When We Were Brave

When We Were Brave

A sweeping, unforgettable novel of courage, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism that burns in the darkest of times. When We Were Brave thrusts readers into the heart of World War II, where three lives collide in a world unraveling. Wilhelm Falk, a disillusioned SS officer, has seen too much. Haunted by the horrors of the camps, he makes the ultimate choice—to defect and expose the truth, even if it costs him everything. In another corner of war-torn Europe, young Izaak, a Jewish boy with a radiant spirit, must cling to hope as the walls close in. Each day is a fight for survival—and for his soul. Meanwhile, in America, the Müller family—citizens by birth but German by blood—are ripped from their lives and sent back to a homeland ruled by fear, where their loyalties are questioned and their futures are uncertain. As their paths edge closer, their fates twist together in a web of courage and deception, and each must choose the path to survival. In the heart of darkness, bravery is the only way out. 2020 Pinnacle Book Award, Historical Fiction2020 IPA Distinguished Favorite Award2020 TYLER R. TICHELAAR AWARD for BEST HISTORICAL FICTION -- MARQUETTE FICTION 2020 First Place Award, Historical Fiction for Reader's View Contest 2020 Book Excellence Award for Historical Fiction 2019 Distinguished Favorite for the New York City Big Book Award. 2019 Silver Medal Winner, Historical Fiction, Readers Favorite Contest. Combining excellent historical research with a compelling storyline, the hard work of author Karla M. Jay really pays off the more deeply involved you become with the characters in her plot...As the plot threads and connections slowly come together, the conclusion marks the realities of war and sticks in your mind for a long time after. When We Were Brave is a highly recommended historical read. I loved "When We Were Brave" by Karla M. Jay and found it an endearing, suspenseful, heart wrenching, and thought-provoking experience. Readers will be captivated from beginning to end, finding very hard to put down this powerful story. A Five Star MUST Read! - Susan Violante for Reader Views When We Were Brave is not a novel about suffering, although suffering certainly makes up much of it. Rather, it is a novel about perseverance, the will to survive and push back against cruelty and death... It is what makes the novel exceptional and compelling. -Daniel Casey, San Francisco Book Review Jay's (Speaking in Tungs, 2018, etc.) account is impressively ambitious, offering a sprawling view of the wages of war from three distinct perspectives. She ingeniously braids them into a coherent narrative tapestry, and along the way, she realistically describes the human degradation experienced by prisoners in the Nazi camps... Kirkus Reviews 2019 Karla M. Jay's novel When We Were Brave employs a dramatic triangle to create a highly-emotional, epic story of World War II, one that is as vivid as it is highly personal. Here is a moving, riveting tale that shows you how things once were--and how similar those times can feel to our own. Scott Lasser - Author of Say Nice Things About Detroit, Screenwriter for HBO's True Detective Series Great historical fiction teaches and entertains. When We Were Brave finds three little-remembered stories that beg to be heard. Told with vivid detail and meticulous research, these stories involve complex characters who demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit set against a backdrop of evil and tragedy. - Firoozeh Dumas, New York Times Bestselling author of Funny in Farsi, and Laughing Without an Accent When We Were Brave is a vivid, heart-wrenching portrayal of holocaust years, as innocent victims grapple with loss, loneliness, and longing while the English and American forces fight against the Nazi army...The story is told from the perspective of three protagonists whose lives become entwined. The narrative is gripping and skillfully paced, and Jay's depiction of her characters' inner turmoil, hopes, fears, and mental anguish stir the reader's heart. With complex characters and intricate plotting, Jay delivers a heart-wrenching, engrossing historical read. -The Prairies Book Review "Jay demonstrates a mastery of emotion and landscape. The scenes are visceral, the dialogue is sharp and believable, and the narrators are immediately engrossing. For history enthusiasts, the level of detail, cultural accuracy, and research feels immersive. The world of the past spills out naturally, drawing readers into the relationships between these characters. When We Were Brave is a vivid portrait of a time and place with characters who are immediately recognizable." Self-Publishing Review , ★★★★ Karla M. Jay makes her home in Utah where she loves dogs and gardening. When she is not writing, she is traveling, trying to see as many countries as possible--in particular, those with good food, great beaches, while trying to find another story that needs to be told.