Russell Freedman

"The true story of the White Rose, a group of students in Nazi Germany who were active undercover agents of the resistance movement against Hitler and his regime"--

The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler

We Will Not Be Silent

Jeni Enjaian

I read this book as part of my goal to read the 20 books on the short list for the SC Junior Book Award 2018. My students, this upcoming year, will have the opportunity to read at least three of them, write reviews, earn a reward, and cast a vote for what might become the 2018 SC Junior Book Award winner.

In the past, I have read other historical non-fiction works by Russell Freedman. With this book, I remain impressed by Freedman's dedication to historical accuracy as well as his capability with language to draw younger readers in and inspire them to learn more about the historical event described within the pages. 

Many of my seventh graders wonder how Germans could possibly be okay with what Hitler promoted and executed during the lead up to WWII and the war itself. This book gives those students through the tragic account of the White Rose Student Resistance Movement, a movement that many know little of. 

Freedman's captivating, straight-forward narrative gains intensity with carefully selected and placed primary source documents, mostly authentic photographs, which bring his narrative to light and help to confirm the authenticity of the account while bringing home the reality that the people that took part in this movement actually existed. This makes the tragedy of their untimely death even more profound.

I highly recommend this book.

We Will Not Be Silent The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler

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