The Lilac People

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Finalist for the New England Book Award
An Amazon Best Discover Read of the Year
The Washington Post, A Noteworthy Book of April
Foreword Reviews, A Top Ten Favorite Book of the Year
Goodreads, A Most Anticipated Title
LGBTQ+ Reads, A Most Anticipated Book

“In dual timelines, Milo Todd thoughtfully portrays the plight of queer and transgender people in Germany before and after World War II.” —Becky Meloan, The Washington Post

“Heightening the contrast between the trans experience pre- and post-Hitler, Todd uses chapters alternating between Bertie’s beautiful Berlin life and his eked-out 1940s existence on the farm where he and Sofie hid under aliases throughout the war. Against this tragic setting, the elegance of Todd’s prose plants wonder in the reader’s mind . . . Exhaustively researched, gorgeously crafted and presciently timed, The Lilac People exhumes a buried history that could leave us mourning our lost democracy if we don’t learn from, and act on, its tragic lessons.”—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times

“Milo Todd’s breathtaking debut, The Lilac People, unearths an essential chapter in transgender history, one long obscured by stigma and oppression . . . Well-paced and expertly crafted, the novel’s shifting timelines and intricate plot structure are reminiscent of Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See. Its propulsive narrative, at times heart-stopping in its suspense and dramatic reveals, is interwoven with rich descriptions and historical passages that give context to a society held in the brutal grip of fascism . . . In the vast canon of World War II historical fiction, The Lilac People is wholly unique and original. The novel offers a fresh and timely perspective, illuminating the inclusion of a much-needed historical trans narrative, one that celebrates the soul-sustaining life force of community.” —Olivia Kate Cerrone, The Boston Globe

“A heartbreaking chronicle of the rise of Nazi Germany’s trans community and its swift eradication . . . With this beautiful, necessary story, full of enthralling action and sharp moral questions, The Lilac People reminds history of what happened to the trans community during WWII, and asks us to see it as a warning for what might be happening in this country today. Happily, it also announces an important new voice in American fiction.” —Jeffrey Condran, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“This beautifully wrought historical novel about a trans man’s resilient survival through the promising Weimar Republic to Nazi Germany to the still-oppressive Allied occupation is a poignant reminder that history may not repeat itself, but it surely rhymes . . . Milo Todd paints a rich portrait of this often-overlooked period of queer history with protagonists who might be fictional, but represent the tenacity and hope of queer individuals past and present.” —Katherine Ouellette, WBUR

“Luminous.”—Lizz Schumer, People

“By turns exuberant, nerve-wracking, and heart-wrenching, The Lilac People is a harrowing novel about the marginalization of queer and transgender people during World War II.” —Isabella Zhou, Foreword Reviews (starred review)

“Stirring . . . In Todd’s hands, this vital chapter of LGBTQ+ history comes to life, as the characters find a means to survive through found family. This timely historical drama hits hard.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Integrating imagined characters with historical research, Todd brings humanity and specificity to atrocities that are still being uncovered. The heartbreaking result honors love and friendship, and ends with hope for one built family of survivors . . . The Lilac People is emotionally wrenching, but also lovely in its details, the humanity of its characters, and the resilience and hope at its end, when a fresh start seems possible. Todd has made an enormous contribution to historical fiction with his own research and this beautiful, touching narrative.” —Julie Kastner, Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“A sweeping historical drama . . . Throughout, Todd expertly mixes the historical with the dramatic, for instance, laying out the rapid, chilling disintegration of trans rights under Hitler, while offering a harrowing account of Bertie’s narrow escape from the Nazi attack on the Institute in 1933. The Lilac People notes that when Hitler came to power, ‘one of the first orders of business’ was to revoke identification cards for trans people. Sound familiar? Sadly, Todd’s soulful andsuspenseful account of trans people fighting for survival amid political persecution could hardly be timelier.” —Alice Cary, BookPage

“Todd’s detailed narrative conveys the terrors and uncertainties of life during wartime: the inability to trust even close neighbors or loved ones’ true identity; the fear of attack; the wrenching horror of trying to make sense of who lived and died. The ambitions and joys of Berlin’s queer community are equally well drawn . . . Todd vividly illustrates the power of love and community in the face of oppression.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A well-written, engrossing story full of suspense; a good addition to literature on the history of LGBTQIA+ Germans during World War II.” —Library Journal

“From its thrilling first pages to its elegiac yet buoyant close, The Lilac People is a fully immersive reading experience filled with indelible and achingly human characters. A masterful debut, and a treasure of a novel.” ––Christopher Castellani, author of Leading Men

“Through deft world-building and astute characterization, Milo Todd’s The Lilac People transports readers to WWII-era Germany, where queer and trans people were subjected to a world that worked overtime to snuff them out, eerily similar to the world we live in today. Through this book, I was reminded of the timely history that it depicts, and I was delighted by Todd’s intentional, careful prose. If you want to read a book that accurately depicts trans people of this period wholly, pick up this book.” —KB Brookins, award-winning author of Pretty

“Remarkable and urgently needed. Milo Todd breathes life into erased histories, resurrecting trans history with heart, humor, and love, showing not only how people survived, but offering hope for how we will today. Meticulously researched and enchantingly written, The Lilac People is a book I will cherish.” —Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, award-winning author of The Fact of a Body

“The Lilac People is at once a poignant ode, a powerful testimony, a rousing anthem, a timely warning, and a gripping heart-in-throat novel that is as richly rendered as it is urgent. All fiction should aspire to as much.” —Nawaaz Ahmed, author of PEN/Faulkner finalist Radiant Fugitives

“With The Lilac People, Milo Todd brings to life an almost-forgotten chapter of World War II. With this remarkable story rooted in history, the author speaks to the urgency of our times where the rights of trans individuals are steadily being robbed by right-wing extremists. It’s a stunning feat of storytelling.” —S. Kirk Walsh, nationally bestselling author of The Elephant of Belfast

“Todd’s debut is a moving and poignant reminder that, even if we imagine ourselves finished with history, history is never finished with us. The Lilac People is a bravely, brutally perfect companion for those desperate to survive our darkening century.” —Patrick Nathan, author of The Future Was Color

“With exquisite attention to historical detail and deep compassion, Milo Todd brings to life a story that feels both urgent and timeless. From the streets of pre-war Berlin to the isolation of rural survival, we follow characters forced to choose daily between truth and safety. Through Bertie’s eyes, we witness how quickly hard-won freedoms can vanish, and how the bonds of chosen family become both sanctuary and salvation. A profound and riveting story of identity and resilience, The Lilac People reclaims a powerful piece of trans history.” —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train

“In The Lilac People, Milo Todd brings to life the hope, joy, and complexities of trans identity and community in Weimar Berlin and beyond. At once a celebration of what becomes possible when humans truly accept one another and a stark reminder of the precipice between personal freedom and catastrophe, the story of Bertie Durchdenwald’s fight for autonomy, dignity, and love cuts through history to underline what’s at stake in our present moment.” —Jason Lutes, creator of Berlin