A Book by a Female Author

Hey, remember my Better Reading Challenge list that I posted a few months ago? And my list of female authors, AKA authors? Well, I thought it might be useful to keep track here with some short posts on my progress through these 50 books this year. Clearly, I have some catch-up to do since it's already July.

I'm starting with the category that bridges the two other blogs I posted and am going to comment quickly on Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. I presented on this book at a Women in the Holocaust Conference at the University of South Carolina in March, so I'll try not to go on too long.

Rose Under Fire is a loose sequel to Wein's Code Name Verity. It was less well-received than Verity, and I think that's fair. Then again, Verity was amazing, so it's hard to live up to. There's room to criticize another camp narrative for young readers and it brushes up against questions about historical accuracy. Wein is well aware of that potential problem, however, and includes information on how she got her historical knowledge and where she's made allowances in order to move the story forward. This paratext is important in any YA Holocaust lit because of the way readers are often internalizing historical knowledge by reading these books.

What I liked about Rose is the engagement with two concepts rarely seen in YA Holocaust lit: medical experimentation and the Nuremberg Trials. Additionally, unlike most medical experimentation seen in popular culture, Wein humanizes the victims. Often these victims are particular sites of horror in pop culture, their bodies becoming more alienated and weirdly victimized yet again. Think X-Men, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and others here. So that's one important thing. Second, the engagement with the Nuremberg Trials, including the forthcoming trial of a guard who readers have developed some sympathy for, allows readers see how the Holocaust echoes throughout Europe long after the war is over. Rose's trauma upon leaving the camps is also worth engaging with.

I'm not covering these books, nor many other resistance narratives, in my book. There's just not room. Maybe in my next book, which is shaping up to be about female friendship and collective action. If I keep doing research. Anyway, if you are a reader of WWII adventure stories, interested in female pilots, or want to follow up your reading of The Book Thief, here's a book for you! Oh, lastly, Wein has some really interesting social media presence that helps readers gather more historical information if they want to follow up. Here's her Pinterest page, if that's your thing.