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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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adventurous
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This piece of non-fiction about the first Danish resistance group during the German occupation of Denmark in WWII revolves around a group of teenage boys, mostly aged 15 or 16, with the POV coming from one of the ringleaders - Knud Pederson. After more than a decade of waiting to interview Knud and record this story, Phillip Hoose has painstakingly crafted a fitting tribute to Pederson and his fellow Churchill Club members. The book flows seamlessly between Hoose's historical narration and Knud Pederson's own recollections - both of which are interjected with photos and fact boxes that give a picture and understanding of the times.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler was written with both youth and adults in mind. I first found out about it in WORLD Magazine (one of my favorite resources for finding out about quality fiction in all genres) as one of their Children's Books of the Year and was immediately captivated by the plotline: a group of young boys, embarrassed at their country's cowardly handoff to the Germans, begin sabotaging the Nazis occupying Denmark. While the boys do end up arrested and imprisoned, their beginning acts helped spark a nationwide resistance to the Germans that eventually ended in their liberation. Indeed, the boys' impact was so respected at the end of the war that Winston Churchill himself requested a meeting with "the club" during his visit to Denmark.
Because this is an actual account, some of Knud Pederson's account of his actions, while courageous, are rather rash and immature - and Hoose doesn't gloss over that. After a 2-year imprisonment, Pederson struggled for years with depression and claustrophobia. The effects of war - even a simple "resistance war" - are never trite. But while not all of his actions and responses are to be commended, older kids, teens, and adults alike should marvel at the courage that it took to resist mere survival and instead sacrificially work toward a greater cause.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler was written with both youth and adults in mind. I first found out about it in WORLD Magazine (one of my favorite resources for finding out about quality fiction in all genres) as one of their Children's Books of the Year and was immediately captivated by the plotline: a group of young boys, embarrassed at their country's cowardly handoff to the Germans, begin sabotaging the Nazis occupying Denmark. While the boys do end up arrested and imprisoned, their beginning acts helped spark a nationwide resistance to the Germans that eventually ended in their liberation. Indeed, the boys' impact was so respected at the end of the war that Winston Churchill himself requested a meeting with "the club" during his visit to Denmark.
Because this is an actual account, some of Knud Pederson's account of his actions, while courageous, are rather rash and immature - and Hoose doesn't gloss over that. After a 2-year imprisonment, Pederson struggled for years with depression and claustrophobia. The effects of war - even a simple "resistance war" - are never trite. But while not all of his actions and responses are to be commended, older kids, teens, and adults alike should marvel at the courage that it took to resist mere survival and instead sacrificially work toward a greater cause.
I read this for a teacher book group at the middle school where I work. I didn't know the story at all, but it connected nicely to background I had from Lois Lowry's, "Number the Stars" as well as a little known but excellent documentary film called, "The Danish Solution" (see link below).
At the outset of World War Two, Germany advanced on Finland. The Fins fought back with all they could muster. Denmark, on the other hand, accepted occupation meekly. It took a group of sabotage-minded teenagers to inspire nationwide resistance. Hoose stumbled across the story on a trip to Denmark. He found Knud Pedersen - in his 80's but still fiery and cogent - and extracted this personal and engaging story.
This book hooked me as an adult with quite a bit of background knowledge. I also think it would work nicely as an introduction for young readers. The pacing is swift and the plot pulled me along. Photos, sidebars, and captions add to the book's accessibility.
(FMI about The Danish Solution: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437145/)
At the outset of World War Two, Germany advanced on Finland. The Fins fought back with all they could muster. Denmark, on the other hand, accepted occupation meekly. It took a group of sabotage-minded teenagers to inspire nationwide resistance. Hoose stumbled across the story on a trip to Denmark. He found Knud Pedersen - in his 80's but still fiery and cogent - and extracted this personal and engaging story.
This book hooked me as an adult with quite a bit of background knowledge. I also think it would work nicely as an introduction for young readers. The pacing is swift and the plot pulled me along. Photos, sidebars, and captions add to the book's accessibility.
(FMI about The Danish Solution: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437145/)
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced