Ludwig was ten years old when Germany’s war impacted him and his family. His father was an important member of the Nazi Party and after their home was bombed in Liepzig, his mother and siblings fled to his aunt’s home. But she was unable to house Ludwig’s mother and five siblings, so the children were sent to separate places. Ludwig and his older brother Theodor were sent to a Hitler Youth camp where they spent the majority of the war, under the guise of schooling, when in fact it was bullying, cruelty and extremism.

Ludwig had always been a little different. A small child, his mind was his greatest asset. But because of his stature, he was always the butt of jokes and torment. His greatest love was the forests and birds, especially the willow wren. His love of books kept him centred, while his most read book was Winnetou by the German author Karl May. So, Ludwig’s time at the Youth Camp was something of a shock to him.

When the war was finally over, Ludwig returned to his mother’s home in Colditz where they continued to live, often with little to no food. The Russians had taken over and were cruel and heartless. But Ludwig wanted better for his mother and siblings. Would they be able to escape to the West?

The Willow Wren by Philipp Schott is based on the true story of his father, Ludwig, and right until the epilogue it is told in Ludwig’s voice. To start with, I thought this must have been nonfiction, but as Philipp explains, it is in small part fact, and in large part, his imagination. The intrigue and emotional rendition in the voice of a boy, with his views, horrors and utter disbelief, blended with his love of nature and love of his family, is beautifully done. The resilience of the young, especially in extreme circumstances, is amazing. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Many readers of historical fiction are well-versed in some elements of life in WW2-era Germany. The Willow Wren, based on the memories of the author’s father, Ludwig, presents a part of the story that is not told as often, that of the end of the war and life under Soviet occupation in East Germany. The characterizations, descriptive detail, and pacing are all executed effectively to convey terror, destitution, and resilience. The strength of Ludwig’s mother in keeping herself and six children alive is nothing short of heroic.

Ludwig told these stories for the remainder of his life, and his son has used them as the basis for The Willow Wren. The choice to tell it from the first person point of view is problematic. The voice is painfully inconsistent, moving from younger than makes sense at the moment to language that sounds more like a high school history text than a 11 year-old’s reckoning. Were it not for this distraction, the book would be a real stand-out in the genre.

Thank you to Philipp Schott, ECW Press, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Schott was born in Germany, but emigrated to Canada while still a baby. He is a veterinarian and his only previous book is entitles "The Accidental Veterinarian". This novel is an historical fiction and is based on the memories of his grandfather Ludwig Schott. Ludwig was a child living in Germany during World War II and the book recounts his memories of both the war years and the few years after the war under the rule of communist Russia. His dad was a member of the Nazi party and he was not home much. He lived with his mom, older brother and younger siblings. Ludwig loves being in the woods watching the birds, which does not help in making friends. The story details the downfall of the family from living in relative privilege through harder and harder times as the war progresses and is no longer something happening far away. He is eventually sent to a Hitler Youth Camp, where life gets even harder. After Germany is defeated, the deprivation continues and every day is a struggle for survival. This is a fabulous read for fans of the genre and although classified as fiction, much of it is based on actual events. I found it to be very entertaining and educational.

Don't turn away from this story of strength and resilience based in fact. Ludwig's father was a Nazi who sent him to a Nazi education camp when he was just a child. Then the war ended and with it, the life that Ludwig had known. His father missing (he was sent for reeducation), his mother and siblings starving in Colditz he took command of the family at age 11. Age 11. He manages to move his mother Sarah, mired in darkness, and the others, out and into a brighter future. Schott has taken his grandfather's story and made a novel which hits an unusual niche in WWII fiction. It's well written and if times things are glossed over a bit, that's ok. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Might be a good one for the YA crowd.

The Willow Wren is a wonderful book based on the stories of the author’s father, Ludwig, growing up in Germany before, during, and after WWII. It’s the story of an introverted boy who is more interested in walking in the forest and listening to birds than he is participating in sports or other Hitler youth activities. This is the story of a child watching his world crumble around him. We see everything from Ludwig’s point of view, a ten year old boy watching as Germany starts to crumble and he witnesses people loosing their minds. He watches the Americans occupy his home, then turn it over to the Russians. Through it all, Ludwig and his family carry on. They take care of each other and persevere. It’s a story of survival.

