The Sunflower House

A Novel

De: Adriana Allegri

Narrado por: Barrie Kreinik, Dallin Bradford, Saskia Maarleveld

This program features multicast narration.

Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid's Tale—during World War II.

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 from Adriana Allegri 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. The threads of this poignant and heartrending novel weave a tale of loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

A beautiful love story in the midst of tragedy

A beautiful and haunting story. I learned of another terrible aspect of the Nazi regime within a story of good and decent people doing their best to go against them. Another reminder that regular people did truly terrible things and others did amazing and wonderful things. All while everyone was hiding and pretending to be something else.

Interesting book

It was well written book and the topic was surprising and interesting. The narrator was very good.

Kept me interested throughout!

This is a moving , interesting story that kept me eager for more. Heartbreaking as well. Worth reading!

Germany

I still can’t understand the fact that one horrible man got away with such brutal events. This book is just one more aspect of what took place during Hitler times and the sadness of it all

enjoyed this story

really liked the details given about the places in Europe throughout the story. neat to learn more about what all went on during WW2