Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance

Gr 4-7–Hans and Sophie Scholl’s family taught them love and peace at home, but in the greater world, Germany was suffering after the first world war, and Adolf Hitler rose to power. Written in prose and based on true events, Pazner’s book introduces readers to two young activists and the power of words. People like Hans and Sophie’s politician father Robert Scholl were forbidden to speak their truths criticizing the Nazi party. Without their father’s approval, Hans joined the Hitler Youth and Sophie joined the League of German Girls. Hans and his friends believed in freedom of speech and the goodness of people, so they left to start a student movement, the White Rose Resistance. Sophie joined the movement, which used the power of the written word to speak out against Nazis in World War II. Throughout the book, the impact of the written word is repeatedly demonstrated: the White Rose Resistance placed thousands of anti-Nazi leaflets throughout the University of Munich. Because they gathered, read banned books, and told the truth, they were breaking the law, and were subsequently arrested and executed. Casson’s illustrations with colored pencils and oil pastel monotype simply and poignantly depict emotions and imagery. For its length, this title comprehensively explores the atrocities of the Nazi party by introducing tween readers to young people who came together to speak out; who both influenced others and were impacted themselves. For younger readers, and those not familiar with the Holocaust, the ending historical section explores how Hitler was able to come into power and control so many people.