Historical Fiction Book Review: The White Rose Resits
About the Book
Title: The White Rose Resists
Author: Amanda Barratt
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: May 26, 2020
Click here to purchase a copy of this novel for yourself.
Publisher's Description
“Inspired by the incredible true story of a group of ordinary men and women who dared to stand against evil.
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 students 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 distribute leaflets calling
for Germans to rise up against the evil permeating their country, the
White Rose treads a knife's edge of discovery by the Gestapo.
Annalise
Brandt came to the University of Munich to study art, not get involved
with conspiracy. The daughter of an SS officer, she's been brought up to
believe in the Führer's divinely appointed leadership. But the more she
comes to know Sophie and her friends, the more she questions the Nazi
propaganda.
Soon
Annalise joins their double life--students by day, resisters by night.
And as the stakes increase, they're all forced to confront the deadly
consequences meted out to any who dare to oppose the Reich.
A gripping testament to courage, The White Rose Resists
illuminates the sacrifice and conviction of an unlikely group of
revolutionaries who refused to remain silent-no matter the cost.”
My Review
Within the pages of The White Rose Resists,
Amanda Barratt has crafted a heart-wrenching and profoundly moving
story of courage, conviction, and sacrifice. Based on actual events,
this well-written novel boldly contrasts humanity’s capacity for love
and hate, hope and despair, self-sacrifice and cruelty, perseverance and
struggle, and faithfulness and uncertainty. With undeniable artistry,
Ms. Barratt arranges ink on paper to paint a story that draws the reader
into a gripping journey through chilling historical events that
challenge the resiliency of the human heart and the human will to oppose
evil and fight valiantly for truth, decency, morality, and justice.
Set
in Germany during WWII, a young group of university students find that
blind obedience to a tyrannical regime becomes unfathomable. At great
personal risk, they dedicate themselves to exposing evil and spreading
truth. In their raw vulnerability and heartrending authenticity, the
characters are simply captivating. Their fears, their needs, their
desires, and their actions are wholly believable and gripping. The
opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure
are intricately developed, and from them there unfurls a story that is
extremely poignant, emotionally-stirring, and thought-provoking.
The White Rose Resists
is an utterly breathtaking and moving novel. Ms. Barratt's talent for
storytelling is remarkable. Her writing is well-researched, descriptive,
and incredibly immersive. Within every paragraph and page there is deep
meaning, real truth, and thoughtful purpose. This tender story is
relevant, compelling, unforgettable, and inspiring. I recommend it
enthusiastically.
*I
was given a copy of this novel by the publisher. A review was not
required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions
that are entirely my own.
My Reflection
At
times, this novel, so shocking and so tragic, broke my heart. I wept
and I grieved for those who actually lived this story beyond the world
of the printed page. As revealed throughout history, and as depicted in
the pages of The White Rose Resists,
the human capacity for evil is beyond my fathoming. Yet, the human
capacity for compassion and self-sacrifice is equally striking. This
book also reveals that where there is unwarranted hatred and oppression,
there will always be those who purposefully risk much to oppose such
injustice and cruelty.
There are certainly heart-breaking moments in this extraordinary novel. Yet, as the sun sparkles through a stained-glass
window made from broken shards and pieces, the light of God’s grace,
glory, and redemption shines through the fragments of despair and
illuminates a restoration and a justice unlike anything else. At all
times and in all places, the radiance of God’s compassionate, miraculous
care is always present, always inspiring, as it glows with mercy and
hope.
About the Author: Amanda Barratt
“ECPA
best-selling author Amanda Barratt fell in love with writing in grade
school when she wrote her first story--a spin-off of Jane Eyre. Now,
Amanda writes romantic, historical fiction, penning stories of beauty
and brokenness set against the backdrop of bygone eras not so very
different from our own. She's the author of over a dozen novels and
novellas including The White Rose Resists: A Novel of the German
Students Who Defied Hitler and My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich
Bonhoeffer's Lost Love. Amanda
lives in the woods of Michigan with her family, where she can be found
reading way too many books, plotting her next novel, and jotting down
imaginary travel itineraries for her dream vacation to Europe.”--Biography from Amanda Barratt’s author page on Amazon.com.
Comments
Post a Comment