The Auschwitz Escape- Book Review

Reviewed by: Shanea Rinn

Author: Joel C. Rosenberg

Readability Age Range: YA to Adult. (16 +)

Book Summary

"A terrible darkness has fallen upon Jacob Weisz's beloved Germany. The Nazi regime, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, has surged to power and now holds Germany by the throat. All non-Aryans - especially Jews like Jacob and his family - are treated like dogs.

When tragedy strikes during one terrible night of violence, Jacob flees and joins rebel forces working to undermine the regime. But after a raid goes horribly wrong, Jacob finds himself in a living nightmare - trapped in a crowded, stinking car on the train to the Auschwitz death camp.

As World War II rages and Hitler begins implementing his "final solution" to systematically and ruthlessly exterminate the Jewish people, Jacob must rely on his wits and a God he's not sure he believes in to somehow escape from Auschwitz and alert the world to the Nazi's atrocities before Fascism overtakes all of Europe. The fate of millions hangs in the balance."

My Review

It goes without saying that the subject the book covers is a sobering one. But Joel C Rosenberg does a great job of portraying the horrors and atrocities of this time, yet keeping it suitable for older teenagers.

It is not a cheery book, and has some very sad moments. But it is also keeps you on the edge of your seat, and has you hoping beyond hope, and turning your eyes ultimately to a God who is still in control.

Christian / Religious theme / Moral

This is Christian historical fiction, written with a Christian's worldview. The themes range from the sovereignty of God, redemption, doing what is right in the face of danger, and peace through tribulation.

Character/s Quality

The character's are well written. Some reviews have stated that they seem to be a little shallow. While maybe not as well developed as some books I have read, I still believe the author has done an excellent job with his characters.

The strengths, weaknesses, and flaws of the characters are all present. But no evil doing is glorified.

The character arc is there, but is somewhat "flat." The story feels more plot driven. I would have desired to see a little more change and growth throughout the story. But overall it is still compelling and has you caring very much about them by the end of the book.

Violence / Fear / Gore / Horror

This is a novel about the Holocaust: one of the most violent and horrific times in human history.

So yes. There is violence and horror. That is the nature of telling historical fiction like this.

But having said that, Joel C Rosenberg is very tactful, and is careful about his descriptions, without downplaying the severity of what happened.

There are no scenes of descripted rape. Once or twice it is mentioned that it has happened, but nothing is described in detail in that respect.

As we know with history, we know that the Nazi's often humiliated their prisoners by making them strip down for inspection. This also happens in this book.

We kept the age range at 16 + for this book due to subject matter. I do not recommend it for sensitive readers as some parts could be rather disturbing.

We try to be completely honest about content because we care about the Table of your Heart.

Fantasy / Magic

There is no fantasy or magic in this series.

Romance

There is some minor romance in this novel. It is a subplot rather than the main plot. It is clean and sweet with no spice.

Language

There are no swear words, or cuss words in the novel.

Final Thoughts

I personally enjoy books from this era very much as long as I'm not constantly reading about too grisly details that I find disturbing. This book struck the right balance for me. I learned something from its historical accuracy, and had a hard time putting it down. I definitely recommend it for older teenagers and Adults.

Where can I find these books?

This series is available individually across many different book stores. It is available as a softcover, hardcover, kindle edition, and audiobook. A few of the book stores include Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book.com

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