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Saving Amelie
2015 Carol award finalist!Increasingly wary of her father’s genetic research, Rachel Kramer has determined that this trip with him to Germany—in the summer of 1939—will be her last. But a cryptic letter from her estranged friend, begging Rachel for help, changes everything. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine sees the dark tides turning and fears her husband views their daughter, Amelie, deaf since birth, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline.Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he’s as dangerous as the swastikas that hang like ebony spiders from every government building in Berlin. She fears her father’s files may hold answers about Hitler’s plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems “unworthy of life.” She risks searching his classified documents only to uncover shocking secrets about her own history and a family she’s never known.Now hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young—a driven, disarming American journalist and unlikely ally—who connects her to the resistance and to controversial theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Forced into hiding, Rachel’s every ideal is challenged as she and Jason walk a knife’s edge, risking their lives—and asking others to do the same—for those they barely know but come to love.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2014
381 people are currently reading
4581 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Gohlke
15 books1,315 followersBestselling, Christy Hall of Fame, and Carol and INSPY Award-winning author, Cathy Gohlke writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons, speaking of world and life events through the lens of history. She champions the battle against oppression, celebrating the freedom found only in Christ. Her critically acclaimed novels include This Promised Land, Ladies of the Lake, A Hundred Crickets Singing, Night Bird Calling, The Medallion (Christy Award), Until We Find Home, Secrets She Kept (Christy Award; Carol Award; INSPY Award); Saving Amelie (INSPY AWARD); Band of Sisters; Promise Me This (listed by Library Journal as one of the Best Books of 2012); I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires (Christy Award, American Christian Fiction Writers Award and listed by Library Journal as one of the Best Books of 2008) and William Henry Is a Fine Name (Christy Award).
Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children's and education ministries. When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband, Dan, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their children and grandchildren. Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com and find her on Facebook at CathyGohlkeBooks. Follow her on BookBub.
Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children's and education ministries. When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband, Dan, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their children and grandchildren. Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com and find her on Facebook at CathyGohlkeBooks. Follow her on BookBub.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
February 7, 2018
The WWII reading kick I've been on has brought me to some very intriguing books. This one is no exception. It was fascinating to read a book that revolved around the study of eugenics. Don't take that the wrong way, please. Euthanizing people is completely wrong, in my opinion. However, it was an aspect to WWII that I haven't yet seen featured in a book, and the attention to detail the author put into it was eye-opening and made my stomach turn into a pretzel. How people of any sort could do such atrocious things to their fellow human beings is beyond my comprehension. I am grateful for books such as this one, because they make sure to share our collective history in the hope that we won't find ourselves repeating the same mistakes that nearly decimated many ethnic groups of people.
This story reminded me that choosing kindness and expressing the love God pours into my heart are two of the most important things I could possibly do. Taking a risk to help someone is living out bold, confident faith. I hope I am never in a World War, but if I find myself there, I hope I have the courage of the characters in this book -- and the folks in real life -- who hid their fellow humans in order to save their lives. It could have been any one of us that were targeted, had we been there, after all.
I really liked that Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his book were featured in this story. I haven't yet read his books, but I enjoyed seeing his thoughts on "costly grace." Grace is my One Word this year (2018), so this really hit home for me and opened my eyes a bit wider to the deep meanings of grace and how living it out is crucial to expressing my love for God. I am determined to learn more about costly grace this year, step by step, with my God at the helm. May we all learn to let go of ourselves a little more each day and instead focus on how we may help each other. Perhaps that is one way to avoid apathy toward fellow members of mankind.
This is a must-read for anyone with a strong stomach (eugenics is tough to read about), those curious about WWII, and folks who want to build up a stronger faith. Fans of Kristy Cambron will appreciate it.
Content:
* tobacco products
* alcohol; beer halls
* two vulgar terms (used once each)
* eugenics
* sterilization
I was not compensated for my honest review.
This story reminded me that choosing kindness and expressing the love God pours into my heart are two of the most important things I could possibly do. Taking a risk to help someone is living out bold, confident faith. I hope I am never in a World War, but if I find myself there, I hope I have the courage of the characters in this book -- and the folks in real life -- who hid their fellow humans in order to save their lives. It could have been any one of us that were targeted, had we been there, after all.
I really liked that Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his book were featured in this story. I haven't yet read his books, but I enjoyed seeing his thoughts on "costly grace." Grace is my One Word this year (2018), so this really hit home for me and opened my eyes a bit wider to the deep meanings of grace and how living it out is crucial to expressing my love for God. I am determined to learn more about costly grace this year, step by step, with my God at the helm. May we all learn to let go of ourselves a little more each day and instead focus on how we may help each other. Perhaps that is one way to avoid apathy toward fellow members of mankind.
This is a must-read for anyone with a strong stomach (eugenics is tough to read about), those curious about WWII, and folks who want to build up a stronger faith. Fans of Kristy Cambron will appreciate it.
Content:
* tobacco products
* alcohol; beer halls
* two vulgar terms (used once each)
* eugenics
* sterilization
I was not compensated for my honest review.
August 31, 2021
4.5 stars
Recently, I've been on a kick of WWII books. Saving Amelie seemed right up my alley, and oh man. It was.
The first third of this book was honestly a little slow for me. There were so many different POVs that changed so often that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I also read the first part really slowly, so that may have also contributed to my initial apathy toward the book. However, a little over half-way, this book really picked up for me.
Let's talk about the characters. Even though there were way too many for me in the beginning, by the end of the book, I onboard with the multiple POVs. I really started liking almost everyone equally (except for that Schlick or Sick or whatever his name was. Yuck, what a creep.) I haven't read many books where I liked that many of the characters, but most books also aren't written with the characters so equally represented. I was under the impression that Rachel and Jason were the main characters, but by the end, I didn't feel as if they really were. The author balanced all of the other POVs so well that she had me rooting for the side characters just as much as the main characters. In fact, Jason was probably my least favorite (not that I didn't like him; I think it had something to do with the fact that he was always separated from the other characters and doing his own thing.) Rachel was a little annoying, but I loved that the author made her so flawed. She had been brainwashed her entire life with lies, so it was only natural that she acted as she believed. That was really well done. But Lea and Friederich ... oh, Friederich. Like, that man wasn't even in there that much, but he just so gentle and kind and honest ... and yeah. I loved Friederich, if you can't tell. He was so good to Lea, and she was so sweet to him. Lea also wasn't perfect - which I appreciated again! - but I think she topped Rachel. And Oma! I can't forget about her. She was strong and brave in the face of much danger, and she loved her granddaughters so well.
Now, to the plot. To be honest, I felt like the plot was a tad bit wandering. I just didn't feel a clear sense of direction other than the vague goal of escaping the badguy. However, this didn't really bother me too much, except now that I think about it, maybe that was what made the first part of the book harder for me. I'm not sure. But by the time I got to the end, I was so invested in the characters' lives that I could happily accept any wandering plots.
There were a few tiny quibbles I had with this book - namely the curate dude who was obviously Catholic but no one really had a problem with that. If he believed Catholic doctrine, then he wasn't a Christian. I'm fine with a Catholic characters being in there, but assuming they're a believer isn't right. Also, Jason's conversion was a little weird ... he kind of just started believing in God and making sacrifices for the good of others. I'm just assuming he got saved off-scene, but there wasn't a clear point in time when he trusted Christ.
And now the theme/moral. I love books that make you think and address real historical problems. I don't think I've ever read a fiction book that addressed the topic of eugenics so thoroughly and painfully. After taking a class on special education, this topic really became important to me. What happened to "unwanted" people groups back during this time of history is horrifying, but it wasn't just Germany who practiced this hideous establishment. The author addressed the fact that America had its own part in the eugenics movement, right alongside Germany and other countries. Showing the depravity of this practice is so important, because it even continues to this day, if not in explicit form, but in the practice of abortions. Something like 90% of babies who have Down syndrome are aborted before they are born. If that's not eugenics, I don't know what is. Great books can change society, and to do so, current events have to be addressed, usually indirectly. I am so thankful that the author brought this all to light. Reading about Nazi Germany is a little disturbing - both because of what happened back then, but also because it begins looking a little too much like our society today. We can't erase history, and books like these remind us of what happens when we take God out of the picture and present man as a god. In one of the conversations Jason was asked why he was going to help save Amelie. That immediately made me think of the fact that without the Bible, without God's Word, we have nothing to stop us from doing anything we dream of. Every man does what's right in his own eyes, just like in Nazi Germany. However, with the Bible, we have sure standards of morality and right and wrong. All life - from the smallest to the largest, from the strongest to the weakest - is incredibly precious. And those of us who are able must defend those who cannot.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction - and really to anyone who enjoys fiction. I loved how this book brought serious, horrible matters to light and showed them as the filthiness they are. The author broke my heart several times. I'll definitely be reading more of her work again.
