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The Girl I Left Behind
What would you risk to save your best-friend?
As a young girl, Ella never considered that those around her weren't as they appeared. But when her childhood best friend shows Ella that you can't always believe what you see, Ella finds herself thrown into the world of the German Resistance.
On a dark night in 1941, Claudia is taken by the Gestapo, likely never to be seen again, unless Ella can save her. With the help of the man she loves, Ella must undertake her most dangerous mission yet and infiltrate the Nazi Party.
Selling secrets isn't an easy job. In order to find Claudia, Ella must risk not only her life, but the lives of those she cares about.
Will Ella be able to leave behind the girl of her youth and step into the shoes of another?
As a young girl, Ella never considered that those around her weren't as they appeared. But when her childhood best friend shows Ella that you can't always believe what you see, Ella finds herself thrown into the world of the German Resistance.
On a dark night in 1941, Claudia is taken by the Gestapo, likely never to be seen again, unless Ella can save her. With the help of the man she loves, Ella must undertake her most dangerous mission yet and infiltrate the Nazi Party.
Selling secrets isn't an easy job. In order to find Claudia, Ella must risk not only her life, but the lives of those she cares about.
Will Ella be able to leave behind the girl of her youth and step into the shoes of another?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2019
1736 people are currently reading
1959 people want to read
About the author
Andie Newton
9 books249 followersAndie Newton is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. Her work has been published in multiple languages and has topped e-book bestseller charts around the world. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Washington State University and a master’s in teaching. When she’s not writing gritty war stories about women, you can usually find her trail running in the desert and stopping to pet every dog that crosses her path. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
September 27, 2020
Germany 1941, Ella Strauss lives with her Aunt Bridget in Nuremberg, it's a city consumed by love for the Fuhrer and everyone must support the Nazi Party. Ella attends the National Socialist meetings with her best friend Claudia and ALL teenage German girls are required to be members until they turn 18.
Claudia becomes involved in the German Resistance and the White Rose Movement. When Claudia is arrested by the Gestapo, with the help from her Aunt Bridget Ella's flees Nuremberg and she moves to Munich. Here she gets a office job working for the Reich, she's still trying to discover what happened to Claudia and she decides to use her work contacts to find her friend? Ella becomes a spy, she infiltrates the network, uses her position to gather information and she shares it to help end the war.
The Girl I Left Behind is a story about WW II, friendship, danger and espionage.
Not all German's agreed with what the Nazi's did during WW II, they took a huge risk by going against the norm and many paid the ultimate price. I enjoyed the book, I gave it 4 stars, I shared my review on Goodreads, Twitter, Australian Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
Claudia becomes involved in the German Resistance and the White Rose Movement. When Claudia is arrested by the Gestapo, with the help from her Aunt Bridget Ella's flees Nuremberg and she moves to Munich. Here she gets a office job working for the Reich, she's still trying to discover what happened to Claudia and she decides to use her work contacts to find her friend? Ella becomes a spy, she infiltrates the network, uses her position to gather information and she shares it to help end the war.
The Girl I Left Behind is a story about WW II, friendship, danger and espionage.
Not all German's agreed with what the Nazi's did during WW II, they took a huge risk by going against the norm and many paid the ultimate price. I enjoyed the book, I gave it 4 stars, I shared my review on Goodreads, Twitter, Australian Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
September 14, 2019
Outwardly, seventeen-year-old Ella Strauss is a good National Socialist. She wears her Youth League uniform, complete with the swastika necklace around her neck, and regularly attends her League classes. But behind this facade is the most passionate resister to the Nazi regime. This is a secret Ella has to hide from everyone, especially those she loves the most.
Thanks to the author's meticulous research and attention to detail, Germany at war jumps to life from every page of this beautifully written novel. If you enjoy books that transport you back in time from the very first page, The Girl I Left Behind is for you. It's a beautiful coming-of-age story about friendship, love, family and the sacrifices we make for our beliefs.
I found it difficult to put this book down. When I wasn't reading, I missed the characters and wondered what would happen to them next. The author does a wonderful job of getting inside her main character's mind. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew her well. The Girl I Left Behind made me cry and left me wanting more, which to me are signs of a truly wonderful book, one that will stay with me long after I've finished reading it. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author's meticulous research and attention to detail, Germany at war jumps to life from every page of this beautifully written novel. If you enjoy books that transport you back in time from the very first page, The Girl I Left Behind is for you. It's a beautiful coming-of-age story about friendship, love, family and the sacrifices we make for our beliefs.
I found it difficult to put this book down. When I wasn't reading, I missed the characters and wondered what would happen to them next. The author does a wonderful job of getting inside her main character's mind. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew her well. The Girl I Left Behind made me cry and left me wanting more, which to me are signs of a truly wonderful book, one that will stay with me long after I've finished reading it. Highly recommended!
October 4, 2019
’A good shop girl can make a person believe anything...’
Ella knows she’s different. Raised by her aunt after the death of her parents, she lives the life of a good Nazi girl. But soon Ella is led in a different direction, and begins a dangerous journey into the world of the resistance...
I have to start by saying that this book is a perfect example of my ideal novel. I love historical fiction, especially novels set in WW2, and that cover and tag line had me hooked immediately! However, because I read so much of this genre I can be a bit fussy, but with ‘The Girl I Left Behind’, I was not disappointed in the least. I will say now though, this review won’t say much about the plot, as I think it’s good to find that out for yourself!
Firstly, let’s talk about the opening chapter. It is quite possibly one of the most gripping openings I’ve ever read. Honestly, it drew me in immediately, throwing you straight into the action and letting you see immediately the strength of Newton’s writing, especially when it comes to creating tension!
As I’ve stated above, the novel focuses on Ella, a young woman being raised by her aunt after the death of her family. The contrast between her old life and new is stark, especially when considering that her parents went against the National Socialist agenda that her aunt is such a fan of. Seeing how she struggled with how to question the regime was so tough, and I loved reading about those all too realistic tiny acts of defiance, which led very naturally to her delving further into this world. However, she didn’t just jump in and accept it all straight away, which I thought showed a real strength of this novel - Ella has questions! She feels scared! She sometimes wants to take the easy route! I know for a fact I would be the same, but all too often historical fiction has the lead suddenly become this fierce unquestioning solider almost overnight, and it’s so unrealistic, so I was really impressed with how realistic the writing felt.
Another great example of how strong the writing is was Ella’s voice. At the start of the novel, she is 17, and she sounds like a young woman. Throughout the book she obviously ages, both physically and emotionally, but her voice is still her. You can feel her becoming more mature, but she maintains that spark of individuality. Also, with regards to events - the book doesn’t just list what happens as a lot of historical fiction can tend towards. I understand it must be hard to write about events so far in the past and make them shocking, but the fact is, they were at the time. Bombs being dropped was shocking, people being stabbed is shocking, and Ella is rightly shocked and emotionally affected by these things. Being able to maintain her voice as a young woman whilst also developing the tone throughout the novel shows real skill to me.
I also loved the fact that this book focused on life inside Nazi Germany, rather than looking in from the outside. It’s something I’ve always wondered about but few books seem to focus on it, and those that do are often flat and dull, making the situation feel very black and white. Newton instead created a vivid and realistic world, full of murky grey areas that reflect the complexities associated with living in, and fighting against, Nazi Germany. I really respected the fact that there wasn’t a complete dichotomy of ‘Nazi = bad, resistance = good’, as to me that is a sign of lazy writing. To be able to show the areas in between, particularly in relation to one character towards the end, I found to be an example of absolutely fantastic characterisation.
