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Race Traitor
Product Description
To sixteen-year old runaway Lara Aslan, the new friends she finds in the secretive Patriot Front are the family she’s never had. They feed her when she’s hungry, watch her back and provide her with shelter at the home of infamous Holocaust denier Heinz Zimmer, whose web of hate connects neo-Nazis worldwide.
Under the guidance of the mysterious Markus Bellow, the covert leader of the Patriot Front, Lara swiftly undergoes a radical transformation that integrates weapon-training, combat skills and information-gathering tactics to produce the perfect terrorist. Thinking it’s all a game, Lara doesn’t know that the Patriot Front will stop at nothing to achieve their clandestine aim. The Patriot Front, in turn, is not aware of Lara’s own dark, long-buried secrets, which come to light on the heels of a brutal attack.
Forced to confront her own past, Lara knows she has to take swift action before it’s too late. With the help of a middle-aged French journalist and a lesbian police officer, Lara begins to spy on Heinz Zimmer and the Patriot Front. But the deeper she delves into their network of hatred, the deadlier her quest becomes.
INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY
A gripping, fast-paced storyline inspired by actual events, Race Traitor blends the thrilling joyride of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with the haunting poetry of The Kite Runner. An unforgettable journey into the darkness of the human heart, this is a tale that is sure to stay with you long after the book has ended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
At age 16, Elisa Hategan was an alienated runaway who became recruited into Canada’s most powerful white supremacist movement, the Heritage Front. She was groomed by top leaders to become a recruiter and rising star of the extremist far-right movement. An errand girl for notorious Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel, she was a witness to the illicit activities of an undercover CSIS agent and co-founder of the Heritage Front. At age 18, she turned against the group and spied on them for several months before testifying in court and going into hiding.
Borrowing from her own experiences, Elisa Hategan now weaves an incredible story of one teenage girl’s courage and transformation against a backdrop of hatred and brutality.
PRAISE FOR RACE TRAITOR
“The author conjures up a powerful premise, and frighteningly captures the world of separatist groups.”
Ballantine USA
“The edginess of this novel appeals to me, as does the complicated teen heroine drawn in Larissa.”
Doubleday USA
“I couldn’t put it down – really interesting story.”
Penguin Canada
“Elisa is a talented, courageous writer and Race Traitor is a compelling story.”
Douglas & McIntyre
“I was intrigued by the concept for this novel, and it’s clear that Ms. Hategan is a talented writer.”
Grand Central Publishing
“Elisa’s story is an intriguing one, definitely, and her writing is accessible, vivid, and energetic.”
McClelland & Stewart
“Very real-seeming, and thus quite harrowing.”
Editorial Director
Minotaur Books
“Elisa is a very effective writer.”
Knopf / Random House
“Interesting stuff. Should get attention, published by the right house”
Penguin USA
To sixteen-year old runaway Lara Aslan, the new friends she finds in the secretive Patriot Front are the family she’s never had. They feed her when she’s hungry, watch her back and provide her with shelter at the home of infamous Holocaust denier Heinz Zimmer, whose web of hate connects neo-Nazis worldwide.
Under the guidance of the mysterious Markus Bellow, the covert leader of the Patriot Front, Lara swiftly undergoes a radical transformation that integrates weapon-training, combat skills and information-gathering tactics to produce the perfect terrorist. Thinking it’s all a game, Lara doesn’t know that the Patriot Front will stop at nothing to achieve their clandestine aim. The Patriot Front, in turn, is not aware of Lara’s own dark, long-buried secrets, which come to light on the heels of a brutal attack.
Forced to confront her own past, Lara knows she has to take swift action before it’s too late. With the help of a middle-aged French journalist and a lesbian police officer, Lara begins to spy on Heinz Zimmer and the Patriot Front. But the deeper she delves into their network of hatred, the deadlier her quest becomes.
INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY
A gripping, fast-paced storyline inspired by actual events, Race Traitor blends the thrilling joyride of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with the haunting poetry of The Kite Runner. An unforgettable journey into the darkness of the human heart, this is a tale that is sure to stay with you long after the book has ended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
At age 16, Elisa Hategan was an alienated runaway who became recruited into Canada’s most powerful white supremacist movement, the Heritage Front. She was groomed by top leaders to become a recruiter and rising star of the extremist far-right movement. An errand girl for notorious Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel, she was a witness to the illicit activities of an undercover CSIS agent and co-founder of the Heritage Front. At age 18, she turned against the group and spied on them for several months before testifying in court and going into hiding.
Borrowing from her own experiences, Elisa Hategan now weaves an incredible story of one teenage girl’s courage and transformation against a backdrop of hatred and brutality.
PRAISE FOR RACE TRAITOR
“The author conjures up a powerful premise, and frighteningly captures the world of separatist groups.”
Ballantine USA
“The edginess of this novel appeals to me, as does the complicated teen heroine drawn in Larissa.”
Doubleday USA
“I couldn’t put it down – really interesting story.”
Penguin Canada
“Elisa is a talented, courageous writer and Race Traitor is a compelling story.”
Douglas & McIntyre
“I was intrigued by the concept for this novel, and it’s clear that Ms. Hategan is a talented writer.”
Grand Central Publishing
“Elisa’s story is an intriguing one, definitely, and her writing is accessible, vivid, and energetic.”
McClelland & Stewart
“Very real-seeming, and thus quite harrowing.”
Editorial Director
Minotaur Books
“Elisa is a very effective writer.”
Knopf / Random House
“Interesting stuff. Should get attention, published by the right house”
Penguin USA
432 pages, ebook
First published August 1, 2011
5 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 20, 2011
I was quickly engrossed in Race-Traitor by the beautiful prose and the emotional connection I made to the main character, Larissa. Her story pulls you in quickly and from the very beginning you are committed and ready to go along for the ride. And what a ride it is! This complex thriller takes you through one maze after another, with details of the Neo-Nazi world and intricate political intrigue that will keep you reading late into the night. Larissa’s moral and emotional battles are matched only by the political and sociological struggles in this epic story. Race-Traitor is a solid thriller that will make you think on many levels.
October 2, 2011
Ever wonder what you would do if you lost your identity tomorrow? If you woke up and realized you couldn’t trust a soul in the world? And those that were suppose to love you simply abused and used you? Elisa Hategan did not write a love story. She did not write a heart warming tale that lifts your spirits with a fairytale ending. What she did write is a tale of resilience and survival, of heartache and redemption. What she wrotes reminds us that the seeds of hate are alive and well in the hearts of bigots and racists, and that corruption does not necessarily grow in dark, sunless places.
Race Traitor is the story of a teenage girl, Larissa (Lara), who seeks acceptance in the world and falls prey to the trapping of a Neo-nazi organization in the guise of purpose and adoration. Skinhead violance, political extremism, home-grown terrorism and a growing self-awareness of her own character eventually lead Larissa to a deeper understanding of how violence perpetuates violence, and she must make a decision that will change her life in ways that most of us can never understand. Her courage is driven by a complex, and underlying desire to redeem herself for her perceived lack of courage in the death of her homeland friend, Anella, who’s tragic and brutal demise is the opening for this book. In the end, her courage and conviction uncover far more than she expected.
Race Traitor is a long book at 432 pages, but this fact never crossed my mind because Hategan’s writing is tight and fast-paced, propelling the reader at such a speed that we literally hold on to our seats chapter after chapter.
This is a must read for anyone.
Race Traitor is the story of a teenage girl, Larissa (Lara), who seeks acceptance in the world and falls prey to the trapping of a Neo-nazi organization in the guise of purpose and adoration. Skinhead violance, political extremism, home-grown terrorism and a growing self-awareness of her own character eventually lead Larissa to a deeper understanding of how violence perpetuates violence, and she must make a decision that will change her life in ways that most of us can never understand. Her courage is driven by a complex, and underlying desire to redeem herself for her perceived lack of courage in the death of her homeland friend, Anella, who’s tragic and brutal demise is the opening for this book. In the end, her courage and conviction uncover far more than she expected.
Race Traitor is a long book at 432 pages, but this fact never crossed my mind because Hategan’s writing is tight and fast-paced, propelling the reader at such a speed that we literally hold on to our seats chapter after chapter.
This is a must read for anyone.
August 29, 2011
From the back of the book and the first scene, I thought this book had a fascinating premise and was looking forward to immersing myself into the story. The story revolves around a young girl, recently emigrated from Romania with a very rough home life, who is recruited into the Patriot Front - a white supremicist/neo-nazi organization. Eventually, she turns against the Front and faces a number of ramifications that involve the Front coming after her and the lack of support from the government/legal institutions that she turned to with evidence.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I had expected. Told in first person POV, the story is limited to what Larissa witnesses and thinks. It may have been more effective in third person or having a secondary first person POV to fill in blanks and give a wider perspective. I had a hard time understanding Lara and her motivations and, for me, that was what I was most interested in a book with this kind of subject matter. With first person POV, exposition and background info dumps tends to get thrown into dialogue which doesn't sound natural. The story could have been more focused - there wasn't a definitive story arc and some of the subplots seemed extraneous and distracting from the overall story.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I had expected. Told in first person POV, the story is limited to what Larissa witnesses and thinks. It may have been more effective in third person or having a secondary first person POV to fill in blanks and give a wider perspective. I had a hard time understanding Lara and her motivations and, for me, that was what I was most interested in a book with this kind of subject matter. With first person POV, exposition and background info dumps tends to get thrown into dialogue which doesn't sound natural. The story could have been more focused - there wasn't a definitive story arc and some of the subplots seemed extraneous and distracting from the overall story.
September 2, 2011
You really don't want to miss this one, folks.
A good FB friend of mine recommended this book to me. I'm an aspiring indie writer myself and am always on the lookout to support new talent, so I took the plunge and I'm really glad I did.
The storyline immediately made me think of the recent Norway terrorist attack by a neo-Nazi shooting. The writing was superb, fresh and accessible. Better yet, it felt visceral. I can't think of the last time I read a thriller that didn't have cardboard cut-out, macho save-the-world alpha hero characters. Not a vulnerable and impressionable teenage girl. In this book, both the good and the bad guys seem fleshed-out and super-realistic. Scary stuff.
This is an incredible story, detailed but fast-paced. Engaging, but disturbing. I stayed up half the night going through it. Warning - it IS a long book, but worth the time you'll invest in reading it. The cross-burning scene at Aryan Nations freaked me out, and the old Nazi sympathizers who converged in Zimmer's basement were the stuff of horror films. But just wait and see for yourself.
I recognize that because of the subject matter this is a book intended for adults, but if it were up to me it would be required reading in schools. The process of indoctrination has never been more expertly drawn out. The heroine is a real girl, with flaws and weaknesses, but by the end of the book you really understand the meaning of courage. Because courage is not blowing stuff up; courage is an ordinary person, who, in the face of great evil, does something extraordinary.
A good FB friend of mine recommended this book to me. I'm an aspiring indie writer myself and am always on the lookout to support new talent, so I took the plunge and I'm really glad I did.
The storyline immediately made me think of the recent Norway terrorist attack by a neo-Nazi shooting. The writing was superb, fresh and accessible. Better yet, it felt visceral. I can't think of the last time I read a thriller that didn't have cardboard cut-out, macho save-the-world alpha hero characters. Not a vulnerable and impressionable teenage girl. In this book, both the good and the bad guys seem fleshed-out and super-realistic. Scary stuff.
This is an incredible story, detailed but fast-paced. Engaging, but disturbing. I stayed up half the night going through it. Warning - it IS a long book, but worth the time you'll invest in reading it. The cross-burning scene at Aryan Nations freaked me out, and the old Nazi sympathizers who converged in Zimmer's basement were the stuff of horror films. But just wait and see for yourself.
I recognize that because of the subject matter this is a book intended for adults, but if it were up to me it would be required reading in schools. The process of indoctrination has never been more expertly drawn out. The heroine is a real girl, with flaws and weaknesses, but by the end of the book you really understand the meaning of courage. Because courage is not blowing stuff up; courage is an ordinary person, who, in the face of great evil, does something extraordinary.
September 1, 2011
The beginning of the book was, to me, great. I've been interested in the dynamics of hate groups for years and when I read the synopsis, I couldn't wait to dive in.
The second half of the book just seemed to fall apart, though. There were many errors and inconsistencies that pulled me from the story. Some of the plot lines felt under developed and many scenes felt less than genuine or realistic. A good, strong editor could probably be a great help for a second edition.
I was unable to connect with the protagonist and I think that was a major problem for me. For a bit of a deeper discussion, there's a thread on the Cocktail Hour group under Buddy Reads.
The second half of the book just seemed to fall apart, though. There were many errors and inconsistencies that pulled me from the story. Some of the plot lines felt under developed and many scenes felt less than genuine or realistic. A good, strong editor could probably be a great help for a second edition.
I was unable to connect with the protagonist and I think that was a major problem for me. For a bit of a deeper discussion, there's a thread on the Cocktail Hour group under Buddy Reads.
April 9, 2012
The first half of this book was really good. It was facinating to see how hate groups target and recruit their members. The ending seemed to fall apart though and just seemed so unbelievable that I was left feeling dissapointed.