Recently, I've been on a kick of WWII books. Saving Amelie seemed right up my alley, and oh man. It was.
The first third of this book was honestly a little slow for me. There were so many different POVs that changed so often that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I also read the first part really slowly, so that may have also contributed to my initial apathy toward the book. However, a little over half-way, this book really picked up for me.
Let's talk about the characters. Even though there were way too many for me in the beginning, by the end of the book, I onboard with the multiple POVs. I really started liking almost everyone equally (except for that Schlick or Sick or whatever his name was. Yuck, what a creep.) I haven't read many books where I liked that many of the characters, but most books also aren't written with the characters so equally represented. I was under the impression that Rachel and Jason were the main characters, but by the end, I didn't feel as if they really were. The author balanced all of the other POVs so well that she had me rooting for the side characters just as much as the main characters. In fact, Jason was probably my least favorite (not that I didn't like him; I think it had something to do with the fact that he was always separated from the other characters and doing his own thing.) Rachel was a little annoying, but I loved that the author made her so flawed. She had been brainwashed her entire life with lies, so it was only natural that she acted as she believed. That was really well done. But Lea and Friederich ... oh, Friederich. Like, that man wasn't even in there that much, but he just so gentle and kind and honest ... and yeah. I loved Friederich, if you can't tell. He was so good to Lea, and she was so sweet to him. Lea also wasn't perfect - which I appreciated again! - but I think she topped Rachel. And Oma! I can't forget about her. She was strong and brave in the face of much danger, and she loved her granddaughters so well.
Now, to the plot. To be honest, I felt like the plot was a tad bit wandering. I just didn't feel a clear sense of direction other than the vague goal of escaping the badguy. However, this didn't really bother me too much, except now that I think about it, maybe that was what made the first part of the book harder for me. I'm not sure. But by the time I got to the end, I was so invested in the characters' lives that I could happily accept any wandering plots.
There were a few tiny quibbles I had with this book - namely the curate dude who was obviously Catholic but no one really had a problem with that. If he believed Catholic doctrine, then he wasn't a Christian. I'm fine with a Catholic characters being in there, but assuming they're a believer isn't right. Also, Jason's conversion was a little weird ... he kind of just started believing in God and making sacrifices for the good of others. I'm just assuming he got saved off-scene, but there wasn't a clear point in time when he trusted Christ.
And now the theme/moral. I love books that make you think and address real historical problems. I don't think I've ever read a fiction book that addressed the topic of eugenics so thoroughly and painfully. After taking a class on special education, this topic really became important to me. What happened to "unwanted" people groups back during this time of history is horrifying, but it wasn't just Germany who practiced this hideous establishment. The author addressed the fact that America had its own part in the eugenics movement, right alongside Germany and other countries. Showing the depravity of this practice is so important, because it even continues to this day, if not in explicit form, but in the practice of abortions. Something like 90% of babies who have Down syndrome are aborted before they are born. If that's not eugenics, I don't know what is. Great books can change society, and to do so, current events have to be addressed, usually indirectly. I am so thankful that the author brought this all to light. Reading about Nazi Germany is a little disturbing - both because of what happened back then, but also because it begins looking a little too much like our society today. We can't erase history, and books like these remind us of what happens when we take God out of the picture and present man as a god. In one of the conversations Jason was asked why he was going to help save Amelie. That immediately made me think of the fact that without the Bible, without God's Word, we have nothing to stop us from doing anything we dream of. Every man does what's right in his own eyes, just like in Nazi Germany. However, with the Bible, we have sure standards of morality and right and wrong. All life - from the smallest to the largest, from the strongest to the weakest - is incredibly precious. And those of us who are able must defend those who cannot.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction - and really to anyone who enjoys fiction. I loved how this book brought serious, horrible matters to light and showed them as the filthiness they are. The author broke my heart several times. I'll definitely be reading more of her work again.
August 29, 2017
SUMMARY: Increasingly wary of her father’s genetic research, Rachel Kramer has determined that this trip with him to Germany―in the summer of 1939―will be her last. But a cryptic letter from her estranged friend, begging Rachel for help, changes everything. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine sees the dark tides turning and fears her husband views their daughter, Amelie, deaf since birth, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline.
Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he’s as dangerous as the swastikas that hang like ebony spiders from every government building in Berlin. She fears her father’s files may hold answers about Hitler’s plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems “unworthy of life.” She risks searching his classified documents only to uncover shocking secrets about her own history and a family she’s never known.
Now hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young―a driven, disarming American journalist and unlikely ally―who connects her to the resistance and to controversial theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Forced into hiding, Rachel’s every ideal is challenged as she and Jason walk a knife’s edge, risking their lives―and asking others to do the same―for those they barely know but come to love.
REVIEW: This is my first read from Cathy Gohlke; and this award winning historical novel is one of my top 20 books of the year. It kept me riveted from beginning to end as I fell in love with Amelie, Lea, Oma and Jason and had a hate/love relationship with Rachel as she grew in her faith and in her compassion and love for her family and others. This book is highly intense and emotional and gave me a great understanding of eugenics and the role it played in Hitler's Nazi Germany. The author brought a very dark period in history to life with vivid descriptions, obvious historical research and the inclusion of real people who were part of World War II such a Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Josef Mengele, and Dr. Verschuer. I appreciated how the author pointed out that we don't have to like someone or agree with someone to protect them. She also reminded us that in the midst of horrible evil such as forced sterilization, euthanasia, and human experimentation, love, compassion and resistance to wrong still could not be defeated. Another underlying theme was the cost of discipleship as represented by so many in World War II who followed the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "But we've come to practice cheap grace--grace that appears as a godly form but costs us nothing--and that is an abomination, a stench in the nostrils of God."
"I suppose nothing like this could happen in America." "Banning prayer from schools? Stripping crucifixes from walls? That would be like taking down the Ten Commandments in the United States. I've never been a churchgoer, but I can't imagine such a thing happening. The church, even the people who aren't churchgoers, would never stand for having their right stripped away like that? "
"Is there an explanation for blindness, for hatred? For sin? I don't know the answer. I only know the remedy is Christ's great love as we've been showin in His Passion."
"None of us can save everyone, but we can each do something."
"Most of life is not high drama or danger. It is our responsibility to help those around us to live.....Sometimes taking up our cross is doing the thing in front of us, not the glamorous, high-risk thing afar off."
Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he’s as dangerous as the swastikas that hang like ebony spiders from every government building in Berlin. She fears her father’s files may hold answers about Hitler’s plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems “unworthy of life.” She risks searching his classified documents only to uncover shocking secrets about her own history and a family she’s never known.
Now hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young―a driven, disarming American journalist and unlikely ally―who connects her to the resistance and to controversial theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Forced into hiding, Rachel’s every ideal is challenged as she and Jason walk a knife’s edge, risking their lives―and asking others to do the same―for those they barely know but come to love.
REVIEW: This is my first read from Cathy Gohlke; and this award winning historical novel is one of my top 20 books of the year. It kept me riveted from beginning to end as I fell in love with Amelie, Lea, Oma and Jason and had a hate/love relationship with Rachel as she grew in her faith and in her compassion and love for her family and others. This book is highly intense and emotional and gave me a great understanding of eugenics and the role it played in Hitler's Nazi Germany. The author brought a very dark period in history to life with vivid descriptions, obvious historical research and the inclusion of real people who were part of World War II such a Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Josef Mengele, and Dr. Verschuer. I appreciated how the author pointed out that we don't have to like someone or agree with someone to protect them. She also reminded us that in the midst of horrible evil such as forced sterilization, euthanasia, and human experimentation, love, compassion and resistance to wrong still could not be defeated. Another underlying theme was the cost of discipleship as represented by so many in World War II who followed the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "But we've come to practice cheap grace--grace that appears as a godly form but costs us nothing--and that is an abomination, a stench in the nostrils of God."
"I suppose nothing like this could happen in America." "Banning prayer from schools? Stripping crucifixes from walls? That would be like taking down the Ten Commandments in the United States. I've never been a churchgoer, but I can't imagine such a thing happening. The church, even the people who aren't churchgoers, would never stand for having their right stripped away like that? "
"Is there an explanation for blindness, for hatred? For sin? I don't know the answer. I only know the remedy is Christ's great love as we've been showin in His Passion."
"None of us can save everyone, but we can each do something."
"Most of life is not high drama or danger. It is our responsibility to help those around us to live.....Sometimes taking up our cross is doing the thing in front of us, not the glamorous, high-risk thing afar off."
April 15, 2015
Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke rivets you from the start. An exciting race of a story, built on the stories of two compelling women, so different in every way, yet more alike than they imagine. The plight of the handicapped in Nazi Germany comes to life in darling Amelie, shedding light on the dangers of the eugenics movement – the danger of any society that rules certain lives have no value. A beautifully written novel you won’t want to miss.
