My Brother's Keeper- Rod Gragg - Non-Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Description:

Thirty captivating profiles of Christians who risked everything to rescue their Jewish neighbors from Nazi terror during the Holocaust.

MY BROTHER'S KEEPER unfolds powerful stories of Christians from across denominations who gave everything they had to save the Jewish people from the evils of the Holocaust. This unlikely group of believers, later honored by the nation of Israel as "The Righteous Among the Nations," includes ordinary teenage girls, pastors, priests, a German army officer, a former Italian fascist, an international spy, and even a princess.

In one gripping profile after another, these extraordinary historical accounts offer stories of steadfast believers who together helped thousands of Jewish individuals and families to safety. Many of these everyday heroes perished alongside the very people they were trying to protect. There is no doubt that all of their stories showcase the best of humanity--even in the face of unthinkable evil.

My Thoughts: I was really impressed with this one. Gragg's research is extensive, looking at not only the individuals who would later be named "The Righteous Among the Nations" but also the environment in which they lived and events that directly and indirectly affected their missions. While some of the information was knowledge that I already had, there was a lot that I was either unfamiliar with or else needed a reminder.

Another highlight of this book is that, for Christian readers, Gragg does not brush off the faith of these individuals he writes about. Instead he explains why so many felt it was their Christian duty to defend their Jewish brothers. Yet he manages to do this without preaching or quoting scripture other than what the subjects used themselves, so that it can be read by those who may not otherwise appreciate his mention of Christian principles.

Throughout, my only complaint was the lack of subject headings and breaks in the text. I understand that this is a personal preference, but I like to see beforehand what the next section will be about, and the only divider Gragg uses are bolded quotes taken from the succeeding paragraphs. While this allows for a more continuous text, it makes it difficult to come back later and find the section I was looking for.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book from the publisher.