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We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler – Sibert Honor History of Hans and Sophie Scholl for Kids
In his signature eloquent prose, backed up by thorough research, Russell Freedman tells the story of Austrian-born Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie. They belonged to Hitler Youth as young children, but began to doubt the Nazi regime. As older students, the Scholls and a few friends formed the White Rose, a campaign of active resistance to Hitler and the Nazis. Risking imprisonment or even execution, the White Rose members distributed leaflets urging Germans to defy the Nazi government. Their belief that freedom was worth dying for will inspire young readers to stand up for what they believe in. Archival photographs and prints, source notes, bibliography, index.
104 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
120 people are currently reading
3246 people want to read
About the author
Russell Freedman
90 books132 followersRussell A. Freedman was an American biographer and the author of nearly 50 books for young people. He may be known best for winning the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography.
He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.
He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.
Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.
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March 18, 2017
Please visit my blog www.readrantrockandroll.com for reviews on children's books like this regarding the Holocaust and WWII
We Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman is a book about The White Rose Student Resistance Movement in Germany. Hans and Sophie were members of Hitler's Youth, until they got wise and learned what was unfolding right in front of them. They decide that they want to expose Hitler and the Nazi regime. Their siblings also became involved. The courage and perseverance of this group is stunning.
The author does an amazing job explaining everything in chronological order and there are tons of pictures. This is a book written for middle schoolers, but It's great for adults too.
Once again, a subject that I knew nothing about, and never learned about in school.
This is a book I highly recommend for libraries, schools, and parents who want to educate their children. It's a book for everyone.
We Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman is a book about The White Rose Student Resistance Movement in Germany. Hans and Sophie were members of Hitler's Youth, until they got wise and learned what was unfolding right in front of them. They decide that they want to expose Hitler and the Nazi regime. Their siblings also became involved. The courage and perseverance of this group is stunning.
The author does an amazing job explaining everything in chronological order and there are tons of pictures. This is a book written for middle schoolers, but It's great for adults too.
Once again, a subject that I knew nothing about, and never learned about in school.
This is a book I highly recommend for libraries, schools, and parents who want to educate their children. It's a book for everyone.
December 2, 2024
Well and indeed, with regard to Russell Freedman’s 2016 (and 2017 Robert Sibert Honour winning) We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler, I do indeed and definitely find it rather majorly disconcerting in a completely non fiction tome that in the first few pages of We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler there are already two main and for me rather huge and annoying factual errors.
Firstly, the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend or HJ) was a boy’s organisation, and thus, albeit Hans Scholl and his bother Werner would of course have been attending the Hitler Youth, Sophie and her sisters Inge and Elisabeth would have been in the BDM (Bund Deutscher Mädchen, which translates as Club or Organisation of German Girls). And honestly, for the author, for Russell Freedman in We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler to just place everyone boy or girl into the Hitler Youth, that is actually totally factually wrong and totally, utterly ridiculous. And while yes, the Scholl siblings at first wanted to willingly join the HJ and the BDM, this also does not in my humble opinion make them radically pro Hitler or totally pro National Socialism either, as is unfortunately often insinuated especially in English language accounts about the White Rose (including We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler). For joining the HJ and the BDM was in fact considered something that everyone kind of had to do (and this even at the beginning of the Third Reich, where membership in the HJ and the BDM was still at least somewhat voluntary in theory), with Father Scholl not wanting his children to join and being quite openly vocal against the Nazis not only something amazingly wonderful and courageous but also really quite potentially dangerous for him and his loved ones (as Adolf Hitler et al generally saw and considered any criticism as automatic treason). Furthermore, while the Scholl children originally readily joined the HJ and the BDM, that in particular Hans and Sophie were not (like oh so many German children) automatically brainwashed by this and actually soon came to see National Socialism as the evil their father said it was and once at university actively even if at the end futilely resisted, yes, this does definitely show (at least in my humble opinion) that even when actively in the HJ and BDM, none of the Scholls were all that much and heavily into Naziism, and frankly, I do wish that Russell Freedman’s presented text could be a bit more leaning towards this at the beginning of We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler. Secondly, contrary to what Russell Freedman states in We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler, the majority of Germans actually DID NOT VOTE for Adolf Hitler and National Socialism, since in fact only one third voted for the Nazis. And it truly is high time in 2016 beyond for ALL non fiction (and even fiction) accounts on and about National Socialism to prominently point out that two thirds of the German population voted for parties other than the National Socialists, but that because especially the very many internally warring and feuding left wing parties could not and would not coordinate themselves and set aside their differences, well, this then allowed the Nazis to quickly form not only the government but also a dictatorship where any criticism could and often would lead to incarceration and often also to trial and swift execution.
Now the rest of Russell Freedman’s presented text for We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler seems to be mostly error free and also a good and equally not shirking the horrors of National Socialism general introduction to the White Rose and its members as both heroes and as martyrs. But those two for me rather big time mistakes at the beginning of We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler, yes, this does bother me enough to only consider a three star ranking and to also think that introducing We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler to younger readers needs to occur with a significant amount of discussion regarding those same factual errors.