This is not an action packed drama, not a spy thriller. It is an honest and at times heart wrenching story of a young boy caught in a crazy world and how he survives.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. I enjoyed the child’s prospective of what it was like growing up as German child during WW2 and more so, his innocent opinions and feelings of what was going on around him. His views were interesting given that his father’s views were that of a Nazi and his mother, a Nazi’s wife, had her own views and opinions.

As soon as I started reading the book, I could not put it down. It was even better that this book was written by Philipp Schott, the son of Ludwig Schott, the young boy in the book.

Philipp Schott has crafted a wonderful novel based on the recollections of his father and his family of growing up in Germany before, during and after WW2. Philipp's father Ludwig was born in 1934 in Leipzig where his father Wilhelm was a lawyer and a member of the Nazi party. The second of six children Ludwig was a small, skinny boy, more interested in reading and nature than sport. He loved the books of Karl May that told the tale of the young Apache chief Winnetou and the American West. A favourite Grimms fairytale was that of the willow wren, a small, quiet bird that outsmarted all the others and his favourite pastime was to escape to the woods where he could soak up the tranquility and listen to the songs of the birds.

Through accounts told to him by his father, mother and siblings, Philipp has put together the story of the family's survival through the war and under occupation by Russia. Ludwig's father Wilhelm would eventually become the local Nazi group leader (Ortsgruppenleiter) for the Leipzig area, although his mother Sarah would remain resolutely against the party and anti-war. The war would remain somewhat remote for young Ludwig until 1941 when British bombing of German cities resulted in blackouts and rationing and the escalating bombing of Leipzig in 1943 would eventually lead to separation of the family with Ludwig and his older brother Theodor sent to a boy's evacuation camp near Colditz. Ludwig and Theodor's accounts of life in the militaristic camp were pretty grim, especially for the small and bookish Ludwig, and would culminate with Theodor being sent to fight at the front at the age of fifteen.

The description of the family's plight after the war also makes for grim reading. With her husband Wilhelm presumed dead, Sarah and the children settle in Colditz, now in the zone occupied by Russia and experience real hardship and near starvation for three years, while Ludwig dreams of convincing his mother and siblings to escape to the west.

Philipp Schott is a marvellous story teller and writer and this was a fascinating account of what it was like to be a German child, and son of a Nazi Party leader during WW2. It's a tale of the courage, resourcefulness and resilience of ordinary people. The descriptions of post war deprivation in what would become East Germany were no doubt typical of what the rest of the population experienced at the time, but were definitely eye-opening.

Beautiful insight from the author about his father's life from memories of surviving WWII in Nazi Germany. Ludwig is enchanting, innocent and then engaging and determined to help save his mother and siblings from the depths into which they sink as their father falls deeper and deeper under the influence of Hitler and the Nazi regime.
Set initially in Leipzig the story moves to Colditz as the family (without their father) have to re settle into a country now facing defeat in war.
This was fascinating to read - Colditz is of course iconic from the story of the POW castle - but the town around and those who work within it brought the whole changing climate of war defeat to life. Also the amazing world into which Ludwig escapes with nature - the woods and forests and of course the birds (after which the book is called) remain integral to Ludwig's view and ability to take on board the serious adult problems that surround him.
Dealing with death, starvation, his father's rejection of them all at times and then to have to resolve finding themselves in Russian occupied East Germany are all well written.
Sometimes the author is keen to transplant factual information as within Ludwig's mind but of course the contextual part of the story needed to be set against the real family saga in some way.
So glad to read the ending and of the author's immersion into his father's memories and stories. I loved so many of the characters/often forgetting they were real and then of course despairing of their pain at times.
This is a superb book for young people as well as adults. A real life insight into how war can affect families. Children have always suffered the greatest (alongside women too) in the eye of the soldier's aim and that politics turns the very fabric of family life inside out is a lesson from history which sadly we never seem to learn,

