay far away at Oxford really made me feel compelled to be angry for her... basically being coerced into going home. I would imagine tensions were high, especially in such a small town. We know how those small towns are and Ironside Lake definitely lived up to the reputation.

I love Jo's spirited exchanges with Peter and Olive. She's witty and abrupt, something I ADORE in characters. Not everyone appreciates those parts that make up Joanna. Good thing she's resolved not to care in the least. HA!

The work she did with the POWs was wonderful and kudos for people who do that in real life as well. I'm sure she represents a unique group of people. It was "easy" to see them through her eyes. Too bad others didn't follow suit.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot I can say to the rest of the story because I don't want to give too much away. Hopefully I haven't already. If so, please be sure to let me know so I can make amends! I hope this isn't the last we hear from you and that we'll have many books to look forward to! I'll be reading them to be sure.

PS The anonymous donor really surprised me!
1It's always hard to know how one would respond in a different time. I've often thought of this when I read books that are set during the Civil War or Regency era.

When the first few chapters of Things We Didn't Say consisted of letters and newspaper clippings, I flipped through the book and discovered that the entire book was structured that way. Initially I felt that would cause the book to drag on, but I could not have been more wrong. I was totally sucked into this story, and totally amazed at how the author's unique story structure allowed the tale to unfold. Johanna Berglund,at first a fairly unlikable but brilliant linguistics student, evolves into a caring, compassionate young woman as she is forced into working as a translator and censor in a German POW camp in her hometown of Ironside Lake, Minnesota. There is so much more I want to reveal, but truly want to avoid even the smallest of spoilers that would cause other readers not to get the benefit of the author's true gift of feeding the reader information at just the right spot in the story. This is truly a five star read, and I am more than grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Johanna Berglund is a genius at languages. She is determined to get her degree and move to Oxford, England to pursue her passion and for discovering Europe. It is also a desire to never return to her hometown and the pain found there. It is during WWII that things begin to fall apart for these plans. The US Army is looking for a linguist to help with a new POW camp located outside her hometown. Despite her protests, she relocates for 9 months and her life changes forever. Her sarcastic personality shines in her letters and in the dialogue. She is clever and single-minded in her goals. Until everything changes during her time helping at the camp. She is accused of colluding with the enemy and has the possibility of being sent to jail for treason. Soon she doesn't know who to trust, including herself.

The newspaper articles are funny, the letter exchanges are clever, the book is overall a fun read and clean, which is always appreciated.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Not only has Amy Lynn Green written a very memorable debut, I will say that this is one of my favorite reads of the year. I have only read a couple of epistolary novels and I can already imagine what a great audiobook this will make(my favorite way to experience epistolary novels).

With a fresh voice to fiction, the author pens an eclectic cast of characters through the various letters that surround a POW camp and the young woman who was at first unwillingly serving as translator. Ms. Green gives the readers a heroine who is outwardly brusque and obstinate, but taps an unexpected inner strength as a crusader for justice.

The many letters in this novel hold a magnifying glass that reveals the individual flaws and prejudices that can taint a community and how one strong voice can speak for justice....and grace for all.

This book is for the keeper shelf and I hope to read many more books by this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This debut novel is written in the epistolary style, which means the whole thing is letters, notes, etc. I’ve read a few books in this style and they usually make for an interesting tale! I would characterize this one as a religious historical fiction book. I was fascinated to read that there were some POW camps in the Midwest that housed German POWs. The Germans went to work on the harvest as many of the local farming men were off fighting in WWII.

The book centers around a fascinating character, Johanna, a young woman who had been studying languages at University of Minnesota. She moves back to her small hometown to serve as the POW camp’s translator as one of the languages she knows well is German. Johanna is very bright and not afraid to speak her mind! Soon she’s trying to make the townspeople be more hospitable to the German POWs. As you might imagine, there’s a lot of fear and distrust toward the prisoners and reluctance to have them in the area.

