Rating: 
Summary: Facing the Lion : Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: It breaks my heart to write this
Review: Among those persecuted by the Nazi's, Jehovah's witnesses held the unique position of being able to end their suffering merely by signing a document renouncing their faith. The fact that as a religious group, they alone remained steadfast in the face of a demonic dictator should be the shame of all other religious groups who compromised to save their collective hides, or worse, those who hoped to gain a favored status in such a regime. When viewed in this context, the persecution of a single individual or family pales in comparison to the larger issues that are the dictates of faith and conscience. It is the inability of the author to capture these larger issues that makes this book such a disappointment. This is not to say that individual examples of faith are not inspiring. However, when you contrast this story with those of the attempted extermination of God's people in the Scriptures, the sense of perspective regarding the larger issues, and the relative insignificance of the individual participants so evident in the Scriptural accounts is sorely lacking from this book. I am reticent to disagree with so many who wrote such wonderful and heartfelt reviews. However, to concentrate on self to the exclusion of issues that Jehovah's witnesses hold as sacred is a course I can not condone.
Rating:
Summary: It breaks my heart to write this
Review: Among those persecuted by the Nazi's, Jehovah's witnesses held the unique position of being able to end their suffering merely by signing a document renouncing their faith. The fact that as a religious group, they alone remained steadfast in the face of a demonic dictator should be the shame of all other religious groups who compromised to save their collective hides, or worse, those who hoped to gain a favored status in such a regime. When viewed in this context, the persecution of a single individual or family pales in comparison to the larger issues that are the dictates of faith and conscience. It is the inability of the author to capture these larger issues that makes this book such a disappointment. This is not to say that individual examples of faith are not inspiring. However, when you contrast this story with those of the attempted extermination of God's people in the Scriptures, the sense of perspective regarding the larger issues, and the relative insignificance of the individual participants so evident in the Scriptural accounts is sorely lacking from this book. I am reticent to disagree with so many who wrote such wonderful and heartfelt reviews. However, to concentrate on self to the exclusion of issues that Jehovah's witnesses hold as sacred is a course I can not condone.
Rating:
Summary: A great lesson in developing a Conscience
Review: Facing the Lion by Simone Arnold Liebster is not only a great book for Jehovah's Witnesses to read, but for everyone with pre-teens. Simone goes into great detail on how she develops her sense of right and wrong about all sorts of day to day issues - honesty, morals, etc. I especially liked the part where she explains how her parents handled her when she took some money to buy a doll for a friend without asking permission. She writes from the child's perspective which can give parents insight on how their own child can be influenced by peer pressures and how to better inculcate higher standards in their children. Additionaly, this book is a must read for all children that face peer pressure on a daily basis as Simone gives all sorts of ways to cope and refute such pressure. The fact that it is written during the Nazi takeover of France only increases its value in the lessons to be learned. My teenage son is currently reading this book and has already found several experiences of Simone's, helpful for him to say NO, firmly but kindly, to issues going on at school. The other great item that this book has, is a lot of the original letters going back and forth from the camps, as well as the legal documentation that Witnesses were asked to sign denying their faith in order to be released from the camps. Many other books have referred to the paper the Witnesses could have signed to be freed but none have ever actually shown the wording. Very powerful material to show how brothers and sisters of all ages kept their integrity to their beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: A great lesson in developing a Conscience
Review: Facing the Lion by Simone Arnold Liebster is not only a great book for Jehovah's Witnesses to read, but for everyone with pre-teens. Simone goes into great detail on how she develops her sense of right and wrong about all sorts of day to day issues - honesty, morals, etc. I especially liked the part where she explains how her parents handled her when she took some money to buy a doll for a friend without asking permission. She writes from the child's perspective which can give parents insight on how their own child can be influenced by peer pressures and how to better inculcate higher standards in their children. Additionaly, this book is a must read for all children that face peer pressure on a daily basis as Simone gives all sorts of ways to cope and refute such pressure. The fact that it is written during the Nazi takeover of France only increases its value in the lessons to be learned. My teenage son is currently reading this book and has already found several experiences of Simone's, helpful for him to say NO, firmly but kindly, to issues going on at school. The other great item that this book has, is a lot of the original letters going back and forth from the camps, as well as the legal documentation that Witnesses were asked to sign denying their faith in order to be released from the camps. Many other books have referred to the paper the Witnesses could have signed to be freed but none have ever actually shown the wording. Very powerful material to show how brothers and sisters of all ages kept their integrity to their beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Experiences
Review: Having just finished this book, I am amazed by the courage and endurance shown by the Arnold family. I would have thought that the emotion would surface as I read through these horrific experiences, however the true, deepest emotion and appreciation for the people in this book came as I finished the last page. As I read this book, I asked myself throughout "Would my own faith stand up to such trying times and circumstances?" If anything, this book has strengthened my resolve to remain faithful under trial.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Experiences
Review: Having just finished this book, I am amazed by the courage and endurance shown by the Arnold family. I would have thought that the emotion would surface as I read through these horrific experiences, however the true, deepest emotion and appreciation for the people in this book came as I finished the last page. As I read this book, I asked myself throughout "Would my own faith stand up to such trying times and circumstances?" If anything, this book has strengthened my resolve to remain faithful under trial.
Rating:
Summary: Reality Check
Review: I found the book both inspiring and informative. In a world gone mad this woman painted a picture of a young girl trying to make sense of it all while fighting not to become just another victim. Her strength while facing impossible life decisions inspired me to review how I personally handle stress in this time of relative peace. As a young person, I had read the Diary of Anne Frank and was deeply impressed by her resourcefulness. Unlike the Jews during Nazi occupation, Simone Arnold could have chosen not to be tortured for her beleifs. Her family could have chosen to remain together and compromise. Yet they didn't. They held on to values in a time when there were few to be found. I think everyone, young and old, would benefit from comparing their convictions with the history of this amazing woman.
Rating:
Summary: Tearful and heartfelt
Review: I found this book to be a very tear-jerking book and loved it. It took me only three days to read the book and helped me to do a school report. Simone was a girl just under my age and I could not imagine going through something like that. I have often wondered how Witnesses made it through that terrible time. I have come to realize that God does give us the strngth to carry on and that he gave Simone and her family that strength as well. This book was a very good book to read and I would recommend it to many.
Rating:
Summary: Tearful and heartfelt
Review: I found this book to be a very tear-jerking book and loved it. It took me only three days to read the book and helped me to do a school report. Simone was a girl just under my age and I could not imagine going through something like that. I have often wondered how Witnesses made it through that terrible time. I have come to realize that God does give us the strngth to carry on and that he gave Simone and her family that strength as well. This book was a very good book to read and I would recommend it to many.
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