The Willow Wren is based on the true story. It is a fictionalized account of the author's grandfather and his life during the Nazi regime. Ludwig, a young boy with a father that believes in and is devoted to Hitler and the Nazi cause,, is different than other boys his age.. Ludwig is shy and introverted, he doesn't like sports and he likes to be in the forest watching birds, whom he thinks he can understand what they are saying. His mother is the opposite of his father, she is not for the Nazi regime and makes this known to her husband. As the war comes nearer to home, Ludwig and his brother are sent to a boy's camp, a Hitler Youth Camp. Ludwig, being different, is tormented by the boy leaders in the camp, he hates the military maneuvers and training he is forced to participate in. Ludwig would rather spend time in the forest with the trees and the birds the wrens.
When the tide turns and the Germans lose the war, it is not over for Ludwig and his family. With his father gone, Ludwig must assume the role of man of the house and become responsible for his family at times as they face the new difficulties of a Russian occupation, which at times is as bad as the war itself.
This is a great memoir-style novel told from an adult perspective of a child's remembrance of events. Ludwig's naivete and innocence in the face of the terrible experiences of living through war shine through.
I found this a very unique and refreshing account of WWII, especially being told from the side of a German family, part of whom sympathizes with the Nazis. We don't read about this side as often. I really enjoyed this well-written tale of Ludwig and his little willow wrens.
Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the free ARC of the e-book version of this novel. I am leaving my honest review in return.

Based on a true story, this book is a must read. Told by a young German boy who grew up during the rise and fall of Nazism. He was from a family where his father is a senior Nazi leader.
Ludwig the young boy lives through all the detestable things that Germany went through. His mother was not a Nazi and seems like she wasn't invested in those politics.
Ludwig hides in books and nature during the bombings and loses of his previous life. He helps his mother through her depressions and with his younger siblings. They go through starvation and cold. Their determination to survive is exceptional.
I was given this book to read and review by the publisher through Netgalley.
A wonderful story of determination, hardship, loss and courage.

The Willow Wren -
I usually read a handful of historical fiction books each year and this one stands out. It is different than the usual WWII fiction - part of the reason being that it is told from the point of view of a young boy, Ludwig. I really enjoyed a fresh perspective of the tough themes in most WWII centered pieces, I also enjoyed the imagery used as Ludwig grows up. This is a fictionalized memoir of the author's Grandfather. Phillipp Schott has created a well-written engaging story that I will continue to recommend to friends and family once it is released.

The Willow Wren

This book was different from other WWII historical fiction.  Our protagonist is Ludwig, a young boy from Germany.  We read his perspective of what is happening around him and how he processes the war.  I loved all of the imagery that we see through Ludwig's journey as he grows up.  Amidst all the aspects of the Nazi regime and propaganda he was taught in Hitler's Youth Camp, Ludwig faces the biggest adversity towards the second half of the novel. 

This is a fictionalized memoir of the author's Grandfather.  The prose and composition was brilliantly well-done.  I will definitely read more by this author and recommend to my readers!

The Willow Wren is a wonderful story about a young boy’s view of Hitler’s war. Based on a true story. Ludwig was sent to a Hitler’s youth camp. His father Wilhelm, a senior Nazi and a believer in the cause, worked diligently for Hitler. Ludwig and his mother didn’t believe in Hitler and what he stood for, but didn’t let anyone know. His father was captured at the end of the war and sent to a camp to change his views. Ludwig became responsible fir his family at the age of 11 because his mother was so depressed that she couldn’t properly care for her children. Ludwig leads his 3 siblings and mother into an escape to be with his father.
I would recommend this book, it is an amazing story of survival under harsh conditions of a family left to defend for themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC to review. All opinions are my own

The book was slow at times but grew more interesting as it progressed. Ludwig, the protagonist, was a child in Nazi Germany during WW II. His father supported Hitler. It was unique to read a child’s perspective, how he interpreted misinformation and weaved it into his psyche, and how he made sense of his life/world view as he and his family adapted from living under advantageous circumstances to increasingly challenging ones. It was written from the view of an adult remembering his childhood in which child innocence is mixed with mature complexity.

A quiet and yet stunning memoir-by-proxy of a boy’s life in Nazi Germany and the aftermath there of WWII. Ludwig loves the outdoors, spending hours identifying birds and plants. But as the war nears its end and his home in Leipzig is bombed, he and his older brother are sent to a Hitler Youth camp, where conditions range from harsh to deadly. His brother is sent to the front and other boys are trained to serve in tank units despite their youth. After the Soviet army arrives and sends the boys to relatives, Ludwig and his family try to resume some kind of normal life, but food shortages and the high death tolls of the war make their survival nearly impossible. Beautifully written by Ludwig’s grandson based on his grandfather’s memories, this book chronicles a little-discussed aspects of the war and its toll on non-Nazi civilian adults and children.

