Flowers in the Gutter

October 15, 2019
Gertrud, Fritz, and Jean were among many young people who confronted fascism in this little-known true story of teenage resistance in Nazi Germany. Based on firsthand accounts and historical documents, Gaddy's debut tells the story of the loosely affiliated nonconformist youth groups known as the Edelweiss Pirates. Meeting in secret, camping in the woods, and attempting to avoid mandatory recruitment into Hitler youth organizations, their resistance activities ranged from scatological pranks and vandalism to flyering and sabotage to simply playing guitar and wearing their hair long. Though largely composed of straight Christians, many from socialist and communist families, the groups welcomed gay and Jewish youth. This matter-of-fact narrative shows how youth can stand against an overwhelming tide of fascism. It implicatively asks readers, "what would you do?" while highlighting the actions of young people who refused to be complacent--and the consequences they suffered for it. It challenges common narratives that reserve praise for resistance for the politically centrist middle and upper classes. The author weaves a lesson in historiography into an already fascinating story, effectively utilizing black-and-white photographs, excerpts from primary sources, and images of historical documents in chapters that are divided into short, dynamic segments that will sustain readers' interest. An eye-opening account of tenacity that brings the efforts of young anti-Nazi activists vividly to life. (historical note, source notes, bibliography, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

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November 11, 2019
Gaddy’s debut draws from memoirs and extensive research to share the true stories of three teens in Nazi Germany. Gertrud, Jean, and Fritz were non-Jewish, fairly typical German teens, hanging out with groups known as Bündische Jugend (free-federated youth). The Nazis considered such groups far too tolerant and nonconforming, and as Hitler came to power, they were subjected to imprisonment and interrogation. The senseless brutality they witnessed prompted the Bündische to risk their lives in acts of rebellion, vandalism, and sabotage because “at least if they were fighting back against the Nazis, they might die doing something meaningful.” Despite awkward translations (for example, a foreman tells Fritz, “You are not bearable for the German people,” to express contempt) and frequent use of undefined German phrases, this compelling account conveys the profound brutality of Hitler’s Germany and how some children responded with acts of breathtaking bravery. Age 12–up.

Starred review from January 1, 2020

Gr 7-10-As young children living in Germany during the uprising of the Nazi party, Gertrud Kühlem, Jean Jülich, and Fritz Theilen resisted joining the Hitler Youth. They grew up in Cologne, Germany, in the aftermath of World War I and the Depression; their fathers were unemployed, there was not enough money to buy food, and there was a general sense that life was getting scarier as the Nazi Party came to power in the 1930s. Gertrud's parents, who were Communists, hated Hitler. Fritz's parents were members of the Social Democratic Party and did not want another war. Jean was eventually sent to an orphanage when his father, grandmother, and aunt were taken by Nazis due to his father's allegiance to the Communist Party. Other teenagers in Germany, who were anti-Hitler and anti-Nazi, embraced all people. These groups were called the Edelweiss Pirates or the Navajos. The democratic, inclusive groups did not discriminate against people based on sexual preference or race. Many supported the Allies and openly fought with Hitler Youth members. The narrative, broken into seven parts, highlights the true story of these hundreds (maybe thousands) of German teenagers who resisted and risked their lives in order to save Jewish people. Told from the three teens' perspectives, this compelling book is carefully and expertly researched. Gaddy utilized memoirs and interviews that Gertrud, Jean, and Fritz have given since the end of the war. VERDICT Readers will enjoy learning about these resistance groups in this truly new and unique addition to the YA World War II literary canon. A a must-read.-Gretchen Schulz, Schaumburg Township District Library, IL

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November 15, 2019
Grades 8-12 Debut author Gaddy draws on memoirs, documents, articles, and film to tell the stories of three brave German teenagers?Jean, Fritz, and Gertrud?who risked their lives in defiance of the Nazis' regimented rule. Through their three points of view, she tells of their early years and the adventures, activism, and strife they encountered during the rise of the Third Reich, on the way to forming their group, the Edelweiss Pirates, during WWII. They took huge risks spreading the anti-Nazi message, helping forced laborers, and sabotaging Nazi supplies and factories. Despite many beatings, arrests, and deportations, these teenagers remained determined to fight Hitler's rule even if it meant being branded as criminals. Gaddy carries their stories on beyond the '40s, giving readers a complete picture of how these young people were developed and treated due to the political climate. Supplemented by pictures and documents, Gaddy's thorough research shines a light on a heroic group of Germans that often goes unmentioned.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)