My Review: Oh my. I really loved this book. It’s the companion book to Code Name Verity, and as I’m sure you remember (haha!) Code Name Verity is one of my top fave books. (In case you don’t remember, here is that list again).
So it’s no surprise that I really loved Rose Under Fire as well. In fact, I dare
say that I read this one more quickly and was more entranced by it. It’s been
awhile since I’ve read a concentration camp book. They’re always an emotionally
difficult read and at times I have to actually stop and just step away because
it is horrific to read about the sufferings and tragedy, but I think it’s
important that I do read them and that I do periodically step into that horror
and remember that this really happened and that, as the old adage says, “Those
who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” And I think this is the
appropriate time to reconfirm once again that I hope Hitler is burning in hell even as I write this. Just putting that
out there.
This story is inspiring, as it shows strength of
character and devotion and resilience in situations where it would appear there
is no hope. The characters are a fine mix of both ordinary and extraordinary
people who are put in impossible situations and who face them with strength and
bravery. I loved that the author did so much research and when I looked into
some of her resources that she used (especially the internet resources), I was
able to confirm that many of the characters were based at least in part on
women who survived to tell the tale of what really happened in Ravensbruck.
This is a juvenile fiction book, but don’t think that
because of that it’s going to be light sauce on the horror of the concentration
camp. In fact, I think this book has some of the most realistic descriptions of
day to day living in this particular camp, and probably others as well.
However, because it was written for a YA Fic audience, those situations are very
clearly written and understandable, possibly in ways I hadn’t understood before.
After reading Rose
Under Fire, as with many historical fiction topics
that I find fascinating, I got a little obsessed and searched out some of the references
Wein includes in her “General Bibliography” and “Internet Sources.” And that
includes getting some books on interlibrary loan from my own library. I’m
serious, people. That’s a commitment for me.
Rose Under Fire
is certainly the kind of book that not only brings you through the actual
situation, but leaves you wanting to research and understand more. I found it
very well-written and heartbreaking. If you love historical fiction, especially
the World War II genre, or even if you haven’t read a book on concentration
camps in awhile and you are feeling like it’s time to go there again, you should
definitely give it a try.
My Rating: 5
stars
For the sensitive
reader: This book is based on actual accounts of women who lived in
Ravensbruck, so it is horrific, but is on par with others of its genre.