Firstly, the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend or HJ) was a boy’s organisation, and thus, albeit Hans Scholl and his bother Werner would of course have been attending the Hitler Youth, Sophie and her sisters Inge and Elisabeth would have been in the BDM (Bund Deutscher Mädchen, which translates as Club or Organisation of German Girls). And honestly, for the author, for Russell Freedman in We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler to just place everyone boy or girl into the Hitler Youth, that is actually totally factually wrong and totally, utterly ridiculous. And while yes, the Scholl siblings at first wanted to willingly join the HJ and the BDM, this also does not in my humble opinion make them radically pro Hitler or totally pro National Socialism either, as is unfortunately often insinuated especially in English language accounts about the White Rose (including We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler). For joining the HJ and the BDM was in fact considered something that everyone kind of had to do (and this even at the beginning of the Third Reich, where membership in the HJ and the BDM was still at least somewhat voluntary in theory), with Father Scholl not wanting his children to join and being quite openly vocal against the Nazis not only something amazingly wonderful and courageous but also really quite potentially dangerous for him and his loved ones (as Adolf Hitler et al generally saw and considered any criticism as automatic treason). Furthermore, while the Scholl children originally readily joined the HJ and the BDM, that in particular Hans and Sophie were not (like oh so many German children) automatically brainwashed by this and actually soon came to see National Socialism as the evil their father said it was and once at university actively even if at the end futilely resisted, yes, this does definitely show (at least in my humble opinion) that even when actively in the HJ and BDM, none of the Scholls were all that much and heavily into Naziism, and frankly, I do wish that Russell Freedman’s presented text could be a bit more leaning towards this at the beginning of We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler. Secondly, contrary to what Russell Freedman states in We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler, the majority of Germans actually DID NOT VOTE for Adolf Hitler and National Socialism, since in fact only one third voted for the Nazis. And it truly is high time in 2016 beyond for ALL non fiction (and even fiction) accounts on and about National Socialism to prominently point out that two thirds of the German population voted for parties other than the National Socialists, but that because especially the very many internally warring and feuding left wing parties could not and would not coordinate themselves and set aside their differences, well, this then allowed the Nazis to quickly form not only the government but also a dictatorship where any criticism could and often would lead to incarceration and often also to trial and swift execution.
Now the rest of Russell Freedman’s presented text for We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler seems to be mostly error free and also a good and equally not shirking the horrors of National Socialism general introduction to the White Rose and its members as both heroes and as martyrs. But those two for me rather big time mistakes at the beginning of We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler, yes, this does bother me enough to only consider a three star ranking and to also think that introducing We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler to younger readers needs to occur with a significant amount of discussion regarding those same factual errors.
October 22, 2019
I hope this wins the YALSA award for Nonfiction, or the Sibert Award! I hope this is not Freedman's final book, but if it is, it certainly closes the circle of his writing career. His first book was about teenagers who affected history. This one was about young adults in their early 20s who affected WWII. Both the Scholl siblings as well as others they worked with were in their early 20s when they did their acts of heroism and died for their bravery. Sophie was 21 years old. Her brother, Hans, was 24. They proved that the pen is mightier than the sword. They wrote leaflets at a time when being caught would lead to death, which is exactly what happened. This book should be required reading for advanced youth groups, perhaps, Eagle Scouts and similar groups of young people. It should be part of the literature assigned in history of World War II classes. The photos chosen are excellent, which you would expect in a Freedman book. The text is spare, descriptive and leaves opinion to the reader. Until the last paragraphs, the book does not explicitly give the author's opinion. Here are the last two sentences: :"We hear their voices even today, speaking truth to power. They will not be silent." Thank you Mr. Freedman for yet another superb title on a subject young people need to know about! Addendum. Darn. In any other year I think this would have had a good chance at the Siebert and YALSA NF award. But with March Book Three in the competition, it just was a Siebert Honor award.
February 13, 2023
5.0 Have you ever picked up an unassuming and modest looking gift and opened it only to reveal a present that took your breath away? That is exactly what this short, young adult story about resistance to the Nazi's within Germany, did to me. This is such a well done non-fiction story and it flows flawlessly like an amazingly crafted story. Unfortunately, the contents are anything but a fictional story and that is why this book is so important. It is hard for people to fathom a whole nation being compliant to Hitler and his vision. This books helps show that within the German nation there were clearly plenty of people who wanted to fight against the totalitarian and fascist rule that they found themselves under. I dont know if I have ever seen a book with a better placement and selection of pictures. Some of them were truly gut-wrenching, even though they were intended and appropriate for a younger audience. I will be shocked if this is not up for some major awards this year. Wow!
August 7, 2018
This beginning of this book was slow and hard for me to get into, but at the end it got sort of better!
March 17, 2017
My interest in World War II youth resistance groups started when I read, "The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club" by Phillip Hoose. I can add this to another terrific children's book on a little-known topic. Or at least, little-known to me. Hans and Sophie Scholl were members of the Hitler Youth organization before they became disillusioned with the anti-Semitism and rigid group's ways. They organized a resistance group at the University of Munich and decided to protest totalitarianism through nonviolent means. They handed out leaflets encouraging the masses to rise up and condemn Nazism. When they were caught the two received admiration from the Nazi guards with how they handled themselves. The guards broke protocol to let them speak with family and each other before their executions. This inspirational story will have you doing more historical research on your own.
