Thanks to @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for the complimentary e-copy of the book.
There are many different ways to tell the World War II story and Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein gives the reader a unique perspective.
Hetty Heinrich is the daughter of a high ranking Nazi and as the party gains more power, life seems to improve drastically for Hetty and her family. Her father gets promoted at the newspaper where he works and they move from their small flat to a spacious home in the best neighborhood. At school and in the youth groups, Hetty learns all the ways the Jews are destroying Germany.
Learning and even believing the propaganda and indoctrination, doesn’t stop Hetty from falling in love with Walter, a Jewish boy who was once her brother’s best friend.
I read Daughter of the Reich with my heart in my throat. Knowing the history, means knowing that there isn’t going to be an easy love story for these young people caught in a nation of danger and hate. Inspired by her family history, Fein tells an emotional and harrowing story of love and hate, evil and good, life and death.
The novel is engaging though it is long. It was interesting to read a different perspective and wonder about the kids growing up with the daily teachings in Nazi Germany. I did get frustrated by some of the foolish decisions of teens that put others lives in danger but I suppose that is often the way with teens who don’t fully understand the risks. Overall, it was worth reading and I would recommend it. I may have burned myself out on World War II novels for awhile though.
Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein is published by William Morrow Books in May 12, 2020.
