Book Cover
The Faithful Spy is a biography told in a graphic novel format chronicles the amazing life and story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian and martyr. This graphic novel stood out to me because we often include Bonhoeffer’s quotes in our church services. My husband raves about his book Life Together about the way the church should interact with one another an others. The Faithful Spy has also received numerous favorable reviews including a starred review from Booklist, and a write up in The New York Times.
Evaluation of the Writing
The first remarkable thing about The Faithful Spy is the design and layout used to tell the story. The biography is written in graphic novel format. Throughout the story, there are text features such as timelines, family histories, and illustrations that are used. The use of these elements allows the readers to more fully understand Bonhoeffer’s life and history. The colors that are used in the illustrations and background help to show the divide between Bonhoeffer’s beliefs and Hitler and the Nazis. The whole story is crafted using only blue, black, white, and red. Bonhoeffer is depicted primarily in blues and the Nazis are shown in red. This underscores and further illustrates the divide between good and evil present during World War II Germany. The Nazis are shown in a terrifying manner. As animals with sharp teeth, monsters threatening to destroy, and with Hitler himself yelling. It allows the reader to feel the menacing reality of Nazi Germany.
The next element of excellent writing is the accuracy of the information presented. The book chronicles Dietrich’s family, childhood, faith, and struggle to fight against the Nazis. The book is full of facts that shed light on this great man’s life. The information however, is not presented in a burdensome or cumbersome way. Because of the design and layout that was mentioned above, the information is presented in an approachable way for the reader. The information presented also underscores the ways in which Germany was still reeling after World War I and how this unintentionally primed the culture for a leader like Hitler. Someone who would cry out against the perceived injustices of the treatment of Germany after the Great War. The back section of the book includes a selected bibliography, index, notes for each chapter, and a section about research and authenticity. These components of the book show Hendrix’s commitment to including accurate information in the story.
Finally, the theme and tension created in the story of Dietrich’s life are stirring. As Dietrich’s life unfolds in the book, the information presented allows us to see the transformation in his faith over time. He grew up in a religious home and was studying theology at an early age. With Hitler’s reign in Germany, Dietrich began to wrestle with the truths of the Bible and the obvious wrongs that were occurring in his beloved country. Throughout the book, we see him struggling with what the Bible commands and teaches and the injustice he sees in the horrific realities of Nazi Germany. “Dietrich had always associated the ideas of ‘Duty to God’ and ‘Duty to Country’ as sharing the same core-how could you have one and not the other?” (Hendrix, 2018, p. 34) As Hitler grew in power and began his slaughter of innocent people and destruction of families and holy places, Dietrich drew a line in the sand. He could no longer be an idle spectator. “Dietrich’s resolve to resist Hitler had swelled into a holy anger. Christians must see the Jews as their brothers, as ‘Children of the Covenant.’ He believed an attack the Jewish people was an attack on all of God’s children. If the church, in this moment, did not exist to protect the other, it had no right to be called the church at all” (Hendrix, 2018, p. 78). This quote highlights the theme of the book and Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life; that we must do what is right, even if it means losing your life. Dietrich and other brave individuals began to plot the assassination of Hitler. Even if it meant death, they could no longer stand quietly as he destroyed people and their country.
Personal Response
I have always admired Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In the face of an impossible reality, he chose to try to put a stop to one of the world’s most ruthless killers. He was a quiet man of God, but he would not remain quiet during Hitler’s reign of terror. This book shows a shining example of living by faith. Even though Bonhoeffer’s plan to kill Hitler did not come to fruition, he had no fear in death. His final recorded words are “’This is the end-for me the beginning of life’” (Hendrix, 2018, p. 167). He knew that life with God was only just beginning. I long for a faith so strong, even in the face of imminent death. The book was very powerful for me. Not only was it a biography of an incredible man, it is a portrait of his powerful faith. I was riveted to the story the whole of the book, despite knowing how it would end.
Conclusion
Hendrix’s book is beautifully crafted, heartbreaking, and one that will stay with me for some time. The design of the book made the content more impactful with the inclusion of illustrations to underscore the text. A truly incredible graphic novel about a remarkable man of faith. This book would be appropriate for students in middle school and older.
APA Citation
Hendrix, J. (2018). The Faithful Spy. New York: Amulet Books.
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