Wildflowers of Terezin

by Robert Elmer

Wildflowers of Terezin is a sweeping historical novel set against a backdrop of danger. A Danish Lutheran pastor’s complacent faith is stretched to the breaking point during World War II when he meets a young Jewish nurse Hanne Abrahamsen and becomes deeply involved in Resistance efforts to save Denmark’s Jews from the Nazi prison camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia—also known as Theresienstadt.

Challenged by his evangelical brother and swayed by his own attraction to Hanne, Pastor Steffen abandons his formerly quiet, uninvolved life and hesitantly volunteers to help smuggle Denmark’s Jews out of the country before a Nazi roundup. Steffen finds that helping his Jewish neighbors is the most decent, spiritual thing he has ever done. As he actually does God’s work, rather than just talking about it, Steffen’s faith deepens and he takes greater risks in his sermons.

When things go terribly wrong and Hanne is sent to Terezin, Steffen finds his heart fully engaged. He undertakes protests and rescues that are more and more dangerous, never imagining where it will lead him, or the ultimate cost of his decision to get directly involved.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, World War II, Holocaust, Historical, Christian

352 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

Robert Elmer is the author of more than fifty books, including contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, nonfiction devotionals like Piercing Heaven and Fount of Heaven (Lexham Press), and seven series for younger readers. Among kids, he is best known for his historicals such as the Young Underground, Adventures Down Under, Life Behind the Wall, and Promise of Zion books. When he's not at the keyboard, he enjoys beachcombing and travel with his wife, and spending time with their three kids and families.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shame on me for almost not "buying" this book. I say "buying" because I got it as a Kindle freebie at the start of the year.

The book is being undersold and under priced. I can understand why. I, too, am somewhat leery about faith based publishers. Not because of the whole religion thing, but more because the first one I read while having a good idea, amounted to Bad People are those who don't go to church and Good People are those who go to church. Such a thing is not my thing. I, however, picked this up because it was set in Copenhagen during WW II and featured the Danish resistance. I love Copenhagen and have been to the Dainish Resistance museum (BTW - I Command thee to go).

This is a great book. A really great book. I was chewing my lip the last few chapters. The story centers around Steffan a pastor whose brother is a member of the resistance (and who may be an aethist) and Hanne, a Jewish nurse. It starts shortly before the Danes ferried the Jewish population over to Sweden. There is a love story between Hanne and Steffan, and it is real (I guess faith based means no sex scenes). There is talk about religion, in particular as Hanne and Steffan talk. In fact, Elmer seems to be making a plea that all religions seem to be the same. I suppose if I was Jewish, I might be upset that Hanne isn't orthodox, but she doesn't convert.

The focus is on Steffan and Hanne's experiences under the occupation as they risk their lives to get people out. The characters are real and complex. It isn't a preachy novel. It is well worth the read if you like stories featuring everyday people doing brave things.

[Adam Blumer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelist Robert Elmer just found a new fan. I've always enjoyed reading history (it was my minor in college), and Holocaust history has always been an area of fascination, especially the heroic escapes. For those reasons (not to mention Robert's expert hand at plotting and characterization), I found Wildflowers of Terezin hard to put down and a must-read for anyone interested in Holocaust fiction in the same vein as Tricia Goyer.

Here we find a loyal, hardworking pastor, Steffen Petersen, getting pulled into covert, even illegal, activity as he helps Jews get across the border and away from the Nazis. Meanwhile, a love interest blossoms between him and Hanne Abrahamsen, a Jewish woman herself. Add to the mix the pastor's brother, who is part of the dangerous Danish Underground, and you find a recipe for suspense and daring escapes.

I was pleased to learn that Robert Elmer had done quite a bit of research, which was obvious due to the historical authenticity I found on each page. Though I've read quite a bit about the Holocaust, I was delighted to learn new things about this terrible period in history through the Danish lens. One fascinating detail was how Steffen and Hanne used coffins and "funerals" to whisk Jews across the river to freedom. I was also unfamiliar with Terezin and found the details about this labor camp fascinating, especially the way authorities lied and tried to hide the terrible conditions under a facade of deception.

I was impressed by the twists and turns in this plot and by the deft and tasteful handling of the romance elements. I don't get into "kissy" romance novels and was uncertain how Elmer would handle this part of the story. I was pleased with how he handled the romance with restraint and tied up everything so well at the end, providing a thoroughly satisfying read. The novel also pleased by providing spiritual depth, which seems to be lacking in so many offerings these days. Congratulations, Robert, on another novel. I enjoyed reading your novel and look forward to whatever the Lord leads you to write next.

[A J Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was hesitant to open the newest entry from multi-published Robert Elmer. Not because of the author, who has several adult novels and a non-fiction under his belt, and has already proven his ability to write. My concern was the time and place Wildflowers of Terezin. The suffering of WWII can be too graphic. But I was intrigued by the setting, Denmark. My ignorance never ceases to amaze me and here I found another aspect of it. I found knew nothing of the Danish people during WWII and Danish Jews.
The story of Steffen and other characters revealed an epoch in the broad canvas of that terrible war. Word of caution, the beginning was a little dull, mostly Steffen. He couldn’t seem to comprehend the danger. I wanted to slap him. “Wake up. Don’t you understand the danger?” Many people didn’t understand the danger until it was upon them. I found the character believable. But once he did see the terror he acted, putting himself in danger. It was fascinating to confirm the historical facts of the bravery of the Danes in helping to save thousands of their citizens.
A good read, I recommend it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and a quick but sobering read.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helping each other

A story of how the Danish community helped hide and send their Jewish friends and neighbors to safety in Sweden. The resistance movement that made it possible. The reconciliation of two brothers and the love between a nurse and a Lutheran Paster. Filled with action, suspense love and survival this is a book well worth reading.

[Jackie McClellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new perspective and another testimony of how ordinary people can make a difference.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the nature of the historical events in this novel, it’s almost a given that the story would be gripping and dramatic. The author doesn't fail to deliver in this very engaging look at Denmark during WWII and the rescue of its Jews. The action doesn't wait to happen; the story opens on a showdown between Resistance and Germans, with poor Steffen caught in the crossfire. From that introduction, the story just keeps picking up steam with intense dashes across the sea to Sweden for Denmark’s Jews, heartbreak when those rescues fail, and the discovery of one’s self in a country controlled by tyranny. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author was able to keep the suspense up throughout the entire work.

Steffen and Hanne were fantastic characters. Filled with depth and character, I felt like they were very real and changed with the events as they happened. Steffen found his brand of resistance within religion and preaching out against the Germans. Hanne stayed to help with the rescue efforts and as a result became caught up in the danger herself. The changes in her spirit as the relentlessness of the Holocaust bore down on her was heart-breaking to read at times.

I enjoyed how the author handled their relationship. I was wondering how that would all work out, he being a Lutheran preacher and she a Jew, if not a very observant one. But it was handled with skill and a delicacy I enjoyed. I didn't feel like Steffen was ever forcing religion onto Hanne nor conversion, which is a trap I could see an author falling into very easily. The Christian elements were very much there, between philosophical discussions and inner reflections. Yet, they didn't interfere with this very beautiful relationship that developed between Hanne and Steffen. I liked how they found a reason to fight on and inspire each other.

There were some issues with minor characters. I felt that, at times, they were flat stereotypes or inconsistent characterizations that plagued the overall story tone. Henning flip-flopped between berating his brother for not doing enough and then he gets all pissy when Steffen actually does start resisting in his way. I can see where maybe he’s concerned for his brother and just doesn't know how to channel that. Yet, always doing this? Never coming to grips with Steffen’s activities? Then, there’s Aron, the stereotypical schmuck of a fiance-type figure who believes everyone should do what he says and doesn't feel the slightest bit of guilt in sacrificing everyone else for his safety. More than once I wished he’d fallen into the Baltic and drowned…

For a Christian fiction that handles a delicate subject matter like the Holocaust, I felt this novel does a admirable job. It’s a dramatic story with two main characters I grew to love and admire. Their relationship was beautiful to watch develop and mature. The Christian themes were handled with taste and didn't overshadow the story itself. And while there were issues with some of the secondary characters, I feel I could definitely recommend this novel to lovers of WWII-themes historical fiction. It’s truly a good book.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild­flow­ers of Terezin by Robert Elmer is a his­tor­i­cal fic­tion book tak­ing place in Den­mark dur­ing World War II. The book is well researched and an enthralling read.

Stef­fen is a Lutheran pas­tor in 1943, Copen­hagen. Steffen’s rou­tine is bro­ken one day when he had a bicy­cle acci­dent that sends him to the hos­pi­tal where he finds a friend in the form of a Jew­ish nurse named Hanne.

Steffen’s brother, Hen­ning, is in the Dan­ish under­ground fight­ing the Nazis and help­ing Jews escape the coun­try before being rounded up. Con­trary to his brother’s advice, Stef­fen steps up to the chal­lenge and helps the under­ground (with Hanne always on his mind) to get Jews out of Denmark.

Wild­flow­ers of Terezin by Robert Elmer was an inter­est­ing read. I orig­i­nally got this book due to my great inter­est in World War II and was delighted to find out that it takes place in Den­mark because I have yet to read any WWII sto­ries from that region.

The book held my inter­est through­out, part his­tory, part fic­tion and part reli­gious it man­ages to show the best and worst of men and women when life deals them a los­ing hand. I have heard many books, both fic­tion and non-fiction about the Jews of World War II, and in com­par­i­son their treat­ment wasn’t as bad as the rest of Europe – but that is of course speak­ing as some­one liv­ing in a free coun­try 50 years later who never had to drop every­thing and flee for his life.

Upon fin­ish­ing the novel I went ahead and read up some more on Dan­ish Jews, to my delight I dis­cov­ered that Mr. Elmer did a great job fic­tion­al­iz­ing his­tory. The novel gave me a new appre­ci­a­tion for the Dan­ish peo­ple who viewed their neigh­bors as Danes and fel­low human beings, not as Jews, and did their best (as a coun­try) to help them escape the Nazi monster.

The char­ac­ters in the novel are well defined, there aren’t too many and the author throws in a few real fig­ures for good mea­sure. The story has two pro­tag­o­nists, Hanne, a Jew­ish nurse, and Stef­fen, a priest. I did enjoy read­ing about the predica­ments of a man-of-cloth dur­ing those try­ing times. Sev­eral of the inter­est­ing aspects of the book were Steffen’s predica­ments as a man, a priest and a Dane.

This novel is inter­est­ing and inspir­ing while going at a good pace. The eBook has been recently dis­counted and / or free for a short period of time, don’t let the price deter you, this is a book of quality.

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ABOUT THE BOOK


When nurse Hanne Abrahamsen impulsively shields Steffen Petersen from a nosy Gestapo agent, she’s convinced the Lutheran pastor is involved in the Danish Underground. Nothing could be further from the truth.


But truth is hard to come by in the fall of 1943, when Copenhagen is placed under Martial Law and Denmark’s Jews—including Hanne—suddenly face deportation to the Nazi prison camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia. Days darken and danger mounts. Steffen’s faith deepens as he takes greater risks to protect Hanne. But are either of them willing to pay the ultimate price for their love?


To read the first chapter of Wildflowers of Terezin, go HERE.





My review:


I read Wildflowers of Terezin quickly and enjoyed the story a lot. I am always inspired by novels set during the WWII era because of the many tales of courageous acts by citizens that can be found in their pages. So many valiant attempts to save targeted peoples such as the Jews are a rich part of that history. Some -- like Schindler -- were fairly successful, and many others died as a result of their passion to help others survive. The people who tried to help their fellow man at all costs are to be commended.


This story reminded me a bit of the story written about Corrie Ten Boom titled The Hiding Place, mainly because of their family's initial attempts to save their Jewish neighbors by hiding them in their home. And like Corrie's family, some of them ended up in camps themselves. I remember reading about Nazi propaganda in other novels and it never ceased to amaze me that the Third Reich went to such great lengths to deceive people. A lot of these stories can be found in the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC.


Wildflowers of Terezin moved at a brisk pace and contained enough realism and peril that it held my attention. It also had a nice underlying love story that kept me reading. There aren't many novels about Pastors set during WWII that show what they did to try and motivate parishioners to resist the Nazi influence, and that showed those activities that placed them at great risk. I'd recommend this story to people who enjoy historical fiction set in this era and like to read about people who try to do their part. There is a strong message about not sitting by and just letting bad things happen. I enjoyed that aspect of the story most.

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While starting this review I was going to give it three stars but thinking about it again made me realise the story doesn't deserve that, the book was ok but had the potential to be great yet it never was. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but there doesn't seem to be much written about the danish struggle during WWII, so the author really had the chance to make this his own but to be honest the motivations of the main character was weak at best.

You hear a lot about how that generation fought because it was the right thing to do, the novel Charlotte Grey got a lot of heat from real life people and those around them who lived through it all and who said that love was not the reason they did it. It was honor and duty and a clear sense of right and wrong. As you may guess it was love that made Steffen start giving a shit about what was going on around him, a love so strong and all consuming that it developed in what maybe 30 pages? Yeah sorry, if you want to sell me that I really need more then that.

It also irritated me that Hanne (his love interest) only thought about herself when she decided to stay behind and put everything and everyone in jeopardy but when the nazi's finally catch up to her nothing happens, am I supposed to believe they would just let Steffen go? Oh you don't know any names of people who helped you? No hard feelings mate! Said no gestapo agent ever but here they did and they let him walk out the door, never checking up on him again for the rest of the war.

Also Aron, WTH happened to him? I going to suppose he died during the failure of his and Hanne's escape but nobody mentions him again. The man Hanne thought she was going to marry all through her teenage years and the poor bastard doesn't even cross her mind once?

The ending was too abrupt and to be honest only revolved around Steffen and Hanne, I wanted to know what happened to the others. Also the cleaning lady was dealed with off page, doesn't make sense to me at all. One of the only saving grace's of this story was Steffens brother, the only sensible one in the book.

It's an easy book to read but don't think about it too much because most of what happens doesn't make any sense.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: WILDFLOWERS OF TEREZIN
Author: Robert Elmer
Publisher: Abingdon Press
April 2010
ISBN: 978-1 -4267-0192-4
Genre: Inspirational/historical/WWII

Pastor Steffen Peterson tries to stay out of the way of the Nazi’s and the underground that is trying to work to defeat the Nazi’s purpose in Denmark. But when a routine visit to the hospital to visit a parishioner causes Steffen to be caught in cross-fire, he finds himself in the hospital, but not for the intended purpose. Worse, a German Gestapo comes to question him, and the nurse, Hanne Abrahamsen shields Steffen, sending the Gestapo away then helping Steffen escape, believing that he is actually part of the underground.

Then word is that the Germans plan to export all 7,000 Jews from Denmark at a certain time. Steffen finds himself hiding some Jews in the basement of his church, one of them Hanne’s mother, and then rowing them across the sound to catch a fishing boat to Sweden.

Now Steffen is actively caught up in the Underground and life is getting increasingly dangerous, especially to Hanne who is a Jew hiding in plain sight. As the danger mounts, both Steffen and Hanne must decide if they are willing to pay the ultimate price.

WILDFLOWERS OF TEREZIN is a World War II book that takes a different approach to some of the WWII stories than some. I’ve read all of Tricia Goyer’s books, and even Robert Elmer’s young adult books (which is quite similar in theme to this book. World War II is my favorite historical time period to read about, even though they were horrible days for those living through it.

Based on real events WILDFLOWERS OF TEREZIN is a compelling read, maybe a little slower paced than some, but no less exciting. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Steffen and Hanne as they struggled to do what they felt was right and make a difference in their land. And I have to applaud the Danes for taking such a strong stance against the Nazi’s. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 335 pages.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Line: "Hanne Abrahamsen awoke with a start in the middle of a bad dream, something about being in nursing school once again and a man who looked like Adolf Hitler (but with the face of a codfish) announcing at her graduation that she was a Jew, and didn't everyone already know that?"

I think my true reaction to this book can be summed up in one syllable: "Hmm." Everything about book was just okay. The characters were fine, the story was somewhat interesting, and I was invested enough to keep reading. The book was oddly hopeful for a story set in the midst of German round-up of the Jewish citizens of Denmark. This is perhaps the only setting where that would work because it is the only place where the non-Jewish citizens resisted the deportation of their neighbors. I did very much like the sweet love story between Stephen and Hanne. However, I felt like the end of the story was a little bit to happily ever after for a Holocaust novel and was a bit disturbed by this. However, if you love historical fiction but don't want too much violence/suspense/fear I think you will enjoy this story.

Tone: Sweet, Tense, Hopeful
Setting: Denmark, Copenhagen, Czechoslovakia Terezin Concentration Camp
Characters: Lutheran Pastor, Jewish Nurse
Language: Plain w/Danish words occasionally
Pace: Steady
Other Elements: World War II, Resistance Fighters, Smuggling, Spirituality

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY: When nurse Hanne Abrahamsen impulsively shields Steffen Petersen from a nosy Gestapo agent, she’s convinced the Lutheran pastor is involved in the Danish Underground. Nothing could be further from the truth. But truth is hard to come by in the fall of 1943, when Copenhagen is placed under Martial Law and Denmark’s Jews—including Hanne—suddenly face deportation to the Nazi prison camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia. Days darken and danger mounts. Steffen’s faith deepens as he takes greater risks to protect Hanne. But are either of them willing to pay the ultimate price for their love?

REVIEW: I found this novel intriguing for several reasons: I love historical fiction that focuses on World War II, the plight of the Jews during the war, and the efforts to save them. This story was based on fact derived from several sources and the romantic line that threaded throughout it made the story even more poignant. A great read that will definitely keep your attention if you like historical fiction centered around World War II.

FAVORITE QUOTE: Mr. Elmer begins each chapter with a quote from famous theologians or well known people of the time period and there are so many great ones it was difficult to pick a favorite.

[Jennifer AlLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Holocaust is truly one of the darkest periods in the cumulative history of humankind. I have to confess, after watching Sophie's Choice, I've intentionally stayed away from most dramatizations of those days. To me, they are painful and soul-shredding (even though my pain is nothing compared to what the victims went through). So I approached Wildflowers of Terezin with a bit of trepidation. How would I feel when I was done reading this book? In a word, I was uplifted. Author Robert Elmer pulled me into the lives of those who fought against the horrendous crimes committed by the Nazi's. In Jewish nurse Hanne Abrahmsen and Lutheran pastor Steffen Petersen, we experience ordinary people who are forced by circumstances to do extraordinary things. They are surrounded by people who must choose between what is safe and what is right. While there is sorrow in the story, there is also great hope and love. Wildflowers of Terezin asks readers, when atrocities are committed, how long can you remain silent? This is a powerful book reminding us of a time that cannot be forgotten.

[Jo Notary]

338p A Danish Lutheran pastor 19s complacent faith is stretched to the breaking point during World War II when he meets a young Jewish nurse Hanne Abrahamsen and becomes deeply involved in Resistance efforts to save Denmark 19s Jews from the Nazi prison camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia 14also known as Theresienstadt.
Challenged by his evangelical brother and swayed by his own attraction to Hanne, Pastor Steffen abandons his formerly quiet, uninvolved life and hesitantly volunteers to help smuggle Denmark 19s Jews out of the country before a Nazi roundup. Steffen finds that helping his Jewish neighbors is the most decent, spiritual thing he has ever done. As he actually does God 19s work, rather than just talking about it, Steffen 19s faith deepens and he takes greater risks in his sermons.
When things go terribly wrong and Hanne is sent to Terezin, Steffen finds his heart fully engaged. He undertakes protests and rescues that are more and more dangerous, never imagining where it will lead him, or the ultimate cost of his decision to get directly involved.

[Victoria W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be honest, I only picked up this novel because it was a free book of the week which meant it fit my budget. However I was amazed at the story which unfolded.

One of the most important things I look for in a book is characters I can get involved with. To my joy, Elmer supplied two such characters within Hanne and Steffen.

Hanne's passion for her people, courage in the face of the war, and her compassion towards her patients all gave the character a depth I appreciated.

Steffen,though seemingly mild-mannered which suited his pastorate nicely, was even more identifiable as he wrestled to determine what was right in the chaos of a world turned upside-down and, once determine this right, struggling to find the courage to pursue it.

Even though I'm a sucker for WW2 fiction, the loose connections this story has to the actual evacuation of Danish Jews, the characters, and the threads of romance make this a story I would recommend.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable novel about the residents of Kobehnavn, Denmark.

One of the aspects I appreciated most is that the novel shared the perspective of many in setting up the story. About a third into the novel, the focus switches to be heavily on Hanne and Steffen. Hanne and Steffen are both very brave and through them we get a glimpse of the emotions that Danes went through during this difficult time.

A surprising inclusion in the novel was humor. There was a bit of dry humor in this novel and it came across as very appropriate. It is easy to see when you are risking your life that trying to keep the intensity down would be useful now and then.

This was a well done WWII novel and highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and I love this time period. I especially love to read the differences from different points of view, be it countries or persons. This was my first of hearing about the Danes and some of the efforts to keep track of their Danish Jews that were removed. Hanne, a Jewish Dane, is a sweet unsuspecting herione. She did not know how strong she could be until pushed. Steffan is a Luntheran pastor, who is content to stay safe and preach in his church. His brother Henning is part of the underground resistance. This is a fictional story set in real times with real events. In the course of events these three will be brought together

[Eileen Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I haven't seen this book on more "bestseller" lists. I love Historical Fiction, and this book did not disappoint. I was immediately immersed into the story, and wanted the character's to succeed.
The darker side of this book is the evil crimes the Nazi's commited against the Jewish community, and the extent the went to to hide their crimes from the rest of the world.
I would love to see this book gain more popularity. I highly recommend this book.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the people of Denmark and their involvement and actions taken during the holocaust. It restores your faith in people as non-Jews in Denmark risk their own lives to help those of the Jewish faith being targeted by the Nazis. I was happy the way it ended as well. It was a well written book and I recommend it highly.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable...good characters. I liked Elmer's "Underground" series for school age readers and enjoyed his author visit to our school a few years ago.

This book holds special interest for me covering Danish resistance, a Lutheran pastor, and Terezin - a concentration camp near Prague.

[Kary · Rating 4 out of 5]

very well written; never read about how helpful the Dane people were toward the Jewish population. What a shame more people across the Eastern block were not as selfless and did more to help and stand up to Hitler and his lunicy.

[Allie_oco]

Free today on Kindle 3.29.12.

[Diane Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to listen to this book at this time because I wanted to hear the story during Yom Hashoah, the Day of Remembrance. It originally got my attention because of the yellow butterfly on the cover--at Yom Hashoah, our choir sings a song called The Last Butterfly, about a yellow butterfly seen in the ghetto (which in fact seems to refer to Terezin).

I did not realize when I began listening that the story of Jews being smuggled out of Denmark to escape the Nazis was true, that this is a historical novel. That gave it even more meaning. Specifically, it was about the Danish resistance smuggling Jews to Sweden, so that they would not be sent to Terezin, Czechoslovakia, also known as Theresienstadt. Two brothers in the story are part of this effort, one a Lutheran pastor, and his brother, a bookstore owner who has already been a part of the underground. It is also the story of Hanne, a young Jewish nurse, who chooses to stay in Denmark to help--until it's too late.

