Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Review: Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein



 

While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that’s in store for her?
Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.


Wow…this book literally took my breath away. I have an extreme interest in World War II, especially what was going on in the concentration camps so I was really excited to read this book. I haven’t read Code Name Verity, but I’m going out to buy a copy as soon as I can after reading Rose Under Fire.

Wein’s writing is magnificent in the way that I could tell the character (Rose) was changing just by reading differences in the emotions in her journal writings and poetry. She starts out as this really ignorant, stereotypical American ATA pilot and by the end of the book, she’s like a brand new person who doesn’t take anything for granted and sees life through brand new eyes.

I felt attached to a lot of the characters and since this is a story about a character surviving in a concentration camp…well, let’s just say I cried (and I never cry when reading). For example, hearing about the Rabbits (Polish women who were experimented on) and what happened to them made my heart ache. The different characters-Roza, Lisette, Gitte, Karolina, and Irina-were easy to love and each had a different personality that I loved. The author used the whole situation to make their relationships strong and realistic and I felt as though this was how camp prisoners really survived (which it was).

This book is a must read and the poetry written by the main character Rose Justice really added to the emotion. It was a different kind of writing where I felt the main character was speaking with me and trying to connect and tell a story. Whether you like historical fiction or not, you need to read this book. 

*Received an ARC from the publisher Disney Hyperion, in no way does it affect my opinion of the book

5 comments:

  1. I have yet to read Code Name Verity yet but it is on my TBR pile. Like you I have always had an interest in World War II and find books that have that setting to be some of my favorite, although always heart wrenching. Thanks for the review. I will add this one to my TBR pile.!

    Kay @ It's a Book Life

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  2. Code Name Verity is AMAZING. I'm glad you liked Rose Under Fire because it's one of my most anticipated releases - I can't wait to read it!

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  3. I did not want to read this book until I got saw this review. Now I have a feeling I need to read this as soon as I can. Any time someone says that everyone has to read it i tend to put it up pretty far on my to read list.
    Great review!
    DaydreamerN :)

    Http://www.daydreamerN.blogspot.com

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  4. Well, Danam I heard mixed things about Code Name Verity, so i am not sure about reading it
    But it does look good, i have to admit
    Your reader,
    Soma
    http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/

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  5. The only Holocaust book I read was Night by Elie Wiesel and since I loved that one so much I'm not sure if I want to read something else like it. I didn't care much for Code Name Verity, it was a bit too textbook like, but I hope you like it more than I did!

    Alise @ Readers in Wonderland

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