Customer Reviews

Wildflowers of Terezin

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This book is based around the days of 1943, WWII, a Lutheran Pastor named Steffen, and a Jewish Nurse named Hanne. Set in a time I have never known, other than through books, I found that this particular story at times took my breath away as I put myself in the characters world. Steffen steps outside his comfort zone of "behind the pulpit" and the pages begin to turn...

Is it possible to love and hate a book?

Never a fan of war related stories, this one, held on to me. I had no problem at all staying entirely engrossed in this fictional, historical, Christian read, that brought this horrible war and this incredible love to my home.

There are so many things in this world that I have not lived or experienced, and author Robert Elmer, through a fictitious read about a true war, brought a piece of history to me that I had not really known. I now feel in my heart - that I have a little of that fear, that "hold on to your faith" through everything knowledge, because of this book.

Ever since reading Diary of Anne Frank in sixth grade I have been captivated by World War II and Holocaust literature. A good book is like a double espresso shot, it keeps you up turning page after page. A great book keeps you awake long after, placing yourself in the minds of the characters. Yet a great Christian book is a double espresso shot to your faith: it encourages, convicts, and challenges..giving a fresh jolt of energy. Wildflowers of Terezin takes a blue ribbon in all three categories.

Elmer excels in historical accuracy, creating a book that engages the senses. The reader can nearly smell the stench of the deportation trains, hear the Danes singing the national anthem, feel Bela's forehead as her temperature breaks.

Each character is richly drawn. All too often villians become cardboard caracatures, especially when World War II era Europe is the subject. I love the pointed contrast between brothers Henning and Steffen. Henning repeatedly tells Steffen 'return to your kirke (church)." Henning's character is found in all those who rightly criticize the church as hypocrites when we lack the action to match our talk.

Love demands action. Due to his love for Hanne, Steffen is willing to go to the ultimate lengths even risking his own life for her sake.

What lengths will we go to in order to demonstrate our love for Christ and for those He created? I enjoyed watching Steffen's character evolve from a pastor who preaches through the same notes annually to a man on fire for the Lord.

We live in a time when the Gospel message is becoming watered down by many churches, particularly in this country where we have been blessed with so much abundance. Will each of us stand up and tell the Truth, even if it is offensive to the government? What risks are we willing to take for our faith? Mr. Elmer relentlessly asks us these questions, using the character of Steffen.

Wildflowers of Terezin is a beautiful and lyrical novel that kept me self-reflecting long after I finished the last page. Robert Elmer's book is a must-read and I look forward to his next project.

Robert Elmer did it again. When I began reading this book I found myself in a story world so real I had to continually remind myself it was fiction. Some would say that is because the story is based on true historical events. And, while there is truth in the statement, only Robert Elmer could make the line between history and fiction eschew this way.

Hanne Abrahamsen is a nurse in Denmark during the fall of 1943. When the Gestapo begins deporting Jews to concentration camps, her chance meeting with Lutheran pastor Steffen Petersen opens a doorway to freedom. Steffen is drawn into the resistance and as he risks his own life to help Hanne and her family, his faith is challenged and strengthened. Can love bloom in the darkness as wildflowers grow in concentration camps?

Readers will be drawn into the story, the history, and wish with all their hearts they could change the way things happened. I highly recommend this book!

The Holocaust is truly one of the darkest periods in the cumulative history of humankind. I have to confess, after watching Sophie's Choice, I've intentionally stayed away from most dramatizations of those days. To me, they are painful and soul-shredding (even though my pain is nothing compared to what the victims went through). So I approached Wildflowers of Terezin with a bit of trepidation. How would I feel when I was done reading this book? In a word, I was uplifted. Author Robert Elmer pulled me into the lives of those who fought against the horrendous crimes committed by the Nazi's. In Jewish nurse Hanne Abrahmsen and Lutheran pastor Steffen Petersen, we experience ordinary people who are forced by circumstances to do extraordinary things. They are surrounded by people who must choose between what is safe and what is right. While there is sorrow in the story, there is also great hope and love. Wildflowers of Terezin asks readers, when atrocities are committed, how long can you remain silent? This is a powerful book reminding us of a time that cannot be forgotten.

NOTE: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for reviewing purposes.

As I often do after reading a book such as this, I ask myself, "Would I have the courage to help the Jewish community during Hitler's Holocaust if I lived in Europe during WWII?" I would hope I would, but I just don't know for sure.

Pastor Steffen comes face to face with this question in this book, Wildflowers of Terezin, and ultimately, finds himself in the middle of the Resistance without really pursuing it. His heart leads him into the thick of the danger, even though his mind resists.

Nurse Hanne Abrahamsen is in the middle of the nightmare because of her heritage. She has no choice in the matter.

Together, their two worlds collide and hearts are changed because of the collision.

