The characters in this book were beautifully written and seamlessly intertwined with the real life historical figures throughout it. Rosa seems to be a World War II Forest Gump, appearing at many major events throughout the war that highlight both her luck and misfortune. Not only did I care about these characters, but the writing also made me do additional research into people and places that Rosa ended up and interacted with. I will definitely be recommending this to some of my students with special interests in World War II and Holocaust research.

World War II provides such a rich backdrop for historical fiction. Every year, at least one title tends to make it onto my reading list. However, I am getting more and more selective in which ones I choose to read. I want something that has ties to history rather than the war as a backdrop.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with Daughters of the Fatherland. The idea of looking at the gypsy population who was targeted by the Nazis was something a little different from other titles I've read. I also like to have an audiobook accompany me on daily walks.

At the start, you meet the young Gypsy girl, Rosa. She seems to have a knack for getting in trouble and her mother does her best to squish her outspoken nature. You also learn that Rosa doesn't look like the other Romani children. She has the blond hair of the 'ideal German', something her mother continually hides with dye. Rosa is told of how she was an orphan found on the streets of Berlin and taken in by the older Romani family.

The caravan has heard rumblings of increased hostility and decide to leave for potentially safer ground. They have to cross a bridge in Cologne to do so. Unfortunately, they do not make it. Rosa and her mother are shipped off to the Women’s Gypsy Concentration Camp in Austria, while her father is sent to the Men’s Gypsy Camp in Berlin. After a while (and a very awful consequence to Rosa's nature of bucking authority), Rosa finds herself with Nazi Director Leni Riefenstahl who needs Romani children to film Tiefland.

Without giving away much, I'll say that Rosa's story does not end with the filming of Tiefland. She ends up making her way to Berlin in search of her beloved father. Along the way, she learns a lot about herself and her place in the world.

The story does have a bit of after the war written into it.

Like other historical fiction novels I've enjoyed, this one had me searching for more information about the real-life people in the book. Rosa may be fictional, but the author did pull the name from one of the Romani children used by Leni. This and more is explained in the author's note at the end. (I didn't wait for that, though, and started my research after Leni was introduced.)

Alyona Popova did a good job narrating the story. It felt like the young Rosa was speaking to me instead of an adult Rosa reflecting back a decade or more after the war.

The title gives readers a different perspective of the period and is one that young adults could easily enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley, Interactive Publications Pty Ltd, and Jericho J Johnson for the advance audiobook copy to review. All opinions are my own.

I picked up this book because I like reading about WWII, and I wanted to read it from a different perspective than I normally do. I feel like this is a story that needed to be told, but it fell a little flat for me. Rosa being our disobedient child main character making it out alive seems so unrealistic for this time period. Although it seem unrealistic to me I did enjoy learning about the film propaganda from that time period. That’s something I haven’t read or explored in other books. While this wasn’t my favorite WWII book, it was good and interesting especially because it was about a different group of people and The Women’s Gypsy Concentration Camp. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy Historical Fiction and/or the WWII time period.

Daughters of the Fatherland by Jericho J. Johnson is a powerful, concise historical novel that brings the overlooked Romani Holocaust into sharp focus. Centered on Rosa—a young girl abandoned at birth and forced to navigate the brutalities of WWII—the narrative captures her fierce determination to survive and restore her fractured world. Johnson’s vivid, emotionally charged storytelling offers both a moving tribute to resilience and an insightful look at a dark chapter in history.

It is fascinating to read stories of life and survival inside Germany during WWII. In the US we have the stories of the Allies and our soldiers, and stories of concentration camp survivors, most often Jewish, who have come to the US after the war. This book reminds us that the Nazi discriminated and hated more than Jews - any culture that was not a part of their master's plan was a target for "cleansing.' Also in the US, we do not have Romani or Gypsy travelers or camps coming through our towns and back roads, trying to live in their traditional ways. I found this book enlightening and though provoking. The introduction of historical persons who were active in film making at the time added an additional level of interest and intrigue, and the development of how Rosa became acquainted with them was an example of how life can twist and turn, especially when the world is shrunk by war. We observe Rosa as she grows from a child to a young woman and grieve with her as she gains and loses those she cares for. I have found that Rosa and her story continues to linger with me.