Read
March 18, 2018DNF
Just too much info . . . I might come back to it eventually.
Just too much info . . . I might come back to it eventually.
August 27, 2017
{4.5 stars}
I'm beginning to think my higher rated books are ones I can only think, "Wow," and barely right a comprehensive review. This book is packed with so many amazing moments and convicted me all the way through. It's applicable today: will we stand up for what's right? Will we let apathy overcome the strength we should have as believers?
There were so many characters in this book, but they all tied together so well, I was never lost or confused. The events unfold in perfect timing. Rachel, Jason, Lea, Fredrich, and sweet, little Amelia play a huge role in this unfolding. Darkness and light are portrayed perfectly, yet it made me realize, that even today the world's thinking is just as disillusioned as so many during the war. What are we doing to follow Christ with our hearts?
The romance was so sweet and moved at a nice pace. Loved how this author presents it so well :)
All in all, I love this book! Highly recommend to readers 17+ who love historical fiction, and to those who want to learn more of standing strong in the face of oppression.
*Note: There was one scene that was slightly disturbing concerning a man forcing himself on a woman, but it never went past kisses and the man was stopped by before anything else occurred. The talk of sterilization and eugenics may be disturbing to some (made me squeamish a couple times)*
I'm beginning to think my higher rated books are ones I can only think, "Wow," and barely right a comprehensive review. This book is packed with so many amazing moments and convicted me all the way through. It's applicable today: will we stand up for what's right? Will we let apathy overcome the strength we should have as believers?
There were so many characters in this book, but they all tied together so well, I was never lost or confused. The events unfold in perfect timing. Rachel, Jason, Lea, Fredrich, and sweet, little Amelia play a huge role in this unfolding. Darkness and light are portrayed perfectly, yet it made me realize, that even today the world's thinking is just as disillusioned as so many during the war. What are we doing to follow Christ with our hearts?
The romance was so sweet and moved at a nice pace. Loved how this author presents it so well :)
All in all, I love this book! Highly recommend to readers 17+ who love historical fiction, and to those who want to learn more of standing strong in the face of oppression.
*Note: There was one scene that was slightly disturbing concerning a man forcing himself on a woman, but it never went past kisses and the man was stopped by before anything else occurred. The talk of sterilization and eugenics may be disturbing to some (made me squeamish a couple times)*
December 10, 2020
Skimmed through the whole thing in 3 hours (12:30-3:00) last night ... or this morning, I suppose. :P I just had to know how it ended! Which mean this will be a reread for me soon-ish! xP I don't know how much I didn't pick up - probably a lot! I did miss out a lot on what the whole twin experiments actually were supposed to prove/show ...
ANYWAY ... UGH I HATE THE NAZIS SO MUCH, Y'ALL! And that's a super obvious statement because everyone should hate the Nazis (or at least the system of the Nazis; as Christians we need to offer love to the people and hatred towards the sin, etc. I know that!) ... BUT THERE IS SO MUCH EVIL HERE. (also, I can't help comparing a lot of the sterilization and whatnot to modern-day abortions, etc. as well as the "assisted suicide" thing. ugggh).
OKAY, but this book also inspired me by giving me some new thoughts on Alone in Berlin, so I'm off to write that down because when you have inspiration for your story you need to record it. :P
I want to reread this again at some point so for now you should assume that this is an amazing book.
ANYWAY ... UGH I HATE THE NAZIS SO MUCH, Y'ALL! And that's a super obvious statement because everyone should hate the Nazis (or at least the system of the Nazis; as Christians we need to offer love to the people and hatred towards the sin, etc. I know that!) ... BUT THERE IS SO MUCH EVIL HERE. (also, I can't help comparing a lot of the sterilization and whatnot to modern-day abortions, etc. as well as the "assisted suicide" thing. ugggh).
OKAY, but this book also inspired me by giving me some new thoughts on Alone in Berlin, so I'm off to write that down because when you have inspiration for your story you need to record it. :P
I want to reread this again at some point so for now you should assume that this is an amazing book.
January 23, 2015
I'm still recovering from Cathy Gohlke's latest release, Saving Amelie. I mean this in the best possible way. I'm recovering from the tense, fast-paced plot, the living, breathing characters I came to care deeply about and didn't want to say goodbye to, and the painful truth of history weaving through the story that grabs the reader by the throat and demands we remember.
In fact, I wasn't sure how to put words on the screen to accurately share my thoughts and emotion about this powerful story based in Nazi Germany during Hitler's reign. The story left me breathless, my heart heavy with respect for those who gave so much for others during WWII. Saving Amelie brings to light the ugliness of the science of eugenics, but then overshadows it with the "costly grace" of putting others above oneself.
I settled into turbulent Nazi Germany with Rachel Kramer in 1939 as she follows her father, a well-known eugenics scientist who might have more to do with the Nazis' plans for Aryan dominance than Rachel realized. And I was twisted into the tight plot as American journalist Jason Young digs deeper into rumors of handicapped children disappearing - all because the SS deems them unworthy of life.
Rachel's childhood friend Kristine - married to an SS officer who views their deaf daughter, Amelie, as an unwelcome mistake - asks Rachel to take care of the child. With Jason's help, Rachel works to keep the little girl safe while trying to understand why her father brought her to Germany and exactly who she is.
The author's meticulous research and careful weaving of intricate details and important characters from Oberammergau's Passion Play framed the book's second half, creating a beautiful, stark landscape in which hiding is necessary for survival and family and friends walk a fine line with fear of discovery.
Saving Amelie is an historical love letter to those crushed and lost under Hitler's hate-filled reign, including a beloved Christian pastor who spoke out for the oppressed until he was silenced, and whose words and legacy live on today because He lived for Christ.
A particularly powerful, poignant scene near the end of the book, with a young boy named Heinrich Helphman, will long stay with me. I've reread it a few times, the childlike potency of his words the catalyst for tears each time.
There is much more I could say about the story, but the best I can offer is, "Read it. You will be better for it."
I've enjoyed all of Cathy Gohlke's books. My particular favorite was Promise Me This up to this point, but Saving Amelie, with its sheer scope of emotion and truth, gains that spot. It's a book not to be missed, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
In fact, I wasn't sure how to put words on the screen to accurately share my thoughts and emotion about this powerful story based in Nazi Germany during Hitler's reign. The story left me breathless, my heart heavy with respect for those who gave so much for others during WWII. Saving Amelie brings to light the ugliness of the science of eugenics, but then overshadows it with the "costly grace" of putting others above oneself.
I settled into turbulent Nazi Germany with Rachel Kramer in 1939 as she follows her father, a well-known eugenics scientist who might have more to do with the Nazis' plans for Aryan dominance than Rachel realized. And I was twisted into the tight plot as American journalist Jason Young digs deeper into rumors of handicapped children disappearing - all because the SS deems them unworthy of life.
Rachel's childhood friend Kristine - married to an SS officer who views their deaf daughter, Amelie, as an unwelcome mistake - asks Rachel to take care of the child. With Jason's help, Rachel works to keep the little girl safe while trying to understand why her father brought her to Germany and exactly who she is.
The author's meticulous research and careful weaving of intricate details and important characters from Oberammergau's Passion Play framed the book's second half, creating a beautiful, stark landscape in which hiding is necessary for survival and family and friends walk a fine line with fear of discovery.
Saving Amelie is an historical love letter to those crushed and lost under Hitler's hate-filled reign, including a beloved Christian pastor who spoke out for the oppressed until he was silenced, and whose words and legacy live on today because He lived for Christ.
A particularly powerful, poignant scene near the end of the book, with a young boy named Heinrich Helphman, will long stay with me. I've reread it a few times, the childlike potency of his words the catalyst for tears each time.
There is much more I could say about the story, but the best I can offer is, "Read it. You will be better for it."
I've enjoyed all of Cathy Gohlke's books. My particular favorite was Promise Me This up to this point, but Saving Amelie, with its sheer scope of emotion and truth, gains that spot. It's a book not to be missed, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
February 17, 2018
This was such a powerful story. Every time I read a book set during WW2, I learn something new. This story had me from the start - circumstances had me reading it very slowly, which I think was a good thing because I could work through what I’ve read.
I had to remind myself that I’m reading about actual events, not just a fictional story. The hatred of the SS, how disabled children, older folks and the eugenic subjects were treated sometimes felt surreal. And still today we find ourselves in situations where we treat each other with everything but love.
I loved Lea, Oma, Jason and Amelie and enjoyed seeing how Rachel grew through this experience.
A well researched historical novel which will leave you with lots to think about.
I had to remind myself that I’m reading about actual events, not just a fictional story. The hatred of the SS, how disabled children, older folks and the eugenic subjects were treated sometimes felt surreal. And still today we find ourselves in situations where we treat each other with everything but love.
