Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke

Rachel Kramer is a young woman resistant to the frequent trips to Germany and physical examinations her father insists that she participate in.  She is increasingly concerned over her father’s research in genetics and the direction it is taking.  When journalist Jason Young and Rachel’s friend Kristine, reveal to Rachel the purpose of genetic research in Nazi Germany, Rachel is horrified.  Kristine is terrified of what the future holds for her daughter, Amelie, who was born deaf.  Will Rachel be able to escape from the Nazis?  Will she be able to save Amelie?

Gohlke’s descriptive writing style and engaging characters make all of her novels interesting and easy to read.  This one is no different.  From the very beginning, I was pulled into the story and hopeful that Amelie would evade the evil machinations of her SS father, despite the incredible odds against her survival.  There were so many twists and turns in this novel, I found myself surprised several times.

What I found most interesting about this book is that it focused on a population targeted for destruction by the Nazis that doesn’t get a lot of attention, those who were disabled.  It also described the forced sterilization of many people, sometimes without their knowledge.  It was obvious Gohlke had done a lot of research when writing the book.  For those interested readers, make sure to read the Note to Readers at the end of the book to get more information.

If you enjoy historical fiction from the WWII era, you will enjoy this book.  I think it is a really good book for those who have a heart for children or people who are disabled, even though parts of it are heartbreaking to read.  Gohlke does such a great job in her writing that readers can really immerse themselves.

If you are interested in reading more of Gohlke’s books, check out the links below:

Promise Me This

Band of Sisters

I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.