There are also lots of letters between Johanna and Peter, a college friend who happens to be a Japanese nisei (a person born in the US or Canada whose parents were immigrants from Japan). His Japanese language skills are highly valued and he’s teaching Japanese to soldiers that will soon be headed to the Pacific theater.
From the beginning of the book, we know that there is a trial for treason happening and it takes nearly the whole book to tell the full story. The second half of book got really dramatic and I was worried about what would happen to Johanna.

Johanna really grows as a character and I enjoyed this exposure to a part of WWII history that I didn’t really know about at all. There are quite a few religious elements in the story, but it didn’t feel like too much to this reader.

Things We Didn’t Say is the story of Johanna Berglund, an opinionated linguistics student at the University of Minnesota who unwillingly returns home to a small town in rural Minnesota to work as an interpreter and translator at a POW camp for German POWs who are sent there over the summer to help work in the fields. Jo is charged with treason after the escape of 2 of the POWs in the opening pages, and the story is told entirely in letter format: letters between Jo and her friends, Jo and the editor to the newspaper, the POWs and their families back home, editorials to the newspaper, and notes left on desks.

As we read the letters, we are introduced to Jo’s friend Peter Ito, a Japanese-American from San Francisco who’s family has been interred in a camp in Arizona. Peter is working as a teacher at an Army camp outside of Minneapolis teaching Japanese to other Japanese-Americans who are preparing to deploy to the Pacific and be used as translators and interpreters. Through these letters in particular, we see Peter’s faith in America tested as he talks about his family’s internment and the treatment he and the other Students in his class are treated by the white soldiers. We also get to see Jo begin to see the POWs are just men, men with families and sweethearts back home, men who were teachers and musicians and bakers in Germany before the war. We also meet other people who work in the camp through Jo’s letters, but who is the traitor?

At first, I didn’t think the letter format was going to be enough to get the feeling behind the story, but it turns out it was! And frankly, that’s why I’m giving this 4 stars. Jo is a very unlikeable character. From the opening pages, she treats everyone she encounters terribly, and I couldn’t believe they just kept coming back to her like she was some special friend. She is so condescending and unwilling to accept anyone else’s opinions or views. Also, it dragged on a bit in the middle. And I didn’t realize this was Christian fiction, which didn’t bother me, but just know it’s there. It reads like a YA novel with bible references.

I loved the backdrop. My mother was from Iowa and I’d heard stories about the POW camps and how they were brought to the farms to help during harvest time. I also have friends who’s parents and grandparents were interred during the war, so I think it’s important that these moments in our history continue to be told, even in fiction, so that we won’t forget what we’ve done.

Overall, I would recommend this book. Very appropriate for young adults if you don’t mind the religious themes.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This girl's got gumption!

Who would have thought that a WWII Christian historical fiction novel would make me laugh in more than a few places, but the heroine of Things We Didn't Say kept me smiling and you-go-girl cheering given her "headstrong" nature throughout all 416 pages.

Comparisons to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society are apt, given the structure of storytelling solely through letters, newspaper articles, and speech transcripts. Readers learn early on that these communications have been collected as evidence for the treason case against Johanna, the main character, who has been working as a translator at a German POW work camp in Minnesota.

What I love about this book is that it highlighted a piece of Midwestern history that I knew nothing about (the POW camps in the US) ... and I live in Iowa. While I've passed on WWII fiction lately due to burnout, this perspective was different enough to catch my interest.

My thanks to NetGalley, Bethany House Publishers and Amy Lynn Green for the advanced copy to review.

I admit I'm partial to epistolary novels, but even discounting that bias this debut is outstanding. Amy, what are you up to next? Where do I sign up to be a first reader? Please, please.

Changing things up a bit. I’m adding crowns, or tiaras, to my titles instead of stars. Due to this blog being titled Books, Lattes, & Tiaras, I felt it appropriate to rate using tiaras! Seems appropriate to me!

Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green.
Bethany House. Release date: 11/3/2020.
ISBN: 9780764237164
Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green takes readers back to a POW camp of German soldiers during WWII, who are assigned to work in the potato and beet farms in Minnesota. Johanna becomes the translator for all incoming and outgoing mail for the Germans, a position highly encouraged by her college scholarship sponsor. And Jo is an avid letter writer to her friends and some key people in important positions that can benefit her causes. In fact, the entire fascinating book is entirely of letters, articles, notes, and other documents.

I love that in Johanna’s letters to her friend Peter, she includes a German Idiom of the Day, the English translation, some context for the letter and whatever it is she wants to share with her dear friend. I have no idea how to say these German words, but the translations are similar to those I’ve heard growing up and I’ve found myself giggling at several of them.

To my surprise, Jo’s pen pal Peter shares about the Kotonks and Buddha-heads when describing the Japanese students he’s teaching these are terms I grew up with in Hawaii. Kotonks being the Japanese who grew up in the mainland and Buddha-heads are the Japanese who grew up in Hawaii. I found these Hawaii related conversations to be quite entertaining!

Jo is a resourceful and creative character that I feel could be a good friend. She loves reading and writing, too! She’s my kind of person! Johanna not only translated and censored letters to and from the POWs at Ironside Lake, MN, but she also encouraged them to create a band, submit articles to the local newspaper, taught English to the German officers, and even had some of the German musicians to play at the local benefit dance!

The storyline intensifies when Johanna is accused of helping two German POW escape soon after the benefit dance. It seems there’s so much evidence against Johanna. They also accuse her of aiding a Japanese spy, her friend Peter, when Peter goes MIA. How does so much get stacked against one innocent person so quickly?

Based on historical documents found at various museums, a digital copy of Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green was provided complimentary by Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book five out of five tiaras because I was glued to this story! Oh, how I wish it would continue until Peter returns to visit Jo!

Unique debut!

Johanna Berglund is an opinionated linguistic student at The University of Minnesota. She is pressured into returning to her small hometown and serving as a translator at the German POW camp.

Through this epistolary novel, readers learn about Johanna, her friends and family and happenings in the town. Johanna's snarky humor comes through loud and clear in her communications. A bit more subtly readers see her heart.

Alleged crimes and POW mishaps keep the pages turning with this novel. One thought that stood out to me is how would a mom feel with a son in a POW camp overseas that may not be getting treated humanely while the German POWs in her town were given descent meals, entertainment and opportunities to learn. It's a tough question to ponder.

The cover is lovely! I look forward to what the author will pen next.

Things We Didn't Say
by Amy Lynn Green
Back of the Book: “Headstrong Johanna Berglund, a linguistics student at the University of Minnesota, has very definite plans for her future . . . plans that do not include returning to her hometown and the secrets and heartaches she left behind there. But the US Army wants her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.
Johanna arrives to find the once-sleepy town exploding with hostility. Most patriotic citizens want nothing to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they're not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.
As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But advocating for better treatment makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Werner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her home-front battle, the more the lines between compassion and treason become blurred--and it's no longer clear whom she can trust.”
Impressions: This was an epistolary novel composed of letters, news articles and notes which is a bit different then my typical read. I found it hard to put down however because the letters were short enough to read through quickly and of course I wanted to know what happened next.
Liked: I really enjoyed the perspective and plot. I have read other wartime novels and this one stood out. The perspective of being on American soil and negotiating the prejudices as a Japanese American as well as associating with the POW prison was thought-provoking. I imagine fear and propaganda were fueling a great deal of tension during WW2 as was voiced in this story. I admired Jo’s courage and boldness as she navigated her new position with faith and empathy.
Disliked: I didn’t care for the conclusion of this book. The relationship between Jo and Peter was frustrating. Peters feelings for Jo romantically were not overly obvious but clear enough. Jo’s realization however was this brief and unromantic aha! moment followed by the conclusion. It just left a “what just happened” feeling for me.
Learned: Jo and Stefan’s conversations were the most interesting. They challenged the idea of seeing each other as enemies. I enjoyed their exchanges a great deal.
Quotes: “Real life is dreadfully tedious, the way it interrupts reading.”
“We can do anything we must. How we do it, though, is up to us.”
“Men think that it is impossible for a human to love his enemies, for enemies are hardly able to endure the sight of one another. Well, then, shut your eyes- and your enemy looks just like your neighbor.”
“Who would I be without the propaganda of America?” – I liked this thought-provoking idea.
“Who are you when you don’t have the law telling you what to do?”
“But you can’t hold God accountable for promises he didn’t make. He never promised us the easy path, never said we’d never feel loss or loneliness or heartbreak. But he did say he’d be with us through it all.”
“Sometimes showing grace breaks us before it heals us. Forgiveness can feel like a betrayal of justice. We want others to deserve grace, or at least ask for it, even knowing full well that the greatest grace was extended to us “while we were still enemies.’”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

Amy Lynn Green has written a captivating debut novel! This unique WWII story is told entirely through letters, newspaper articles, and other correspondence. Even with the challenging format, the author captured each character's distinct voice through their writing and wove together a fascinating look at some little-known aspects of the WWII era in America. We learn about life in a German POW camp through Johanna's eyewitness accounts, and understand more about the struggles Japanese Americans faced through Peter's perspective.

The epistolary format makes for rich characterization as we get inside the characters' heads through their writing. I really enjoyed Johanna's wit and determination, and Peter's wisdom and encouraging spirit. Although we are reading about the action after the fact, there is still plenty of tension and anticipation to keep you turning pages!

This book is a peek into history wrapped up in a powerful, moving story that will linger with you after the last page. Fans of Sarah Sundin and Roseanna M. White will especially enjoy this novel. It will be going on my list of favorite books of 2020, and I will be eagerly awaiting whatever Amy Lynn Green writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Things We Didn't Say
by Amy Lynn Green
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Women's Fiction
Pub Date 03 Nov 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Things We Didn’t Say through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:



Johanna Berglund, is a headstrong linguistics student at at the University of Minnesota and she has very definite plans for the future, plans that do not include going back to the hometown she left behind, along with the secrets and heartbreaks that happened there. But the Army has asked her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.





When Johanna arrives she finds her once sleepy hometown is exploding with hostility. Most of the Patriotic citizens do not want to have anything to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they're not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.




As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a better light. Advocating for better treatment for the prisoners makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Werner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her bottle on the home front, the more the lines between compassion and treason get blurred, and it becomes no longer clear who it is she can trust.




I give Things We Didn’t Say five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

This book really surprised me... and in the best way possible.
I love letter-writing SO much! Pretty much any book involving letters interests me because... I LOVE them! That being said, as this one is told completely through letters... I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to like it. I wondered how I could truly get to know the characters and things like that... well, I shouldn’t have doubted.

This book was amazing! Yes, it took me a bit to get into it but it’s no fault of the book’s. I simply had to get into the story, learn who the characters were, get invested in it... and once I did, it was wonderful.

The characters are so full of life. Really. Jo and Peter were such great characters.
Jo was a character that really grew on me. She’s such a complex character. She’s full of fire and spunk but she’s also flawed and human. Her journey and character development throughout was inspiring to read, and some of the advice she got hit home.
Peter was incredible. Seriously. He has to be one of the BEST pen pal writers ever, even if he is fictional! His advice to Jo throughout the letters was so good and thoughtful. I love how he’s a friend who doesn’t just tell her what she wants to hear but tells her what she need to hear because he cares. He was an amazing friend and such a great hero! I loved his character so, so much.

The romance was not the focus of this novel and I was entirely okay with that. That being said, it was subtlety here. Oh, I felt it alright, and loved it.
I just love how they fall in love with each other as a person and it goes deeper than mere attraction to looks.

There were twists and turns that made it hard to put down but I also loved the spice-of-life element to it. It was so enjoyable and fun to read about little things going on in the characters lives!
I smiled and laughed and teared up!

This book was beautiful and had so many beautiful, thoughtful quotes as well! Also it ironically fit so well with this time in the world. It was encouraging and inspiring.
Truly a great debut novel. I can’t wait to see what Amy writes in the future! I’ll definitely be on the watch. ❤️

*Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.