A quick word about the narrator--when I realized it was narrated by a man, I almost stopped listening. I frequently have issues with the way men narrate women's voices. But once the story reached real conversations, especially between people of different nationalities, I was truly impressed by the accents.

A truly accessible version of an important story. Highly recommend.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, easy read about a subject that I haven't read as much about. The Danish Jewish population was protected by Denmark's people when it was ordered on October 1, 1943, by the Nazis for the Danish Jews to be arrested and deported. The Danish resistance movement, with the assistance of many Danish citizens, managed to evacuate 7,220 of Denmark's 7,800 Jews, plus 686 non-Jewish spouses, by sea to nearby neutral Sweden. The frustration the Nazis must have had the night they tried to arrest the Jewish population! Incredible feat which was considered to be one of the largest actions of resistance to the German aggression.

This story is about a Jewish nurse in a Copenhagen hospital, Hanne Abrahamsen, and a Lutheran pastor, Steffen Petersen, who become friends during this period of time and put their own lives at risk to help others. The story takes you from Copenhagen to Terezin in Czecholslovakia. Good story.

[theresca a robins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great blend of fiction and fact.

In his afterword, the author explains how he combined fact and fiction to write an incredible story of a lutheran pastor's struggle between preaching and doing what he felt was right during the Nazi take over in Denmark. An attraction to a Jewish nurse takes him out of his comfort zone and inspires him to act on his convictions and not just preach about them. His quest to protect the nurse puts his life in danger. The nurse is eventually caught and winds up in a concentration camp until the end of the war but there is a happy ending to this book ..as a lutheran myself, who is always questioning commitment to my faith in these turbulent times,I appreciate the religious insights of the author, who is a pastor himself. I look forward to reading more by him.

[just lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is maybe a 2.5 star read for me, but overall I'm just left feeling that I could use those hours back. For a WWII novel, this doesn't really deal with the war that much. One of the characters is sent to a concentration camp, but that's never really connected to the war or what is happening under Hitler's regime. It ends up feeling pretty whitewashed to me for being a story with the backdrop of the Holocaust. I don't believe we witnessed even a single death - there is one that is intimated but never presented by the author or discussed or reflected on by the characters. More time was spent on the faith/moral struggle of the pastor than anything else. I was really looking forward to reading a perspective of the Danish experience during the war, but honestly I think I got more out of Number the Stars.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel takes place in 1943 Denmark, under Nazi control. To convince the Danish King to surrender to obvious superior German forces, the Nazis had promised not to transport any Danish Jews, a promise they had no intention to keep. A Jewish Danish nurse and a Christian pastor were drawn to each other when meeting at the hospital. The novel relates how the Danes attempted to protect their Jewish neighbors by hiding them until they could smuggle some out of Denmark via boat to get them to neutral Sweden, including the pastor's attempt to save the nurse. A tribute to courage and decency in a time of terror.

[Alaythea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Good Holocaust novel set in Denmark...which I enjoyed, since most of these books are set in Romania or Poland or somewhere like that.
The writing style is a little different, so it took me a while to get into this one. The story was pretty dry, but I enjoyed some of the characters...especially Henning and Steffen. Also, not sure if this was just me...but I pictured Steffen to be old from the very beginning, so I had a little trouble with the romance. 😅
Also, the faith content was not quite there.
The ending almost had me throwing the book across the room...that plot twist came out of nowhere!
Overall a decent book.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Although it started out a little slow for me, I'm so glad I stayed with it! Such a beautiful story of true love, sacrifice and personal growth during great difficulty and danger. I had no idea there was a country during Hitler's reign of cruelty and murder that tried to protect their Jewish neighbors and succeeded in saving thousands. Thank you, Robert Elmer, for telling their story!