Cathy Gohlke's "Saving Amelie": A Story of Hope and Redemption

Lisa G: One of my favorites this year for historical fiction, and love the way the author was able to weave historical figures (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) into the story and include new information about that time period (like Eugenics) while helping her readers consider what possesses some individuals to hold this type of belief system.

United States on Dec 13, 2023

N. Kirkpatrick: What a story about Amelie. I am still reading it and it is spellbinding. Twists and turns to especially from the Nazis

United Kingdom on Mar 03, 2022

Storygirl: I am a big fan of any WWII book or movie, Saving Amelie has now become a favourite. I could not stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen. I was happy there was a joyful ending. I highly recommend reading this book.

Canada on Oct 04, 2018

Karen V. Mcnicol: Wow, just finished this book and just loved it! Cathy Gohlke writes such a good story that you are so sad to see it end. Its set in Germany during WWII and will break your heart when you hear all the awful things that were done, just not to the Jewish people but anyone that did not meet Aryan standards. So many innocent people were killed but this story gives you hope for all those that were saved by brave , wonderful people all over Europe!

Canada on Jul 17, 2018

Beverley S.: A story set in the darker past of WW2 Germany. Eugenics and Racial purification, the horrors that developed from the idea to make the races pure and eliminate disease and imperfection. But it also tells the story of the courageous German people who would not bow down to a leader with such evil intent. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things that took incredible courage and risk to themselves. A great read that makes one think about whether it could all happen again....

Canada on Jan 05, 2017

Granny: As I have said in other similar books I have reviewed...we must never forget the heinous actions of those who think they have a right to end the lives of others because they are not worthy of life for whatever reason. A whole generation of Jewish people were murdered and we must keep the story real.for those who come after us. This story has some true to history parts and some fiction...but the truth far out ways the fiction. Little Amelie was a sweet little girl who did not live up to her Aryan fathers Nazi standards...read on...

Canada on Mar 04, 2016

Sarah L. Gruwell: I really enjoyed the historical details in this novel. I got to explore stuff that I've never encountered or have only encountered rarely in historical fiction, and all in one work. Ms. Gohlke gives us a look into Nazi Germany like no other: the fate of the physically handicapped in this racial purity obsessed society, intimate details on eugenics and experiments in pursuit of that perfect genetic individual, and a glimpse into the rebellious Confessing Church and their endeavor to stand up for right and protect the oppressed of Nazi society. The reader is sucked into Nazi Germany, not to be let go until the very last page.

I enjoyed the characters for the most part. Lea especially won my heart. I loved how flawed she was, yet how strong she was at the same time. She seemed very human with her inadequacy issues concerning Rachel, her stubborn will to protect those she cared about, and her constant worrying over those same people.

Now Rachel on the other hand.... *sigh* I think the author was trying to make her flawed like any ordinary person so that the reader could relate to her. But dang, did the author go too far! I can't think of one thing about Rachel I liked....

United States on Jun 06, 2014

Susan Snodgrass: There should be a way to give more than 5 stars. Saving Amelie is a compelling read of events in Nazi Germany that threaten to totally destroy a family, a family who didn't realize they even were a family.

Rachel Kramer goes on a trip to Germany in 1939 with her eugenics scientist father, unaware that there are shocking secrets he has been keeping about her very life. Then she receives a secret, desperate plea from an old friend, now married to an SS officer, asking Rachel to save her little girl, Amelie. Amelie is deaf and will not comply with the perfect Aryan bloodline of her Nazi father.

Rachel risks everything to help this child, accepting the help of an American journalist, Jason Young, in Germany to cover the war. Jason has connections to the resistance movement and hopefully they will manage to save Amelie.

They are forced to hide in Oberammergau, a Bavarian village that puts on a Passion Play every decade.

Rachel is constantly on edge, walking a tightrope, trying to fulfill her promise to protect this child. More lives are at stake, too, than just hers and Amelie's. Others are asked to help, putting themselves at risk in this now torn apart...

United States on May 29, 2014