The nonfiction elements are well-documented and the story is a quick read of over one hundred pages. It is inspirational and combats the stereotype of a Hitler Youth movement where all German youths willingly joined and brainlessly spouted Nazi slogans. The brave students could not remain silent as the war progressed and they consciously resisted National Socialism for cultural and differing ideological reasons. A good historical book makes the reader want to find out more information on the topic and Russell Freedman did just that for me. The language is simple and nothing graphic; however, the gruesome execution of the youths is disturbing and might require discussion with younger readers.
Daniel Horn wrote an interesting article that overviews German youth resistance during WWII (I reference it below if you are interested in the article on JSTOR). Horn lumps German youth resistance into three groups from various economic and social backgrounds but fighting for basically the same thing: freedom of choice, dissatisfaction with a regimented Nazi youth system, and self-fulfillment. The working class and bourgeoisie youth resistance members formed different groups from the asocial gangs such as the Edelweiss and Kittelsbach Pirates with violent aims to overthrow the Nazi government, to the politically opposed groups such as the Munich and Hamburg White Rose students that used print to express their displeasure with National Socialism, and the liberal-oriented individuals of Swing youths who wanted self-expression and individualism rather than the regimentation and repression of culture such as dancing and Jazz music.
Youth Resistance in the Third Reich: A Social Portrait Author(s): Daniel Horn Source: Journal of Social History, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Autumn, 1973), pp. 26-50 Published by: Oxford University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3786496
The nonfiction elements are well-documented and the story is a quick read of over one hundred pages. It is inspirational and combats the stereotype of a Hitler Youth movement where all German youths willingly joined and brainlessly spouted Nazi slogans. The brave students could not remain silent as the war progressed and they consciously resisted National Socialism for cultural and differing ideological reasons. A good historical book makes the reader want to find out more information on the topic and Russell Freedman did just that for me. The language is simple and nothing graphic; however, the gruesome execution of the youths is disturbing and might require discussion with younger readers.
Daniel Horn wrote an interesting article that overviews German youth resistance during WWII (I reference it below if you are interested in the article on JSTOR). Horn lumps German youth resistance into three groups from various economic and social backgrounds but fighting for basically the same thing: freedom of choice, dissatisfaction with a regimented Nazi youth system, and self-fulfillment. The working class and bourgeoisie youth resistance members formed different groups from the asocial gangs such as the Edelweiss and Kittelsbach Pirates with violent aims to overthrow the Nazi government, to the politically opposed groups such as the Munich and Hamburg White Rose students that used print to express their displeasure with National Socialism, and the liberal-oriented individuals of Swing youths who wanted self-expression and individualism rather than the regimentation and repression of culture such as dancing and Jazz music.
Youth Resistance in the Third Reich: A Social Portrait Author(s): Daniel Horn Source: Journal of Social History, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Autumn, 1973), pp. 26-50 Published by: Oxford University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3786496
February 7, 2018
Alright, I read a lot of nonfiction about history because I’m into history stuff, mostly when it involves war and/or the wild west, I gotta say this is amazing and I can’t believe I never heard of this book or subject.
What’s it about?
There’s a family living in Germany in WW2. At first the kids of the family were tricked by Hitler’s bulls*** but eventually realized how wrong the Nazis are and they decide to start a resistance movement that many people, especially teens and young adults, participated in.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is interesting and really cool. Not only is it interesting war stuff but I like how it shows you can do great stuff at any age which is very inspiring for someone who is young and reads a lot (especially since this is nonfiction).
The people this book focuses on are very interesting, brave, real life bad-a**es (by that I mean the good guys, not the Nazi ones. Nazis suck)!
The writing style is great. A lot of historic nonfiction is kinda slow, it often feels more like reading a documentary as opposed to reading an exciting story- this is one of those times when it feels like an exciting story which it is and I think more history books need to be done this way.
There’s a lot of pictures of the people and how Nazi Germany looked, I like how there’s some pictures relevant to history right in the book.
I never learned much about this. Either I forgot (that would be surprising) or there needs to be more stuff about this. It’s a very important subject and supposedly the people involved are considered extremely important to history (which they are) but even as someone who is interested in history (by interested I mean I read a lot of historic nonfiction and find it interesting, I doubt I’ll become a historian or anything like that though, I just want to point that out before some history teacher in the comments starts telling me I’m not really into history or something) I somehow never heard anything about this subject or these people (except some various Nazi leaders including Hitler) until I saw this book sitting at the library so I got to learn about something that I find really interesting so that’s always good.
Since I never heard much about the subject, this book was pretty suspenseful, at least for me.
Overall:
Great book. One of the best books I’ve read this year so far (which okay, it is February so...). If you’re at all interested in history you should definitely read this. If you’re a young reader who wants to read about someone around your age not being a total f*** up (I notice that WAY too often in fiction) you should read this. Definitely a must read IMO.
5/5
What’s it about?
