Book Review: The Faithful Spy

The Faithful Spy, by John Hendrix (Amulet Books, New York) is a graphic novel. Comic books, which were the graphic novels of my childhood, are distant relatives of today’s graphic novels. Be assured, though, The Faithful Spy is much more than a comic book, or even a comic book on steroids. This graphic novel is a biography of the theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It tells a powerful story in words and pictures.

Bonhoeffer was a world class theologian. He wrote insightful, life changing books, such as The Cost of Discipleship,  Life Together, and Letters and Papers from Prison. Bonhoeffer also lived in Germany during the tumultuous time following WWI, and during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. He was one of the few voices raised against Hitler. Eventually, he was one of the members of a group who plotted to assassinate Hitler. His group almost succeeded, but almost wasn’t good enough. They were all executed. Bonhoeffer was martyred a few weeks before the end of WWII.

A Book That Challenges the Reader

The Faithful Spy shares the highlights of Bonhoeffer’s life. The words add to the pictures and the pictures add to the words. They both draw readers into Bonhoeffer’s story. Readers feel his struggle to go against the majority and stand against Hitler. They understand the tension Bonhoeffer felt between his loyalty to his country and his loyalty to Jesus Christ. When Bonhoeffer decides to join the plot to kill Hitler, readers realize that his action was similar to that of Martin Luther. He had to take a stand and he could do nothing else.

I really like this book. It moves quickly, giving the reader enough information to understand Bonhoeffer and his faith. The book doesn’t get bogged down in extraneous details and sub plots. It drives toward the conclusion while challenging readers to examine their own faith and the stands they must make as disciples of Jesus Christ. Bonhoeffer’s struggle becomes the readers’ struggle. How do we live as people who have been touched and transformed by God’s love and grace?

I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.