I loved Lea, Oma, Jason and Amelie and enjoyed seeing how Rachel grew through this experience.
A well researched historical novel which will leave you with lots to think about.
May 29, 2018
Where to start! I would give this book far more stars if Goodreads allowed. This story had so many layers, so many thought-provoking moments; I had to stop several times to think alongside the characters: Why do I believe what I believe? And what am I willing to sacrifice for the sake of truth? A powerful journey! The spiritual aspect did not come into play for a while (because the characters were not spiritual people), so I noticed when all of a sudden it did, but it was so naturally done and became crucial to the story's progression as well as the characters' growth. And speaking of, I was thoroughly impressed with how the author opened my eyes to the true nature of the characters, so that I looked forward to seeing some redemption. It was beautifully written. I'd never heard so much about Hitler's eugenics research and how far-reaching the results were. What an eye opening and bite-your-nails-til-the-end experience. I had no idea how it would all turn out! This author is definitely getting added to my favorites.
August 4, 2017
This book was so good! Powerful story. Full review to come.
June 17, 2014
The best books leave you satisfied with the conclusion, but still wanting a little bit more of the characters when the last page is read. The latest novel from Cathy Gohlke, Saving Amelie, is like that. It's an exciting, heart pounding – and often heart wrenching - story set in Germany during World War II.
Rachel Kramer, adopted daughter of a prestigious genetics researcher, returns to Berlin with her father in 1939 to find it much changed from her growing-up years. At first naïve and preoccupied, she takes little notice of the presence of SS Officers, Adolf Hitler’s “supermen”, and their impending threat to the citizens of Germany. When a childhood friend reaches out to Rachel for help in saving her daughter Amelie, deaf since birth, Rachel begins to realize the true plans of the Nazis and her father’s entangled involvement with them. Hitler wishes to rid the world of anyone with a disability, such as Amelie, and others he declares unfit by ghastly means. As she uncovers the secrets of her father’s research, Rachel realizes the threat of the Nazis and the power they have over the unsuspecting German people.
Jason Young, an American reporter stationed in Berlin, is waiting for his big break with a first rate news story. After meeting Rachel Kramer and helping her solve some of the puzzling facts about her biological family, he becomes the only person she can turn to to rescue Amelie and help her flee a frightening new realty that is closing in fast. When more secrets come to light, Rachel must find a place to hide while evading the SS officers desperately searching for her.
Rachel and Jason’s characters both grow and mature as a result of their circumstances and the people around them. As Jason questions his motives in helping Rachel, he discovers the meaning of sacrifice and selflessness, and the possibilities of faith in God. When Rachel’s life suddenly changes, she goes through a time of disappointment and unhappiness. However, her character begins to find new hope, even in the midst of her trials, because of the love and care of the people around her.
Gohlke conveys the emotions of the characters effectively through her writing style. The reader experiences the terrors and heartache of the wartorn time, and is caught, as the characters are, right in the middle of the action. With small glimpses into the supporting characters’ journeys along the way, the reader is privy to more than just the viewpoints of the main characters. Additionally, small bits of the characters’ personalities, habits, and mannerisms are well-placed, aiding in making the characters realistic.
Numerous historical facts are woven into this story, with some characters or their actions modeled after real people. There are great examples of people helping each other, in small ways, doing whatever they can to help bear the burden and plight of their people. German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a renowned theologian who spoke out against Nazi persecution, even makes a few appearances in the story. These characters reinforce the strength of setting Gohlke establishes, engrossing the reader in WWII Germany, in a time of food rations, blackouts, confiscation of personal property, and genocide.
Saving Amelie communicates an important message through the journeys of Rachel, Jason, Amelie, and others. Through these struggling characters’ stories, the reader sees that God loves everyone, even through uncertainty and trails. His strength is there, even when His children are weak and powerless. Sacrifice is a decision. As the characters experience firsthand, it is often easier to turn one’s back on the suffering and wrongs of this world – but that is not what Jesus did. He sacrificed the ultimate price because of his love, providing this “costly grace” freely to any who would believe.
Note: Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., for the complimentary ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rachel Kramer, adopted daughter of a prestigious genetics researcher, returns to Berlin with her father in 1939 to find it much changed from her growing-up years. At first naïve and preoccupied, she takes little notice of the presence of SS Officers, Adolf Hitler’s “supermen”, and their impending threat to the citizens of Germany. When a childhood friend reaches out to Rachel for help in saving her daughter Amelie, deaf since birth, Rachel begins to realize the true plans of the Nazis and her father’s entangled involvement with them. Hitler wishes to rid the world of anyone with a disability, such as Amelie, and others he declares unfit by ghastly means. As she uncovers the secrets of her father’s research, Rachel realizes the threat of the Nazis and the power they have over the unsuspecting German people.
Jason Young, an American reporter stationed in Berlin, is waiting for his big break with a first rate news story. After meeting Rachel Kramer and helping her solve some of the puzzling facts about her biological family, he becomes the only person she can turn to to rescue Amelie and help her flee a frightening new realty that is closing in fast. When more secrets come to light, Rachel must find a place to hide while evading the SS officers desperately searching for her.
Rachel and Jason’s characters both grow and mature as a result of their circumstances and the people around them. As Jason questions his motives in helping Rachel, he discovers the meaning of sacrifice and selflessness, and the possibilities of faith in God. When Rachel’s life suddenly changes, she goes through a time of disappointment and unhappiness. However, her character begins to find new hope, even in the midst of her trials, because of the love and care of the people around her.
Gohlke conveys the emotions of the characters effectively through her writing style. The reader experiences the terrors and heartache of the wartorn time, and is caught, as the characters are, right in the middle of the action. With small glimpses into the supporting characters’ journeys along the way, the reader is privy to more than just the viewpoints of the main characters. Additionally, small bits of the characters’ personalities, habits, and mannerisms are well-placed, aiding in making the characters realistic.
Numerous historical facts are woven into this story, with some characters or their actions modeled after real people. There are great examples of people helping each other, in small ways, doing whatever they can to help bear the burden and plight of their people. German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a renowned theologian who spoke out against Nazi persecution, even makes a few appearances in the story. These characters reinforce the strength of setting Gohlke establishes, engrossing the reader in WWII Germany, in a time of food rations, blackouts, confiscation of personal property, and genocide.
Saving Amelie communicates an important message through the journeys of Rachel, Jason, Amelie, and others. Through these struggling characters’ stories, the reader sees that God loves everyone, even through uncertainty and trails. His strength is there, even when His children are weak and powerless. Sacrifice is a decision. As the characters experience firsthand, it is often easier to turn one’s back on the suffering and wrongs of this world – but that is not what Jesus did. He sacrificed the ultimate price because of his love, providing this “costly grace” freely to any who would believe.
Note: Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., for the complimentary ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 2, 2022
Such a moving story, I must say. Every time I read a book with a World War II setting, I get new knowledge. I enjoy discovering the conflict from all angles, and this book did not disappoint.
I gained a thorough understanding of eugenics and its significance in Hitler's Nazi Germany from this tough and emotional book. With vivid descriptions, apparent historical research, and the inclusion of actual persons who took part in World War II, the author successfully brought a very horrible chapter in history to life.
The book may have started out quite slowly. I had no idea what to expect going into the book, so for a while I was a little lost. However, as it started to make sense, I was astounded at how well it all came together. I suppose that was a good thing because it allowed me to finish what I had read. Everything happens at the ideal moment.
I also loved how the characters had flaws that were actually present. Many of them had to confront the beliefs they had developed as children in the face of the establishment of the Hitler government. Many people had to overcome their challenges, convictions, and concerns.
It can be challenging to follow this book's many characters. But the plot is really nicely done, and everything fits together well. She reveals which characters were based on real people who existed at that time in the book's conclusion, and which ones were made up but were inspired by those genuine people.
Moreover, this book discusses a wide range of war related topics, making it a great resource for learning more about the atrocities that occurred at that time. Sadly, this book has ugliness as well as conflict, intrigue, romance, and a great deal of faith.
It's not a waste of time to read this book, and it serves as an excellent historical reminder. very genuine I'm overjoyed to have found this book.
I gained a thorough understanding of eugenics and its significance in Hitler's Nazi Germany from this tough and emotional book. With vivid descriptions, apparent historical research, and the inclusion of actual persons who took part in World War II, the author successfully brought a very horrible chapter in history to life.
The book may have started out quite slowly. I had no idea what to expect going into the book, so for a while I was a little lost. However, as it started to make sense, I was astounded at how well it all came together. I suppose that was a good thing because it allowed me to finish what I had read. Everything happens at the ideal moment.
I also loved how the characters had flaws that were actually present. Many of them had to confront the beliefs they had developed as children in the face of the establishment of the Hitler government. Many people had to overcome their challenges, convictions, and concerns.
