Facing the Lion: Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe

by Simone Arnold Liebster

Book Overview

Simone Arnold is an ordinary French schoolgirl spirited and stubborn. Then the Nazis march in, demanding complete conformity. Friends become enemies. Teachers spout Nazi propaganda. School officials... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1937188000
• ISBN13: 9781937188009
• Release Date: June 2011
• Publisher: George Milakovich & Assoc Inc
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Faith strengthening, eye opening.

Must read!

An important and inspiring book!

This book paints a portrait of life under Nazi rule that most people would otherwise never see. We are all aware of the treatment of the jews in world war II but this is the first book I've read concerning the treatment of Jehovah Witness's during this time. I knew very little about their faith when I started reading this book and even less about how they were treated by the Nazis.This book was not only informative but the story is very compelling and very hard to put down. The writer has a wonderful writing style and many times I felt I was actually reading the thoughts of this young girl as she struggled on a daily basis with her life as a prisoner while at the same time tried as best she could to live a life that her faith required.

Simone's story recounts victory over tragedy

Simone's story is honest and heartening, a tale of spiritual and moral victory over the tragedy of the Holocaust and Hitler's third reich. This wonderful little girl would not, could not, and did not compromise, and suffered greatly for it. Her two years of "reform school" from age 13-15 were an inordinately large part of her short life, and that right at puberty, an exquisitely sensitive and formative time. Her great love for her father and mother and the respect for what they taught her carries her through, all of this in the context of her devotion to God and her religious beliefs. Like myself, most of Jehovah's Witnesses have for many years been aware of Simone Arnold and other Witnesses incarcerated during the Holocaust... Simone's story is all the more important forits length, depth and breadth of scope, including her psychologicalinsights. Facing the Lion is unique in that it tells us about a child, but morethan a child, a child on her own. At least my relatives and the majority of Witnesses incarcerated during Nazi times had each other in their barracks. Highly recommended reading for young people and their parents.

Facing the Lion : Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe

A fascinating read. Never wanted to put it down. The life experience of not only a young girl dealing with the Nazi regime, but the experience of someone standing up for their beliefs, no matter what the cost. Also, this book shows the importance parents play in the moral and character development of a child. We learn that Simone, even at an early age, could not only identify truth, but make a solid decision to hold firm to what is right even though it meant persecution for herself and her family. There's much one will discover about themselves as they read this book. Definitely add this to your list and your children's list of "must read" books!

If you liked Anne Frank, you'll love Simone Liebster!

This excellent auto-biography provides a glimpse into the life and trials of a girl and her family who found themselves facing the wrath of Hitler. As members of the Jehovah's Witnesses, they refused to support Hitler's war machine and so the Nazis vowed to exterminate the group. Persecuted for their beliefs, not for their ethnicity, this story tells of Simone's quiet fight for right. Sustained by her hope and faith, she overcame opposition of the strongest kind and has found the strength and courage to share her story. For anyone who loved Anne Frank, this is a must read!