Review: White Rose by Kip Wilson

“In a searing indictment of silent complicity, White Rose shines a light on one remarkable young woman’s insistence on the power of truth, no matter the cost. A timely call to resistance.” – Joy McCullough, author of Blood Water Paint
“White Rose is a resonant testament to courage. In a time of horrific brutality, young people found a nonviolent way to resist. Told in the form of poetry, the story of their hopes is honored and brought back to life, still relevant today, when regimes that spread hatred are once again thriving, and words are our most powerful defensive weapon.”  – Margarita Engle, author of Newbery Honoree The Surrender Tree and 2017-2019 Young People's Poet Laureate.
"Both heart-wrenching and inspiring, Sophie Scholl's story, as retold by Kip Wilson in White Rose, is a stunning reminder to stand against evil, even when you stand alone. This is the kind of book that sticks in your heart long after you've finished. An incredible story of heroism incredibly told." – Mackenzi Lee, author of New York Times Bestseller The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice & Virtue
"White Rose is a deftly plotted, absorbing read. A bold tribute to a brave hero of the German resistance during World War II. Wilson’s debut is a triumph!" —Melanie Crowder, author of National Jewish Book Award finalist Audacity
“A graceful, moving portrait of a heroic young woman’s defiant refusal to remain complicit with Nazi oppression.” – Julie Berry, Printz Honor author of The Passion of Dolssa  A gorgeous and timely novel based on the incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenged the Nazi regime during World War II as part of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group.
Disillusioned by the propaganda of Nazi Germany, Sophie Scholl, her brother, and his fellow soldiers formed the White Rose, a group that wrote and distributed anonymous letters criticizing the Nazi regime and calling for action from their fellow German citizens. The following year, Sophie and her brother were arrested for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators. This debut novel recounts the lives of Sophie and her friends and highlights their brave stand against fascism in Nazi Germany.

I am a huge fan of Historical Fiction.  This refreshing take on Young Adult Historical Fiction was just sublime.  It was such a beautiful take on prose and I enjoyed it immensely.  It is a novel written in verse and let me be honest I haven’t ever really connected with a novel being written in this format.  Kip Wilson however, nails the craft and had me hungering for more…I inhaled this book in a mere afternoon.  The writing style just blew my mind.  This author now has a firm fan in me and I just hope that their other books have a similar effect because they are getting added to my TBR pronto! 

The book cover and title immediately captured my interest.  It was captivating, the synopsis delivered a crushing triple threat.  From the first page I felt like I fell into a book lovers party that only I had the golden ticket for.  There was just something so uniquely special about the story I was slowly falling in love with.  It felt like something beautiful that a grandmother would share with her only grandchild.  I was listening, and I was enraptured.  I fell within the pages.  It felt like a magnetic force pulling me inwards.  I couldn’t refuse.  I didn’t want to. 

I skipped through the pages so quickly that I didn’t really have the chance to take notes like I usually do so hopefully this review makes sense.  If you want a beautiful book that you will immediately fall in love with…buy this book.  Buy it for yourself, buy it for your child, buy IT.  I fell hard for the main characters, their spunky can-do attitude, their love of their country and the need to make it better, their love as a family and most importantly their innate desire to do the right thing.  The stakes have never been higher…the threat of being caught by the Nazis mean being tried with treason, persuading people that they must do what is right, to start a revolution.  There is plenty of thrills and tears but mega loads of resolve.  The characters take us on a journey of self-discovery, consequences, ingenious plans and a strengthening of bonds. 

Luckily, I started this book on an afternoon where I had no plans.  I literally couldn’t stop reading.  Each page just blended into the next, there was no stopping me!  I was truly at the mercy of the author.  I loved the style of the writing, injecting enough fear and thrills to keep me engaged.  You know the story, but the journey is untraveled, but I was buckled in ready for the experience. 

Sophie was a hero.  Her gender didn’t hold her back in wanting to take a stand, her age wouldn’t hold her back.  Her determination of character was her greatest strength.  She was mesmerising.  The author has such talent for writing that I connected to Sophie on a deep level.  I wanted to look out for her, care for her but I wanted her to succeed more than anything.  She was a truly revolutionary character.  How would they implement their plan?  Would they succeed?

White Rose is a deeply addictive read.  Steeped in brutality, courage and a resounding need to do what is right.  It’s an emotion punch to the jugular.