It can be challenging to follow this book's many characters. But the plot is really nicely done, and everything fits together well. She reveals which characters were based on real people who existed at that time in the book's conclusion, and which ones were made up but were inspired by those genuine people.
Moreover, this book discusses a wide range of war related topics, making it a great resource for learning more about the atrocities that occurred at that time. Sadly, this book has ugliness as well as conflict, intrigue, romance, and a great deal of faith.
It's not a waste of time to read this book, and it serves as an excellent historical reminder. very genuine I'm overjoyed to have found this book.
September 16, 2014
4.5 stars
This was my first Cathy Gohlke novel. From reviewing what she writes, it's clear she writes about a variety of historical time periods. In Saving Amelie she had done a great deal of research regarding eugenics, Hitler, Bonhauffer and other facets of WWII.
Saving Amelia is about a four year old deaf girl that is deemed not good enough by SS standards and the quest to save her. Along the journey, we get to know the town of Oberammergau and their Passion Play. It's a well told story and I highly recommend it for those who enjoy WWII Fiction.
I look forward to reading other novels by Cathy Hohlke.
This was my first Cathy Gohlke novel. From reviewing what she writes, it's clear she writes about a variety of historical time periods. In Saving Amelie she had done a great deal of research regarding eugenics, Hitler, Bonhauffer and other facets of WWII.
Saving Amelia is about a four year old deaf girl that is deemed not good enough by SS standards and the quest to save her. Along the journey, we get to know the town of Oberammergau and their Passion Play. It's a well told story and I highly recommend it for those who enjoy WWII Fiction.
I look forward to reading other novels by Cathy Hohlke.
October 6, 2019
Rachel Kramer hopes that this trip to Germany will be her last. She begins to be suspicious of her father's involvement with eugenics science. When a friend asks her to rescue her daughter Rachel becomes concerned. Since Amelie is deaf she is considered unworthy of life. When Rachel discovers her father's plan for her she is frightened and flees. Jason Young, an American journalist hears of their plight and helps Rachel and Amelie to get to Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps to hide with friends. This is another tense story of the dangers during World War Two.
April 29, 2021
This book hooked me from the word go, I fell in love with all the characters. It definitely made me think about people who take a stand, how not everyone is what they seem, and immense suffering for no reason other than disgusting ideals, scapegoating, and prejudices gone mad. I’ve read quite a few books on the Second World War but I haven’t read anything written about eugenics and disabled people being killed. As a disabled person, I have hunted high and low for books like this but haven’t found many. This was the first one, in fact, that I have read, so I applaud her for writing about this topic but still covering all the other atrocities committed by the Nazis yet also the amazing work done by the resistance. The scenes in the book pertaining to the physically and mentally disabled being taken away.... really hit home. Not to mention all the rhetoric about purifying the bloodline and removing things that were wrong, unwanted, weak, defective.
There were a few things that I found a bit off about the book though. Firstly, the implausibility of some of the things in the story. I don’t want to go into too much detail as i want to focus on a few main things, though there are more equally valid points I could mention. It was not just the plot points, but also how some of the Nazi officers acted, and the fact that Jason was able to get around and only got released after torture. I would think that more likely he would’ve been killed or taken to do hard labour. Instead he was, before and after his release, gallivanting around different cities in Germany when a war is going on, I find that kind of unbelievable to be honest. I get that he is a reporter, and I like the fact that she did mention censorship a lot but that just bugged me. She didn’t hesitate to kill Christina off, as well as other key people in the story who would get in the Nazis way.
Another thing I found was that Amelie herself isn’t really given that much character, I loved the parts from her pov but I feel like she could’ve been a lot more challenging as well as delightful if that makes any sense. It was almost like she was a doll to be petted, gained comfort from, and fussed over, not a deaf child ripped away from her mother going through all these terrible things. Where was the grief? The anger, it’s bound to have a psychological effect on her. Plus the fact that she couldn’t communicate effectively particularly with the people in the beginning, but even later until they started learning how to sign. Wouldn’t that be extremely frustrating considering she was too young to understand anything that was happening on top of all this? I don’t think it was completely inaccurate, like I said I loved her little parts in the story but especially as this story is meant to be centred around her, I feel like these things weren’t explored as much. It’s a problem in a lot of literature written about disabled people, probably worse when it comes to kids.
Another thing that really bugged me was that the Jewish character, Rivka, ended up converting to Christianity. I don’t know but I just found that really off. I think what made it more strange to me was that there was a lot of Christian type preaching but it came in maybe 2/3 into the book, and I just wasn’t expecting it. That in itself is fine, I love reading about different backgrounds and religions in stories, but I think considering the subject matter and that Jews were being persecuted, their rights stripped away bit by bit, and would be killed by the millions by the end of the war, it’s almost like all that struggle and suffering was brushed over with the conversion to Christianity. Especially as it was only mentioned very briefly in the epilogue, no exploration or anything. I get that maybe some people would want to distance themselves, others would be stronger in their faith, and others would lose faith altogether, but something about it just doesn’t feel right. It’s quite hard to put this into words but that’s what I think as a non Christian myself.
Having said all these things, I did really enjoy the read and would still recommend it to others. I actually couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what would happen next. I really liked Rachels character development, she was so self absorbed in so many ways to begin with but seemed to go through a real transformation by the end. There were certain parts of the book where I was really holding my breath, so I definitely connected with the characters, their emotions and their struggles. Overall an interesting read.
There were a few things that I found a bit off about the book though. Firstly, the implausibility of some of the things in the story. I don’t want to go into too much detail as i want to focus on a few main things, though there are more equally valid points I could mention. It was not just the plot points, but also how some of the Nazi officers acted, and the fact that Jason was able to get around and only got released after torture. I would think that more likely he would’ve been killed or taken to do hard labour. Instead he was, before and after his release, gallivanting around different cities in Germany when a war is going on, I find that kind of unbelievable to be honest. I get that he is a reporter, and I like the fact that she did mention censorship a lot but that just bugged me. She didn’t hesitate to kill Christina off, as well as other key people in the story who would get in the Nazis way.
Another thing I found was that Amelie herself isn’t really given that much character, I loved the parts from her pov but I feel like she could’ve been a lot more challenging as well as delightful if that makes any sense. It was almost like she was a doll to be petted, gained comfort from, and fussed over, not a deaf child ripped away from her mother going through all these terrible things. Where was the grief? The anger, it’s bound to have a psychological effect on her. Plus the fact that she couldn’t communicate effectively particularly with the people in the beginning, but even later until they started learning how to sign. Wouldn’t that be extremely frustrating considering she was too young to understand anything that was happening on top of all this? I don’t think it was completely inaccurate, like I said I loved her little parts in the story but especially as this story is meant to be centred around her, I feel like these things weren’t explored as much. It’s a problem in a lot of literature written about disabled people, probably worse when it comes to kids.
Another thing that really bugged me was that the Jewish character, Rivka, ended up converting to Christianity. I don’t know but I just found that really off. I think what made it more strange to me was that there was a lot of Christian type preaching but it came in maybe 2/3 into the book, and I just wasn’t expecting it. That in itself is fine, I love reading about different backgrounds and religions in stories, but I think considering the subject matter and that Jews were being persecuted, their rights stripped away bit by bit, and would be killed by the millions by the end of the war, it’s almost like all that struggle and suffering was brushed over with the conversion to Christianity. Especially as it was only mentioned very briefly in the epilogue, no exploration or anything. I get that maybe some people would want to distance themselves, others would be stronger in their faith, and others would lose faith altogether, but something about it just doesn’t feel right. It’s quite hard to put this into words but that’s what I think as a non Christian myself.
Having said all these things, I did really enjoy the read and would still recommend it to others. I actually couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what would happen next. I really liked Rachels character development, she was so self absorbed in so many ways to begin with but seemed to go through a real transformation by the end. There were certain parts of the book where I was really holding my breath, so I definitely connected with the characters, their emotions and their struggles. Overall an interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
This was my first book by Cathy Gohlke and now it is one of my favorite books ever.
This is a great read: I got hooked at the very beginning and had a very hard time putting the book down. The author does a very good job at bringing you back to the time when WWII began. The story follows multiple characters which gives the story so much more depth: Rachel is the daughter of a eugenics scientist, Jason is an American reporter, Leah and Friederich are a German couple. There are also other characters such as a Curate, a SS officer and a little deaf girl.
At first, the numerous characters can be hard to follow. But the story is so good, that I soon got a hold of all the names and was easily able to follow the story.
I also love the fact that the author incorporates some characters that actually existed and played a role during WWII. At the end of the book, she explains which characters were actual people that lived during that time and which characters were fictional while being inspired by real people.
Furthermore, this novel talks about a lot of different aspects of the war and is a great way to learn more about the atrocities that took place in that time.
This book really made me want to know more about this dark period of our history and is a book that I will recommend over and over again.
