This was such a fascinating piece of history, and for me, it was hard to categorize the Edelweiss Pirates. Initially I was unimpressed with them as resistance fighters and felt that they were not as important as other resistance figures in the war. The story between the boy and the author of the journal was a nice touch, and I especially appreciated the author's note at the end which detailed how history has struggled to define the Edelweiss Pirates and others like them. I think this is an interesting little-known part of WWII that would benefit readers of all ages.

What would you do if one government official came into power today, and all the democratic freedoms you had (and potentially took for granted) came to an end? Basically, in 1933, when Hitler and the 3rd Reich came into power, most Germans experienced just that terror. Dirk Reinhardt tries to reveal to the rest of the world what life was like for ordinary Germans within that time period. Even Michael Rosen stated that during Nazi occupation, "the lives of ordinary Germans tend to be obscured."

I feel like while there is a LOT of WWII novels published lately, The Edelweiss Pirates sheds a bit of light on a lesser known group of German youth who rejected the Nazi regime in their own way. I liked the way Reinhardt develops the friendship between elderly Joself and 16 year old Daniel, allowing for reminiscing and sometimes harrowing tales of 1930's occupied Germany.

I rated the novel a 3.5 because I had to stop often and look up or translate some words, as well as look up some people to see if they really did exist, or were they fictional characters as well. Additionally, I could not shake the feeling if the author wanted to point out the feeling of uselessness at times when you want to stand up for what you believe. Definitely a thought provoking novel for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have read quite a few fictionalized accounts of real stories in WW2, but this particular group was new to me. This is well-plotted and engaging. It introduced me to another group of ordinary Germans who would not accept what was happening around them. This mixes history with fiction to recreate the exciting and dangerous story of a group of teens who rebelled against the Nazi Regime. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this free arc. All opinions are my own.

I would have adored this as a child and I think the only reason I didn't connect with this as much as I could have was the simple writing (but it IS aimed at kids, not 30 year olds so it is probably perfect for the intended age group)!

I had no idea about the Edelweiss Pirates so it was really interesting to learn their story and was a refreshing change from the usual WW2 storylines (although important, often repetitive). This feels like a book school libraries should keep copies of.

this was cozy and nice, and a great way to get teens started on the topic of the edelweiss pirates. i just think it was a little too childish for my taste; which, of course, is more than understandable. i’d still recommend it, though!

We don't know a lot about the internal German Resistance, only about The White Rose.
This is a story that mixes history with fiction and creates an exciting story about a group of teens who act against the Nazi regime.
A well plotted and gripping story, good storytelling and character development
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The premise of the book was instantly enticing. The cover is well designed and seemed like an exciting read.

From the first chapter, I could tell it would be a struggle to finish. The journal entries went on too long and could have been condensed to one paragraph. It lacked intrigue and fell flat.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Although the book was a quick read and fairly addicting, I spent at least half of it confused.

What were the Pirates against, Nazis or authority.

It really just seems like a gang of bored kids hanging out. From my understanding the Nazis were rather organized and would catch a bunch of non HJ and put them to work pretty fast.

I just couldn't my brain to make connect WW2 in 1941 to the first half of the book.

I did like the story anyhow and the second half was more in tuned to my knowledge (non educated) of WW2

The Edelweiss Pirates by Dirk Reinhardt explores the story of a nazi resistance group (The Edelweiss Pirates) that arose among youths during WWII. The main storyline is told through a diary format by a former member of the youth resistance group.

This story highlights a lesser known aspect of the Second World War, youth resistance, which gives the reader a fresh insight on how civilians in Germany were affected by the war and the regime. This premise is perfect for every history-nerd out there who are looking for a fresh take on the Second World War.

What I found to be very beautiful with this story was how the different relationships between people were portrayed: the relation between Daniel and Josef, the relation between Josef and his brother, and the relation between Josef and Tilly. I think my heart shattered during most of the conversations between Josef and his brother.

Thus, despite this story being about a well known historical event, the plot is laced with elements that are largely unknown by the general public. The book can best be summarized as a gripping tale about the adventures of teenage rebels.

A huge thanks to NetGalley for providing this advanced reader copy!

The Edelweiss Pirates was a fantastic story. Dirk Reinhardt masterfully wove this tale with pieces of actual fact and really put one in the past, you truly feel for the characters. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to reread it. When my daughter is old enough, I think this is one that I will make sure that she gets to read as well.