4.5 stars rounded up.

I loved this book! This is a very thought-provoking story about the life of a young Romani girl in WWII. It's a perspective I haven't read about before and to know that this is based on real life events breaks my heart even more. I was hooked from the very beginning - there are so many historical references throughout the story, so I was often googling events along the way.

I listened to the audiobook and mostly enjoyed the narration. I did find that the narrator sounded too young, and the characters didn't really come to life for me. It came across more as if my teenage daughter was reading a story to me, which wasn't unpleasant, but also wasn't to the standard I'm used to. I soon got over this and allowed myself to enjoy the story; it's just a personal preference as opposed to bad narration. The narrator spoke clearly, and I certainly didn't consider not finishing the story because of the delivery.

The author's notes at the end are very informative, and I'm always eager to separate fact from fiction, so I was very happy that the notes were included in the audiobook edition. I'll be looking for more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ALC for review. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.

I don't even know how to start this review. I guess I'm still trying to process everything that happened. In all fairness, I just finished the book.

Let's begin at the start. It is the beginning of World War II, and we follow 10-year-old Rosa and her family, who are Romani trying to get out of Germany. Unfortunately, when the war starts, they are captured in Köln and sent to prisoner camps. Rosa and her mother are sent to a women's prisoner camp in Austria, while her father is sent to Berlin. Early in the book, we learn that Rosa was adopted by the couple who found her mother dead during Germany’s Great Depression. To conceal her German appearance, she is forced to dye her hair black. Rosa is emotionally driven, and this trait often leads to a lack of self-control that gets her into trouble.

After facing particularly severe consequences for her actions, she decides to escape the camp to find her father. But before she can escape, she is recruited by Leni Riefenstahl to participate in the filming of her movie "Tiefland". And that is where her adventure begins.

The development of Rosa’s character is quite impressive; she grows and learns a great deal throughout the story. It's hard not to, in such challenging circumstances. Rosa is determined, and she tries to move heaven and earth to find her parents. It is important to note that she is also entering puberty, which makes her journey more complicated.

I’m not sure how to describe it, but this book broke my heart. It does show how resilient children can be, especially stubborn ones. It breaks my heart because we see the perspective of Rosa, a child who was persecuted during the war. At the same time, we have the perspective of younger German boys who were thrown into combat at the end of the war. And by younger I don't mean to teenagers I mean the 10-year-olds. 

I have to say this is probably one of the best books I have read this year, if not the best so far. I would give it five stars. The author did a lot of research, which you can see, and has a way with words. There is a beautiful message about fairy tales and storytelling in the book that I believe is going to stay with me. We are all children at heart, especially when we are sad or crying. In the end, this is a story of survival.

I had the opportunity to listen to this book narrated by Alyona Popova, who nails every character. This is a personal preference, but I appreciate when an audiobook is easy to listen to, letting me multitask. And the way she did it, just nailed it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Interactive Publications for letting me listen to this audiobook, I enjoyed it immensely.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this delightful book. The female narrator had a very pleasant voice and the transition between characters was smooth and distinct. It was very enjoyable to listen to. I have read WWII books before, but not from the perspective of a gypsy. It was an intriguing read and I highly recommend it to others interested in historical fiction.

The narrator was fantastic, very easy to listen to, with a lovely voice. She gave the characters different tones and it was easy to follow who was talking at any conversation.

The story was decent, seemed to drag a little in the middle and despite being classed as true-to-life seemed to be too convenient at times when the main character Rosa was put into situations… such as the bombing of Dresden, the Reich Garden and other places. It seemed that Rosa lived in the moment a lot of the time but also had planning and wits when needed.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and the characters. Having the biographies at the end was a nice touch.

