Book Review: Rose Under Fire by Elisabeth Wein

Rose Under Fire - Elizabeth Wein

A shocking but truthful account of a Prison Camp in Germany, during WW2.

An eye-opening book, but not to be read before going to sleep!

After reading the previous one in the series (Code Name Verity, a different story, set in the same time), I decided that if this book was even half as good as its predecessor, it was worth a read. And, despite the slow start, it lived up to its expectations.

I will start, by saying that I would NOT recommend this book for anyone younger than fourteen, and/or with no previous knowledge of the  Nazi concentration camps. I had some idea of what to expect, so reading the book wasn't a complete shock to the system.

However, even though it is a grisly book, it is beautiful, and I feel that with  Neo-Nazis on the rise, (people who believe that the Nazis didn't exist, or even that they were right to do what they did) it is incredibly important to insure the younger generation are aware of what happened.

It follows the story of Rose Justice, a budding poet and pilot in the second world war. After several disastrous events, she ends up stranded in Germany, with no hope of return. She gets labeled as a French Prisoner of War, and is carted off to a Concentration Camp for women. The way she describes her experiences, combined with heart breaking poetry, is beautifully and desperately sad.

If you like the sound of this book, then please click the link below. If not, then just keep scrolling!

There is no sexual/kissing scenes, with only one mention of rape (in one sentence, very briefly). However, the language can be a bit colourful, (with one character in particular) and the whole idea/scene of a concentration camp is not for the fainthearted. However, as I have said before, if you have some previous knowledge/exposure of this subject, I would really recommend it!

I don't think I can say any more, without spoiling the book. I will just say, if you are a younger reader and want to give this book a try, quickly check with your parents first.
Happy (or maybe less so) Reading!