This is a great read: I got hooked at the very beginning and had a very hard time putting the book down. The author does a very good job at bringing you back to the time when WWII began. The story follows multiple characters which gives the story so much more depth: Rachel is the daughter of a eugenics scientist, Jason is an American reporter, Leah and Friederich are a German couple. There are also other characters such as a Curate, a SS officer and a little deaf girl.
At first, the numerous characters can be hard to follow. But the story is so good, that I soon got a hold of all the names and was easily able to follow the story.
I also love the fact that the author incorporates some characters that actually existed and played a role during WWII. At the end of the book, she explains which characters were actual people that lived during that time and which characters were fictional while being inspired by real people.
Furthermore, this novel talks about a lot of different aspects of the war and is a great way to learn more about the atrocities that took place in that time.
This book really made me want to know more about this dark period of our history and is a book that I will recommend over and over again.
August 17, 2016
I learned so much from this book somehow I missed the whole eugenics in school, so I learned a lot abou it, it is heart wrenching. I love how the author incorporated real people in this fictional story. Being fictional, I am sure it hit close to home for many people, as it was very realistic. This was not obviously a feel good book (no book about the Nazi's is!) but one that really got you thinking, was very emotional, hair raising, suspenseful, and non-put-down-able. I thought it was very well written and can see why it is an award winner. Highly recommend it!
March 13, 2017
Gave up half way through. Got more and more implausible. I'm no expert on Nazi Germany, but I'm pretty sure there wasn't much take-away dinner going on, and certainly not take away Chinese!!!
September 3, 2016
There should be a way to give more than 5 stars. Saving Amelie is a compelling read of events in Nazi Germany that threaten to totally destroy a family, a family who didn't realize they even were a family.
Rachel Kramer goes on a trip to Germany in 1939 with her eugenics scientist father, unaware that there are shocking secrets he has been keeping about her very life. Then she receives a secret, desperate plea from an old friend, now married to an SS officer, asking Rachel to save her little girl, Amelie. Amelie is deaf and will not comply with the perfect Aryan bloodline of her Nazi father.
Rachel risks everything to help this child, accepting the help of an American journalist, Jason Young, in Germany to cover the war. Jason has connections to the resistance movement and hopefully they will manage to save Amelie.
They are forced to hide in Oberammergau, a Bavarian village that puts on a Passion Play every decade.
Rachel is constantly on edge, walking a tightrope, trying to fulfill her promise to protect this child. More lives are at stake, too, than just hers and Amelie's. Others are asked to help, putting themselves at risk in this now torn apart country seething with anger at everything and everyone not of the perfect 'Aryan' race.
Cathy Gohlke writes so convincingly of this time period and her research to historical detail is impeccable. So rich does she describe the events in the era in which she writes, that it sent me to google to refresh my own history lessons! I loved this.
This is an impressive emotional and thrilling story, keeping the reader turning the pages until the last page is turned and the book finished. There is conflict, intrigue, romance, tremendous faith and also ugliness, sadly, in this book. It is a book you will remember long after you turn the pages.
It is a book that also challenges the reader to let go of any prejudices they may have against anyone. How could anyone disdain and purposely destroy an entire people as Hitler did? It totally baffles the mind that anyone could be so totally heartless.
There is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the book that goes, "The Church has only one altar, the altar of the Almighty..before which all creatures must kneel..He who seeks anything other than this must keep away; he cannot join us in the house of God...The Church has only one pulpit, and from that pulpit faith in God will be preached and no other faith, and no other will than the will of God, however well intentioned."
This is not a feel good Christian novel. It will bring you to tears, but it will also bring you joy as you read how many sacrificed that others could live and be free. This is a book that will stay with you, I think, forever.
Cathy Gohlke's books are like that. They minister and make you feel richer for having read them. I am looking forward to her next book already!
I might add that the cover of this book drew me in totally when I first saw it. It is compelling and poignant. The expression on the little girl's face is priceless, then there is a full page photo of her on the inside cover. This book belongs in every library!
Rachel Kramer goes on a trip to Germany in 1939 with her eugenics scientist father, unaware that there are shocking secrets he has been keeping about her very life. Then she receives a secret, desperate plea from an old friend, now married to an SS officer, asking Rachel to save her little girl, Amelie. Amelie is deaf and will not comply with the perfect Aryan bloodline of her Nazi father.
Rachel risks everything to help this child, accepting the help of an American journalist, Jason Young, in Germany to cover the war. Jason has connections to the resistance movement and hopefully they will manage to save Amelie.
They are forced to hide in Oberammergau, a Bavarian village that puts on a Passion Play every decade.
Rachel is constantly on edge, walking a tightrope, trying to fulfill her promise to protect this child. More lives are at stake, too, than just hers and Amelie's. Others are asked to help, putting themselves at risk in this now torn apart country seething with anger at everything and everyone not of the perfect 'Aryan' race.
Cathy Gohlke writes so convincingly of this time period and her research to historical detail is impeccable. So rich does she describe the events in the era in which she writes, that it sent me to google to refresh my own history lessons! I loved this.
This is an impressive emotional and thrilling story, keeping the reader turning the pages until the last page is turned and the book finished. There is conflict, intrigue, romance, tremendous faith and also ugliness, sadly, in this book. It is a book you will remember long after you turn the pages.
It is a book that also challenges the reader to let go of any prejudices they may have against anyone. How could anyone disdain and purposely destroy an entire people as Hitler did? It totally baffles the mind that anyone could be so totally heartless.
There is a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the book that goes, "The Church has only one altar, the altar of the Almighty..before which all creatures must kneel..He who seeks anything other than this must keep away; he cannot join us in the house of God...The Church has only one pulpit, and from that pulpit faith in God will be preached and no other faith, and no other will than the will of God, however well intentioned."
This is not a feel good Christian novel. It will bring you to tears, but it will also bring you joy as you read how many sacrificed that others could live and be free. This is a book that will stay with you, I think, forever.
Cathy Gohlke's books are like that. They minister and make you feel richer for having read them. I am looking forward to her next book already!
I might add that the cover of this book drew me in totally when I first saw it. It is compelling and poignant. The expression on the little girl's face is priceless, then there is a full page photo of her on the inside cover. This book belongs in every library!
May 6, 2014
Reading “Saving Amelie” by Cathy Gohlke was quite an experience. I have an obsession to read books about World War II, especially those concerning Nazi Germany and the Nazi presence in France. I also read (I cannot say enjoy, because of the subject matter) stories about the Holocaust and the treatment of Jews and other “undesirables” living in Nazi occupied land. I feel that we all need to be reminded of that dark time in history and take heed so that we do not repeat that horrible era.
I could read just a few chapters at a time because the subject matter was so intense and heart-rending. I felt as though I was there in Berlin and other areas of Germany feeling the terror the characters were feeling always looking over their shoulders for the worst to happen. It was really draining for me. I actually broke down in tears a couple of times during my reading because I felt the horrors so intently and personally. The Nazi practice of providing a “clean” Aryan race and their practice of doing research with twins and eugenics was almost more than I could bear to read about. I questioned why no one could see this and rally to put a stop to it.
Even though it sounds as though I did not enjoy this book, I loved reading it. I became so engrossed in the story and the delicate weaving of characters together. I thought that the author really did her homework regarding the history of this time and brought all that together in a fiction offering that was too real and provided a gripping story all throughout the book. There were no pages that were not relevant and none that were superfluous.
I recommend this book highly…to all history buffs, especially and to everyone to read so that we can recognize the events that would possible occur again in order that we are prepared to stop this sort of thing from happening every again.
Tyndale Blog Network provided me a free print advance reading copy in return for my honest review of this book.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-ba.
I could read just a few chapters at a time because the subject matter was so intense and heart-rending. I felt as though I was there in Berlin and other areas of Germany feeling the terror the characters were feeling always looking over their shoulders for the worst to happen. It was really draining for me. I actually broke down in tears a couple of times during my reading because I felt the horrors so intently and personally. The Nazi practice of providing a “clean” Aryan race and their practice of doing research with twins and eugenics was almost more than I could bear to read about. I questioned why no one could see this and rally to put a stop to it.
Even though it sounds as though I did not enjoy this book, I loved reading it. I became so engrossed in the story and the delicate weaving of characters together. I thought that the author really did her homework regarding the history of this time and brought all that together in a fiction offering that was too real and provided a gripping story all throughout the book. There were no pages that were not relevant and none that were superfluous.
I recommend this book highly…to all history buffs, especially and to everyone to read so that we can recognize the events that would possible occur again in order that we are prepared to stop this sort of thing from happening every again.
Tyndale Blog Network provided me a free print advance reading copy in return for my honest review of this book.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-ba.
March 29, 2016
This is one of those books I stayed up way too late reading. It pulled me into it's grasp and I could hardly get it out of my mind and just wanted to read, read, read. Thankfully I picked it up during a rest day after a big event which was good because I could barely put it down and it's 400 pages long.
