Rose Under Fire

I listened to this one in the car - and went into it thinking it would pale in comparison to Code Name Verity. I felt that way through about the first 40% of the book... I was enjoying the story - but wasn't really hooked. Main character Rose is shallow and naive - she likes to fly. She's a participant in the war - but she is just skipping along the surface of things and doesn't grasp the horror (and has no desire to learn more or believe the little she's hearing). Then her life takes a horrific turn and Rose's real “education” begins. It's at this point that the book began to click for me.

I absolutely loved how Rose's character grows throughout the book. I enjoyed getting to know the other people in her world. Polish resistance prisoner (and rebellious teen) Roza is the most enjoyable to get to know - her sarcasm and whit add humor and depth to what might easily have become a maudlin retelling of the horrors of Ravensbrück. This is a new favorite, I will add this to my ‘reread' list.

You don't need to have read Code Name Verity to read this one. But reading it will give you more insight into two of the characters.