October 17, 2011
Elisa Hategan's Race Traitor is a thriller in first person about a teenage girl named Larissa who gets recruited by a white supremacist group called the Patriot Front. When the brutal repercussions of her involvement become too obvious to deny, she defects to the other side. Soon Larissa's on the run from jack-booted Patriots out to kill her for deserting, and she must defend herself with all the guerilla tactics they taught her.
Race Traitor is a good read with a big-bang ending. Although the plot escalates to action-movie levels, I liked Race Traitor best when it followed Larissa's solitary trail. She's homeless, lonely, cold, hungry, friendless, and hunted. This part of the book rings true, probably because it's an existence to which so many can personally relate. I also liked the book's treatment of Larissa's recruitment into the Patriot Front. They all seem so friendly, welcoming, and eerily reasonable. I've heard actual defectors of terrorist groups describe how they became so involved in the first place, and it was just the same way. I'm not surprised these elements of the novel feel so authentic because Race Traitor is based on the author's life experience. I plan to Google Elisa Hategan to see if I can find interviews relating to her life, because I think they would be fascinating.
Race Traitor is a good read with a big-bang ending. Although the plot escalates to action-movie levels, I liked Race Traitor best when it followed Larissa's solitary trail. She's homeless, lonely, cold, hungry, friendless, and hunted. This part of the book rings true, probably because it's an existence to which so many can personally relate. I also liked the book's treatment of Larissa's recruitment into the Patriot Front. They all seem so friendly, welcoming, and eerily reasonable. I've heard actual defectors of terrorist groups describe how they became so involved in the first place, and it was just the same way. I'm not surprised these elements of the novel feel so authentic because Race Traitor is based on the author's life experience. I plan to Google Elisa Hategan to see if I can find interviews relating to her life, because I think they would be fascinating.
June 13, 2012
A good book with a lot of action! The storyline was great and the characters were well developed (even the bad guys). The main character, Lara, was easy to relate to and understand. It was easy to follow her reasoning behind her actions.
The major flaw that I found while reading was the author has no sense of geography. The book was set predominantly in Chicago and there was a statement "I went as far east as Minneapolis, as far west as New York" or something to that effect. That line just screamed "poor research, poor research!" to me. She (the author) also talked about going northwest and ending up in Boston. Huh? I think with a little editing, this would be a 5-star book.
The major flaw that I found while reading was the author has no sense of geography. The book was set predominantly in Chicago and there was a statement "I went as far east as Minneapolis, as far west as New York" or something to that effect. That line just screamed "poor research, poor research!" to me. She (the author) also talked about going northwest and ending up in Boston. Huh? I think with a little editing, this would be a 5-star book.
June 18, 2012
I wanted to love this book and there were definitely parts I loved, but not all of it. It's action-packed and fascinating, especially when you consider that a lot of the story is based on real events and real people. As others have said, I really enjoyed the first half but the last part got a little messy (inconsistent character names, typos, lost/incoherent plot lines). All of those issues could easily be fixed with a good, tight edit. All in all, I'd say take the time to read this one. It's the kind of story that allows a person to overlook some flaws in the writing and read through to the end because you just *have* to know how it all ends for Lara.
October 13, 2012
Young Lara's life didn't get better when her family left Romania for America. Leaving her alcoholic mother in Chicago at age 15, Lara finds herself with a new family: The Patriot Front. Learning how to shoot and blow up things is fun for any teenager. They make Lara feel needed and wanted and then she learns what they are really up to and tries to help break the group up. The story is well written and smooth, but being a kid from the streets some of it sounded too good to be true. I did enjoy the fact that in all the action there was not too much gratuatis radio All in all it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon in the sun.
March 3, 2015
An interesting read, could have benefited from the keen eye of a proof reader before publication but it didn't detract too much from the story. The only other thing I struggled with was the attempt to write it using current technology while still using obsolete technology in other parts of the book. Given it is based on a true story it may have worked better to have stuck with technology in the time it happened.
Was certainly an eye opening read and one I was keen to read to the end
Was certainly an eye opening read and one I was keen to read to the end
February 16, 2015
Wow this book was terrible. The beginning was a struggle, but I kept with it determined to finish it, and the ending was even worse. I didn't connect with the protagonist and felt the relationships were just thrown in.
February 5, 2014
A decent book for younger readers. Sheds light on how otherwise sane people can get involved in madness.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews