BOOK CLUB: AUSTRIA + GERMANY

For our Book Club in Austria and Germany, we selected three amazing books: Searching for Lottie by Susie L Ross, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and White Rose by Kip Wilson.  

“Searching for Lottie” by Susie L Ross

This book is about a girl named Charlie who wanted to learn more about her long lost Great Aunt Lottie. Lottie’s family was separated during the Holocaust, and the rest of the family assumed that, like most Jews in concentration camps, Lottie had died. No one ever figured out what actually happened to poor Lottie. Decades later, Charlie had to do a family tree for school, and she decided to research Lottie’s life and death. She figured out where Lottie went, and Lottie’s descendants reunited with the rest of the family. I really liked this book, because it was sort of a mystery/realistic fiction genre. 

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak

This book has won many awards including the Indies Choice Book Award for Children's Literature, Kathleen Mitchell Award, and National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. The book takes place in Nazi Germany, towards the beginning of WWII. I have not started it yet, but I have heard that it is very long (608 pages!) and very good. Sadie has began reading it, and she loves it so far!

“White Rose” by Kip Wilson

This is my favorite book for Germany/Austria. This nonfiction book tells the story of Sophie Scholl, one of the founders of The White Rose. The White Rose was a nonviolent group of protesters, many of whom were Catholic, that protested the Nazis and their cruel rules. This book is amazing and was the 2020 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist. 

I really liked Searching for Lottie and especially liked White Rose, and can’t wait to read The Book Thief. I recommend them all, even if you never have or never will come to Germany and/or Austria! 

DAS ENDE!