I have a huge interest in WW2 and have read dozens, if not hundreds, of books (fiction and non-fiction) and watched a lot of documentaries that take place during that era. Since my visit to Europe in 2014 I've had a new perspective while reading books set in that continent and am more easily disappointed when it's not written realistically.
Saving Amelie did not disappoint. I went into the book not knowing what to expect and felt rather lost for the first while. As the events began to make sense though, I was amazed at how everything fit together. Although fiction, the book didn't hide the monstrosities that took place, although I felt they were handled well without unnecessary details, although it was definitely a book for older teens/adults.
What stuck me the most while reading the book was the parallels to what's going on in the world nowadays. It's so very sobering how so many people are turning a blind eye to the Syrian refugees and the wars going on over in that part of the world today, in 2016. When people don't learn from history they are bound to repeat it, and I'm convinced that when we turn a blind eye to people in need we are not treating them with love like God has commanded us to. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away.
I wish the world would wake up and read books like "Saving Amelie" and see that just like the characters in the story are guilty unless they take action, we are too.
Overall I throughly enjoyed "Saving Amelie" and it came very close to receiving 5 out of 5 stars, and did get 9 out of 10 stars. Good job, Mrs. Gohlke! Keep up your amazing work!
I have a huge interest in WW2 and have read dozens, if not hundreds, of books (fiction and non-fiction) and watched a lot of documentaries that take place during that era. Since my visit to Europe in 2014 I've had a new perspective while reading books set in that continent and am more easily disappointed when it's not written realistically.
Saving Amelie did not disappoint. I went into the book not knowing what to expect and felt rather lost for the first while. As the events began to make sense though, I was amazed at how everything fit together. Although fiction, the book didn't hide the monstrosities that took place, although I felt they were handled well without unnecessary details, although it was definitely a book for older teens/adults.
What stuck me the most while reading the book was the parallels to what's going on in the world nowadays. It's so very sobering how so many people are turning a blind eye to the Syrian refugees and the wars going on over in that part of the world today, in 2016. When people don't learn from history they are bound to repeat it, and I'm convinced that when we turn a blind eye to people in need we are not treating them with love like God has commanded us to. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away.
I wish the world would wake up and read books like "Saving Amelie" and see that just like the characters in the story are guilty unless they take action, we are too.
Overall I throughly enjoyed "Saving Amelie" and it came very close to receiving 5 out of 5 stars, and did get 9 out of 10 stars. Good job, Mrs. Gohlke! Keep up your amazing work!
July 19, 2014
There are times you read a historical fiction book from this time period and you finish it and even though the main characters ended up happy, you feel the weight of what happened settling in on your shoulders. While Ms. Gohlke addresses really tough issues in this book, I did not end it feeling depressed. I felt like I had more of an idea about the very brave people that faced an enemy during a very dangerous time for those that were handicapped, too perfect, came from “flawed” parents, or were of the “wrong race”. The history that was involved in including Bonhoffer was very good. This would be really good to show a more mild way of some of the ways young people and older people were involved in saving others during this time. I was thinking as I see all the time how our World War veterans are passing away, our Holocaust survivors are leaving this earth and I realized if we do not teach our children how real and horrible the events of World War two were, we will have grandchildren that do not understand why it is even important to know about it. This book would be excellent for a teen in high school to read as part of their high school historical fiction and literature. While it speaks on the eugenics that were used, it does not go into the gruesome details in a way that would be graphic for a teen or sensitive reader. It is just enough to give you the picture, horrify you, but not scar you. I found I would have found the twists in the story almost odd, had I not read other books on eugenics in Hitler’s Germany and realized that she barely scratched the surface, but gave enough for you.
Just as she did with her other historical fiction, Ms. Gohlke hits the nail on the head and knocks this down in one blow. I hope it will speak to you as it did me.
Just as she did with her other historical fiction, Ms. Gohlke hits the nail on the head and knocks this down in one blow. I hope it will speak to you as it did me.
December 28, 2020
There are so many WW2 novels, a really good one needs to set itself apart with a really unique but believable angle. This book accomplishes that with its hard look at the eugenics that were the driving force behind many of Hitler's policies. The story was compelling, and the characters were complex and realistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2016
Great story! Thoroughly enjoyed it! Looking forward to reading Secrets She Kept by same author, coming out in September.
July 1, 2014
It is the year 1939 and American, albeit German-born, Rachel Kramer visits Germany once again with her adopted father. It is a regular trip, every 2 years, for her to have a harmless check-up from the doctors at the Institute. Even though she is now a full-grown woman, the check-ups must continue and so, reticent though she may be, Rachel agrees to this trip, not having the heart to refuse her father. But this Germany is not the Germany of her youth. The black spider is everywhere, plastered on flags flying from almost every building, and the SS officers acquainted with her father prattle on about eugenics and purity of race. Yes, her father works in eugenics and has for as long as she can remember, but there is something different about the discussions now that make Rachel nervous. Talk of one race being more valued than another set pings of concern through her brain, but it is only when she Rachel speaks with her oldest childhood friend, Kristine, that she truly begins worrying.
Kristine is terrified for the life of her daughter, Amelie. A deaf child is unacceptable offspring for an SS officer and Kristine's husband, Gerhardt Schlick, is one of the cruelest men Rachel has ever known. She didn't like him as a teenager and she does not like him now, particularly since he still holds an unhealthy fascination for Rachel while emotionally dismissing his wife. He speaks of his daughter as if she were subhuman and when he insists that Amelie receive "treatment" for her deafness, Kristine pleads with Rachel to help her, to take Amelie with her back to the states. Rachel's eyes begin to open to the atrocities of this new Germany, and she agrees, albeit reluctantly for she has no experience with children, but all too soon Rachel realizes that leaving may not be as easy as she had hoped. It is only with the assistance of American reporter Jason Young that Amelie is sneaked away to safety, and Rachel must soon follow. Her father is not who she thought he was, and neither is her past, but can Rachel escape Nazi Germany before it's too late and she becomes a broodmare for the Reich?
Wow. I already knew that Cathy Gohlke was an excellent writer ever since I read William Henry is a Fine Name, but I wasn't expecting the traumatic and terrifyingly brilliant novel she dished out in Saving Amelie. Nazi Germany has never been one of my favorite subjects, but I was willing to revisit the topic because it was Cathy Gohlke. She did not disappoint. As I said, I know very little about the era, but I'm assuming her historic facts and dates are accurate. She writes her novel with an air of authenticity, so I trust she did her research. Plus, I recognized in Jason Young the elements of William Shirer, an actual American reporter in Nazi Germany during Hitler's rise to power. She did, in fact, base Jason off Shirer, so I was not imagining their similarities. If you get a chance and can find a copy, watch The Nightmare Years starring Sam Waterston, Shirer's incredible story.
However, back on track once again, I appreciate the great lengths Ms. Gohlke went to in creating believable characters. Rachel is one of those delightful creations who you sometimes like and sometimes dislike because she is selfish, just like everyone else, but tries to develop a new way of thinking about "lesser" races like the Jews. The girl is a Fi user if I ever saw one, caring more for her own emotions and beliefs about something than the opinions of others, even more about her own fears than the fears of other people. She completely discounts a terrifying experience an acquaintance of hers has near the end of the book. So, Rachel grows, but she's still flawed. It's a good thing she also has many likeable qualities or I would have struggled in accepting her as a heroine. Jason won me over almost immediately, not only because he used amusing Americanisms from the 1930s, but also because I sensed a bit of Shirer in him.
Jason and Rachel both start their journey without any semblance of faith. Jason is transformed through hearing Dietrich Bonhoeffer preach in an underground church, and Rachel begins her transformation through encountering a woman named Lea Hartmana and her grandmother who try their hardest to live the faith they proclaim. The faith elements felt genuine, not pushy or intrusive, a natural progression of questioning during a time when people are desperate to believe in something. From what I know about Bonhoeffer, very few people would have come away from one of his sermons unchanged, so it makes sense that Jason would begin questioning his personal belief system after an encounter with the man.
This is a hard topic. This book deals with cruelty of the most abominable kind to Jews and to handicapped children and to anyone the Nazis deemed subhuman. Women are viewed as property by Nazi Germany and Ms. Gohlke doesn't sugarcoat that fact, although she never goes into too much detail. There is a horrific, but not surprising, near rape scene about 3/4 of the way through the book, but nothing happens. Nazi Germany was nightmarish, and Ms. Gohlke makes sure her readers understand that without detailing it out in unnecessary descriptions. I admit that I never cried, but I was invested in all of the lives in this book, from little, adorable Amelie in her red coat to Rachel whose life has been turned upside down to Lea Hartman who also has a large role to play in the story though I can't go into detail for fear of spoilers.