Overall, I was just so impressed with the quality of the writing, and the pacing of the plot, and pretty much everything about this novel just screamed talent. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and also to anyone who finds character led novels appealing. Basically, everyone should read it!
Disclaimer - I received an advance reading copy of this novel from NetGalley for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.
Ella knows she’s different. Raised by her aunt after the death of her parents, she lives the life of a good Nazi girl. But soon Ella is led in a different direction, and begins a dangerous journey into the world of the resistance...
I have to start by saying that this book is a perfect example of my ideal novel. I love historical fiction, especially novels set in WW2, and that cover and tag line had me hooked immediately! However, because I read so much of this genre I can be a bit fussy, but with ‘The Girl I Left Behind’, I was not disappointed in the least. I will say now though, this review won’t say much about the plot, as I think it’s good to find that out for yourself!
Firstly, let’s talk about the opening chapter. It is quite possibly one of the most gripping openings I’ve ever read. Honestly, it drew me in immediately, throwing you straight into the action and letting you see immediately the strength of Newton’s writing, especially when it comes to creating tension!
As I’ve stated above, the novel focuses on Ella, a young woman being raised by her aunt after the death of her family. The contrast between her old life and new is stark, especially when considering that her parents went against the National Socialist agenda that her aunt is such a fan of. Seeing how she struggled with how to question the regime was so tough, and I loved reading about those all too realistic tiny acts of defiance, which led very naturally to her delving further into this world. However, she didn’t just jump in and accept it all straight away, which I thought showed a real strength of this novel - Ella has questions! She feels scared! She sometimes wants to take the easy route! I know for a fact I would be the same, but all too often historical fiction has the lead suddenly become this fierce unquestioning solider almost overnight, and it’s so unrealistic, so I was really impressed with how realistic the writing felt.
Another great example of how strong the writing is was Ella’s voice. At the start of the novel, she is 17, and she sounds like a young woman. Throughout the book she obviously ages, both physically and emotionally, but her voice is still her. You can feel her becoming more mature, but she maintains that spark of individuality. Also, with regards to events - the book doesn’t just list what happens as a lot of historical fiction can tend towards. I understand it must be hard to write about events so far in the past and make them shocking, but the fact is, they were at the time. Bombs being dropped was shocking, people being stabbed is shocking, and Ella is rightly shocked and emotionally affected by these things. Being able to maintain her voice as a young woman whilst also developing the tone throughout the novel shows real skill to me.
I also loved the fact that this book focused on life inside Nazi Germany, rather than looking in from the outside. It’s something I’ve always wondered about but few books seem to focus on it, and those that do are often flat and dull, making the situation feel very black and white. Newton instead created a vivid and realistic world, full of murky grey areas that reflect the complexities associated with living in, and fighting against, Nazi Germany. I really respected the fact that there wasn’t a complete dichotomy of ‘Nazi = bad, resistance = good’, as to me that is a sign of lazy writing. To be able to show the areas in between, particularly in relation to one character towards the end, I found to be an example of absolutely fantastic characterisation.
Overall, I was just so impressed with the quality of the writing, and the pacing of the plot, and pretty much everything about this novel just screamed talent. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and also to anyone who finds character led novels appealing. Basically, everyone should read it!
Disclaimer - I received an advance reading copy of this novel from NetGalley for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.
September 24, 2019
A good shop girl can make a person believe anything.
Wow! What an incredible book! I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time, always keeping the title and the above line in my mind.
Ella Strauss is a young German woman living with her aunt in Nuremberg after her parents were killed in a car accident. As Nazi ideology grows by the day, Ella hides behind her German Girls League uniform and begins to work with the resistance alongside her best friend, Claudia. After almost getting caught by the Gestapo for using the basement of an antique shop as a safe house for Jewish residents being smuggled out of the country...Ella finds her way to Munich and into a secretarial job at headquarters.
This gives her the chance to spy from within. A good shop girl can make a person believe anything. For months, she collected information and dispersing it to the resistance all the while playing the role of a prim, proper, supportive German woman. Eventually....she is caught. Does she survive? Well, you’re going to have to read the book to find out.
At first, I thought the title The Girl I left Behind referred to her friend Claudia. But as I continued to read, I realized that the ‘Girl’ is actually Ella herself. Keep the line, a good shop girl can make a person believe anything in your mind as you read.
What I love about this book is the strong sense of character that Ella has. She knows what she’s doing is dangerous. She knows the consequences if she were to get caught but she persists....fooling all those to whom it matters. Despite everything...the importance of resisting and defeating evil is worth more than the consequences.
As I read more and more WWII fiction, I’m in awe of all of the different roles women played in the war. So many of them were never, ever discussed in history classes. I think it makes it all the more important to read all of these fictional stories that are popping up. So many of them are based on true events and real people. You get quite the history lesson and I’m so grateful to all of these authors and all of the research and interviews they do to bring these stories to life! Also...be sure to read the authors notes. They shed so much more light on how these stories are brought to the page.
Wow! What an incredible book! I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time, always keeping the title and the above line in my mind.
Ella Strauss is a young German woman living with her aunt in Nuremberg after her parents were killed in a car accident. As Nazi ideology grows by the day, Ella hides behind her German Girls League uniform and begins to work with the resistance alongside her best friend, Claudia. After almost getting caught by the Gestapo for using the basement of an antique shop as a safe house for Jewish residents being smuggled out of the country...Ella finds her way to Munich and into a secretarial job at headquarters.
This gives her the chance to spy from within. A good shop girl can make a person believe anything. For months, she collected information and dispersing it to the resistance all the while playing the role of a prim, proper, supportive German woman. Eventually....she is caught. Does she survive? Well, you’re going to have to read the book to find out.
At first, I thought the title The Girl I left Behind referred to her friend Claudia. But as I continued to read, I realized that the ‘Girl’ is actually Ella herself. Keep the line, a good shop girl can make a person believe anything in your mind as you read.
What I love about this book is the strong sense of character that Ella has. She knows what she’s doing is dangerous. She knows the consequences if she were to get caught but she persists....fooling all those to whom it matters. Despite everything...the importance of resisting and defeating evil is worth more than the consequences.
As I read more and more WWII fiction, I’m in awe of all of the different roles women played in the war. So many of them were never, ever discussed in history classes. I think it makes it all the more important to read all of these fictional stories that are popping up. So many of them are based on true events and real people. You get quite the history lesson and I’m so grateful to all of these authors and all of the research and interviews they do to bring these stories to life! Also...be sure to read the authors notes. They shed so much more light on how these stories are brought to the page.
December 5, 2019
Well, Andie Newton just took my heart and tore it in two! The Girl I Left Behind was such an amazing book and Newton floored me with her excellent writing.
