"Oppenlander's rich, gritty descriptions are a joy to read. Her touching story moves along quickly, but will keep you in suspense until the final pages." -Historical Novel Society "I highly recommend this historical book for all Civil War fans but also for those who just enjoy a good human story that will make you smile and cry." Readers' Favorite Five Stars "I fell in love with this book." -Our Town Book Reviews "...a well-deserved 5+ stars." - Locks, Hooks and Books "...full of rich details..." - Books Direct "...dramatic twists did make me think of some of those grand tales like North and South and Gone with the Wind..." - Andy's Young Adult Books "An entertaining read for those who love historical fiction." - Nancy Fraser, Award Winning Author Two friends--one black, one white. Torn apart by an attack gone wrong. One escapes into war, the other is sold into slavery. Told from alternating viewpoints, one black and one white, Surviving the Fatherland author Annette Oppenlander delivers another stunning historical tale set against the epic backdrop of the American Civil War--a breathtaking examination of the power of hope and friendship, and the endurance of the human spirit to find a way home. Tennessee, 1861. Fifteen-year-old farm boy Adam Brown would do anything to protect his friend Tip, a slave at the neighboring plantation--even if it means fighting Nathan Billings, the rich and obnoxious landowner's son. But when it seems his attack has killed Nathan, Adam has no choice but to run away and join the Union Army under an assumed name. Together with Wes, a chatty soldier with a few secrets of his own, Adam embarks on a traumatic odyssey through the war-torn Midwest. As his soul darkens with the atrocities of war, all he wants is to go home. But in order to do that--if he survives--he must face his past. Unbeknownst to Adam, sixteen-year old Tip is sold to a farmer who takes drunken pleasure in torturing his slaves. Tip quickly realizes that if he wants to survive he must run. Ahead lie hundreds of miles of unknown country, infested by slave owners, traders, starvation and cold. And so begins a journey of escape and recapture, of brutal attacks and unexpected kindness. When a rescue by the Underground Railroad goes terribly wrong, Tip finds himself caring for a pregnant runaway, his journey seemingly at an end. They have reached the Ohio River, a vast watery expanse impossible to cross. It is only a matter of time before roaming slave traders will pick them up--he will never see his mother and his best friend again. Annette has done it again! She has written another great book one that will stay with me for a long time to come if not forever. If you are looking for a great book about the civil war and slavery that is right up there with Roots or Gone With the Wind then look no further as I think Everything We Lose will fit that category to a tee. -The Avid Reader Blog "Oppenlander's rich, gritty descriptions are a joy to read. Her touching story moves along quickly but will keep you in suspense until the final pages." -Historical Novel Society "I fell in love with this book." -Our Town Book Reviews Five Stars "...a great book! Adam and Tip's story is heart wrenching and full of heartache, as well as, exhibits the bravery of many of the time." -Locks, Hooks and Books "...full of rich details..." - Books Direct "...dramatic twists did make me think of some of those grand tales like North and South and Gone with the Wind..." - Andy's Young Adult Books The U.S. Civil War (April 1861 - April 1865) was the bloodiest war in American history, a conflict that pinned brother against brother and split thousands of families. More than 600,000 men died as a result of battles, starvation and disease. Much has been written about the largest and bloodiest battles and the leading men who fought and died. As usual I wanted to show a lesser-known angle, that of a young man and his best friend, one of over three million 'common' soldiers and the parallel ordeal of a slave fighting for his freedom.While all main characters are fictional--to me they are, of course, quite real--the battle scenes and war-related leaders are based on history.  Annette Oppenlander is an award-winning writer, literary coach and educator. As a bestselling historical novelist, Oppenlander is known for her authentic characters and stories based on true events, coming alive in well-researched settings. Having lived in Germany the first half of her life and the second half in various parts in the U.S., Oppenlander inspires readers by illuminating story questions as relevant today as they were in the past.    Oppenlander's bestselling true WWII story, Surviving the Fatherland, has received seven awards/nominations, including the 2017 National Indie Excellence Award, the 2018 Indie B.R.A.G. and the 2019 Global eBook Award. Uniquely, Oppenlander weaves actual historical figures and events into her plots, giving readers a flavor of t