World War II novels are a dime a dozen; why read another?

I ask myself this question whenever I see a new one set in this era.

So why did I choose The Sunflower House to read and review?

Simply put, this novel focuses on an aspect of this era that I knew little about—the Nazis’ Lebensborn program, which aimed to breed perfect Aryan children to fulfill Hitler’s dream.

As much as I learned about this program from The Sunflower House, the plot twists kept me interested and worried, and its characters were equally compelling, revealing:

• Their moral conflicts and relationships with their neighbors of different ethnicities and faiths
• How patriotic Germans responded to the inhumane orders their government and its representatives commanded
• How few people rose up to oppose the Nazi terrors

Main Characters:

Allina – the protagonist in the World War II era; she’s a young German Jewish/Christian woman whose life suddenly changed with the Hitler’s rise to power, and his plans for Germany and the Jews

Dieter – Allina’s heroic uncle who raised her; he explains her family’s background before he dies

Karl – German Army officer who befriends Allina after seeing her weep and sing a Christmas carol to a baby at Hochland Home, a Lebensborn home

Katrine – Allina’s daughter; she’s the modern-day protagonist

Gruppenführer Gud – German Army officer who places Allina in Hochland Home

Schwester Marguerite Ziegler – head nurse at Hochland Home; a complex character

Rilla – Allina’s close friend at Hochland Home; enemy of Berta

Berta – a young mother at Hochland Home whose jealousy of Allina endangers Allina

Strengths:

Exciting, tension-filled story with multi-faceted characters

Weakness:

Readers who wish to know precisely what happened in the Lebensborn program may be disappointed, as the author had to use literary license to fill in gaps in the historical record.

Content review:

Given the focus of this novel and its setting in the heart of Nazi Germany, it’s not surprising that sexual violence and immorality appear in its pages.

My Recommendation:

I found The Sunflower House thought-provoking and entertaining. It will appeal to readers who enjoy the challenge of a novel set in a time where even heroic characters must make heart-wrenching choices.

Reader, can you recommend a novel or non-fiction book about Lebensborn?