Freiheit is the German word for liberty and is an apt title for this graphic biography of The White Rose. Ciponte depiction of the non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany led by a group of students from the University of Munich is chilling. The decision to struggle against all odds against the tyrannical fascist regime is driven by intellectual disgust of Hitler’s Germany and some its members’ faith demonstrates a level of bravery that is inspiring.

Ciponte’s art is just lush. Stylistically it is impressionistic; panels look like stills from a rotoscoped film, which lends a sense of motion and realism to the pages. There is genuine flair in the way some of the pages are composed. The combination of quotes from the leaflets that The White Rose produced with the grainy Pointillism inspired colouring produced some deeply affecting images. Ciponte somehow imbues the characters with a sense of youthfulness.

The dialogue here deserves special mention. It is sharp, clever, and perfectly pitched. Despite their shared aims, each of the characters are driven by slightly different motivations. They have different hopes and fears, which really comes across in the dialogue. I would be interested in finding out how much of it came from diaries or was imagined by Ciponte.

Freiheit! is a compelling biography of the rebels that came together at the University of Munich to resist in whatever way they could, one that immerses the reader in the tragic journey both they and Germany went through. It is both inspiring and shame-inducing. It begs the question of the reader: These young people did what they could, what are you doing to better the world? A though-provoking and prescient novel especially given protests around the world. Brilliant stuff. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

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