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Wildflowers of Terezin [Kindle Edition]

Robert Elmer
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Wildflowers of Terezin is a sweeping historical novel set against a backdrop of danger. A Danish Lutheran pastor’s complacent faith is stretched to the breaking point during World War II when he meets a young Jewish nurse Hanne Abrahamsen and becomes deeply involved in Resistance efforts to save Denmark’s Jews from the Nazi prison camp at Terezin, Czechoslovakia—also known as Theresienstadt.

 

Challenged by his evangelical brother and swayed by his own attraction to Hanne, Pastor Steffen abandons his formerly quiet, uninvolved life and hesitantly volunteers to help smuggle Denmark’s Jews out of the country before a Nazi roundup. Steffen finds that helping his Jewish neighbors is the most decent, spiritual thing he has ever done. As he actually does God’s work, rather than just talking about it, Steffen’s faith deepens and he takes greater risks in his sermons.

 

When things go terribly wrong and Hanne is sent to Terezin, Steffen finds his heart fully engaged. He undertakes protests and rescues that are more and more dangerous, never imagining where it will lead him, or the ultimate cost of his decision to get directly involved.



Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With combined sales exceeding a half a million books, inspirational author Elmer has transitioned nicely from his previous vocations as a pastor, reporter, and an ad copywriter. Elmer's (The Duet) newest subject focuses on the Danish perspective of the Nazi takeover and extradition of the Jews. Written in quick-step style, Elmer does a fine job mixing a bit of joviality to help balance out the weighty and disturbing subject matter of this particular period of Danish history. The text centers on a burgeoning romantic relationship between Jewish nurse Hanne Abrahamsen and Danish Lutheran pastor Steffen Peterson. With a casual, impersonal faith, Pastor Steffen is challenged by his younger brother Henning's commitment to the Resistance. Similarly, Steffen finds himself drawn to nurse Hanne and her courageous zeal to help the afflicted. Circumstances throw the two together and each begins a deeper, more introspective search for truth amidst life, death, and rampant suffering. Elmer's work is so unaffected and genuinely heartfelt that readers find they are willingly reawakened to the horrors of genocide. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Robert Elmer is a former pastor, reporter and ad copywriter who now writes from the home he shares with his wife Ronda in northern Idaho. He is the author of over fifty books, including eight contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience and several series for younger readers. Combined, his books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Like his popular “Young Underground” youth series, Wildflowers of Terezin was inspired by stories Robert heard from his Denmark-born parents and family. When he’s not sailing or enjoying the outdoors, Robert often travels the country speaking to school and writers groups. Website: www.robertelmerbooks.com.  Hometown: Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho

 

 

 


Product Details

  • File Size: 567 KB
  • Print Length: 338 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1426701926
  • Publisher: Abingdon Press (December 1, 2009)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004CRT7PQ
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,859 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Well written and an excellent story. M. Boone  |  16 reviewers made a similar statement
You will not regret reading this book its worth the time. Janice Genry  |  11 reviewers made a similar statement
I found the character very believable. AJHawke.blogspot.com  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Historically beautiful and painful at the same time April 18, 2010
Format:Paperback
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.
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner That Does More Than Entertains May 12, 2010
Format:Paperback
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.
... Read more ›
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars History or Fiction, A Great Story August 9, 2010
Format:Paperback
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!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Solid but I was expecting more March 5, 2012
By tjw
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The time period during and surrounding World War II is one of my favorite time periods to study or read about. I was quite excited when Wildflowers of Terezin by Robert Elmer was available for free on Amazon a couple weeks ago. I have read Mr. Elmer's Young Underground series as well as The Wall series and loved them. However, while this book was interesting, I had a hard time connecting with the plot and found it rather slow.

The first few chapters were rather confusing as they kept switching perspectives and I was struggling to figure out who was who. However, I persevered through the first quarter of the book and began to enjoy the story. Granted, I felt the plot was stretched, but I was fascinated by the bravery of the characters.

Steffen is pastor of a church in Denmark and religiously follows the Nazi's commands regarding the subject matter of his sermons and tries his utmost to keep on the good side of the Nazi's. I couldn't comprehend why he suddenly decided to help the Jews and then seemingly changed sides. Hanne is a Jewish nurse who selflessly helps anyone she can in war torn and Nazi occupied Denmark. It is mentioned that she does not attend the synagogue meetings and that she is angry at God; however, the reader never truly discovers what became of that anger or how she came to trust in the Messiah.

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately I only managed to like it. I did appreciate the delicate handling of the horrors of the Holocaust and the overall clean content of the book. Instead, I would highly recommend Robert Elmer's youth books like The Wall series or the Young Underground.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Ages: 14+

*The opinions expressed in this review are my own.*
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars 3 stars PLUS
4 stars for the plot, the history, the romance. 3.0 minus for the writing style, development, depth.
I enjoyed the read. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Fancy Nancy
4.0 out of 5 stars Great for a freebie
I never know what to really expect from some of the free items on Kindle but I was really happy with Wildflowers of Terezin. Read more
Published 22 days ago by D. Travers
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historical Fiction
I adored this book for many reasons. The history is spot-on accurate. The story & characters were so real to me that I cried at their tragic realities and shouted out loud at a... Read more
Published 25 days ago by I'm Just Sayin'
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
The only thing I didn't like was the constant breaking within chapters, even within the same scene, train of thought. But ignore that and you're golden!
Published 1 month ago by makuahine
4.0 out of 5 stars World War II Story
This is a great World war II story focused on the struggles of the Jews and those who helped them.
Published 1 month ago by Liz Ross Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Read
Wild­flow­ers of Terezin by Robert Elmer is a his­tor­i­cal fic­tion book tak­ing place in Den­mark dur­ing World War II. The book is well researched and an enthralling read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Man of La Book
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!!!!
from such an awful time in history, this is written with the characters as believable as if you were talking to them in your own living room. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Rosen
2.0 out of 5 stars An OK Rad
This book is interesting for the historical background, the setting. The characters are unidimensional and the plot is like a Harlequin romance. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sorel Reisman
4.0 out of 5 stars Wildfloweres of Terezin
I really enjoyed this book. If you are interested in historical and inspirational fiction, this is the book for you. i got it as a freebe and just finished it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rosanna Lopez
4.0 out of 5 stars Gently told.....
This is a gently told tale about a significant time in our (comparatively) recent history. The author tells the story without over-dramatisation and with a reasonable quotient of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bevan
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More About the Author

Robert Elmer is a former reporter and ad copywriter who writes from his home in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of over fifty books, including nine contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, two nonfiction titles, and seven series for younger readers. He's also a contributor to kids' versions of the popular "Case for..." books co-authored with Lee Strobel. Among kids, he is best known for his "Young Underground" and "Adventures Down Under" books. When he's not at the keyboard, he enjoys sailing and hiking with his wife, and spending time with their three kids--plus a growing number of little grandchildren.

Check out trailers at www.youtube.com/user/robertelmerbooks?feature=results_main

Be sure to visit my web page at www.RobertElmerBooks.com.

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