The White Rose Resists Book Review

The White Rose Resists, by Amanda Barratt, is a compelling story with great characters.

It is a work of fiction based on the factual story of a group of German students who defied Hitler during the second world war.

I don’t typically read WWII novels because the loss of innocent lives saddens me, but I follow Amanda Barratt on Instagram and for months I’ve seen posts about the book and it intrigued me.

I’ve always been stunned that humans could be so evil and never understood why more people didn’t stand up to Hitler. This book helped to restore my faith in human goodness as I read about college students willing to risk their lives to speak truth to the German citizens.

Ms. Barratt writes the novel from the point of view of three of the main characters. There is a heading each time the POV changes, but I must admit it took me a bit to catch onto this back and forth. I did get a bit confused at times until I got into the swing of it.

Sophie Scholl, Annalise Brandt, and Kirk Hoffmann are the three POV characters.

Annalise and Kirk are fictional but Sophie was a real person and a member of the White Rose resistance group. The author also included many other real people who were members of the White Rose.

The book is well researched, and Ms. Barratt did an excellent job of weaving the fictional characters in with the real people.

I had never heard about the White Rose resistance movement in Munich prior to reading this book. I now feel like I’ve experienced the students’ passion and fight for freedom. I admire that a group of young people were willing to live and die for their beliefs.

The phrase “if an opportunity presented itself, would you risk your own life to save another?” will stick with you once you get to know Hans, Alex, Kirk, Sophie, Annalise, and Willi. After reading this book I feel like I know this special group of young people well. Strong, loving, dedicated Christians who could not stay silent.

Sophie Scholl is quoted as saying, “Somebody, after all, had to make a start.”

I only pray I could be so brave.

This book is for everyone – young adults and older. Some young people might be surprised to learn of the despicable things that took place during this period of history when evil seemed to rule the earth. This is a story that everyone needs to know and a history that must not be forgotten.

Amanda Barratt, the author is a young adult herself but is already an ECPA best-selling author of several novels and novellas, including My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Lost Love. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a two-time FHL Reader’s Choice Award finalist.

If you’re looking for a strong, unforgettable read, check out The White Rose Resists.