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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
2021: 5 to 3.5. Is a good book, and for WW2 era YA, some of the better stuff.
This book is SO SO good and I absolutely LOVE Daniel.
This book held my attention from the minute I opened the first page. Such an interesting concept, and I loved the main character, and how she questioned everything she once knew to come upon the true horror of what was occurring in her country. I can’t wait for the next book
Originally posted at A Book So Fathomless
*I just realised how short this review really is. I wish I could have written more to explain how much I loved this book but I just couldn't form proper sentences.
When I heard Prisoner of Night and Fog was about 1930’s Germany, it quickly became one of my most anticipated books of 2015. Like Anne Blankman, I’ve been obsessed with everything World War Two related since I read Anne Frank’s diary so this was no exception. It certainly didn’t hurt that this a really gorgeous book either.
Gretchen Muller is a different sort of character. Usually in World War Two/Holocaust novels, the main character is almost always Jewish and while I love those stories, it was interesting to see another side. Gretchen and her family are in Hitler’s inner circle, which meant this was a little bit strange to read at times – the thought that people like Gretchen (who is fictional) would have seen Hitler as just a normal person is terrifying. The scenes where Hitler did appear were almost difficult to read, but it was all so beautifully written that I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Moving on from that! The story is a little bit slow to start, but it was still interesting. By the second part, it has well and truly picked up and things were getting intense. There was a bit of everything – some romance, some family issues, politics, mystery, history (ha, I rhymed) and even some psychology. There are so many layers to this story – it’s not just a story about politics in 1930’s Germany, it’s about a girl and family and loyalty and love and realising what is good and true in the world. It’s beautiful and it’s haunting.
I know some people don’t ‘get’ these story, or they don’t like historical fiction for whatever reason but I think this subject, in particular, is incredibly important. This is a different look history, one that you don’t really get to see in YA very often and while it’s not as heartbreaking as a novel set in a Concentration Camp, it is just as meaningful.
In other words, I beg you all to give this a shot.
*I just realised how short this review really is. I wish I could have written more to explain how much I loved this book but I just couldn't form proper sentences.
When I heard Prisoner of Night and Fog was about 1930’s Germany, it quickly became one of my most anticipated books of 2015. Like Anne Blankman, I’ve been obsessed with everything World War Two related since I read Anne Frank’s diary so this was no exception. It certainly didn’t hurt that this a really gorgeous book either.
Gretchen Muller is a different sort of character. Usually in World War Two/Holocaust novels, the main character is almost always Jewish and while I love those stories, it was interesting to see another side. Gretchen and her family are in Hitler’s inner circle, which meant this was a little bit strange to read at times – the thought that people like Gretchen (who is fictional) would have seen Hitler as just a normal person is terrifying. The scenes where Hitler did appear were almost difficult to read, but it was all so beautifully written that I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Moving on from that! The story is a little bit slow to start, but it was still interesting. By the second part, it has well and truly picked up and things were getting intense. There was a bit of everything – some romance, some family issues, politics, mystery, history (ha, I rhymed) and even some psychology. There are so many layers to this story – it’s not just a story about politics in 1930’s Germany, it’s about a girl and family and loyalty and love and realising what is good and true in the world. It’s beautiful and it’s haunting.
I know some people don’t ‘get’ these story, or they don’t like historical fiction for whatever reason but I think this subject, in particular, is incredibly important. This is a different look history, one that you don’t really get to see in YA very often and while it’s not as heartbreaking as a novel set in a Concentration Camp, it is just as meaningful.
In other words, I beg you all to give this a shot.
This was a fabulous read! Anne Blankman is a writing god. She really did that. I was absolutely in love with the story from the very first page. I was instantly in 1930s Munich with the Nazi darling who called Adolf Hitler “Uncle Dolf.” The details and the mystery that was woven into the plot was excellent. This is how historical fiction is made. I loved seeing Gretchen discover the truth about the National Socialists and about Hitler for herself and see her develop her own voice. I loved the mix of real historical characters and fictional ones. And maybe because Munich is a beloved city of mine, but my shoes were running along the cobblestones with Gretchen and Daniel. I don’t think I’ve been that tense reading a book before. Absolutely excellent. On to book two!
Had a lot of action and kept me reading. For someone who doesn't love historical fiction I thought it was good.
The huge history nerd within me is completely and utterly in love with this book. Thank you Sasha for recommending this so highly.
I bought this at a book fair and no one has checked it out yet so I picked it up. It is historical fiction set in Germany during the rise of Hitler. Gretchen Mueller is known as Hitler's pet and she calls him Uncle Dolf. As he becomes more powerful, she meets a Jewish reporter who begins to open her eyes to what Hitler is. As she investigates the murder of her father, she lest so even more. There is a mix of romance, adventure, and suspense. Fans of historical fiction or war stories will like this peek into the world of Hitler and Germany. 6th grade and up.