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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Going into this book I was a little nervous as I had never read anything by this author before and this is a portion of history that I don't know a lot about. This book is good and does show the realities of what women went through during WWII who were young and looked a certain way.
In the past, I have briefly heard about the young women who were being used to help create the next german generation during WWII but it is something that isn't really talked about when you mention this point in history.
“In the four years the Lebensborn Society has been in existence, do you know how many girls have met one hundred percent of our criteria for genetic and aesthetic perfection?” Dr. Ebner paused again, turning to Dr. Vogel, then Elsbeth. “One. One girl—you, Gundi.”
The young women who were being used and lied to in order to create the next generation of ideal German children is one that is heartbreaking for many different reasons. But as for this book, the author does the story justice. She is able to do this through the three different POVs and how they are each in different stages of this story. From the nurse (Irma) who ended up figuring out what was going on and was not okay with it, to the university student (Gundi) who ended up getting pregnant and lied about her child's true father in order to protect everyone, and then you have the german true believer (Hilde) who wants to become important by any means necessary.
"Irma had serious misgivings about how these young women were being used, but her love for the girls was absolute."
Overall this book was interesting and did bring light to a time in history that is very seldom talked about. I did have my favorites while reading this book and for the vast majority of the book that was Gundi because of all that she was giving up and just hoping and praying that it would all work out in order to keep everyone safe. I did slowly warm up to Irma as time went on and we saw more of her compassion showing. As for Hilde, I could never like her throughout any of the book, did I feel bad for her? yes at times I did because of how desperate she was, but I never cared for her portion of the storyline. It was important though to see all the different sides of what was happening at Heim Hochland to get a real feel of what they were all going through and what was expected of them.
"The Nazis were stealing from the Jews; they were robbing German girls of their innocence."
Because this is a little talked about portion of WWII, not a lot can be found on it due to records being destroyed and people not wanting to admit that they were a part of it in order to keep their families safe after the war. The author did a good job of putting the pieces together of what could have happened, while also making a fictionalized tale to show what the young women went through.
“If you want to do something, it can’t be because you want to help the Jews. It has to be because you understand, heart and soul, that we are all inextricably bound. We don’t need a savior. We need allies.
In the past, I have briefly heard about the young women who were being used to help create the next german generation during WWII but it is something that isn't really talked about when you mention this point in history.
“In the four years the Lebensborn Society has been in existence, do you know how many girls have met one hundred percent of our criteria for genetic and aesthetic perfection?” Dr. Ebner paused again, turning to Dr. Vogel, then Elsbeth. “One. One girl—you, Gundi.”
The young women who were being used and lied to in order to create the next generation of ideal German children is one that is heartbreaking for many different reasons. But as for this book, the author does the story justice. She is able to do this through the three different POVs and how they are each in different stages of this story. From the nurse (Irma) who ended up figuring out what was going on and was not okay with it, to the university student (Gundi) who ended up getting pregnant and lied about her child's true father in order to protect everyone, and then you have the german true believer (Hilde) who wants to become important by any means necessary.
"Irma had serious misgivings about how these young women were being used, but her love for the girls was absolute."
Overall this book was interesting and did bring light to a time in history that is very seldom talked about. I did have my favorites while reading this book and for the vast majority of the book that was Gundi because of all that she was giving up and just hoping and praying that it would all work out in order to keep everyone safe. I did slowly warm up to Irma as time went on and we saw more of her compassion showing. As for Hilde, I could never like her throughout any of the book, did I feel bad for her? yes at times I did because of how desperate she was, but I never cared for her portion of the storyline. It was important though to see all the different sides of what was happening at Heim Hochland to get a real feel of what they were all going through and what was expected of them.
"The Nazis were stealing from the Jews; they were robbing German girls of their innocence."
Because this is a little talked about portion of WWII, not a lot can be found on it due to records being destroyed and people not wanting to admit that they were a part of it in order to keep their families safe after the war. The author did a good job of putting the pieces together of what could have happened, while also making a fictionalized tale to show what the young women went through.
“If you want to do something, it can’t be because you want to help the Jews. It has to be because you understand, heart and soul, that we are all inextricably bound. We don’t need a savior. We need allies.
I picked this up bc the author was a featured speaker at my local library. I missed her actual speaking engagement (which I’m really sad about), but I’m so glad I picked up this book.
I had no idea about the Lebensborn Society and the Nazi breeding program. I also don’t know that I’ve personally ever read a book about the Holocaust that wasn’t centered around the Jewish perspective (I could be wrong
I had no idea about the Lebensborn Society and the Nazi breeding program. I also don’t know that I’ve personally ever read a book about the Holocaust that wasn’t centered around the Jewish perspective (I could be wrong
Told from the viewpoints of three different women, I was once again shocked by another bloodcurdling atrocity that I had previously been unaware that happened. The Nazis & Hitler was creating the “master race” in maternity homes or breeding grounds for the perfection of the Aryan race.
Thought-provoking and superbly researched, be prepared for the entire rainbow of emotions to come out while reading this brutal, heartbreaking & emotional journey of these women.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Bookmarked for the gifted copy.
Thought-provoking and superbly researched, be prepared for the entire rainbow of emotions to come out while reading this brutal, heartbreaking & emotional journey of these women.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Bookmarked for the gifted copy.
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Learned some interesting historical facts, but the characters and story were just ok.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a novel about a true Nazi program to breed Aryan women to create the master race. The lebensborn program had teens come to a maternity home and invited as men to visit. They then stayed through their pregnancy and upon delivery the child was given to high ranking SS families. Gundi finds herself pregnant with her Jewish boyfriends child. Because she is Aryan looking she is sent to the maternity home until she delivers a child who looks very Jewish. A nurse then helps her escape to Switzerland. Irma is a nurse who lost her husband and child in the great war. She had a long term boyfriend but was dismayed when she learned he had a jew in his house. She went to work at the maternity home. Here she learns the true plans of the Nazis and changes her heart. At the end of the novel she helps German resistance fighters. Hilde is a young German trying to find her way. She starts an affair with a prominent ss man and becomes pregnant. She is sent to the maternity home where she miscarries. She is determined to stay and gets pregnant with one of the guards child. She then learns her ss liver won't recognize the child and she will be forced to give the child up. She hatches a plan to marry the guard. She was the best character. I liked her honesty and her drive. Irma was an interesting character but she flipped to easily to become a lovable character.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A