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I loved Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein. The story of Hetty, the daughter of a German SS officer who falls in love with Walter, a Jew is so human and so engaging. It is a coming-of-age story where Hetty comes to understand how Hitler and other Germans in command could indoctrinate a whole nation to hate Jews and others. The fact that this story is based in the author's history makes it all the more meaningful. In this book Kristallnacht and the Kindertransport come to light for the reader. The plot moves quickly and there are some really satisfying plot twists. The ending was amazing and I could not recommend this book more highly. This book would be great for book clubs- I will be suggesting it to several. Well done.

I found Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein "a beautifully written and emotionally wrenching journey " as it said on the back of the book. Though I found the brainwashing of Hetty and her blind worship of Hitler disturbing, her character's growth and her growing love for Walter had me rooting for her against the growing evil she faces. The ending had me tearful and was wonderful. It was one of the books you close and say "what a wonderful story". I highly recommend it!

Daughter of the Reich is the well-written, well-researched story of Hetty, the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi and Walter her Jewish friend from childhood who saves her from drowning. As teenagers they become lovers and their resulting dilemma sets the stage for the novel. This is the story of how Hetty through her relationship with Walter moves from a highly indoctrinated follower of Hitler to a realization that everything she has been taught and believed is wrong.

The author was adept at portraying the emotions and feelings of a young girl confused and perplexed by the world unfolding around her.

This is an intense emotional book told from a rather different perspective than other WWII fiction. I would highly recommend for all historical fiction readers. And, I'm recommending this one as a book club read.

This page turning book is about a young German girl coming of age in the years leading up to WWII .

Hetty is the daughter of one of Hitler's high ranking officers. She is torn between her father's activities and what she hears and sees happening to the Jewish people in their town. "What is the truth? Who can she trust?" she asks herself. "What will happen to her Jewish friend Walter who saved her from drowning when they were children".

Although many books have been written on this subject; it was still quite emotional to me.

This novel was inspired by the author's family history. I would recommend these stories continue to be told so it not happen again. I especially recommend that our young people continue to hear and read how the world turned upside down during 1930s and 1940s.

This was a well researched and interesting fictional novel of 1930's Germany and the rise of Hitler. I am also reading the first in a series of non-fiction books on the Third Reich by Richard Evans. I thought the writer did an excellent job in describing the various events, characters and how Hitler managed to exploit the working class Germans - not dissimilar from what is happening now. Her character development is excellent! This is a good book and well worth the time spent - a good choice for a book club and would likely generate a lively discussion.

In her first novel, inspired by events in her own family history, Louise Fein gives the reader a riveting glimpse into the life of a young German girl, Hetty Heinrich. When we meet Hetty, she is living in Leipzig, Germany in the years before Hitler's invasion of Poland and the beginning of World War II. Hetty and her older brother, Karl, are the children of a German newspaper editor and high-ranking Nazi official in Leipzig. The Heinrichs are obedient Germans who aspire to do their part for the new Thousand-Year Reich.

As Hetty interacts with the world around her, she feels confused because she cannot reconcile what she sees every day with her once safe and innocent beliefs. She now lives in a beautiful home she learns is stolen from original Jewish owners. One of her brother's closest friends, Walter, also her friend, is a German Jew and is no longer welcome in the Heinrich home. She sees cruelty but is reassured by those she trusts that all is well. She feels suffocated by society rules for good German women and begins to rebel. We are sympathetic to Hetty's plight, but know the course of action she adopts, still clinging to her truth, will probably end badly for her and those she loves. Yet we respect her for her bold vision and her willingness to fight for what she believes is right.

Daughter of the Reich is a well-researched and beautifully written novel, a "coming of age" story, with twists and turns that keep the reader in suspense until the last page. Fein's notes, answered questions and sources are an important part of her book, not to be ignored by the discerning reader who wants to truly understand life for those who lived in Germany in this era.

This book is for those who prefer reading historical fiction, or those who have ever wondered how Hitler managed to gain control over the German people..Through the experiences of Hatty Heinrich the author relates the influence of Hitler and the Nazi party on ordinary people while also telling a good story.

It is fiction but told in a way that gives the reader the real essence of the people who lived in Germany at that time.

I would recommend reading the notes from the author found in the back of the book first. Her research reassures that the story is based on factual material.
This is a good book. I would recommend it to anyone whether a history fan or not.

The story in this fascinating book is about life in Germany beginning in 1933 which was just prior to Sept 1939 when WW2 officially begins as Germany invades Poland. So it not the typical story of the conflict and the Holocaust. It is also unusual in that it is told from the perspective of the main character who is eleven year old German girl named Hetty Heinrich whose father is editor of a German newspaper while also holding a high-ranking position in the Nazi organization.

Now for those of you who do not want to read another book about the war, it is important to realize that our story begins and ends before Poland is invaded. As we read the book, we are skillfully allowed to see the world through Hetty's eyes and thoughts. And if you have wondered how the German citizenry were lulled into accepting Hitler and his campaign of hate, this story will hopefully answer sine of your questions.

As the story opens, we learn that 11 year old Hetty has been brought up to truly idolize Adolph Hitler and to believe the Nazi party line concerning the wonderful future to be enjoyed by Germans under his leadership. We also learn that she and her brother Karl enjoy a close relationship and she is often invited to join Karl and his good friend Walter in their activities. Walter is described as a tall kid with blue eyes and blond hair and a kind, thoughtful, intelligent, and strong personality.

Whispers of anti-Semitism are introduced in the very first Chapter and build throughout the book. Hetty's idyllic vision of the situation begins to erode as she begins to questions some of the ideology being thrust down her throat at home, at school and in her youth group when Karl puts an end to his friendship with Walter and Hetty finds out that Walter is a Jew – one of those dirty, lying, cheating Jews.

By this time, however, Hetty has fallen in love with Walter and she must then make a choice whether she, too, will end her relationship with him or she will secretly violate the directives of her family and her country.

I read opinions about how similar the situation in German at that time was to the situation in our country today. We are a divided country with one side complaining about how detrimental the influence of the media and mass manipulation can be to the country while the other side is outraged at the apparent lack of compassionate support our nation is offering to people who are being denied basic human rights.

The book could prompt meaningful discussions about the two viewpoints.