There’s a family living in Germany in WW2. At first the kids of the family were tricked by Hitler’s bulls*** but eventually realized how wrong the Nazis are and they decide to start a resistance movement that many people, especially teens and young adults, participated in.
Why it gets 5 stars:
The story is interesting and really cool. Not only is it interesting war stuff but I like how it shows you can do great stuff at any age which is very inspiring for someone who is young and reads a lot (especially since this is nonfiction).
The people this book focuses on are very interesting, brave, real life bad-a**es (by that I mean the good guys, not the Nazi ones. Nazis suck)!
The writing style is great. A lot of historic nonfiction is kinda slow, it often feels more like reading a documentary as opposed to reading an exciting story- this is one of those times when it feels like an exciting story which it is and I think more history books need to be done this way.
There’s a lot of pictures of the people and how Nazi Germany looked, I like how there’s some pictures relevant to history right in the book.
I never learned much about this. Either I forgot (that would be surprising) or there needs to be more stuff about this. It’s a very important subject and supposedly the people involved are considered extremely important to history (which they are) but even as someone who is interested in history (by interested I mean I read a lot of historic nonfiction and find it interesting, I doubt I’ll become a historian or anything like that though, I just want to point that out before some history teacher in the comments starts telling me I’m not really into history or something) I somehow never heard anything about this subject or these people (except some various Nazi leaders including Hitler) until I saw this book sitting at the library so I got to learn about something that I find really interesting so that’s always good.
Since I never heard much about the subject, this book was pretty suspenseful, at least for me.
Overall:
Great book. One of the best books I’ve read this year so far (which okay, it is February so...). If you’re at all interested in history you should definitely read this. If you’re a young reader who wants to read about someone around your age not being a total f*** up (I notice that WAY too often in fiction) you should read this. Definitely a must read IMO.
5/5
June 13, 2016
Russell Freedman has written a wonderfully succinct history of the short-lived White Rose resistance movement the formed in Nazi Germany after some friends became disillusioned with the whole National Socialist government and its leader Adolf Hitler.
Freedman highlights the White Rose's history through the lives of siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl. Hans, once a willing participant in the Hitler Youth and a natural born leader, quickly began to realize that within the youth organization and Germany as a whole, there was no place for anything other than what had been decided by those in power. Even singing folksongs from other countries around a campfire was met with severe reprimand.
Sophie, three years younger than her brother Hans, was a member of the League of German Girls, a part of the Hitler Youth. She was also enthusiastic at first, but just like Hans, became disillusioned, especially after seeing some of the treatment the Nazis imposed on people who were not party members, or on Jews.
Disillusionment led to action and soon Hans, now a student at the University of Munich, Sophie and a small group of like-minded student friends were writing and mailing their Leaflets of the White Rose, exposing what they felt was the truth about the Nazi Regime and Adolf Hitler and asking the citizens of Germany to take responsibility and fight them.
The White Rose began distributing their first leaflet in June 1942. Altogether, six different leaflets were printed and distributed all over Germany by the thousands, so many that the Gestapo began to diligently search for the members of the White Rose. On February 18, 1943, Hans and Sophie were arrested carrying a suitcase full of leaflets to be distributed and after a short trial, executed on February 23, 1943.
The story of Han and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose is an inspiring one and Freedman has presented it in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner. I think its real strength lies in the simplicity with which Freedman tells the story of the White Rose, all the while quietly letting the courage, honor, and principles of these valiant dissenters shine through. He makes clear that opposing Hitler was a dangerous business and that these young idealists were well aware of the danger they faced and died still believing they had done the right thing.
This is an excellent introduction to resistance in the Third Reich and would pair very nicely with Deborah Hopkinson's Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark and/or The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Petersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose for an interesting unit on Resistance vs. Acceptance (remembering the silence is acceptance).
We Will Not Be Silent includes copious photographs, including copies of the Leaflets of the White Rose, with some translation of their content. Back matter also includes Source Notes, a Select Bibliography of books and films.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss/Above the Treeline
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
Freedman highlights the White Rose's history through the lives of siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl. Hans, once a willing participant in the Hitler Youth and a natural born leader, quickly began to realize that within the youth organization and Germany as a whole, there was no place for anything other than what had been decided by those in power. Even singing folksongs from other countries around a campfire was met with severe reprimand.
Sophie, three years younger than her brother Hans, was a member of the League of German Girls, a part of the Hitler Youth. She was also enthusiastic at first, but just like Hans, became disillusioned, especially after seeing some of the treatment the Nazis imposed on people who were not party members, or on Jews.
Disillusionment led to action and soon Hans, now a student at the University of Munich, Sophie and a small group of like-minded student friends were writing and mailing their Leaflets of the White Rose, exposing what they felt was the truth about the Nazi Regime and Adolf Hitler and asking the citizens of Germany to take responsibility and fight them.
The White Rose began distributing their first leaflet in June 1942. Altogether, six different leaflets were printed and distributed all over Germany by the thousands, so many that the Gestapo began to diligently search for the members of the White Rose. On February 18, 1943, Hans and Sophie were arrested carrying a suitcase full of leaflets to be distributed and after a short trial, executed on February 23, 1943.