This was a good book told from the point of view of an 11 year old boy, Ludwig, in Leipzig Germany at the start of and during WW2. Ludwig is small in stature, enjoys books and exploring the forest, which makes him a target for bullying. The Nazi tell the population that the war is being won, that the German army will prevail, that the Russians are losing, all of which is false propaganda. Ludwig's life changes drastically when an allied bomb hits their apartment, causing the family to separate and move to the country. Ludwig and his brother are sent to a boy's camp (essentially a Hitler Youth camp) for education and military training, even though they are not old enough to join the military (that changes when the age is lowered). This story is a fictionalized memoir of the father and grandfather of the author. The family experiences separation, starvation and when the tide of war turns against Germany, occupation by the Russians. I would recommend this book it was very good. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thanks to ECW Press and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

This book is actually a memoir but also been fictionalize (more to the names of other people besides of Schott family). This is the first time I read about a family who supported Nazi (the father only) and also adopted the ideology. The POV of family who once supported Nazi also suffered. It's just bad for both sides.

I am also enjoyed the time the author introduced the time of Germany was split into two which I am not so sure why it was split into two, more likely by whom. It does not span until the time of Berlin Wall's construction but still reader would be expose a lil bit of post WW2 life in Germany.

Amazing survival story I can say. This family managed to withstand and also meant to survive through the WW2. For me, it is not addictive but still it is a good read.

I liked this one it was a different take on WW 2 fiction but it was gripping and I really enjoyed especially wren . It was well plotted.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Philipp's Schott' book. The Willow Wren, is based upon the true story of his grandfather growing up in Germany during the rise and fall of the Nazi Regime.

Ludwig preferred to spend his time forest bathing and reading rather than playing sports. Although he was intelligent, his small stature and bookwormish nature made him a bit of an oddity with peers. Ludwig got caught in a wave of Nazi fanaticism when his father joining Hitler's Brownshirts. Ludwig and his brother were sent to a camp that groomed pre-teen and teen boys for the Hitler Youth and the military.

Lugwig faced many struggles during the war, and during the Russian occupation after the war. He and his family endured separation and starvation while Ludwig had to at times step up as man of the family. This is a story of resilience for the small (like a wren) when overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Seeing World War II through the lens of Ludwig's eyes gives a perspective of what it was like to come of age in Nazi Germany as a German youth.

I was given this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Pour yourself a glass of chilled Goldener Oktober, sit back and let Philipp Schott’s prose in ‘The Willow Wren’ bring to light his grandfather’s experience through the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. This easy reading and wonderfully penned biography-like account is to be published March 23, 2020.

Ludwig Schott, an odd and introverted child, grew up knowing his father was a lawyer by day and a member of Hitler’s Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts) by night. Although he wasn’t aware of what his father did for the party, he knew that his father was extremely devoted to the cause. Ludwig’s mother, a wonderful counterbalance to her husband's extremism, often reminded him that he was born on a Sunday and therefore, was given the gift of understanding the language of birds. It’s this realization as well as his memory of the Grimm’s fairytale of The Fence King that enable Ludwig to escape into surrounding nature as a method of survival. His whole world changes on the day of his 10th birthday, December 4, 1943, as that was the day he was supposed to spend with his father, but the 442 RAF bombers with 1300 tons of explosive ordinance had other plans for Leipzig. Ludwig and his brother are shipped off to join the DJV, German Youngsters in Hitler Youth Camp, while his younger siblings are sent to an aunt for safekeeping. Ludwig recounts his experiences living and learning within the camp, what happened when the Americans liberated their city, and an insight into what it was like living under a Soviet ration system.

You’ll feel like you are reading your grandpa’s journal because Schott has a wonderful way of enlightening his readers by drawing them into the story through narrating unintrusive diary entries. He shows how the extremism of the Nazi party affected people, how resilience was a necessary trait to acquire, and how resourcefulness leads to triumph for the Schott family during World War II.

Thank you to Philipp Schott, ECW Press and Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.