Thank you Netgalley and Interactive Publications Pty Ltd | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have listened to/ read many books set during WWII time period, I have to say this may be one that I remember for awhile. I thought the story line was well thought out and you really got to know the characters. The book is based from a different point of view than I've read from again. I believe this would kind of be considered a coming of age story, which I don't normally care for, but I just couldn't put this audio book away, I needed to know what happened next. I do believe the story line slowed down about 3/4th of the way through, but the ending made it worth is.

This story focuses on a Romani girl and her family during WWII. That’s was what drew me in; I have not read many books fact or fiction, that detail the horrible acts against the Romani people during WWII. I found myself very interested in hearing what would happen to Rosa next and if she and her family would reunite. Oftentimes I found myself feeling so upset for Rosa and what she was going through and also so frustrated with her when she got herself into trouble by not listening to her parents. I did admire the strength she showed in doing what was necessary to stay alive and then carry on as best as possible after losing basically everything. Overall, I would recommend this to others.

I have read quite a lot of fiction and non-fiction books that are set and about this era of history but very few focus on the Romani and their experiences so felt this would provide some information given it is billed as "true-to-life" and whilst I'm sure there are aspects that are just that, it just left me feeling a bit like the author was trying to put too much into it to cover all bases which resulted in it becoming OTT.

It's not a bad book but it's not the best I've ever read or listened to. The narrator was good and I think she managed all the characters well.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Going to be blunt and a little harsh here- this was a story that needed to told, but it was very… dry. Everything felt like it was only half done, but the first half was enough to make me finish the book. I wish the characters, their dialogue, the imagery, and a lot of other things had just gone deeper.

On the other hand, I did enjoy Rosa’s character and watching her grow up. It just all felt like it was missing something.

Exactly the right amount of history in this historical fiction. I learned more about the Roma people and their holocaust experience but also about the making of propaganda films, Marlena Dietrich and her tours to encourage the troops. Daughters of the Fatherland has a compelling character in Rosa who carries you through a rough patch of history while maintaining a hopeful perspective. Highly recommend.

2.75*

I wish I had known before starting this book that the main "inspired by true events" aspect of this story was the main character. This explains the strong degree of "she's not a chosen one, but things just constantly fall into place around her", "this narcissist should be her idol, but she's actually thought something through (for once) and hates her" also "somehow she has -5 impulse control but she's a clever planner?" discrepancies I kept finding with the character and the book. At the end, where the author explains what is fact and what is fiction, it made me realize why she'd bothered me so much through the reading of it. All that being said, Rosa is a toxic force for chaos that I didn't enjoy, even knowing she was entirely fictional in her choices.

This is a very dark book about a young girl's stubborn refusal to let anything change her mind leading her through war-torn Germany. You get to hear and 'see' about a lot of awful war-related things, though miraculously almost none of them happen to the FMC. You get to watch her make a lot of really smart and really dumb decisions, but in the end, you do get to see her mature.

TLDR: Period accurate, if not historically accurate, child-in-war story without much to recommend it. If you like WW2 dramas, recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Interactive Publications Pty Ltd for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Rosa always loved to read. It was a hobby her mother loathed, but her father loved. Living in a traveling Gypsy caravan meant needing to travel light – Rosa’s books were sparse but treasured because of the limitations, but reading keeps her out of trouble. Her father and the leaders know they are being watched and other Gypsy groups have been arrested by German officials. Any trouble the children raised with the Hitler Youth would only mean their group would be imprisoned, too. Will the caravan make it to safety across the border, or will they end up in the concentration camps, too?

Jericho J. Johnson’s Daughters of the Fatherland juxtaposes the Romani Holocaust against the Hitler-backed film industry, focusing on the plight of the children on both sides of the war. Johnson delivers an almost hard to believe tale showcasing how one German orphan girl, taken in by a Gypsy caravan ends up in a concentration camp before becoming the closest assistant and confidant to one of German’s leading film stars. With lots of name dropping and drama, this tale is not for the faint of heart.