The story of Han and Sophie Scholl and the White Rose is an inspiring one and Freedman has presented it in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner. I think its real strength lies in the simplicity with which Freedman tells the story of the White Rose, all the while quietly letting the courage, honor, and principles of these valiant dissenters shine through. He makes clear that opposing Hitler was a dangerous business and that these young idealists were well aware of the danger they faced and died still believing they had done the right thing.
This is an excellent introduction to resistance in the Third Reich and would pair very nicely with Deborah Hopkinson's Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark and/or The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Petersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose for an interesting unit on Resistance vs. Acceptance (remembering the silence is acceptance).
We Will Not Be Silent includes copious photographs, including copies of the Leaflets of the White Rose, with some translation of their content. Back matter also includes Source Notes, a Select Bibliography of books and films.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss/Above the Treeline
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
August 23, 2019
I am very into WWII, specifically the resistance against the evil that was happening. I like to see the good, those trying to help others, even at the risk of their own lives. The horrors of WWII show the world that the light can't be snuffed out, no matter how hard the darkness tries.
So this book was an incredibly powerful read for me. The pictures are so poignant and while what ended up happening was tragic, it was powerful and didn't stop when those responsible were "dealt with" by the evil in charge. It spurred the resistance further and further, do not be silent, but to keep on printing and speaking the truth. To not give into hate and fear, but to overcome with truth and love for all, not just for some.
This is history that MUST be taught to EVERYone. What happened was so horrible, that if it happens again, only we are to blame for not learning from the terrible mistakes in our collective pasts.
5, this book is so important for all to read and learn from, stars. Recommended reading for all. It's geared towards ages 10-12, so it isn't overly complex, however it is so well written that adults won't be bored by it and will most likely learn something from it as well. Highly recommended. I'm trying to purge out books, but this one may end up being a keeper, it's that good.
So this book was an incredibly powerful read for me. The pictures are so poignant and while what ended up happening was tragic, it was powerful and didn't stop when those responsible were "dealt with" by the evil in charge. It spurred the resistance further and further, do not be silent, but to keep on printing and speaking the truth. To not give into hate and fear, but to overcome with truth and love for all, not just for some.
This is history that MUST be taught to EVERYone. What happened was so horrible, that if it happens again, only we are to blame for not learning from the terrible mistakes in our collective pasts.
5, this book is so important for all to read and learn from, stars. Recommended reading for all. It's geared towards ages 10-12, so it isn't overly complex, however it is so well written that adults won't be bored by it and will most likely learn something from it as well. Highly recommended. I'm trying to purge out books, but this one may end up being a keeper, it's that good.
June 15, 2016
Excellent account of the White Rose resistance movement founded by siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl who were arrested for treason and beheaded by the Nazi regime. An inspiring story of young people making the ultimate sacrifice to resist evil.
June 9, 2022
4,5 stars - English paperback
Review follows later
Review follows later
August 19, 2017
Would you be willing to give your life for a cause you believe in? Could you stand up to Hitler? That's the dilemma of siblings Hans and Sophie grew up in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. By the time, the 1940s roll around, they are at college and have decided it's time to take a stand. Along with other like-minded classmates, they start a resistance movement against the Nazis. Could their plan of distributing mysterious pamphlets make a difference?
Give this one to anyone who is interested in World War II and/or history.
Give this one to anyone who is interested in World War II and/or history.
Read
April 16, 2018I'm really glad I read this. It's hard to find stuff about the White Rose that's still available, so I was thrilled to find this in the first place. It's a pretty simplified version - understandably considering who it's written for - but it meant the general WWII stuff was noting really new, but I learned a lot about the White Rose and the young people behind it. It's a really timely book, especially with how the ending was written. I'm definitely going to be seeking out some of the books and materials in the bibliography.
July 14, 2020
The story of The White Rose should never be forgotten. They could have thrown bombs. They raised their words. I first learned of The White Rose in high school when we read some of their leaflets. Then I watched the movie Sophie Scholl. This book is a very good way to introduce young readers to these amazing men and women.
November 21, 2017
Very accessible account of the White Rose Resistance. Freedman's research is impeccable as always, and primary sources included throughout add to the impact of this work. A solid addition to middle and high school collections.
November 13, 2025
A group of young people grow disillusioned with Adolf Hitler and create and distribute a newsletter to discredit him and pull down the Nazi movement in 1940s Germany. The leaders of the movement are found and killed, but their work is effective.
February 18, 2017
Sadly, I'd never heard of the White Rose movement before! My loss, because this book was fascinating. The author tells their story clearly and thoughtfully, without focusing on the details of their arrests and executions. It's an inspiring story of youth-lead resistance within the greater picture of World War II.
December 6, 2016
I love this book, I love this book, I love this book! This is aimed towards children aged 11-14, but everyone should read it.
I had only heard of the White Rose movement, but knew very little if anything. I don't think I ever realized they were German students. I don't think you hear enough about the *German* people fighting back (or attempting to). The book keeps your interest with photographs and not a huge amount of text. Little snippets of these people's lives and why they did what they did. They were brave and true to themselves, even though they knew what would happen if they were caught. As I read it, I kept wondering if I would have been as brave as they were. I'm not so sure.
