Prisoner of Night and Fog - Hardcover

Blankman, Anne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062278819 ISBN 13: 9780062278814

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 2014

Synopsis

A gripping historical thriller set in 1930s Munich, Prisoner of Night and Fog is the evocative story of an ordinary girl faced with an extraordinary choice in Hitler's Germany. Fans of Code Name Verity will love this novel full of romance, danger, and intrigue!

Gretchen Müller grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her uncle Dolf—who has kept her family cherished and protected from that side of society ever since her father sacrificed his life for Dolf's years ago. Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

When she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen, who claims that her father was actually murdered by an unknown comrade, Gretchen doesn't know what to believe. She soon discovers that beyond her sheltered view lies a world full of shadowy secrets and disturbing violence.

As Gretchen's investigations lead her to question the motives and loyalties of her dearest friends and her closest family, she must determine her own allegiances—even if her choices could get her and Daniel killed.

About this title

Review:

Official Prisoner of Night and Fog Playlist by Anne Blankman

Whenever I write, I have to listen to music. The right song puts me in the mood to write a certain scene, or gets me into a character’s head. This playlist is so diverse because this book isn’t just a thriller or a romance or historical fiction or a coming-of-age story—it’s all of them, so I picked lots of different kinds of songs to accompany certain scenes in my book. I hope these songs affect you as deeply as they affected me.

1. Paramore, “Brick by Boring Brick”
I love the raw emotion in the singer’s voice. The song’s message—about letting go of the fairy-tale castles of childhood—mirrors the main character’s struggles so perfectly.

2. My Chemical Romance, “Welcome to the Black Parade”
If you want to get into the twisted head of my main character’s brother, this is the song to listen to! I listened to this song over and over while writing chapter sixteen, and once you’ve read that part, you’ll understand why.

3. Grimes, “Genesis”
I admit, I can barely make out what Grimes is saying, but the song’s romantic and mysterious feel make me shiver every time I hear it.

4. David Guetta featuring Sia, “Titanium”
This is such a great fight song. It’s about standing up to your enemies, even while they’re trying their hardest to destroy you.

5. Nelly Furtado, “Childhood Dreams”
I’m not afraid to confess, I cry when I listen to this song about the surprise and wonder of falling in love . . . and the beautiful realization that leaning on someone doesn’t make you weak.

6. Radiohead, “Creep”
How could I write a book about Nazis without including “Creep” in my playlist? The verses about wanting to be special and have control remind me of Hitler. .

7. Emeli Sandé, “Next to Me”
I adore this song about loving and trusting someone else completely. Listen to this while reading chapter thirty-seven, and you’ll understand why I picked it. .

8. Nicki Minaj, “Right Thru Me”
To me, this song is about the shock and gratitude we feel when we realize someone loves us, even when we’re acting our worst. .

9. The Killers, “Read My Mind”
This song captures the aching isolation and loneliness several characters in Prisoner of Night and Fog feel. .

10. Thirty Seconds to Mars, “Kings and Queens”
When I listen to this epic song, I think about the bittersweet moments we all experience when we move from childhood to adulthood. .

11. U2, “With or Without You”
Best. Love. Song. Ever. Enough said.

12. Florence + the Machine, “Shake It Out”
I love the verses about blindness and trying to let go of the past. Listen to this song while reading chapters twenty-one and twenty-two, and you’ll get a deeper sense of what the main character is going through.

13. Paramore, “Monster”
This bitter, angry song makes me think of how disillusioned and disappointed we feel when our idols fall before our eyes.

14. Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna, “Fly”
There was no way I couldn’t include this haunting song about women triumphing over the enemies surrounding them.

15. Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”
To me, this song is about a complete reversal of fortune, a constant theme in the Nazis’ torturous rise to power.

16. No Doubt, “Running”
I can’t say why I picked this song or I’ll spoil the ending. Listen to it while reading the last chapter, and you’ll understand why I had to include “Running.”

From the Back Cover:

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her uncle Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.

About this edition

• Publisher: Balzer + Bray
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0062278819
• ISBN 13: 9780062278814
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 416