Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is probably one of the best WWII books I have read. The 3 stories are so well written and could've each been a separate novel. Well researched and different than other books of this period I have read.

“When We Were Brave” by Karla M. Jay is a novel that portrays all the horror, grief, inhumanity, and bravery found in a young Jewish boy, a disenchanted SS officer, and a German-American family.

Wilhelm Falk fakes his death in order to be able to surrender to the Allies. He has been surreptitiously gathering incriminating evidence of Nazi horrors at the death camps during “visits” to each camp. He has posted photographs and other evidence to a pastor, a dear friend of his, in hopes that he can reclaim this information and turn it over to the Americans so that they can stop the killing of over 10,000 “undesirables” each day. His arduous journey is fraught with danger to him and to his family if his actions become known by the SS.

Izaak Tauber is a young half-Jewish boy, a Mischling, living in Amsterdam, Netherlands, whose father has been taken away to a “work” camp. His father asked him to take care of his mother until he could return to them. The two of them tried to leave via the resistance, but they were found out. Each day becomes another mountain of horror that they must endure. Izaak keeps on hoping that the situation will ease and that he and his family will be together again.

The third part of this story is about Herbert Müller and his family who farm in a small community in Pennsylvania. They are of German descent, Herbert’s father, Otto and his wife emigrated to American after the Great War. Herbert and his brother, who is serving in the Navy in the Pacific theater, were born on American soil. However, his father never became a citizen and the anti-German hysteria that believed that the family are spies changes their lives as no one in this day and age can imagine. I found this to be the most heart-breaking of all as an American, also of German-Irish descent. Although this happened long before my time, I feel responsible.

I found that this novel touched me as no other has. I felt the dismay, the helplessness, the absolute inability to make someone, anyone, listen to the truth. What an excellent book!

When We Were Brave gives us unique insight into aspects of WWII that are not typically as well-researched and documented as they are here. Told from the points-of-view of three lives heavily impacted by Hitler's Third Reich, we are provided details of 1) an American family that was targeted and harassed by their neighbors and U. S. government officials until the family decided to repatriate to Germany; 2) an SS officer who became so appalled and ashamed of the atrocities being committed that he determined to inform any government that might intervene on behalf of the millions of Jews suffering at the hands of Hitler's regime; 3) an eight-year old Jewish child who attracted the attention of Joseph Mengele and who barely escaped that particularly evil menace.

WWII literature and American movies have generally afforded more attention to Japanese internment camps than to German camps designed for the same purpose. It is not commonly noted that German-Americans were encamped and then sent to Germany in exchange for Americans who were caught overseas and unable to return to America before the outbreak of war. Also given more than usual attention here is the pseudo-town at Terezin, the concentration camp that was literally re-created as though it were a movie set, complete with coffee shops, theaters, and houses, all to convince a visiting Red Cross task force that all was well within the Jewish "detainee camps".

When We Were Brave is specific, detailed, and personal. It is informative and emotional and should be read with that in mind. I highly recommend it to those who are interested in a wider historical and personal context of the Holocaust.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

When We Were Brave by Karla M. Jay is a fabulous historical fiction piece of epic proportions.
It interweaves the haunting stories of three main characters: Wilhem Falk (an SS officer who wants to right some of the wrongs of his fellow men), Isaak Tauber (a young Jewish boy with his mother and father just trying to survive the atrocities), and Herbert Muller ( a German-born man who with his wife became American citizens that live in Pennsylvania) all during the latter years of WWII.
The author’s ability to weave these heartbreaking stories together is breathtaking.

What was done to the Jewish people internationally, as well as what the American government did to the Germans that resided in our country, is appalling.

I knew about the Japanese camps, however I did not know anything about the fates of many Germans here during that time (some were citizens, some were not, however their citizen status is irrelevant).
For some of the behaviors of our government officials at that time, I am embarrassed and ashamed.
I hope we now can see this behavior and these events, and learn from this...and never let any of this happen ever again.

I am grateful for the author for this learning experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Book Circle Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

If you love historical fiction from the WW2 era then you must read this!

It follows the tragic lives of 3 different people and their families during the reign of Hitler. Author Karla Jay perfectly depicted the difficulties for anyone living during these times.

Wilhelm Falk is an SS soldier who commits treason by taking on the identity of a fallen soldier so he can have passage to America in order to report to the US President the atrocities of Hitler and the Nazis.

Izaak Tauber is an eight year old boy who travels through different prisoner camps with his mother. Throughout the novel, he holds on to the hope that he and his mother will finally find his father in one of these camps.

Finally, Herbert Muller is an American citizen from german descent. He and his father Otto are wrongfully imprisoned after an order was put in place by the president to imprison any Germans in the USA who have the possibility of interacting with the enemy.

Despite their different backgrounds, ages, and intents, we can see how brave these people were during those times.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

I received this book "When We Were Brave" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. One of the better historical fiction books I have read. The author brings you right into the story. You are a part of the story and the life of these people. WWII was a terrible time in the world and you really feel for everyone involved. I enjoyed reading and learning more about this historical time. I found it very interesting. I liked that it wasn't too detailed and that made the story flow smoothly.

When We Were Brave by Karla M. Jay is a gripping WWII novel. Three different stories unravel during the same time period. William Falk is an SS officer who is mortified by what Hitler and the Germans are doing to the Jewish people and he is desperately trying to notify American dignitaries so that they can intervene and end the war. Izaak is a young Jewish boy who is subjected to the horrific atrocities the Nazi's inflict upon him, his family, his friends and all the prisoners in the camps he is taken to. Herbert Muller and his family are American citizens, who are sent to an internment camp on Ellis Island and eventually forced to return to Germany in the middle of the war. This is the second book I have read about German-American citizens who became prisoners of war in the United States and are forced into internment camps. Karla M. Jay did an amazing job researching this time period. When We Were Brave would be an excellent book club read, with so much to discuss.. Thank you NetGalley and IBPA for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

”When we were brave” tells the story of three very different families that live during the WWII: a Jewish family, a German family that lives in Germany and a German family that lives in U.S.A. .
Most of the time, when we hear the words World War II, we think about Holocaust and how many people were murdered by the Nazis, rarely we think how the soldiers lived, how could the SS do such terrible things and we never think how German civilians from other countries lived or how were they treated by their neighbors.

One story is of Izaak, a Jewish boy that develops his creativity and talent while trying to survive the war.
Another story is of Wilhelm Falk how tries to redeem the mistakes he made as an SS officer by helping the enemy to destroy the concentration camps.
And the third story is of the Muller family. Living in U.S.A., far from war, they never thought they will be treated by Americans like Jewish people were treated by Nazis, only because they were Germans.

Reading three different perspectives of how a war can impact human being slives helped understand that ”war caused strange behavior patterns, that echoed in ways no one could guess”.

This book is very well documented and a pleasant read for someone who wants to understand better the consequences of the WWII.

When We Were Brave by Karla M. Jay is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Germany, America and World War II. Fascinating historical fiction based on the facts of World War II, Germany‘s Final Solution, American responses, and how people were affected by the action or non action of others. This book focuses on three main families and how their lives impact others. It delves into the war, the lives, the suffering and faith of both Individuals and nations. While not a Jewish or Christian book it is written with a Judeo Christian perspective. I thought this book was an excellent example of how God orders our steps.
In the reader‘s guide part of a question was: what would you be willing to do? Today so many still suffer under various socialist rulers and the questions remain the same.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

In this sad tale of WW2 history the author found a way to have you spellbound in these characters tale of true horror and this young boy Izaak never giving up hope and finding a way threw the he'll the Nazi's put his family and so many other threw. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and highly recommend it to others that do. And say to anyone that hasn't read one yet - this is the one to start with! I cried and felt so engulfed in this amazing book ! Amazing read and writing by this author! I will be looking forward to reading more of her books in the future. Thank you Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!