A very inspiring story to say the least.
I had only heard of the White Rose movement, but knew very little if anything. I don't think I ever realized they were German students. I don't think you hear enough about the *German* people fighting back (or attempting to). The book keeps your interest with photographs and not a huge amount of text. Little snippets of these people's lives and why they did what they did. They were brave and true to themselves, even though they knew what would happen if they were caught. As I read it, I kept wondering if I would have been as brave as they were. I'm not so sure.
A very inspiring story to say the least.
October 21, 2015
I first read about Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Student Resistance Movement in German psychoanalyst Heinz Kohut's chapter On Courage in his The Search for the Self, and she is one of my all-time life heroes. Even her Nazi interrogator was much struck by her courage prior to her execution, by guillotine, for making and distributing a series of scathingly true leaflets against Hitler and his Nazis. At the time of her execution, Sophie was just 21 years old.
This slim volume, with footnotes, index and photographs, offers a good introduction to Sophie, her brother Hans, and their allies in The White Rose Movement and a selected bibliography for the 10-12 YO reader.
This slim volume, with footnotes, index and photographs, offers a good introduction to Sophie, her brother Hans, and their allies in The White Rose Movement and a selected bibliography for the 10-12 YO reader.
January 26, 2022
This is a very slight read. The photographic evidence is probably the best part; it's pretty amazing how many photographs exist of these people. This book touches on the Holocaust but it isn't nonfiction about the Holocaust, at least to me: it's nonfiction about German people during Hitler's rise to power. And it's less - graphic - than it could be, because it's for young readers, but it is still powerful in places.
November 14, 2016
This is a small but powerful book. It beautifully tells the story of a group of college students who stood up to Hitler and ended up losing everything. The White Rose was brave and based on there internal integrity. I recommend it.
April 17, 2017
It was a great story that I really didn't know existed. The pictures really added to it. I would've preferred a first person narration, though. It would've been a bit richer in my opinion.
April 20, 2019
Freedman, R. (2016). We will not be silent. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
This book could be used during History while covering World War II.
Level 1 – Remembering
- Why do you think so many people wanted to join the Hitler Youth Movement? (pg.2)
- Why did Hans join the d.j.1.11 (Deutsche Jungendschaft)?
- Why did Alex help write the White Rose campaign pamphlets, even though he could lose his life? (p. 61)
- What caused a riot at Munich University? (pg. 65)
Level 2 – Understanding
- Can you explain why Robert Scholl was arrested and imprisoned for 4 months? (p. 50)
- What facts or ideas show that producing the White Rose campaign pamphlet was deadly?
Level 3 – Applying
- What facts would you select to show Hans started to lose faith in the Führer and his promises? (pg. 9-12)
- What would happen if a leader tried to take over America now like Hitler did back then?
Level 4 – Analyzing
- What motive is there to enact the Nuremberg Race Laws (1935) that strips Jewish people of their German citizenship?
- Compare and contrast the way that Jewish people were treated in Germany during WWII to the way that African Americans were treated before the Civil Rights movement?
- When Hans and the group of medics were in Russia during the war, why do you think that they had meetings in the houses of the local Russian peasants to sing songs?
- What do you think of the comments made, on page 65, by Paul Giesler, governor of Bavaria and a high-ranking Nazi official?
I think that the comments were unnecessary. He made comments saying that the woman’s natural place is not at the university, but with her family and on the side of her husband. He also said that a woman’s job is to make babies for the Fatherland. He also said that men used their studies to get out of being drafted. Paul Giesler practiced misogyny and was sexist. Even though those comments make me think he is sexist in today’s world, I wonder if those comments were something that every man thought back then.
Level 5 – Evaluating
- Do you agree with the actions of the Catholic bishop of Munster, Clemens August Graf von Galon? (He preached a scathing sermon criticizing the Nazi’s killing mental patients and physically handicapped adults and children by lethal gas.) (pg. 34)
- What is your opinion on the creation of the White Rose student resistance movement? Do you think it was necessary or did it not need to be created?
I think that the White Rose student resistance movement needed to be created because someone needed to try to stop Hitler. Even though creating a movement against Hitler was scary and deadly, someone needed to try to stop him. Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl, and Christoph Probst believed in the movement so much that they got beheaded trying to protect their fellow White Rose members.
Level 6 – Creating
- How can you justify the comments made by Robert Scholl? (pg. 23)
This book could be used during History while covering World War II.
Level 1 – Remembering
- Why do you think so many people wanted to join the Hitler Youth Movement? (pg.2)
- Why did Hans join the d.j.1.11 (Deutsche Jungendschaft)?
- Why did Alex help write the White Rose campaign pamphlets, even though he could lose his life? (p. 61)
- What caused a riot at Munich University? (pg. 65)
Level 2 – Understanding
- Can you explain why Robert Scholl was arrested and imprisoned for 4 months? (p. 50)
- What facts or ideas show that producing the White Rose campaign pamphlet was deadly?
Level 3 – Applying
- What facts would you select to show Hans started to lose faith in the Führer and his promises? (pg. 9-12)
- What would happen if a leader tried to take over America now like Hitler did back then?
