"Saving Amelie" by Cathy Gohlke

About this book:

  “Increasingly wary of her father's genetic research, Rachel Kramer has determined that this trip with him to Germany--in the summer of 1939--will be her last. But a cryptic letter from her estranged friend, begging Rachel for help, changes everything. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine sees the dark tides turning and fears her husband views their daughter, Amelie, deaf since birth, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline.Once courted by Schlick, Rachel knows he's as dangerous as the swastikas that hang like ebony spiders from every government building in Berlin. She fears her father's files may hold answers about Hitler's plans for others, like Amelie, whom the regime deems "unworthy of life." She risks searching his classified documents only to uncover shocking secrets about her own history and a family she's never known.Now hunted by the SS, Rachel turns to Jason Young--a driven, disarming American journalist and unlikely ally--who connects her to the resistance and to controversial theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Forced into hiding, Rachel's every ideal is challenged as she and Jason walk a knife's edge, risking their lives--and asking others to do the same--for those they barely know but come to love.”


Series: As of now, no.

Spiritual Content- Genesis 2:24 at the dedication; Lea goes to a Lutheran church; the quote: “Rachel did not believe in God—had been raised that such belief as a crutch for the week. And she, a member of the elite, was not weak. But for the first time in her life she wished she did believe. She knew she was weak, and she needed help.”; Oma tells Rachel & Lea the story of Jacob, Leah & Rachel; Lea & Rachel write an Easter play for the church about “a little girl who came to Jesus in need of help—Lea added that she came in need of forgiveness.”; Scriptures from Ruth and other Books; Talks about God, His Will, Trusting Him & His Grace; Lots of Bible reading and church going.

Negative Content- Blood scenes, hanging people, killing & murdering all not-detailed to semi-detailed.

Sexual Content- *Not for girls under 14!* a ‘wh*re’; Lea is unable to conceive children because of a sterilization surgery she had at age 16; Friederich says all he wants to do is “take his wife home and make love to her”; *Spoiler* Lea and Rachel’s mom and Oma says “Did you tell this doctor that your mother was raped? That the pregnancy was not her fault?” Lea replies “He knows this! He said she must have had ‘that look’ that drives men wild. That she must have wanted it.”  Oma later says: “My poor Ibine was raped while visiting friends in Munich, she never told me the man’s name. I don’t even know if she knew him. There was a party, and she was found unconscious in the bushes the next morning.”; Three semi-detailed kisses and many, many not-detailed kisses.

-Rachel Kramer

-Jason Young
                                         P.O.V. switches between them, Lea Hartman, Friederich Hartman, Gerhardt Schlick, Curale Bauer, Amelie, Hilde Breisner, Schellenberg, Mark Eldridge, and Maximillion.

                                              Part 1&2 set in 1939, Part 3 set in 1940, Epilogue in 1950.
                                                        429 pages

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 Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens- 

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

As a future Occupational Therapist, this was a heartbreaking—and heavy—book for me, special need kids are who I'll teach...So many times I wanted to just hug sweet Amelie! Not for the sensitive-hearted girls.

See y'all on Wednesday for another review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Tyndale) for this review.