The touching and nuanced portrait of the rise and fall of Nazi Germany through the eyes of a resourceful German boy. Ludwig is an odd and introverted child, growing up in Hitler's Germany. While Ludwig's father, Wilhelm, is a senior Nazi and a true believer, Ludwig escapes the unfolding catastrophe by withdrawing into nature and books. Eventually, when the Allied bombing campaign intensifies, Ludwig is sent to a Hitler Youth camp, where his oddness makes him a target for bullying. As the war turns against Germany, the Hitler Youth camp becomes ever more severe and militaristic, and the atmosphere spirals towards chaos. After the Nazis abandon the camp, Ludwig returns home, and his father is presumed dead. With Ludwig's mother descending into depression, the 11-year-old bears increasing responsibility for the survival of the family as starvation sets in under Russian occupation. Soon, it will be impossible to leave the Russian zone, so Ludwig decides that he must rally his despondent mother and lead her and his three younger siblings in an escape attempt to the west. Based on a true story, The Willow Wren is a unique, touching exploration of extremism, resilience, and the triumph of the small. The Willow Wren is based on the true story of a neurodivergent boy growing up in Nazi Germany, surviving bombing, the Hitler Youth, and Russian occupation before escaping to the west. Bestselling author of The Accidental Veterinarian, Philipp Schott was born in Germany but grew up in Saskatoon. He now lives in Winnipeg where he practices veterinary medicine, writes, and shares an old house on the river with his wife, two teenagers, three cats, and a dog. This argument comes back to me now. Maybe I have the exact words wrong, but my memory astonishes me these days. I would have only been about four years old, but I do remember this. I was playing in the hallway outside the living room. I can picture the red Persian runner on the dark wooden floor. It had a pattern that served beautifully as roads for my little wooden cars. The door to the living room was closed. These houses had doors to every room so that they could be individually heated. Through the door I could hear my parents talking, but I could neither understand what they were saying, nor did I particularly care to. Then Mama's voice became louder, and I could not avoid hearing anymore. "Do you really need to be doing Party work all weekend Wilhelm?" "You know I do." Papa used a very sharp tone. I pictured him answering from behind his newspaper. "Don't snap at me. It's a reasonable question. You are hardly ever home on the weekend anymore. You are becoming even more of a stranger to your children." Mama was trying to sound calm, but her voice crackled with the electricity of barely restrained fury. "You know very well why I am doing this. Why I must do this." I heard a newspaper rustle. I was right! "Must?" Mama laughed, but it was a sardonic laugh. Even at that age I knew that people could laugh when something was not funny. "Yes, must!" Papa was shouting now. "Ok, you feel you 'must' be in this Party. You have told me many times. I don't agree, but I accept. Accepting is what I 'must' do. But all weekend, every weekend? Really Wilhelm?" "Don't exaggerate. It's not all weekend, every weekend. But this weekend is especially important. Reich's Minister Goebbels is coming on Saturday, and it is my privilege to help show him what we are doing here in Leipzig for the people!" He used the expression 'das Volk' which means something more than just 'the people.' "Ha! That idiot!" I crept closer to the door. Then there was the sudden slam of what sounded like Papa's fist hitting the table and I jumped, almost giving myself away with a little yelp.