A Touching Book You Won’t Want To Overlook
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid’s Tale—during World War II.
In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss’s life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle’s bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it’s 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina’s family hides a terrifying secret—her birth mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling.
One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.
The Sunflower House is a meticulously-researched debut historical novel from Adriana Allegri that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she’s determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care.
A tale of one woman’s determination to resist and survive, The Sunflower House is also a love story. When Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children as they can. The threads of this poignant and heartrending novel weave a tale of loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves.
- Publisher : St. Martin’s Press
- Publication date : November 12, 2024
My Thoughts
Let me first say that this is a book that will stay with you for some time. This debut author knew how to bring her characters to life, and the story was original. I couldn’t put it down.
There are duel timelines, but not to the point of distracting from the main story. When Katrine discovers a hidden box in her elderly mother’s closet, she needs answers. Why? They are living in the USA. The box has a swastika on the lid.
Her 86-year-old mother, who was resting after falling off the step stool in her closet has no excuses. Time is getting short and she has a story that her daughter needs to hear.
Since I’m not a fan of reading a synopsis, they have a way of sharing too much, I’m just going to say that this story will keep the pages turning. This unique story was woven around history that was new to me. However, I never felt like the story was secondary to the history. Allegri let the characters do the telling and the history fell into place.
Allina, the 86-year-old lady relating this story to her daughter will quickly win you over. She is frail at the appropriate times yet has plenty of spunk. And the characters that surround her are a mix that feels believable. I could feel their emotions pounding in my chest: their dilemmas and choices.
It would make a wonderful movie since it covers people and circumstances that are so touching.
My Concern
While we all know this part of history was horrendous, the author has injected the good side of humanity. I had no concerns.
Final Thoughts
I recently discovered how much I like historical fiction. But . . . the last few books have fallen short, and I’ve started to pass on the genre. However, I liked the title and cover of The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri, so I thought I give the genre another try.
It provided the boost that I needed. Bravo to a new author who I will certainly be watching. And while I try not to push a book to the point that it can’t meet expectations, don’t overlook this gem.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Publishing for a digital copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ADRIANA ALLEGRI is a first-generation American whose parents lived in Europe before, during, and after World War II. She grew up on stories about how small acts of compassion saved lives, a theme that shows up in everything she writes, regardless of genre. A former high school teacher and educational program administrator, Adriana also served as a writer and project manager for a leading data analytics company. She spent fifteen years in the New York metro area but is happily relocated in Chandler, Arizona with two ornery rescue cats. When not at the keyboard, she enjoys painting, cooking, jewelry-making, antiquing, travel, and, of course, curling up with a favorite read.
If you purchase through the links in this post, I may earn a small commission. This helps support Pick a Good Book and allows us to continue bringing you great content.
Click Here To Check Out 1 Happy Shopper’s Deals
