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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
This book reminded me a lot of "Number the Stars". It takes place in Denmark during World War II, and has a Danish family that protects and helps their Jewish friends to hide and escape from the Nazi's. It differs though as it covers in greater detail the Danish resistance, and the fact that not all Germans were bad, and not all Danes were good. There were German soldiers who "looked the other way", and there were Danes who turned in Jews that were in hiding. I felt like the quality of teaching history in this book was greater than the quality of writing.
A good book, but just not in the same league as Number the Stars.
A good book, but just not in the same league as Number the Stars.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
"There are hundreds of personal stories from that time, but this is not one in which all the Germans were bad and all Danes were good. It didn't work that way."
Good heartwarming story that shows the Nazi occupation of Denmark from a kid's point of view, so kids can understand and relate to it (not in the black-and-white way kids are usually told of WW2, but not cynically or confusingly either). At the same time, it's a good read for grown-ups, too. Includes the amazing true story of how the Danes managed to get almost every single Jew in Denmark safely to Sweden over a 10-day period (and it wasn't even a co-ordinated effort, just everyone talking to someone they know who knows someone who has a shed who knows someone who has a boat, hey did you know so-&-so knows someone who has a boat?)! Over 7000 people saved, only a few hundred got caught, and when they eventually got home again most of them found all their stuff still there.
Good heartwarming story that shows the Nazi occupation of Denmark from a kid's point of view, so kids can understand and relate to it (not in the black-and-white way kids are usually told of WW2, but not cynically or confusingly either). At the same time, it's a good read for grown-ups, too. Includes the amazing true story of how the Danes managed to get almost every single Jew in Denmark safely to Sweden over a 10-day period (and it wasn't even a co-ordinated effort, just everyone talking to someone they know who knows someone who has a shed who knows someone who has a boat, hey did you know so-&-so knows someone who has a boat?)! Over 7000 people saved, only a few hundred got caught, and when they eventually got home again most of them found all their stuff still there.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I'll be honest here, I initially ploughed on with Hitler's Canary out of deference to Sandi Toksvig, of whom I'm a huge fan.
Then I ploughed further on out of deference to the subject matter and the importance of the story being told.
But about a third of the way through the book, I stopped ploughing on because I was enjoying the story too much to even put the book down.
To the extent I finished the second half in a single sitting.
My initial reservations were centred around the writing, which I found to be a tad simplistic even for a children's book.
Then I engaged brain a bit more and actually thought about what I was reading.
This is the story of a small boy, Bamse, living through the Nazi occupation of Denmark and the ensuing Holocaust.
This is a story that, when aimed at children, NEEDS to be written simply.
In order to get across its tale of hatred, racism, heroes and standing up to do the right thing, and make such an important story as accessible as possible to a wide audience, then taking things a bit slower is to the benefit of everyone.
But what you realise, the more you are drawn in to this little known story of the Danish Resistance, is Sandi has managed to make a dark, heavy story light and fun without losing the heart of the piece.
Children still manage to be children as events overwhelm all concerned, and tragedy and terror and dealt with quietly and with sympathy so as to have impact without trauma.
Having said that, mind, I'd advise against younger readers delving into the facts and figures of this period in history.
They're vitally important, especially in the times we currently find ourselves, but maybe wait til you're at least in your teens.
Such a note aside, though, this is a book everyone should read – it's important, impactful, but also thoroughly enjoyable and engaging.
Then I ploughed further on out of deference to the subject matter and the importance of the story being told.
But about a third of the way through the book, I stopped ploughing on because I was enjoying the story too much to even put the book down.
To the extent I finished the second half in a single sitting.
My initial reservations were centred around the writing, which I found to be a tad simplistic even for a children's book.
Then I engaged brain a bit more and actually thought about what I was reading.
This is the story of a small boy, Bamse, living through the Nazi occupation of Denmark and the ensuing Holocaust.
This is a story that, when aimed at children, NEEDS to be written simply.
In order to get across its tale of hatred, racism, heroes and standing up to do the right thing, and make such an important story as accessible as possible to a wide audience, then taking things a bit slower is to the benefit of everyone.
But what you realise, the more you are drawn in to this little known story of the Danish Resistance, is Sandi has managed to make a dark, heavy story light and fun without losing the heart of the piece.
Children still manage to be children as events overwhelm all concerned, and tragedy and terror and dealt with quietly and with sympathy so as to have impact without trauma.
Having said that, mind, I'd advise against younger readers delving into the facts and figures of this period in history.
They're vitally important, especially in the times we currently find ourselves, but maybe wait til you're at least in your teens.
Such a note aside, though, this is a book everyone should read – it's important, impactful, but also thoroughly enjoyable and engaging.
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is a tale of the extraordinary heroics of ordinary people in WWII. The humor is brief, but it is not a depressing book. I don't wish for times like these, but I do wish that people would show this side of themselves without these times.
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No