The sunflower house

"In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss's life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle's bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it's 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina's family hides a terrifying secret-her birth mother was Jewish, ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Allegri, Adriana (Author)
Format: Books Print Book
Language:English
Published: New York : St. Martin's Press, 2024.
Edition:First edition.
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Summary:"In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss's life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle's bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it's 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina's family hides a terrifying secret-her birth mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling. One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler's ruthless eugenics program. The Sunflower House is a meticulously-researched debut historical novel that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of "pure" blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to "good" Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she's determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care. A tale of one woman's determination to resist and survive, The Sunflower House is also a love story. When Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other-and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children as they can."--
Physical Description:324 pages ; 26 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (pages 321-322).
ISBN:9781250326522
Author Notes:ADRIANA ALLEGRI is a first-generation American whose parents lived in Europe before, during, and after World War II. She grew up on stories about how small acts of compassion saved lives. A former high school teacher and educational program administrator, Allegri also served as a writer/project manager for a leading data analytics company. Allegri spent fifteen years in the New York metro area but is happily relocated in Chandler, Arizona with her two ornery rescue cats. The Sunflower House is her first novel.