A novel in verse about Sophie Scholl and the anti-Nazi White Rose Movement in Germany during World War II begins with the arrest of Sophie and her brother Hans, caught distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. The story then moves back and forth between Sophie’s interrogation (sections labeled “The End”) to her young adulthood and growing activism (“Before”), which include her romance with Fritz, a young man not unsympathetic to her feelings about the Nazis but also a lieutenant in the Germany army, to her actions on the day she and Hans were arrested (“Day Zero”). Dates on the first poem in each section clarify where the story is in time. The Nazi search for the creators and distributors of the leaflets encouraging German citizens to resist the Nazi regime, and the perspective of Sophie’s interrogators are also part of a work that builds incredible tension even when the final outcome is known. A final “Before” section shows Sophie at her youngest in the narrative, at a time when she didn’t question the Nazi youth activities in which she and Hans participated. It’s a striking contrast to what come next: a young woman walking to her death with her brother and a fellow conspirator, not necessarily without fear, but without regret. A brief, soaring epilogue is followed by notes and sources. (Age 12 and older)

"In a searing indictment of silent complicity,White Roseshines a light on one remarkable young woman's insistence on the power of truth, no matter the cost. A timely call to resistance." - Joy McCullough, author ofBlood Water Paint

"White Rose is a resonant testament to courage. In a time of horrific brutality, young people found a nonviolent way to resist. Told in the form of poetry, the story of their hopes is honored and brought back to life, still relevant today, when regimes that spread hatred are once again thriving, and words are our most powerful defensive weapon." - Margarita Engle, author of Newbery HonoreeThe Surrender Tree and 2017-2019 Young People's Poet Laureate.

"Both heart-wrenching and inspiring, Sophie Scholl's story, as retold by Kip Wilson inWhite Rose, is a stunning reminder to stand against evil, even when you stand alone. This is the kind of book that sticks in your heart long after you've finished. An incredible story of heroism incredibly told." - Mackenzi Lee, author ofNew York Times BestsellerThe Gentleman's Guide to Vice & Virtue

"White Rose is a deftly plotted, absorbing read. A bold tribute to a brave hero of the German resistance during World War II. Wilson's debut is a triumph!"
--Melanie Crowder, author of National Jewish Book Award finalistAudacity

"A graceful, moving portrait of a heroic young woman's defiant refusal to remain complicit with Nazi oppression." - Julie Berry, Printz Honor author ofThe Passion of Dolssa
A gorgeous and timely novel based on the incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenged the Nazi regime during World War II as part of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group.

Disillusioned by the propaganda of Nazi Germany, Sophie Scholl, her brother, and his fellow soldiers formed the White Rose, a group that wrote and distributed anonymous letters criticizing the Nazi regime and calling for action from their fellow German citizens. The following year, Sophie and her brother were arrested for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators. This debut novel recounts the lives of Sophie and her friends and highlights their brave stand against fascism in Nazi Germany.