Level 4 – Analyzing
- What motive is there to enact the Nuremberg Race Laws (1935) that strips Jewish people of their German citizenship?
- Compare and contrast the way that Jewish people were treated in Germany during WWII to the way that African Americans were treated before the Civil Rights movement?
- When Hans and the group of medics were in Russia during the war, why do you think that they had meetings in the houses of the local Russian peasants to sing songs?
- What do you think of the comments made, on page 65, by Paul Giesler, governor of Bavaria and a high-ranking Nazi official?
I think that the comments were unnecessary. He made comments saying that the woman’s natural place is not at the university, but with her family and on the side of her husband. He also said that a woman’s job is to make babies for the Fatherland. He also said that men used their studies to get out of being drafted. Paul Giesler practiced misogyny and was sexist. Even though those comments make me think he is sexist in today’s world, I wonder if those comments were something that every man thought back then.
Level 5 – Evaluating
- Do you agree with the actions of the Catholic bishop of Munster, Clemens August Graf von Galon? (He preached a scathing sermon criticizing the Nazi’s killing mental patients and physically handicapped adults and children by lethal gas.) (pg. 34)
- What is your opinion on the creation of the White Rose student resistance movement? Do you think it was necessary or did it not need to be created?
I think that the White Rose student resistance movement needed to be created because someone needed to try to stop Hitler. Even though creating a movement against Hitler was scary and deadly, someone needed to try to stop him. Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl, and Christoph Probst believed in the movement so much that they got beheaded trying to protect their fellow White Rose members.
Level 6 – Creating
- How can you justify the comments made by Robert Scholl? (pg. 23)
January 2, 2018
I chose to read this book after having listened to "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson. Nazi Germany was on my mind when I stumbled across this book in the library, and having never heard of the White Rose Student Resistance Movement, I decided to educate myself.
The book is well-written and very well documented with photographs, quotations, and references. Russell Freedman intends this book for upper-elementary and middle-school students, so if you're looking for a great deal of depth and detail, you won't find it here. However, if you want an overview of the topic, as I did, or if you're the parent or grandparent of an appropriately-aged child who is interested in Nazi Germany, this is a great choice.
Simply written, but not shying away from the realities of the times, Russell portrays the eventual disillusionment of young college students who had once been proud members of Hitler's Youth. Eventually, these few medical students -- only 3 of them, to begin with, but then up to a dozen -- decide they cannot remain silent. They have to speak out against what the government is doing. How they manage to do so while keeping the entire movement a secret is quite interesting. Of course (spoiler alert!), they are eventually caught and pay the ultimate price for treasonous activities. Two of the resistance members were siblings, Hans and Sophie Scholl. They were the first to be arrested and executed.
This book is a "must" for school libraries and highly recommended for home libraries, as well. Parents and grandparents may want to read the book first so as to better answer any questions that their children and/or grandchildren may ask. This would be a great choice for school book reports and elementary research projects. And, as it was for me, it's a great way for adults to learn the basics about the White Rose Resistance if they haven't heard about it before.
The book is well-written and very well documented with photographs, quotations, and references. Russell Freedman intends this book for upper-elementary and middle-school students, so if you're looking for a great deal of depth and detail, you won't find it here. However, if you want an overview of the topic, as I did, or if you're the parent or grandparent of an appropriately-aged child who is interested in Nazi Germany, this is a great choice.
Simply written, but not shying away from the realities of the times, Russell portrays the eventual disillusionment of young college students who had once been proud members of Hitler's Youth. Eventually, these few medical students -- only 3 of them, to begin with, but then up to a dozen -- decide they cannot remain silent. They have to speak out against what the government is doing. How they manage to do so while keeping the entire movement a secret is quite interesting. Of course (spoiler alert!), they are eventually caught and pay the ultimate price for treasonous activities. Two of the resistance members were siblings, Hans and Sophie Scholl. They were the first to be arrested and executed.
This book is a "must" for school libraries and highly recommended for home libraries, as well. Parents and grandparents may want to read the book first so as to better answer any questions that their children and/or grandchildren may ask. This would be a great choice for school book reports and elementary research projects. And, as it was for me, it's a great way for adults to learn the basics about the White Rose Resistance if they haven't heard about it before.
November 13, 2017
This book opened my eyes to a different perspective of the Holocaust that I was not aware of before. This is an extremely well-written and well-researched book on a group of students who resisted the Nazi regime, called the White Rose. The book focuses mainly on the perspective of two siblings, Hans and Sophie Scholl, who wrote and distributed leaflets that encouraged people to open their eyes to what was really happening and take action. The two were eventually arrested and put to death, but their cause continued on. Readers will feel a sense of sadness, but also feel inspired to take actions themselves. Especially during this time, it makes readers question what is wrong and who will be silent and who will speak out. The photographs were amazing and gave me a look back into this time. The theme of courage and persistence were extremely prevalent in this book through the actions of the White Rose as well as personally in the individuals. For example, Sophie had to go through a lot just to get into school.
This book also does a great job of discussing events in chronological order, making it easy to follow and makes you want to continue reading on. Overall, I would share this book with older elementary students in a history unit to give another perspective on one of the most horrific parts of history.
This book also does a great job of discussing events in chronological order, making it easy to follow and makes you want to continue reading on. Overall, I would share this book with older elementary students in a history unit to give another perspective on one of the most horrific parts of history.
April 16, 2018
I think this was a great book. I originally wanted to read a book about the Salem Witch Trials but this one was next to it on a list of informative texts for children. What caught my attention the most was that this book was about The White Rose. I know a decent amount about Hitler and his reign but I had no idea what The White Rose was. What was most interesting was the pictures within this book. There are all real pictures from real-time and events in that time period which I really appreciated. I thought that they added a great reference while I was reading this book. The text itself is not very hard to read which is one reason I gave this book 5 stars. I think an elementary student can easily read this book without finding it is too difficult. I also like that this book starts off with people who were part of the Hitler Youth and then while living through his rule and listening to him they start to build their own doubts. I think that is a great way to show students that having your own opinions about a ruler's actions is great because it can incite change within a community. The letter on page 40 is from The White Rose to the people and its very moving that even through this terrible time people still found the strength and courage to stand up for what is wrong. Overall, I think this is a great book to have in the classroom and it is full of information written in a way children can easily understand.
What was interesting/not interesting about the text? How did certain nonfiction text features (e.g. headings, photographs with captions, original documents, first-person accounts, etc.) add or detract from the text?
What was interesting/not interesting about the text? How did certain nonfiction text features (e.g. headings, photographs with captions, original documents, first-person accounts, etc.) add or detract from the text?
May 18, 2021
I love books written by Russell Freedman! This book introduced me to the White Rose student resistance movement within Germany, which I had never before read about. This book was a very comprehensive history of how and why these students felt moved to defy Adolf Hitler, through the personal stories of mainly Hans and Sophie Scholl. So many lessons we need to pay attention to from this time in history, and how such a great evil was brought about. (I would like to insert so many political opinions here about blindly following evil men and allowing their bigoted rhetoric and false ideas to not be held accountable, but I shall resist. Those who know me, can fill in the blanks here.) But, I was ultimately very inspired to read about how this group of students felt compelled to resist rather than to conform or look the other way. I’m so thankful to know their story... they would not be silenced!
Like Freedman’s other books, written specifically for young people- pretty quick read, easy to follow, love the addition of photographs, great coffee table book or a great resource for school reports.
Like Freedman’s other books, written specifically for young people- pretty quick read, easy to follow, love the addition of photographs, great coffee table book or a great resource for school reports.
August 19, 2017
This is the story of brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl, as well as some of their friends, who were beheaded by the Nazis for leading the White Rose resistance movement which involved sending out leaflets in many places in Germany, especially at the University of Munich where they were students. Though they were brought up in the Hitler youth, they came to see that their government was evil and that they had a responsibility to resist it in whatever ways they could.
I had never heard of this story before hearing of the book, so I'm glad to have discovered it and thought it was timely to read about the actions of citizens who had the courage to resist what they knew was wrong, knowing what it could cost them. This book is geared toward middle school/high school ages, so is not a long read but includes plenty of detail, not only about the primary events, but also the timeline and context of WW2. There are also many photos, though mostly of the period in general rather than the Scholls themselves.
I had never heard of this story before hearing of the book, so I'm glad to have discovered it and thought it was timely to read about the actions of citizens who had the courage to resist what they knew was wrong, knowing what it could cost them. This book is geared toward middle school/high school ages, so is not a long read but includes plenty of detail, not only about the primary events, but also the timeline and context of WW2. There are also many photos, though mostly of the period in general rather than the Scholls themselves.
May 12, 2025
Running just over 100 pages, this quick read written for middle-grade students is about a brother and sister in Nazi Germany who were part of Hitler’s youth until they became disillusioned with the movement and started writing anti-Nazi pamphlets and distributing them as broadly as possible. They and their similarly minded friends are amazing examples of integrity, courage, and trusting in your own convictions about what is right and what is wrong, no matter what others are saying or the dangers you face from those accusing you who hold all the power. The atrocities they heard about that were happening in Jewish ghettos and in the countries their government was occupying as well as strictly enforced government laws and policies that treated others as “less than” led them to take the actions they did, actions which eventually resulted in their arrests and executions. They stood by their actions till the end and history has shown that they were justified in taking such a stand. Asks the youth today to consider what they would be willing to risk to stand up against unjust systems of discrimination and violence.
October 20, 2017
Freedman's nonfiction is as much a biography of the White Rose students including the brother and sister pair as it is a monument to the resistance movement. He paints a portrait of life as a Hitler Youth but then moves into the tragic territory of their untimely deaths in their early twenties after being caught, tried, and beheaded via guillotine by the courts because resistance could not be tolerated. It was a fascinating story that was easy to follow, had plenty of pictures including one that impacted me that I had never seen about one of the first gas-chamber-like buses that would round up the infirm to kill.
It also ends beautifully with a picture of the monument and the knowledge that their fight will never be forgotten.
It also ends beautifully with a picture of the monument and the knowledge that their fight will never be forgotten.
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