I give Daughters of the Fatherland 3 out of 5 stars. To be clear, this is an era I have read about extensively, both in fiction and nonfiction. The amount of literature written from the perspective of the German citizens is low, and from the Romani viewpoint even lower. I was interested in this book mostly because of this perspective. However, there were moments of cruelty and abuse in this book that were difficult to read – almost to the point of me setting this book aside and not finishing. The violence against the children was just too much. As mentioned above, this book also felt like too many varied plots shoehorned together to make a narrative that isn’t natural. The starving mother whose daughter is adopted by the Gypsies, the family being abandoned by their caravan, their capture and imprisonment in the camps, the guards didn’t kill Rosa for her disobedience, Rosa’s “hiring” to work on the film set, Rosa becoming an important part of the director’s life, the director having a past with an actress who has a big name in American film, Rosa and the children employing a tactic to blow up a tank that felt ripped out of the Wonder Woman movie, etc. It’s just too much to believe and felt too manufactured.

Given the themes of child abuse and general violence, this book should be directed to more mature audiences over 16. I would recommend this book to readers looking to learn more about the role cinema played in both propaganda and concentration camps, or about the Hitler Youth’s role in the war – I would use it as a jumping off point for further reading or research. However, I cannot recommend this as a general read given the passages I found too disturbing and the near unbelievability of the plot.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the unique viewpoint and also the cover art. The description gave the impression this was going to be a tame historical fiction read, but what the author delivered was a disturbing thriller with some childhood romance thrown in for good measure. I chose the audiobook version and really loved the narrator. I would definitely choose more audiobooks featuring Alyona Popova!

Daughters of the Fatherland released December 1st, 2024 and is available from your favorite retailer, including Bookshop.org!

I listened to this book because I like hearing/reading about WW2. It's a good book, and easy to listen to. I enjoyed this book. I don't like to give spoilers in my review, but I have wondered about Rosa's heritage. I don't recall if it said. If you like WW2 things, this is a easy read-easy listen book.

I read this book in audio format and was thoroughly impressed by the performance and production quality.

I picked this book out because I have for a while been curious about the less discussed victims of the holocaust, such as the Romani, and wondered about that experience. Drawing on real life events, the narrative has lead me to research things like the production of Tiefland, which was interesting and not something I would have known about otherwise.

From a narrative sense I found this story somewhat ridiculous; the number of wildly improbable events - particularly in coming across people the protagonist had met previously or people with close connections to one another randomly during her travels across war torn Germany - which were necessary to move the plot forward really took me out of the story at times. I would not object to individual occurrences of this but when it happens over and over again I struggle to take the story seriously.

The way the story treated the American soldiers in contrast to the Russians also felt somewhat propagandistic to me; particular attention was focused on the barbarity of the Russians in their treatment of German women, contrasted with the American liberators. I don’t personally know about raw numbers but not long ago I watched a DW documentary which interviewed both women who had been attacked by Americans and women who had been attacked by Russians. This isn’t to cast aspersions on the American GI’s at large, but bending the truth to draw a clear evil vs saintly distinction between the groups makes me a little uncomfortable. It seems disrespectful to the victims of the crimes it ignores. I guess I just didn’t expect a book so clearly informed by detailed historical research to be so uninterested in critically examining its assumptions about some of the history.

Title: Daughters of the Fatherland
Author: Jericho J Johnson
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Alyona Popova
Publisher: Interactive Publications Pty Ltd. (Independent Book Publishers Association IBPA), Members' Audiobooks
Genre: Historical Fiction
Audiobook Pub Date was: December 1, 2024
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 292

This is a historical fiction story regarding the fate of the Romani - Gypsy families during World War II and the Holocaust – informs us of the bond people had with one another as well as the fate of the children.

I am not a big fan of WWII however there are Historical Fiction stories surrounding that time period I do enjoy.
Audiobook narrator Alyona Popova was great at performing the characters-additionally has a beautiful singing voice!

Thank you NetGalley and Interactive Publications Pty Ltd. (Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Date was December 1, 2024.

One of my favorite parts of historical fiction is learning new aspects of history as told through a narrative. I loved this novel because it was an intriguing narrative on a lesser known and explored aspect of WW2, the Romani holocaust.