Risking Exposure by Jeanne Moran

Please join Jeanne Moran as she tours with HF Virtual Book Tours for Risking Exposure, from May 4-15.

Publication Date: September 2013

CreateSpace

Formats: eBook, Paperback

186 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Young Adult 

Munich, 1938, Nazi Germany. War is on the horizon. A timid Hitler Youth member contracts polio. Photographs she takes of fellow polio patients are turned into propaganda, mocking people with disabilities. She is now an outsider, a target of Nazi scorn and possible persecution. Her only weapon is her camera.

This well-researched historical fiction novel unveils a seldom-seen side of the Nazi agenda. A sequel is in the works.

***REVIEW***

I thought this was a very enjoyable read. It's short, can be read in one nice lazy day. And that's not a bad thing. I get tired of door stops. Its shortness, however, does not detract from the importance of the moral it imparts, nor does it take away from the seriousness of the history within. The writing is also stellar, balancing historical facts with an engrossing story, ensuring that you won't soon forget the history you're learning.

The moral is...that being a silent bystander is just as bad as being a perpetrator. 

In this novel, we meet Sophie in 1938 Germany. She's in the Hitler Youth and she likes photography, just like her father. But whereas she used to be proud to be German, lately she's witnessing propaganda that has not feeling so proud. And when she contracts polio, the reality begins to hit much closer to home. They've gotten rid of the Jews. They've gotten rid of the church. How soon before they come and get rid of the "useless mouths"?

Sophie's family winds up in trouble and Sophie is faced with a difficult choice: run and hide, or expose the truth?

I really enjoyed reading about Sophie's battle both with her feelings and her polio. Her time in the hospital was both sad and inspiring. The author gives us an intriguing cast of characters--both adults and pre-teens. There are the confused German Youth, the mean, the silent, the helpful, the scared. The girl in the hospital doing ballet with her crutch...touched something in me. There's something for everyone in this story. While I'd suggest it be offered in every middle-school library, I also think adults will be just as moved by it all. I was.

My only complaint--and I realize there's a sequel--is the unconcluded ending. I'm not a fan of having to wait a year or so to find out what happens next. I think with how short this was that it and its sequel should have been one novel.

 

Praise for Risking Exposure

“Ms. Moran is opening the door to this thought: if more (maybe only a handful more) people stood up and did small things too, could some of the awful suffering of this era been averted or lessened? And more poignantly, how about today? The book ratifies the importance of small actions done with love, bravery, and purpose.”

”…the book was a beautiful collection of thoughts, historically accurate bits of data, and a easy read in terms of the flowing writing style, but deals with a lot of heavy topics in a censored way. This is definitely a great book to study, for school students, as it’s written in a simplistic yet effective writing style, and provides a brilliant coming-of-age story for all types of audiences.”

“There is so much to talk about in Sophie’s story – – what we accept as normal, what society thinks of its less able-bodied citizens, whether one person can really make a difference… we read it for our own book club discussion next month — and we’re all well past our teen-age years, so that shows the power of this small gem.”

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About the Author

Jeanne Moran reads and writes stories in which unlikely heroes make a difference in their corner of the world. In her everyday life, she strives to be one of them.

For more information visit Jeanne Moran’s website.  You can also find her onFacebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Risking Exposure Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, May 4
Review at 100 Pages a Day – Stephanie’s Book Reviews
Spotlight & Excerpt at Shelf Full of Books

Tuesday, May 5
Spotlight at Cheryl’s Book Nook

Wednesday, May 6
Review at Mel’s Shelves
Spotlight & Excerpt at Historical Fiction Connection

Thursday, May 7
Spotlight at Broken Teepee

Friday, May 8
Review at Book Babe

Monday, May 11
Review at Book Nerd

Tuesday, May 12
Review at Beth’s Book Nook Blog

Wednesday, May 13
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, May 14
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Friday, May 15
Review at Genre Queen