Prisoner of Night and Fog

xxpish - Gretchen Müller is the perfect young Nazi girl who looks up to her uncle Dolf and has learned to hate the Jews. She has a great life, and has no reason to question society. Until one night, when she sees something she wasn’t supposed to; her brother killing an innocent Jew. Soon after, she starts seeing tears in her familiar world and then she meets Daniel, a Jew who she can’t help but admire because of his story and his honesty. Gretchen knows she can’t keep meeting up with Daniel, but he’s caught her eye. Now Gretchen must decide who to trust and where her loyalty lies: in the life she’s known for the last decade, or in Daniel and justice for the Jews. An utterly real and well-written novel, Blankman’s debut is sure to quench historical fiction fans’ thirst. Thoughts: This book. Guys. This book. The setting was so real and shocking as was the writing and you could imagine yourself in that horrible world, right along with Gretchen and Daniel. It was spine-tingling experiencing the characters being in the same room as Hitler and, golly, to have your world shattered like that and you see the true evil and brainwashing behind the Nazi party. You can tell that Anne did a lot of research by how the setting really comes alive. The beginning was a bit slow, but it was for story-building and things started getting really intense as you went along. I can’t wait for the sequel and to jump back into this rich story and continue the adventure with Gretchen and Daniel.

Starred review from February 3, 2014
Gretchen Müller has grown up in 1920s Germany believing her father sacrificed his life to shield “Uncle Dolf” from a fusillade of police bullets during Hitler’s failed 1923 attempt to overthrow the government. Because of her father’s martyrdom, Gretchen’s family has enjoyed favored status among the Nazis; she is now Hitler’s “favorite pet,” and her (terrifying) older brother works as one of his thuggish Brownshirts. Then Gretchen meets Daniel Cohen, a young reporter who has evidence that her father was not a Nazi hero, but a murder victim. Gretchen refuses to believe it, but as she undertakes her own investigation, she realizes that many things she had accepted as truth are lies. Debut novelist Blankman’s account of life in Munich prior to Hitler’s 1933 elevation to the chancellorship is completely engrossing. In an afterword, she separates fact from the fictional characters she created; a three-page bibliography is appended. Concocting a murder mystery featuring one of history’s most well-known figures is risky, and some scenes test the limits of plausibility. But Blankman creates riveting tension for her heroine and pulls readers through with an irresistible subplot featuring forbidden love. Ages 13–up. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary.

April 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Gretchen Muller has been raised with the ideals of the National Socialist Party. Blonde, blue-eyed, and beautiful, she has become a favorite of her Uncle Dolf, who is none other than Adolf Hitler. Her father, who served with Hitler during World War I, gave his life to protect him during the Beer Hall Putsch. Although she is grateful to her Uncle and the Party, she is not blind to their policies and punishments. Living in a dysfunctional family, Gretchen has endured the torments and twisted pranks of her malicious brother while her mother turns a blind eye. As the Nazis are on the verge of gaining power in Germany, the teen is contacted by a Jewish reporter, Daniel Cohen. His investigation into the Party has led him to information about her father's death that will change her life forever. Blankman's debut is beautifully written, full of suspense and intrigue. The well-developed characters drive the novel, while the murder-mystery plot is full of vivid historical details. Gretchen's journey of self-discovery unearths certain truths about her family, Hitler, and the Party and demonstrates that it is sometimes easier to accept a lie than the truth. Her relationship with Daniel, though not the main focus, is genuine and memorable. Readers will certainly enjoy this haunting and captivating work. An author's note provides historical information while setting the stage for a sequel.-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

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