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roseleaf24's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating bit of history in this group of Danish teens who were the first to resist the German occupation and became an inspiration. Switching between narration and Knud's own voice was a bit distracting to me.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
4.0
A riveting nonfiction thriller about a group of teen schoolboys who challenge the German occupation of Denmark in World War II. See my full review here.
in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition
4.0
Despite being a book for Junior/Young Adult reading, very informative.
julie_ann_harper_1633's review against another edition
4.0
The boys in this story are amazing. They risked so much because they loved their country and wanted people to stand up and fight for what was there's. No matter your age you can change the world and these boys proved that.
ja3m3's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very readable and interesting account about the middle school and high school boys who sparked the Danish Resistance Movement during WWII. I am always looking for interesting stories that will keep my students hooked to their lessons. They will be riveted.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
3.0
This book was interesting but not to the extent that many other WWII books were for me.
The boys featured in this book were committing acts of defiance against the Nazis in Denmark for about 2 years before they were caught, captured, and jailed. I didn't have any background on Denmark's role in the war and how many citizens had a mutually beneficial arrangement with the Germans so they weren't necessarily motivated to put up a fight (their king surrendered 2 hours after Nazis declared war on them). It was shocking how little average citizens seemed to put up a fight and how these young boys had an overflow of anger and resentment towards their occupiers.
I kind of felt like the book lost a lost of steam after the boys were jailed and learning about life post jail for some of the boys was heartbreaking and depressing.
The boys featured in this book were committing acts of defiance against the Nazis in Denmark for about 2 years before they were caught, captured, and jailed. I didn't have any background on Denmark's role in the war and how many citizens had a mutually beneficial arrangement with the Germans so they weren't necessarily motivated to put up a fight (their king surrendered 2 hours after Nazis declared war on them). It was shocking how little average citizens seemed to put up a fight and how these young boys had an overflow of anger and resentment towards their occupiers.
I kind of felt like the book lost a lost of steam after the boys were jailed and learning about life post jail for some of the boys was heartbreaking and depressing.
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
A great story that allows readers to see how some choose to stand up and fight against the Nazis.
kamckim's review against another edition
5.0
I read Lois Lowry's NUMBER THE STARS a long time ago, so I had forgotten her story takes place in Denmark. So does THE BOYS WHO CHALLENGED HITLER: KNUD PEDERSEN and the CHURCHILL CLUB. The only difference is that this is a true story about a group of teenage boys who began the Danish Resistance Movement when German troops stage a peaceful overthrow of the Danish Crown in 1940 as part of their offensive in Europe. While some Danes, didn't mind, the boys thought their country was cowardly, especially when they considered how the Norwegians were fighting. They heard of massacres and deportations in Norway and wondered how this could be right. The boys began meeting on a regular basis to plan ways they could simply sabotage the German troops stationed in Denmark. Using bicycles and operating in broad daylight, the group pestered the troops to the point that the Danish police were looking for the perpetrators. This is the story of some crazy and courageous effect the Churchill Club had on their countrymen. The story was quite readable, and quite appropriate for a YA audience. The boys in the book transform from innocent children to teenagers older than their age because of the events that take place. Still, there is humor and intrigue running through the story. The research is quite solid, and the book is based mainly on interviews with Knud Petersen, who founded the club with his brother, Jens. It is a perfect non-fiction piece to accompany NUMBER THE STARS or HITLER YOUTH by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. I could definitely see this book as a supplementary text in Global Studies, World History, Journalism. The author includes a selected bibliography for readers who want to learn more. It's an unbelievable story. Reading it has made me more aware of the world.
goosemixtapes's review against another edition
5.0
easily one of my favorite things my family has ever read for our little summer book club; it's fascinating.