You know, I look at Nazi Germany and the murder of the "undesirables" and I see a parallel in our own society. Think of the cruelty of racism until Martin Luther King Jr. took a stand. Think of the millions upon millions of children sacrificed to abortion every year while Christians stand back and do nothing. These characters realize that the only way for evil to take charge is for good people to do nothing, but by this point, it's too late to stem the tide of Hitler's evil. If the church had taken a stand against the tyranny early on, as Bonhoeffer urged, maybe Hitler would have been stopped before he even got started. I just hate seeing history repeat itself, but that is what I see in the American society I love so much. We've become Hitler in our own way, and that's an ugly confession to make to anyone.
Saving Amelie is hard-hitting and brilliant, and should be read by every Christian reader.
- I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
Kristine is terrified for the life of her daughter, Amelie. A deaf child is unacceptable offspring for an SS officer and Kristine's husband, Gerhardt Schlick, is one of the cruelest men Rachel has ever known. She didn't like him as a teenager and she does not like him now, particularly since he still holds an unhealthy fascination for Rachel while emotionally dismissing his wife. He speaks of his daughter as if she were subhuman and when he insists that Amelie receive "treatment" for her deafness, Kristine pleads with Rachel to help her, to take Amelie with her back to the states. Rachel's eyes begin to open to the atrocities of this new Germany, and she agrees, albeit reluctantly for she has no experience with children, but all too soon Rachel realizes that leaving may not be as easy as she had hoped. It is only with the assistance of American reporter Jason Young that Amelie is sneaked away to safety, and Rachel must soon follow. Her father is not who she thought he was, and neither is her past, but can Rachel escape Nazi Germany before it's too late and she becomes a broodmare for the Reich?
Wow. I already knew that Cathy Gohlke was an excellent writer ever since I read William Henry is a Fine Name, but I wasn't expecting the traumatic and terrifyingly brilliant novel she dished out in Saving Amelie. Nazi Germany has never been one of my favorite subjects, but I was willing to revisit the topic because it was Cathy Gohlke. She did not disappoint. As I said, I know very little about the era, but I'm assuming her historic facts and dates are accurate. She writes her novel with an air of authenticity, so I trust she did her research. Plus, I recognized in Jason Young the elements of William Shirer, an actual American reporter in Nazi Germany during Hitler's rise to power. She did, in fact, base Jason off Shirer, so I was not imagining their similarities. If you get a chance and can find a copy, watch The Nightmare Years starring Sam Waterston, Shirer's incredible story.
However, back on track once again, I appreciate the great lengths Ms. Gohlke went to in creating believable characters. Rachel is one of those delightful creations who you sometimes like and sometimes dislike because she is selfish, just like everyone else, but tries to develop a new way of thinking about "lesser" races like the Jews. The girl is a Fi user if I ever saw one, caring more for her own emotions and beliefs about something than the opinions of others, even more about her own fears than the fears of other people. She completely discounts a terrifying experience an acquaintance of hers has near the end of the book. So, Rachel grows, but she's still flawed. It's a good thing she also has many likeable qualities or I would have struggled in accepting her as a heroine. Jason won me over almost immediately, not only because he used amusing Americanisms from the 1930s, but also because I sensed a bit of Shirer in him.
Jason and Rachel both start their journey without any semblance of faith. Jason is transformed through hearing Dietrich Bonhoeffer preach in an underground church, and Rachel begins her transformation through encountering a woman named Lea Hartmana and her grandmother who try their hardest to live the faith they proclaim. The faith elements felt genuine, not pushy or intrusive, a natural progression of questioning during a time when people are desperate to believe in something. From what I know about Bonhoeffer, very few people would have come away from one of his sermons unchanged, so it makes sense that Jason would begin questioning his personal belief system after an encounter with the man.
This is a hard topic. This book deals with cruelty of the most abominable kind to Jews and to handicapped children and to anyone the Nazis deemed subhuman. Women are viewed as property by Nazi Germany and Ms. Gohlke doesn't sugarcoat that fact, although she never goes into too much detail. There is a horrific, but not surprising, near rape scene about 3/4 of the way through the book, but nothing happens. Nazi Germany was nightmarish, and Ms. Gohlke makes sure her readers understand that without detailing it out in unnecessary descriptions. I admit that I never cried, but I was invested in all of the lives in this book, from little, adorable Amelie in her red coat to Rachel whose life has been turned upside down to Lea Hartman who also has a large role to play in the story though I can't go into detail for fear of spoilers.
You know, I look at Nazi Germany and the murder of the "undesirables" and I see a parallel in our own society. Think of the cruelty of racism until Martin Luther King Jr. took a stand. Think of the millions upon millions of children sacrificed to abortion every year while Christians stand back and do nothing. These characters realize that the only way for evil to take charge is for good people to do nothing, but by this point, it's too late to stem the tide of Hitler's evil. If the church had taken a stand against the tyranny early on, as Bonhoeffer urged, maybe Hitler would have been stopped before he even got started. I just hate seeing history repeat itself, but that is what I see in the American society I love so much. We've become Hitler in our own way, and that's an ugly confession to make to anyone.
Saving Amelie is hard-hitting and brilliant, and should be read by every Christian reader.
- I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
August 7, 2024
Nuk eshte thjesht nje liber qe flet per ndodhite e Luftes se dyte Boterore por ben nje pasqyrim te shume faktorëve fetare, politike te cilat jo shume shpesh shfaqen ne libra te tille. Libri ecen shpejt e duket qe eshte I mirestudiuar me ndodhite e kohes e te personazheve.
Dhe duke e ditur me heret impresioni qe te jep koncepti i Eugjenikes dhe peshës qe i jepej jetes se nje qenie njerezore apo nje tjetre nga disa individë qe e kishin harruar c'ishte humanizmi.
A vërtitet mendimi eugjenist, ne nje forme a nje tjeter, mbi kokat e qenieve njerëzore dhe sot?!
Dhe duke e ditur me heret impresioni qe te jep koncepti i Eugjenikes dhe peshës qe i jepej jetes se nje qenie njerezore apo nje tjetre nga disa individë qe e kishin harruar c'ishte humanizmi.
A vërtitet mendimi eugjenist, ne nje forme a nje tjeter, mbi kokat e qenieve njerëzore dhe sot?!
July 22, 2017
I'll skip a summarization of Saving Amelie.
This. Book. I cried. I also laughed a little. I was actually biting my nails during the super tense times. Biting my nails is something I DO NOT DO. Usually.
I so loved the ending, definitely full closure. At first I thought I was going to be disappointed, thankfully I was not. Reading this book is definitely not a waste of time and also a good reminder of history. Very real.
This. Book. I cried. I also laughed a little. I was actually biting my nails during the super tense times. Biting my nails is something I DO NOT DO. Usually.
I so loved the ending, definitely full closure. At first I thought I was going to be disappointed, thankfully I was not. Reading this book is definitely not a waste of time and also a good reminder of history. Very real.
January 16, 2016
This is a very well written story about WWII and some of the people who were affected by it. I liked how the author reviewed what was truth and what was fictitious at the end. I like learning about the war from different perspectives, and this book was no exception. I was not as aware of eugenics research as I am now, and am, as any conscientious human being would be, horrified by the very idea. To think that America was part of it . . .
I found the comparison to America interesting, when the Nazis tried taking down all forms of Christianity, and how the German people stood up for their freedom of religion and how the Nazis backed down. There was a paragraph someone thought in the story, that America would never let anything like that happen. We know differently, now. It also is so terrible that the German people refused to take the same stand for the murder of all those people, as they did their religious beliefs. Who knows what could have/would have happened if they had?
Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking story. I'm glad I read it.
I found the comparison to America interesting, when the Nazis tried taking down all forms of Christianity, and how the German people stood up for their freedom of religion and how the Nazis backed down. There was a paragraph someone thought in the story, that America would never let anything like that happen. We know differently, now. It also is so terrible that the German people refused to take the same stand for the murder of all those people, as they did their religious beliefs. Who knows what could have/would have happened if they had?
Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking story. I'm glad I read it.
July 15, 2021
You may need the tissues handy, this book will grip you and not let go, and all the while I'm wondering how can some people be so cold hearted?
Through the eyes of the author we find those who are willing to give everything to help save another life. Why, is this happening, there are many answers and we will probably never know why some would do the evil that they do, but there are those who really live their faith, and we are there to see their ultimate sacrifice.
Be sure to read the author's notes at the end of this book, I love how the author put so much truth and actual people in this read.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.
Through the eyes of the author we find those who are willing to give everything to help save another life. Why, is this happening, there are many answers and we will probably never know why some would do the evil that they do, but there are those who really live their faith, and we are there to see their ultimate sacrifice.
Be sure to read the author's notes at the end of this book, I love how the author put so much truth and actual people in this read.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.
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