Ella is a young girl living with her Aunt in Nuremberg, Germany after her parents' passing. Her parents didn't agree with Hitler's nationalism but her Aunt makes her join the League of German Girls, a female branch of the Hitler Youth. It's there she meets Claudia and they become close friends. Claudia is part of the local resistance group and Ella sometimes helps out. When the danger gets too close her Aunt sends her to Munich. When she hears that Claudia has been arrested she knows she must find her and help - no matter the danger. She infiltrates and goes undercover at a Nazi administrative office where she has access to all kinds of information, which she uses to help her fellow resisters, and to look for the location of Claudia.
The Girl I Left Behind is an excellent read that I don't think I will ever forget. It had all the feels! Andie puts you right in the action and you can't help but be swept up in their lives. I can't wait for more from this author! She is fabulous!
Ella is a young girl living with her Aunt in Nuremberg, Germany after her parents' passing. Her parents didn't agree with Hitler's nationalism but her Aunt makes her join the League of German Girls, a female branch of the Hitler Youth. It's there she meets Claudia and they become close friends. Claudia is part of the local resistance group and Ella sometimes helps out. When the danger gets too close her Aunt sends her to Munich. When she hears that Claudia has been arrested she knows she must find her and help - no matter the danger. She infiltrates and goes undercover at a Nazi administrative office where she has access to all kinds of information, which she uses to help her fellow resisters, and to look for the location of Claudia.
The Girl I Left Behind is an excellent read that I don't think I will ever forget. It had all the feels! Andie puts you right in the action and you can't help but be swept up in their lives. I can't wait for more from this author! She is fabulous!
September 10, 2019
Many thanks to #NetGalley & Aria Fiction for allowing me to read an advance copy of this debut novel by Andie Newton. What follows is my unbiased review.
I was initially drawn to the book by the cover art which included a picture of a Nazi flag and a girl walking through the streets moving towards it.
The novel begins in 1943 Germany with a bang up introduction where a nameless spy does his best to escape from his captors only to meet his fate on a crowded street while his female contact looks on in horror. I read this book over a period of a few days and confess that by the end of the book I had pretty much forgotten about the intro and it wasn't until I was looking back on the book that the impact really hit me.
The main character, Ella, or Sascha as she is sometimes known, is the voice of the story and her tale unfolds in memoir fashion from her late teen years in 1941 when she is a reluctant member of the Nuremburg branch of The League of German Girls. In her time away from the League, Ella works as a sales girl in her aunt's antique store. She is an excellent sales girl who has a talent to make her customers believe in whatever she tries to sell. Ella was orphaned at an early age and her Aunt Bridget raised her and encouraged her to be involved in the Nazi ideologies. I'm not sure if Bridget truly believed them or if she was simply trying to provide a life that would keep her niece safe.
Ella's best friend is a young woman named Claudia who has good reason to dislike the Nazi's. Her sister was a teacher who was "turned in" by an 8 year old student for not being aligned with the Nazi's, leading to her death by hanging. As a reader, I could feel the desperation of living in Nuremburg during these times and seeing things that a young women should not have to see all the while living with a burden of fear that something could happen at almost any time. Claudia is viewed by Aunt Bridget as a bad influence on Ella, but to Ella she is a breath of fresh air and the bringer of a chance to make a difference in the lives of some of the hurting people of Nuremburg. Through her, Ella becomes part of a group known as the "Falcons" who are primarily a youth based resistance group. As Ella's involvement deepens, her life becomes increasingly at risk. There is a similarity between the Falcons and the true life resistance group known as the "White Rose" and there presence serves as an inspiration to members of the Falcon's. Eventually it becomes clear the Ella is at risk of imminent capture and her aunt sends her off to Munich to get her away from the limelight. She has two cousins who live there which ideally would be an added benefit but cousin Alex, feels that if Ella isn't there to marry and do her job as a good German woman that she must get a job working for the Nazi's. The job comes sooner rather than later and before she knows it Ella is getting into the resistance deeper and deeper on a daily basis, spying for the enemy and leaving herself open to eventual capture such as that faced by her friend Claudia who has become a victim of the mysterious "Nacht und Nebel" directive of Adolf Hitler.
Being a spy means Ella must be careful who she associates with, even cutting herself off from those she loves in case her activities may eventually lead to their demise. As the years of the war go by Ella becomes increasingly isolated from any sort of normal existence and I can only imagine what it must have been like to live under those circumstances knowing that every day might be your last.
I am not going to give further plot detail as I feel that spoilers would literally just "spoil" the story for other readers. When I finished the book I was very surprised. It did not end as I expected it to and I felt I could have read a little bit more to tie up some loose ends. It would be great to read this as part of a book club so I could discuss the ending with others and hear their thoughts. Because the main characters are really just young adults being forced into very adult roles I think this book would serve well for high school classes, either for history or English. In this advance copy there was a very brief intro by the author to set the stage, and it is clear that she did her research into the times. Hopefully the final copy when released will include some more of her thoughts and references. In the meantime, I think I will be doing some reading up on the White Rose group.
I was initially drawn to the book by the cover art which included a picture of a Nazi flag and a girl walking through the streets moving towards it.
The novel begins in 1943 Germany with a bang up introduction where a nameless spy does his best to escape from his captors only to meet his fate on a crowded street while his female contact looks on in horror. I read this book over a period of a few days and confess that by the end of the book I had pretty much forgotten about the intro and it wasn't until I was looking back on the book that the impact really hit me.
The main character, Ella, or Sascha as she is sometimes known, is the voice of the story and her tale unfolds in memoir fashion from her late teen years in 1941 when she is a reluctant member of the Nuremburg branch of The League of German Girls. In her time away from the League, Ella works as a sales girl in her aunt's antique store. She is an excellent sales girl who has a talent to make her customers believe in whatever she tries to sell. Ella was orphaned at an early age and her Aunt Bridget raised her and encouraged her to be involved in the Nazi ideologies. I'm not sure if Bridget truly believed them or if she was simply trying to provide a life that would keep her niece safe.
Ella's best friend is a young woman named Claudia who has good reason to dislike the Nazi's. Her sister was a teacher who was "turned in" by an 8 year old student for not being aligned with the Nazi's, leading to her death by hanging. As a reader, I could feel the desperation of living in Nuremburg during these times and seeing things that a young women should not have to see all the while living with a burden of fear that something could happen at almost any time. Claudia is viewed by Aunt Bridget as a bad influence on Ella, but to Ella she is a breath of fresh air and the bringer of a chance to make a difference in the lives of some of the hurting people of Nuremburg. Through her, Ella becomes part of a group known as the "Falcons" who are primarily a youth based resistance group. As Ella's involvement deepens, her life becomes increasingly at risk. There is a similarity between the Falcons and the true life resistance group known as the "White Rose" and there presence serves as an inspiration to members of the Falcon's. Eventually it becomes clear the Ella is at risk of imminent capture and her aunt sends her off to Munich to get her away from the limelight. She has two cousins who live there which ideally would be an added benefit but cousin Alex, feels that if Ella isn't there to marry and do her job as a good German woman that she must get a job working for the Nazi's. The job comes sooner rather than later and before she knows it Ella is getting into the resistance deeper and deeper on a daily basis, spying for the enemy and leaving herself open to eventual capture such as that faced by her friend Claudia who has become a victim of the mysterious "Nacht und Nebel" directive of Adolf Hitler.
Being a spy means Ella must be careful who she associates with, even cutting herself off from those she loves in case her activities may eventually lead to their demise. As the years of the war go by Ella becomes increasingly isolated from any sort of normal existence and I can only imagine what it must have been like to live under those circumstances knowing that every day might be your last.
I am not going to give further plot detail as I feel that spoilers would literally just "spoil" the story for other readers. When I finished the book I was very surprised. It did not end as I expected it to and I felt I could have read a little bit more to tie up some loose ends. It would be great to read this as part of a book club so I could discuss the ending with others and hear their thoughts. Because the main characters are really just young adults being forced into very adult roles I think this book would serve well for high school classes, either for history or English. In this advance copy there was a very brief intro by the author to set the stage, and it is clear that she did her research into the times. Hopefully the final copy when released will include some more of her thoughts and references. In the meantime, I think I will be doing some reading up on the White Rose group.
December 31, 2019
“The Girl I Left Behind” by Andie Newton
“A good shop girl can make a person believe anything”.
Ella an 18 year old girl who lost her parents from a car accident, now lives with her aunt, who is an antique shop owner, living in Nuremberg, Germany. Ella helps in the antique shop and has developed a talent in working with the customers to make a sale.
Her aunt, a strong nationalist ensured Ella become a member of the League of German Girls, a female branch of the Hitler Youth, where Ella is taught of Hitler’s indoctrination. In the League, Ella befriends Claudia who helps her realize that what they had been taught to admire was not worth admiring at all, and they cannot believe everything they hear and see from the propagandas against the Jews.
Ella with Claudia join a group of rebels, the German Resistance, and help in the efforts against Germany’s Third Reich. First starting out as a courier but later saves families from imprisonment, torture and worse, death.
Risking being caught in Nuremberg, her aunt arranges for Ella to move to Munich, where she secures a position as a secretary for the branch of government that handles and audits the files on Germany’s enemies. Through this, she is able to gain information to help the Resistance.
What will Ella continue to do to save others at the risk of her own life and the people she loves?
The book, “The Girl I Left Behind” by Andie Newton is a fantastic debut novel. This is a beautifully and well researched story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading from the vantage point of a young German girl, Ella. I loved that the story is seen through her eyes as she is coming to grips with her world changing, and seeing her country, family, and friends changed by the war.
This was an emotional story that had my interest from the very first page and will keep you turning those pages. I highly recommend this amazing book from Andie Newton. This was a story of bravery, survival and love.
“A good shop girl can make a person believe anything”.
Ella an 18 year old girl who lost her parents from a car accident, now lives with her aunt, who is an antique shop owner, living in Nuremberg, Germany. Ella helps in the antique shop and has developed a talent in working with the customers to make a sale.
Her aunt, a strong nationalist ensured Ella become a member of the League of German Girls, a female branch of the Hitler Youth, where Ella is taught of Hitler’s indoctrination. In the League, Ella befriends Claudia who helps her realize that what they had been taught to admire was not worth admiring at all, and they cannot believe everything they hear and see from the propagandas against the Jews.
Ella with Claudia join a group of rebels, the German Resistance, and help in the efforts against Germany’s Third Reich. First starting out as a courier but later saves families from imprisonment, torture and worse, death.
Risking being caught in Nuremberg, her aunt arranges for Ella to move to Munich, where she secures a position as a secretary for the branch of government that handles and audits the files on Germany’s enemies. Through this, she is able to gain information to help the Resistance.
What will Ella continue to do to save others at the risk of her own life and the people she loves?
The book, “The Girl I Left Behind” by Andie Newton is a fantastic debut novel. This is a beautifully and well researched story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading from the vantage point of a young German girl, Ella. I loved that the story is seen through her eyes as she is coming to grips with her world changing, and seeing her country, family, and friends changed by the war.
This was an emotional story that had my interest from the very first page and will keep you turning those pages. I highly recommend this amazing book from Andie Newton. This was a story of bravery, survival and love.
February 25, 2021
3.5 stars
I enjoyed reading this book, but it wasn’t my favorite historical fiction. The pace was pretty slow and didn’t have many exciting twists and turns. I felt it was missing something to make it more capturing. I liked the main character Ella, but I wanted to know more of what happened to the other characters like Claudia and Max at the end.
This book was interesting in that it was from the point of view of a female German in the resistance during WWII. I had never read a historical fiction from that perspective. Ella was resilient and courageous in the face of fear. She fought to protect the ones she cared about. She stood up for what she believed was right, even though it was different from her country’s leaders.
Also, I loved this quote from the book: “Sometimes the only way to reach new heights is to start at the bottom” 💕
I enjoyed reading this book, but it wasn’t my favorite historical fiction. The pace was pretty slow and didn’t have many exciting twists and turns. I felt it was missing something to make it more capturing. I liked the main character Ella, but I wanted to know more of what happened to the other characters like Claudia and Max at the end.
This book was interesting in that it was from the point of view of a female German in the resistance during WWII. I had never read a historical fiction from that perspective. Ella was resilient and courageous in the face of fear. She fought to protect the ones she cared about. She stood up for what she believed was right, even though it was different from her country’s leaders.
Also, I loved this quote from the book: “Sometimes the only way to reach new heights is to start at the bottom” 💕
December 29, 2019
WWI or WWII novels are usually a pretty easy sell for me. I love them. There is something about the back drop of a war that adds drama and interest to a novel and I always enjoy reading modern war time novels set in this period.
That said, not all WWI or WWII novels are created equal. While I enjoy books set in this time period, I don’t always love every single story that is set here. Often the historical fiction market is saturated with books set in WWII and I sometimes find myself worrying that the books I have read will just run together and not stand out.
When I picked up this novel, it sounded like a good read and one that I would probably enjoy, but I found myself hoping that there would be something about the plot or characters to make this one stand out. The cover is beautiful and the summary sounded wonderful, but would the story be unique or would it blend in with the other historical fiction novels set in this same time?
So I need not worry that this book would fade into the background of other war time novels at all! It was a wonderful and alluring story! Ella and Claudia join the Nazi resistance group, The White Rose movement and right away I wanted to know more about this movement.
I had never heard of it before and I also happened to get another book with a similar plot using The White Rose movement as part of their story too (though I haven’t read it yet) and I was eager to learn more about the movement and see how it impacted the lives of the two main characters.
The opening chapter of the book drew me in and I was surprised by that. Often it takes a few chapters to set the reader up for the ‘hook’ to draw them in, but not this book. I was turning the pages as quickly as I could to read more and I am pleased to say that I was doing that for most of the novel.
This novel was a very ‘real’ novel, meaning I felt so many emotions as I was reading. I was anxious at the parts that I should have been anxious at and felt genuine attachment to the characters. This was meant to be an emotional novel that would leave an impact in readers and I would say it did an awesome job at that. It was a wonderful read and one that frankly surprised me! The author’s writing skills shine in this one and to find that it was her debut novel was impressive! I can’t wait to see what her next novel is like! She has gained a fan in me that’s for sure!
See my full review here
That said, not all WWI or WWII novels are created equal. While I enjoy books set in this time period, I don’t always love every single story that is set here. Often the historical fiction market is saturated with books set in WWII and I sometimes find myself worrying that the books I have read will just run together and not stand out.
When I picked up this novel, it sounded like a good read and one that I would probably enjoy, but I found myself hoping that there would be something about the plot or characters to make this one stand out. The cover is beautiful and the summary sounded wonderful, but would the story be unique or would it blend in with the other historical fiction novels set in this same time?
So I need not worry that this book would fade into the background of other war time novels at all! It was a wonderful and alluring story! Ella and Claudia join the Nazi resistance group, The White Rose movement and right away I wanted to know more about this movement.
I had never heard of it before and I also happened to get another book with a similar plot using The White Rose movement as part of their story too (though I haven’t read it yet) and I was eager to learn more about the movement and see how it impacted the lives of the two main characters.
The opening chapter of the book drew me in and I was surprised by that. Often it takes a few chapters to set the reader up for the ‘hook’ to draw them in, but not this book. I was turning the pages as quickly as I could to read more and I am pleased to say that I was doing that for most of the novel.
This novel was a very ‘real’ novel, meaning I felt so many emotions as I was reading. I was anxious at the parts that I should have been anxious at and felt genuine attachment to the characters. This was meant to be an emotional novel that would leave an impact in readers and I would say it did an awesome job at that. It was a wonderful read and one that frankly surprised me! The author’s writing skills shine in this one and to find that it was her debut novel was impressive! I can’t wait to see what her next novel is like! She has gained a fan in me that’s for sure!
See my full review here
November 19, 2019
Ella and her very dear friend Claudia are part of a unique group of youths during the terrors of World War II. They have joined the German Resistance and do their best to help those chased by Hitler and his people to escape imprisonment, cruelty and death.
They experience some hair-raising experiences and Claudia disappears after being captured by the Gestapo. Ella will do anything she can to find Claudia and to save her life. This includes defying her aunt and uncle, who she has lived with since the death of her parents.
Ella must do the unthinkable, she must infiltrate the Nazi Party, and work at selling secrets. In so doing, she hopes to draw closer and closer to whatever information that will help her to locate Claudia.
These World War II stories are so hard to read. Yet they are utterly compelling and impossible to put down. Usually when I read one of these, it is from the viewpoint of the Jews, the largest group of people targeted by Hitler. This is the first time I read a story that contained German sympathizers. Despite the tragedies I read about in this book, it was enlightening to learn that such groups existed during that despicable time in history. I applaud Andie Newton for her impeccable research.
Many thanks to Aria and to Historical Fiction Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
They experience some hair-raising experiences and Claudia disappears after being captured by the Gestapo. Ella will do anything she can to find Claudia and to save her life. This includes defying her aunt and uncle, who she has lived with since the death of her parents.
Ella must do the unthinkable, she must infiltrate the Nazi Party, and work at selling secrets. In so doing, she hopes to draw closer and closer to whatever information that will help her to locate Claudia.
These World War II stories are so hard to read. Yet they are utterly compelling and impossible to put down. Usually when I read one of these, it is from the viewpoint of the Jews, the largest group of people targeted by Hitler. This is the first time I read a story that contained German sympathizers. Despite the tragedies I read about in this book, it was enlightening to learn that such groups existed during that despicable time in history. I applaud Andie Newton for her impeccable research.
Many thanks to Aria and to Historical Fiction Book Tours for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 29, 2019
This story starts in Nuremberg, Germany in 1943 where Ella, or Sascha, works in her Aunt Bridget's antique shop. Ella's best friend, Claudia, is involved in the Resistance and talks Ella into joining the movement. When Claudia disappears after a big leaflet drop, Aunt Bridget sends Ella to Munich were she gets a job working for the Reich filing documents. Ella continues her spying while working there. Lots of things happen in this book which kept me on the edge of my seat. I love WWII Historical Fiction and this book did not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and Aria Books for the ARC of this very good book in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2019
The cover drew me to this title on NetGalley. I love WW2 fiction, and this story had all the atmosphere, intrigue and suspense I was looking for. Fast paced and page-turning. Very believable. I liked the detailed historical tidbits. I felt like I was in Nazi Germany with these girls in the resistence, author did her research. I loved the ending. Thank you Netgalley for providing a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2019
I was so drawn to the cover of this book and that it was a WWII novel about a female spy. It is always so interesting to read about the Germans who were brave enough to try and infiltrate the Nazi's and try to stop their heinous crimes. Ella was so incredibly brave and reading her story and her place in the resistance was enlightening. The ending felt a bit abrupt to me, but that was only because I wanted to know more of Ella's story. Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for the ARC.
September 26, 2019
Anybody looking in would see Ella Strauss as a great Nationalist, She wore her Hitler youth group uniform, attends meetings and salutes Hitler. Her best friend Claudia is in the resistance, nobody knows of course but there is something about her Ella’s aunt doesn’t like about Claudia. Unbeknownst to Ella’s aunt and caregiver,Ella is in the resistance too!
I was initially attracted to the cover of this book. I read a lot of World War II books. Andi’s Newton did a great job researching as I felt I was with Ella the whole time. I had many emotions reading and felt I needed to read more.
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this great book.
I was initially attracted to the cover of this book. I read a lot of World War II books. Andi’s Newton did a great job researching as I felt I was with Ella the whole time. I had many emotions reading and felt I needed to read more.
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this great book.
November 16, 2019
Andie Newton is a new to me author and I was completely taken in by her vivid and exceedingly clever writing, she really is a remarkable writer, one that I know I will be reading more of.
That first chapter is the best start to a book you could ever read, it immediately draws the reader in, you dive straight into the action, it makes you start asking questions, which will be answered throughout the intricately entwined story. I utterly loved it, Ms Newton has done an incredible job at building up the tension on each page, I was completely transfixed ad couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
1941, Ella is a young woman, living in Nuremberg with an aunt after the death of her parent’s, like all German girls joins the League of German Girls as is required of all until they reach the age of eighteen, unlike most she uses her uniform and her position as a cover, something to not just hide behind but it is also protection for her, especially as she is apart of the German Resistance. It is this aspect of Ella’s life that I found utterly fascinating, I am hugely fascinated by the resistance of WWII the courage they showed in the face of adversity is inspiring and shocking.
When Ella’s friend and fellow resistance fighter; Claudia is taken by the Gestapo, if Ella doesn’t find a way to locate and rescue her friend then it could be the last she will ever see of Claudia. Ella must undertake the most dangerous task she has ever done, a task that could not only see her death but that of those she loves, including the mysterious man she has fallen in love with. Ella must go undercover and infiltrate the Nazi party.
I really won’t say any more about the plot, even the tiniest slip would ruin the whole story for other’s and believe me this book needs to be ready everyone, if you love the likes of The Kommandants Girl by Pam Jenoff and Citadel by Kate Mosse then you will love this, it is in a league of its own.
I have always been a fan of WWII era books, I’ve been reading them for years and must have devoured so many, which has made me a little picky with them, yet this was an instant like, this is one of the finest I’ve read for many years. Andie Newton has got an incredible skill at weaving dramatic history with a stunning fictional story that is full of raw emotion and poignant realism which will take your breath away.
This is how you write a WWII story, it’s a beautiful, atmospheric and illuminating book, that I know will stay with me for a long time. Ella, the heroine here, is a superb character her voice and courage shines through, she is beautifully written young woman who is in the midst of one of the most dangerous episodes of human history, Ms Newton has created one of the most memorable heroines I have come across, Ella is strong, brave and feisty. I love how over the course of the book we go from meeting her as a young seventeen-year-old girl who is shocked to see and hear what is happening around her to one who has matured beyond her years, she has experienced things that no young girl should experience and yet through it all, through the danger, the heartache, the secrets and lies and the mystery that twines through the story like a rampant vine, Ella is true and she keeps her individual sparkle. I think that to write such deep tension and so much heart-ache and to keep the leading character as likeable as Ella is throughout is a real skill.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough, it has everything you would ever want from a WWII story, fantastic descriptions and gloriously researched detail, brilliant characters, a plot that will have you perched at the edge of your seat and a dangerous game of cat and mouse. A wonderful coming of age story that is all about what a person would do for those they loved, It’s thrilling and heartbreaking.
That first chapter is the best start to a book you could ever read, it immediately draws the reader in, you dive straight into the action, it makes you start asking questions, which will be answered throughout the intricately entwined story. I utterly loved it, Ms Newton has done an incredible job at building up the tension on each page, I was completely transfixed ad couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
1941, Ella is a young woman, living in Nuremberg with an aunt after the death of her parent’s, like all German girls joins the League of German Girls as is required of all until they reach the age of eighteen, unlike most she uses her uniform and her position as a cover, something to not just hide behind but it is also protection for her, especially as she is apart of the German Resistance. It is this aspect of Ella’s life that I found utterly fascinating, I am hugely fascinated by the resistance of WWII the courage they showed in the face of adversity is inspiring and shocking.
When Ella’s friend and fellow resistance fighter; Claudia is taken by the Gestapo, if Ella doesn’t find a way to locate and rescue her friend then it could be the last she will ever see of Claudia. Ella must undertake the most dangerous task she has ever done, a task that could not only see her death but that of those she loves, including the mysterious man she has fallen in love with. Ella must go undercover and infiltrate the Nazi party.
I really won’t say any more about the plot, even the tiniest slip would ruin the whole story for other’s and believe me this book needs to be ready everyone, if you love the likes of The Kommandants Girl by Pam Jenoff and Citadel by Kate Mosse then you will love this, it is in a league of its own.
I have always been a fan of WWII era books, I’ve been reading them for years and must have devoured so many, which has made me a little picky with them, yet this was an instant like, this is one of the finest I’ve read for many years. Andie Newton has got an incredible skill at weaving dramatic history with a stunning fictional story that is full of raw emotion and poignant realism which will take your breath away.
This is how you write a WWII story, it’s a beautiful, atmospheric and illuminating book, that I know will stay with me for a long time. Ella, the heroine here, is a superb character her voice and courage shines through, she is beautifully written young woman who is in the midst of one of the most dangerous episodes of human history, Ms Newton has created one of the most memorable heroines I have come across, Ella is strong, brave and feisty. I love how over the course of the book we go from meeting her as a young seventeen-year-old girl who is shocked to see and hear what is happening around her to one who has matured beyond her years, she has experienced things that no young girl should experience and yet through it all, through the danger, the heartache, the secrets and lies and the mystery that twines through the story like a rampant vine, Ella is true and she keeps her individual sparkle. I think that to write such deep tension and so much heart-ache and to keep the leading character as likeable as Ella is throughout is a real skill.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough, it has everything you would ever want from a WWII story, fantastic descriptions and gloriously researched detail, brilliant characters, a plot that will have you perched at the edge of your seat and a dangerous game of cat and mouse. A wonderful coming of age story that is all about what a person would do for those they loved, It’s thrilling and heartbreaking.
September 16, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria and the author Ms. Andie Newton for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Girl I Left Behind".
An exciting Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep into the underground of the German Resistance.
Its 1941 Germany; some German youth, although part of the youth league, do not agree with the ideals of their Fuhrer. For them, Nazism must be stopped, they are the youth of the German Resistance, and they are ready to fight and die against this oppressive regime.
"Ella Strauss" and "Claudia" are best friends. As younger girls they were always getting into trouble, especially during "The League Of German Girls" meetings. It's here that they come to understand that the philosophy of the Arian race as defined by Hitler is not something they can believe in or fight for. So begins their journey into the youth movement- The Resistance.
What follows is edge of your seat writing... Do not get caught, do not fall in love, and do not make any mistakes. With spying, counter intelligence and a fight for survival amongst third Reich officials, "The Girl I Left Behind" is an exciting story with an ending you dont see coming!
An exciting Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep into the underground of the German Resistance.
Its 1941 Germany; some German youth, although part of the youth league, do not agree with the ideals of their Fuhrer. For them, Nazism must be stopped, they are the youth of the German Resistance, and they are ready to fight and die against this oppressive regime.
"Ella Strauss" and "Claudia" are best friends. As younger girls they were always getting into trouble, especially during "The League Of German Girls" meetings. It's here that they come to understand that the philosophy of the Arian race as defined by Hitler is not something they can believe in or fight for. So begins their journey into the youth movement- The Resistance.
What follows is edge of your seat writing... Do not get caught, do not fall in love, and do not make any mistakes. With spying, counter intelligence and a fight for survival amongst third Reich officials, "The Girl I Left Behind" is an exciting story with an ending you dont see coming!
October 30, 2019
A beautiful historical fiction which had me cheering for Ella.
She was a good National Socialist from outer appearances but soon was involved in the resistance movement. When her best friend Claudia was arrested, Ella fleed with her aunt and then became a spy to find out about Claudia.
My first book by author Andie Newton, I loved the vibe of WWII. descriptions came alive under the author's deft hand. Emotions of friendship and love and family shown by Ella brought mine to the surface. I found myself getting connected to her as the pages turned.
Though I don't read many hist fict, I found myself immersed into this book, and that was due to the passion of Ella, all credit to the author for the writing. The moments of risk that Ella took had me gasping too.
A captivating story, indeed.
She was a good National Socialist from outer appearances but soon was involved in the resistance movement. When her best friend Claudia was arrested, Ella fleed with her aunt and then became a spy to find out about Claudia.
My first book by author Andie Newton, I loved the vibe of WWII. descriptions came alive under the author's deft hand. Emotions of friendship and love and family shown by Ella brought mine to the surface. I found myself getting connected to her as the pages turned.
Though I don't read many hist fict, I found myself immersed into this book, and that was due to the passion of Ella, all credit to the author for the writing. The moments of risk that Ella took had me gasping too.
A captivating story, indeed.
November 24, 2019
Excellent WWII historical fiction that got me hooked from the very first pages. A moving story of friendship, this is a gripping espionage novel with a touch of romance. A fast-paced, captivating read!
December 13, 2019
I found the book flitted all over the place for at least the first 35% until Ella went to Munich and then I felt that the book became interesting although a few odd chapters were included.
December 20, 2019
An riveting exciting World War II, Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep within the underground of the German Resistance.
Germany between 1933 and 1945 was transformed into a totalitarian state. where nearly all aspects of life were controlled by the government. Not all Germans were compliant, Living in a country that was under complete dictatorship.
1941, Nuremberg Germany, Ella Strauss is a young seventeen year old, living with her aunt, Bridge. Following the death of her parents to a tragic car accident. During this poignant time in Germanys history, It is a strict requirement for all young girls and boys to join in Germany’s Youth League, until the age of eighteen. Ella and her very dear friend Claudia belong The League of German Girls. Conformance is expected of them but, when compliance gradually gives way to staunch criticism. Ella take daring risk by joining a unique group that makes up German Resistance, helping those who are fleeing persecution. Appearing to be a conforming National Socialist.
In a series of events, Claudia is arrested by the Gestapo and Ella finds herself faced with no option but to flee the city or face arrest herself. Ella’s determination to do all she can to to find Claudia. She immerses herself into the world of the notorious Third Reich.
A wonderfully richly detailed book that explores friendships, extreme bravery, and ultimately the lengths a person will stand up anyway possible to fight for their beliefs, and do what is right. The author has created a compelling historical fiction, that is both riveting and captivating. Extremely well written book, that holds your attention all the the way through. Meticulous a well researched, With well research and interesting characters makes us a perfect World War ll engaging drama.
An riveting exciting World War II, Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep within the underground of the German Resistance.
Germany between 1933 and 1945 was transformed into a totalitarian state. where nearly all aspects of life were controlled by the government. Not all Germans were compliant, Living in a country that was under complete dictatorship.
★•.¸.•**•.¸.•**.Historical Facts.**•.¸.•**•.¸.•★
A little historical facts
Who can not forget Sophia Magdalena Scholl a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active within the White Rose , Non-Violent Resistance group in Nazi Germany. Approximately 77,000 or more, German citizens were killed for one or another form of resistance by Special Courts, and People’s Courts, and the civil justice system. Individual Germans or small groups of people acting as the "unorganized resistance" defied the Nazi regime in various ways, most notably, those who helped Jews survive the Nazi Holocaust, by hiding them, obtaining papers for them or in other ways aiding them. More than 300 Germans have been recognised for this. It also included, particularly in the later years of the regime, informal networks of young Germans who evaded serving in the Hitlers-Youth, and defied the cultural policies of the Nazis in various ways. The government—or rather, the party—controlled everything: the news media, arms, police, the armed forces, the judiciary system, communications, travel, all levels of education from kindergarten to universities, all cultural and religious institutions. Political indoctrination started at a very early age, and continued by means of the Hitler Youth with the ultimate goal of complete mind control. Children were exhorted in school to denounce even their own parents for derogatory remarks about Hitler or Nazi ideology.
— George J. Wittenstein, M.D., "Memories of the White Rose", 1979
1941, Nuremberg Germany, Ella Strauss is a young seventeen year old, living with her aunt, Bridge. Following the death of her parents to a tragic car accident. During this poignant time in Germanys history, It is a strict requirement for all young girls and boys to join in Germany’s Youth League, until the age of eighteen. Ella and her very dear friend Claudia belong The League of German Girls. Conformance is expected of them but, when compliance gradually gives way to staunch criticism. Ella take daring risk by joining a unique group that makes up German Resistance, helping those who are fleeing persecution. Appearing to be a conforming National Socialist.
In a series of events, Claudia is arrested by the Gestapo and Ella finds herself faced with no option but to flee the city or face arrest herself. Ella’s determination to do all she can to to find Claudia. She immerses herself into the world of the notorious Third Reich.
A wonderfully richly detailed book that explores friendships, extreme bravery, and ultimately the lengths a person will stand up anyway possible to fight for their beliefs, and do what is right. The author has created a compelling historical fiction, that is both riveting and captivating. Extremely well written book, that holds your attention all the the way through. Meticulous a well researched, With well research and interesting characters makes us a perfect World War ll engaging drama.
An riveting exciting World War II, Historical Fiction novel that takes the reader deep within the underground of the German Resistance.
Germany between 1933 and 1945 was transformed into a totalitarian state. where nearly all aspects of life were controlled by the government. Not all Germans were compliant, Living in a country that was under complete dictatorship.
★•.¸.•**•.¸.•**.Historical Facts.**•.¸.•**•.¸.•★
A little historical facts
Who can not forget Sophia Magdalena Scholl a German student and anti-Nazi political activist, active within the White Rose , Non-Violent Resistance group in Nazi Germany. Approximately 77,000 or more, German citizens were killed for one or another form of resistance by Special Courts, and People’s Courts, and the civil justice system. Individual Germans or small groups of people acting as the "unorganized resistance" defied the Nazi regime in various ways, most notably, those who helped Jews survive the Nazi Holocaust, by hiding them, obtaining papers for them or in other ways aiding them. More than 300 Germans have been recognised for this. It also included, particularly in the later years of the regime, informal networks of young Germans who evaded serving in the Hitlers-Youth, and defied the cultural policies of the Nazis in various ways. The government—or rather, the party—controlled everything: the news media, arms, police, the armed forces, the judiciary system, communications, travel, all levels of education from kindergarten to universities, all cultural and religious institutions. Political indoctrination started at a very early age, and continued by means of the Hitler Youth with the ultimate goal of complete mind control. Children were exhorted in school to denounce even their own parents for derogatory remarks about Hitler or Nazi ideology.
— George J. Wittenstein, M.D., "Memories of the White Rose", 1979
October 23, 2019
The Girl I Left Behind is a poignant tale of friendship and the bond forged between two girls during World War 2 in Nazi Germany.
Ella Strauss never wanted to join the League of German Girls (her deceased parents weren’t Nazi Party members), but it’s there she meets Claudia, a girl of derring-do and a member of the German Underground. The two ‘misfits’ (they rebel against the Party rules) connect after a youthful prank and forge a deep friendship soon tested when Claudia recruits Ella for the Resistance.
Before she can take a step back, Ella finds herself in so deep, she can’t get out. Then Claudia disappears…and the game is on.
The Girl I left Behind is a page turner guaranteed to draw you into a world of intrigue in the German underground not often written about, which makes it even more fascinating. As if you’re peeking over Ella’s shoulder and living every frightening moment with her.
The story oozes with an intense realism about the underbelly of wartime as seen through the eyes of the regular German folk caught up in a war they often didn’t understand. Their fear, their pain, and yes, their hope that things will be ‘all right’ even when we know they won’t.
The author has a gift for weaving history into the tapestry of the story seamlessly and making it sparkle just enough to catch your eye, but never taking away from the beauty of the piece. Her story breathes hope for the Resistance fighters at every turn, yet knowing they’re doomed. The mystery that keeps you turning the pages is: who will survive the Gestapo’s wrath and how?
I highly recommend The Girl I Left Behind. It will take you on a remarkable journey you will never forget.
Ella Strauss never wanted to join the League of German Girls (her deceased parents weren’t Nazi Party members), but it’s there she meets Claudia, a girl of derring-do and a member of the German Underground. The two ‘misfits’ (they rebel against the Party rules) connect after a youthful prank and forge a deep friendship soon tested when Claudia recruits Ella for the Resistance.
Before she can take a step back, Ella finds herself in so deep, she can’t get out. Then Claudia disappears…and the game is on.
The Girl I left Behind is a page turner guaranteed to draw you into a world of intrigue in the German underground not often written about, which makes it even more fascinating. As if you’re peeking over Ella’s shoulder and living every frightening moment with her.
The story oozes with an intense realism about the underbelly of wartime as seen through the eyes of the regular German folk caught up in a war they often didn’t understand. Their fear, their pain, and yes, their hope that things will be ‘all right’ even when we know they won’t.
The author has a gift for weaving history into the tapestry of the story seamlessly and making it sparkle just enough to catch your eye, but never taking away from the beauty of the piece. Her story breathes hope for the Resistance fighters at every turn, yet knowing they’re doomed. The mystery that keeps you turning the pages is: who will survive the Gestapo’s wrath and how?
I highly recommend The Girl I Left Behind. It will take you on a remarkable journey you will never forget.
October 2, 2019
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly those centred around the role the resistance played in ww2 across Europe. Despite having read many books with this as the theme, I had not read one which focussed on German resistance fighters, so I was excited to read from this point of view.
You get to know Ella Strauss quickly, discovering that she is brave and fearless and disagrees with the Nazis, despite being part of the youth league. I was hooked from the second she decided to join her friend as a ‘falcon’, hiding Jews and helping them to escape. Throughout, the book had me wondering what I may have done in this situation, and if I may have been as brave as Ella (probably not is the answer!) I was also intrigued by how young most of the characters are, making this a possibility to recommend to my students when we cover this history topic.
The friendships and family relationships described in this book are complex and heartwarming, you get a sense of how people pulled together and cared for each other in the face of such dangers.
I stayed up late to finish, and though at times I felt that it was a little rushed towards the end, I still enjoyed finding out what happened to Ella.
All in all I definitely recommend this book, it kept me interested and there were a number of tense moments throughout which, amongst other things, kept me hooked.
Thank you so much to the author, netgalley and the publishers for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
You get to know Ella Strauss quickly, discovering that she is brave and fearless and disagrees with the Nazis, despite being part of the youth league. I was hooked from the second she decided to join her friend as a ‘falcon’, hiding Jews and helping them to escape. Throughout, the book had me wondering what I may have done in this situation, and if I may have been as brave as Ella (probably not is the answer!) I was also intrigued by how young most of the characters are, making this a possibility to recommend to my students when we cover this history topic.
The friendships and family relationships described in this book are complex and heartwarming, you get a sense of how people pulled together and cared for each other in the face of such dangers.
I stayed up late to finish, and though at times I felt that it was a little rushed towards the end, I still enjoyed finding out what happened to Ella.
All in all I definitely recommend this book, it kept me interested and there were a number of tense moments throughout which, amongst other things, kept me hooked.
Thank you so much to the author, netgalley and the publishers for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 22, 2019
Have you ever wondered what you would have done if you'd lived in Germany when the Nazis came to power? Would you have resisted? If your closest friend was distributing anti-Nazi flyers, would you have joined her? What if your friend was arrested? Would you have quietly returned to being just a shopgirl?
Or would you have gone to find her?
Ella Strauss is a young girl determined to find her friend Claudia and fearless enough to infiltrate the Reich to do so. Already an orphan, Ella becomes almost a different person as her pursuit of her friend draws her into increasing danger.
The Girl I Left Behind is a suspenseful page-turner, with indelibly drawn characters and authentic details that get you as close as you'll ever want to be to the experience of living in Nazi Germany.
Or would you have gone to find her?
Ella Strauss is a young girl determined to find her friend Claudia and fearless enough to infiltrate the Reich to do so. Already an orphan, Ella becomes almost a different person as her pursuit of her friend draws her into increasing danger.
The Girl I Left Behind is a suspenseful page-turner, with indelibly drawn characters and authentic details that get you as close as you'll ever want to be to the experience of living in Nazi Germany.
November 3, 2019
Really enjoyed this unique and compelling WWII fiction debut by Andie Newton. The story is a pacy page-turner, set mainly in Nuremberg and Munich, told from the point of view of a young girl working for the underground resistance in Germany. It’s a great read, not least because it shows the war from a uniquely female perspective. A perfect read for a holiday, or indeed at any other time too! Looking forward to more cracking reads from this author.
September 29, 2019
This story is about inside Nazi Germany and what people did to resist from the inside. It was very interesting to imagine people acting as spies to help bring down Nazi Germany. I enjoyed the characters and felt for their stories and the risks they took. There is a lot going on in this book and some storylines were not complete but it did not take away from the other great stories.
September 30, 2019
Held my interest from the first page to the last page. The characters come alive and jump from the page. You get a mental image of setting and characters. Especially loved the ending. I can't wait to read more of this author's books.
November 13, 2019
Very good book
This book was spot on making you feel the emotions of these young people. I would love another book on this work to hear how everyone turned out.
This book was spot on making you feel the emotions of these young people. I would love another book on this work to hear how everyone turned out.
June 12, 2020
Great book!
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. If you like WWII historical fiction, this is a must read.
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. If you like WWII historical fiction, this is a must read.
November 18, 2019
When I first spotted this novel, I thought I would enjoy reading it - what I didn't realise was how much I would learn!
Ella, a young German girl, inadvertently becomes involved in the resistance during WWII through her friendship with Claudia. When the Gestapo grabs Claudia, Ella finds that the best way to discover where she is would be to work from the inside. So, with the help of the man she loves, Ella manages to get a position working for the Reich. Can she convince others of her commitment to the party?
I admit to knowing nothing about the German resistance; in fact, I wasn't even aware of it's existence. Most of what I know about took place in France, so I was utterly fascinated to learn about everything this book had to teach. It's a gripping story, and I found myself holding my breath at various adrenaline-filled moments. Exciting, thrilling and awe-inspiring this one kept my attention all the way through, giving no hints as to how it would end. It's a fantastic story from another author I shall be more than happy to follow, and I look forward to reading more of her work in future. I'm delighted to give this one all five stars - I don't think it could be any better!
Ella, a young German girl, inadvertently becomes involved in the resistance during WWII through her friendship with Claudia. When the Gestapo grabs Claudia, Ella finds that the best way to discover where she is would be to work from the inside. So, with the help of the man she loves, Ella manages to get a position working for the Reich. Can she convince others of her commitment to the party?
I admit to knowing nothing about the German resistance; in fact, I wasn't even aware of it's existence. Most of what I know about took place in France, so I was utterly fascinated to learn about everything this book had to teach. It's a gripping story, and I found myself holding my breath at various adrenaline-filled moments. Exciting, thrilling and awe-inspiring this one kept my attention all the way through, giving no hints as to how it would end. It's a fantastic story from another author I shall be more than happy to follow, and I look forward to reading more of her work in future. I'm delighted to give this one all five stars - I don't think it could be any better!
October 25, 2019


Member Review

The Girl I Left Behind
by Andie Newton
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2019
Review by

Trick W, Reviewer
Last updated on 05 Sep 2019
My Recommendation
If you like spies and secrets and what will happen next then this is your book of what happened in Germany in WWII! The wonderful characters you learn to believe and they come to you in a way you will get to know. What is friendship and what will you do for it? Wonderful story where it has you on the edge of your seat but have the tissues with you! Net Gallery let me read this book and review but not telling you the story you will want to read yourself!

Member Review

The Girl I Left Behind
by Andie Newton
Pub Date: 03 Oct 2019
Review by

Trick W, Reviewer
Last updated on 05 Sep 2019
My Recommendation
If you like spies and secrets and what will happen next then this is your book of what happened in Germany in WWII! The wonderful characters you learn to believe and they come to you in a way you will get to know. What is friendship and what will you do for it? Wonderful story where it has you on the edge of your seat but have the tissues with you! Net Gallery let me read this book and review but not telling you the story you will want to read yourself!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews