CHOOSING SIDES

Having grown up on both sides of the Atlantic, Karl-Heinz must now choose: Nazi Germany or the U.S.?The story in Choosing Sides revolves around a young man who grows up on both sides of the Atlantic just before World War II. Having been born in Germany, but moved to America at age four, Karl-Heinz returns seven years later to a changed Deutschland. He meets der Führer personally and becomes active in the Hitler Youth. He idolizes Uncle Ernst, a rising Nazi official. His cousin Peter and his childhood sweetheart Annelies are both Party devotees. But Karl-Heinz also loves the peaceful life he experienced in America. As the world enters its second global conflict, which land will Karl-Heinz claim as his own? Which side will he choose?Advance Praise for Choosing Sides“Readers will find it chilling … Although the historical details of book burnings and Kristallnacht, portrayed here, are well known, the author’s strength is in his portrayal of ordinary Germans swept into the increasing horror – some actively, some passively – while others are stilled by fear. Well-developed characters bring new life to a familiar and frightening story.”Kirkus Reviews “Engaging novel about a German family divided by the rise of the Reich … Narrated in crisp, no-nonsense prose, the novel captures the dilemmas of ordinary people caught in the sweeping changes happening in Germany … [and] the heart-rending tensions faced by the family.”BookLife by Publishers Weekly“A historically rich, fictionalized family saga … a compelling and valuable story … The author has an impressive knowledge of history and knows how to convey it in digestible, flowing and easy-to-understand chunks … the characters sit within the perfect time frame.”Colin Mustful, Editor, History Through Fiction; author of Reclaiming Mni Sota. An Alternative History of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862“A new voice brings a fresh perspective to the old, oft-told story of a family rent by war. Across three decades, from the beginning of World War I to the end of World War II, we follow the author’s extended family on both sides of the Atlantic. We learn of their hopes and dreams and motivations, we experience through them the rise and fall of the Nazis, and we see yet again how the great movements of history change so many private lives.”-William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of December ‘41 “Written clearly and economically, David K. Wessel’s Choosing Sides has the richness of an epic. Told in part through letters which ring true to the events they recount - the trenches of the Great War, the turbulent interwar years, and the rise of National Socialism and its terrible aftermath - it is the story of one family’s travails as the nation of Goethe and Beethoven turns to barbarity.”-Christopher C. Gorham, author of The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WII and Shape Modern America“A must read for anyone who wants an insider's view of how war threatens a family's cohesiveness. Interspersed with letters and historic photographs, as well as fascinating family memorabilia, this novel offers a portrait of everyday people facing the horrors of war and an era that must never be forgotten.”-Elaine Stock, author of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy“A moving and compelling story of the challenges faced by his people during this period. The ones who moved to the US faced the perennial problems of immigrants everywhere … The ones who remained in Germany eventually faced the terrible problem of Hitler. … All suffered as Hitler led his people to disaster. A fascinating book.”-Mark Ellis, bestselling author of the acclaimed DCI Frank Merlin WW2 detective series Read more