
The Sunflower House
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Barrie Kreinik
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Dallin Bradford
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Saskia Maarleveld
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By:
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Adriana Allegri
About this listen
This program features multicast narration.
Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid's Tale—during World War II.
In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss’s life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle’s bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it's 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina’s family hides a terrifying secret—her birth mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling.
One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.
The Sunflower House is a meticulously researched debut historical novel from Adriana Allegri that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she’s determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care.
A tale of one woman’s determination to resist and survive, The Sunflower House is also a love story. When Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children as they can. The threads of this poignant and heartrending novel weave a tale of loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press
©2024 Adriana Allegri (P)2024 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"The Sunflower House is an unforgettable story of love and sacrifice. Written with heartfelt compassion for people facing choices no one should be made to make, this novel draws you in and leaves you a better person for knowing this story. Allegri is an author to watch, and this is an exceptional debut."—Heather Morris, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
"[A] stirring debut . . . Allegri keenly depicts her characters’ moral calculations, and she convincingly portrays the horrors of the Lebensborn program. This will stay with readers."—Publishers Weely
“Adriana Allegri’s impressive debut is a riveting, heartrending story of love, sacrifice, and redemption set amid the horrors of the notorious Nazi Lebensborn Program. Immersive and full of compelling characters, The Sunflower House is a moving tribute to the power of ordinary people to resist and to overcome.”—Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Resistance Women
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Johnnie Rico never really intended to join up—and definitely not the infantry. But now that he’s in the thick of it, trying to get through combat training harder than anything he could have imagined, he knows everyone in his unit is one bad move away from buying the farm in the interstellar war the Terran Federation is waging against the Arachnids. Because everyone in the Mobile Infantry fights. And if the training doesn’t kill you, the Bugs are more than ready to finish the job.
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The definitive version!
- By Kristopher G. Hesson on 10-03-24
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Say No More
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Who is Audrey Hoedemaker? It's a question her sister Maureen has heard more times than she can count, and she doesn't know what the short answer would be. Little sister, troubled teen, backpacker, musical theatre coach, con artist, childcare worker. Murderer. A tragic, traumatic childhood casts a long shadow on the Hoedemaker sisters. Maureen has worked hard to move beyond the violence of the past and build a good, honest life for herself. Audrey, however, just can't seem to do the same, careening from one state of chaos to another.
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Seriously, that was the ending?
- By alicia in athens on 02-13-25
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"England, 1940. Dearest Ruby, you must have heard the news by now. The very worst has happened. Our countries are at war. What can I do? How can I stop this nightmare from happening? One day soon we’ll be together again. I swear. I love you. E. x". Ruby Summers is a tapestry of memories, her ninety-six years laced with both love and loss. The echoes of a wartime Norfolk summer, where young Ruby's heart entwined with Edmondo's under orchard skies, are as vivid as ever. Yet a single, haunting secret - born from a love tested by war and a betrayal that shattered her - remains locked within her.
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Paris, 1943. The scent of fresh baguettes hangs in the air as Coralie unbolts the door to her bakery with trembling fingers. She must get out of the city. Hiding her precious leather recipe book inside her coat, she promises never to let the secret locations of the people she worked tirelessly to save fall into German hands… Present day. Raven is unhappy about being shipped off to the other side of the country for the summer to stay with the mysterious French grandmother she barely knows.
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Interesting characters
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What listeners say about The Sunflower House
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- mydoc3
- 03-07-25
Oh My Heart
This book is just heart wrenching!!! It is so worth reading as it has you feeling all of the emotions for that time period!!!
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- Judith Sprague
- 02-03-25
never knew this
a good story on a sad and
thing and how terrible people are during war time
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- Sandra J. Roberts
- 02-22-25
The Mischlings
The amount of Mischlings that were in Germany and doing what the needed to survive.
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- Peter B
- 01-09-25
A beautiful love story in the midst of tragedy
A beautiful and haunting story. I learned of another terrible aspect of the Nazi regime within a story of good and decent people doing their best to go against them. Another reminder that regular people did truly terrible things and others did amazing and wonderful things. All while everyone was hiding and pretending to be something else.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-07-25
Interesting book
It was well written book and the topic was surprising and interesting. The narrator was very good.
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- Suzy Brooks
- 11-17-24
More, please
This morning I finished The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri, a beautifully written and well-researched book set during WWII. The story brings to light the lesser-known history of Lebensborn homes in Germany, designed to perpetuate the Aryan race. My 4-star rating is primarily because I felt the book should have been longer. At 10 hours on Audible, it easily could have extended to 15+ hours. By slowing down the narration and focusing more on the danger, risk, and love, Allegri could have explored the depths of the story even more. The denouement felt rushed, and I wasn't ready for it to end.
Although fictional, The Sunflower House parallels many real-life stories of Mischlings trying to survive without being discovered, the young women willingly entering these homes in service to the Reich, the heroes risking their lives to save as many children as possible, and the bittersweet reality of love during wartime. The book alternates between the wartime experiences of Allina, the heroine, and the modern-day life of her daughter Katrina, creating a compelling and emotional narrative.
The historical aspect of the Lebensborn homes is both fascinating and horrifying. These homes were part of a Nazi program aimed at increasing the Aryan population by offering special care and privileges to women who bore children deemed racially pure. Key figures in the creation and secrecy of this program included Heinrich Himmler, who founded Lebensborn, and Gregor Ebner, the chief medical officer, who ensured the program's medical and racial policies were strictly followed. Fortunately, the program was not as successful as it was designed to be.
Despite its flaws, The Sunflower House is an engaging read that provides valuable insight into a dark chapter of history. It reminds us of the courage and resilience of those who fought against oppression and the complexities of love and survival during war. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII history, personal stories of struggle and resilience, or simply looking for a captivating read.
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- Audrey Flick
- 03-10-25
love between Carl and Katrina
fascinating, well written story. excellent narration. this time in human history should never be forgotten or repeated.
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- victoria
- 12-19-24
Great read
Fantastic story about history that I never knew about. I highly recommend this quick read!
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- Dana Patterson
- 01-20-25
The story! The characters! The emotion! The narration! All of it!
Adriana Allegri delivered a refreshing new story for us WW2 historical heroine lovers! She made the characters feel authentic, raw and believable. Saskia Maarleveld is my favorite narrator and did not disappoint!
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- Gosia Nealon
- 02-15-25
Stunning
This is a beautiful and inspiring story of sacrifice and love. My heart was with Allina and Karl the whole time.
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