I had never heard of Terezin before reading this book. I'm always surprised when I read one more thing about WWII that I didn't know before. The Jewish persecution during WWII was so widespread and affected so very many lives . . . But out of the ugliness of it all came beauty, and this is what The Wildflowers of Terezin is ultimately about. The beauty of changed hearts that grows out of horror and oppression.

Wildflowers of Terezin by Robert Elmer is set in Denmark during World War II. Terezin is a labor camp in Czechoslovakia where many Danish Jews were deported by the Gestapo. The book tells the story of nurse Hanne and her experiences while hiding and helping other Jews escape until she is captured.

My daughter is like me and loves the World War II time period. That's what attracted her to the book initially. It's been on my to be read pile for ages, and has leapt up several positions thanks to my daughter's enthusiasm for the story. She felt like she was Hanne as she read, experiencing all the heroine did. "It's a great book about faith in our Creator and love." The pacing kept my daughter's attention. She literally couldn't put it down, carrying it around the house and reading it in the car. She said the best part of the book comes at the end -- but I won't tell you why and spoil it for you.

Now I'm eager to read this book!

Pastor Steffen Peterson tries to stay out of the way of the Nazi's and the underground that is trying to work to defeat the Nazi's purpose in Denmark. But when a routine visit to the hospital to visit a parishioner causes Steffen to be caught in cross-fire, he finds himself in the hospital, but not for the intended purpose. Worse, a German Gestapo comes to question him, and the nurse, Hanne Abrahamsen shields Steffen, sending the Gestapo away then helping Steffen escape, believing that he is actually part of the underground.

Then word is that the Germans plan to export all 7,000 Jews from Denmark at a certain time. Steffen finds himself hiding some Jews in the basement of his church, one of them Hanne's mother, and then rowing them across the sound to catch a fishing boat to Sweden.

Now Steffen is actively caught up in the Underground and life is getting increasingly dangerous, especially to Hanne who is a Jew hiding in plain sight. As the danger mounts, both Steffen and Hanne must decide if they are willing to pay the ultimate price.

WILDFLOWERS OF TEREZIN is a World War II book that takes a different approach to some of the WWII stories than some. I've read all of Tricia Goyer's books, and even Robert Elmer's young adult books (which is quite similar in theme to this book. World War II is my favorite historical time period to read about, even though they were horrible days for those living through it.

Based on real events WILDFLOWERS OF TEREZIN is a compelling read, maybe a little slower paced than some, but no less exciting. I couldn't help but fall in love with Steffen and Hanne as they struggled to do what they felt was right and make a difference in their land. And I have to applaud the Danes for taking such a strong stance against the Nazi's. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book.

I have to admit that I was hesitant to open the newest entry from multi-published Robert Elmer. Not because of the author, who has several novels such as The Duet and The Celebrity, young adult series A Way Through the Sea (The Young Underground #1) (Book 1), The Young Underground Series and Promise Breaker (Promise of Zion, Book 1), and a non-fiction Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader under his belt, and has already proven his ability to write.

My concern was the time and place of the historical fiction, Wildflowers of Terezin. The suffering of the Jews during WWII can be too graphic for me. I hurt for the pain and death that was fostered on men, women, and children. But I was intrigued by the setting, Denmark. My ignorance never ceases to amaze me and here I found another aspect of it. I thought I knew all about WWII, but found I knew nothing of the history of the WWII and the Danish people, and the Danish Jews in Denmark.

The story of the preacher, Steffen, the resistance fighter, Henning, and the Danish Jewish nurse Hanne revealed an epoch in the broad canvas that was that terrible war. I love to read historical fiction and learn at the same time from historical fictions such as Wildflowers of Terezin.

Word of caution, I found that the beginning was a little dull, mostly Steffen. He couldn't seem to comprehend the danger. I wanted to slap him and say, "Wake up. Don't you understand the evil that is loose on your world?" Of course, many people of that time did not understand the danger until it was upon them. I found the character very believable. But once he did see the danger he acted to the point of putting himself in danger. I found it fascinating to confirm the historical facts of the bravery of the Danes in helping to save thousands of their citizens.

A good read, I recommend it.

I have read many books, both novel and biographical, about the Holocaust. In reading this one I felt like it was a little "soft" and maybe oversimplified. Yes, the treatment of the Danish Jews was horrible but in comparison to other stories... this didn't seem as bad. I felt like the author had soft-peddled it a bit.

THEN !! After finishing the book I did a little more research on the actual experiences of the Danish Jews and found that Mr. Elmer actually adhered very closely to the actual history. Then I was awestruck at the strength of these people to take their fates in to their own hands in the manner that they did and the power of of a community, indeed a country, that unites in a common cause.

Well done Mr. Elmer, well done.

this book could easily be made into a movie.mr. elmer has taken his skill as a writer and created a fresh holocaust novel. the title is not the best as it makes terezin seem almost nice.