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The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero by Patricia McCormick
oliviabrisebois's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book after reading Schindlers list, because I had never heard of this man. The story of Bonhoeffer was sad, but also motivating. As a man who did what he didn't have to do, but did anyway.
wren_in_black's review against another edition
4.0
I am torn between giving this book 4 or 5 stars. I am absolutely amazed at the character of Deitrich Bonhoeffer and have already ordered his book The Cost of Discipleship. I want to know more about his thoughts and his theological arguments. I feel like this book could have gone a bit more in depth in those areas and could have also distinguished some of the other conspirators with more details. Perhaps it was simply their German names, but I had difficulty in keeping some of the other characters straight in my mind. I did find it helpful to return to the list of those involved in the conspiracy provided at the front of the book.
For the average high school or junior high student, this book will most likely cover what they would want to know, although some might be disappointed that the promise of the title is really only discussed in the last few pages.
I finally decided on 4 stars over 5 because I believe it will leave so many people wanting just a bit more to feel they completely know the man and the story of the conspiracy.
Overall, this is an excellent introduction to Bonhoeffer and the plot to kill Hitler. It also offers a cohesive look at how events spiraled to the point where a pacifist would decide to commit murder and break the commandments he vowed to uphold. I will definitely recommend this to my classroom full of 7-12th grade readers.
For the average high school or junior high student, this book will most likely cover what they would want to know, although some might be disappointed that the promise of the title is really only discussed in the last few pages.
I finally decided on 4 stars over 5 because I believe it will leave so many people wanting just a bit more to feel they completely know the man and the story of the conspiracy.
Overall, this is an excellent introduction to Bonhoeffer and the plot to kill Hitler. It also offers a cohesive look at how events spiraled to the point where a pacifist would decide to commit murder and break the commandments he vowed to uphold. I will definitely recommend this to my classroom full of 7-12th grade readers.
kport's review against another edition
2.0
Patricia McCormick does a wonderful job detailing the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor turned spy during World War 2. It was interesting to read about his life and learn about what lead him to pacifism. Despite being a pacifist, however, he realized that he had the ability to assist others that wanted to rid the world of true evil and decided that action was more recommendable than inaction. Reading about his thoughts and decisions that led to his involvement in the plot to kill Hitler was an eye opening and thought provoking story.
Nonfiction is not usually my favorite, but Bonhoeffer was an interesting person to learn about. As I was reading about him, I was surprised that I had not ever heard anything about him before. He is a pastor and theologian and his thoughts on action and inaction and what makes a person guilty is thought provoking in the most interesting way. I also enjoyed learning about German resistance to Hitler, which is a point of view that I do not think is seen often enough. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.
Nonfiction is not usually my favorite, but Bonhoeffer was an interesting person to learn about. As I was reading about him, I was surprised that I had not ever heard anything about him before. He is a pastor and theologian and his thoughts on action and inaction and what makes a person guilty is thought provoking in the most interesting way. I also enjoyed learning about German resistance to Hitler, which is a point of view that I do not think is seen often enough. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.
pagesbycaroline's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.25
sunbear98's review against another edition
5.0
Great, quick read. Patricia McCormick is a favorite of mine.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
The fact is that most people don't really know who Dietrich Bonhoeffer was or, if they know the name, they aren't sure of what he did beyond opposing the Nazis. To be honest, beyond using a few quotes for papers I have written (my favorite The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children) and knowing why he died young in a German concentration camp, I didn't know that much about his entire life either.
But, in the history of the Third Reich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is an interesting figure. A deeply religious man and a pacifist, one has to wonder how did a man who came from a large, well-to-do, well-educated family end up being executed by hanging at the age of 39 for his involvement in a plot to kill Hitler? In her new book, The Plot to Kill Hitler, Patricia McCormick explores that very question.
The youngest of eight children, all accomplished, Dietrich wanted to achieve something all his own. Invited to study at a music conservatory, he had already decided to study theology and become a minister, beginning his studies in 1923.
Slowly, as Hitler became more and more popular, Dietrich formulated his own ideas about the church. Ultimately, he came to believe that the church shouldn't be an authoritarian force in people's lives, but rather it should be a "force for good," that it should be "deeply and directly involved in the problems facing ordinary people." (pg 27)
Over time, Dietrich would come under the influence of people who felt as he did, and he would learn much from people like Frank Fisher, with whom he became friends while studying in 1930 at Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Fisher introduced Dietrich to the reality of life for African Americans in Harlem, even taking him to the Abyssinian Baptist Church, where Dietrich ended up teaching Sunday School for a while. Another influence at that time was Rabbi Stephen Wise, who sensitized him to what was happening to Jews in Germany because of Hitler's anti-Semitism rhetoric.
Returning to Germany, Dietrich refused to pledge his support for Hitler's new church, the Reichkirche, a church that replaced God with Hitler as it head. Eventually, as things in Germany worsened, Dietrich's siblings and and brothers-in-law drew him into a plot to kill Hitler. But Dietrich was a pacifist, even wanting to study under Gandhi in India, so how could he possibly justify an assassination of another human being, even one as dangerous as Hitler?
Dietrich's answer was simple and may surprised young readers of this very well-done biography. The book begins with Cast of Characters, always a good idea when writing about people that are probably not familiar to readers, but whom they will no doubt find fascinating.
And even though the Cast of Characters tells the readers the fate of these participants in the plot to kill Hitler, McCormick has written in such a way that it maintains a tension throughout and even knowing the outcome assassination attempt, makes you hope against hope it will come out differently.
McCormick includes copious photographs, occasional offsets to give more information about certain people or concepts that may need a little more explanation, and the is lots of informative back matter. This includes an Author's Note, a extensive Timeline, Endnotes (always important), and a Selected Bibliography,
I found The Plot to Kill Hitler to be a very inspiring book, not because it was full of grime detail about the planning to pull off an assassination attempt, but because it was full of ideas and the development of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's thinking. Like Bonhoeffer, I am also a pacifist and I have often wondered what I would do if I found myself in the kind of situation he found himself in. Interestingly, I did find at least part of an answer in The Plot to Kill Hitler.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book is an ARC received from the publisher.
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
But, in the history of the Third Reich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is an interesting figure. A deeply religious man and a pacifist, one has to wonder how did a man who came from a large, well-to-do, well-educated family end up being executed by hanging at the age of 39 for his involvement in a plot to kill Hitler? In her new book, The Plot to Kill Hitler, Patricia McCormick explores that very question.
The youngest of eight children, all accomplished, Dietrich wanted to achieve something all his own. Invited to study at a music conservatory, he had already decided to study theology and become a minister, beginning his studies in 1923.
Slowly, as Hitler became more and more popular, Dietrich formulated his own ideas about the church. Ultimately, he came to believe that the church shouldn't be an authoritarian force in people's lives, but rather it should be a "force for good," that it should be "deeply and directly involved in the problems facing ordinary people." (pg 27)
Over time, Dietrich would come under the influence of people who felt as he did, and he would learn much from people like Frank Fisher, with whom he became friends while studying in 1930 at Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Fisher introduced Dietrich to the reality of life for African Americans in Harlem, even taking him to the Abyssinian Baptist Church, where Dietrich ended up teaching Sunday School for a while. Another influence at that time was Rabbi Stephen Wise, who sensitized him to what was happening to Jews in Germany because of Hitler's anti-Semitism rhetoric.
Returning to Germany, Dietrich refused to pledge his support for Hitler's new church, the Reichkirche, a church that replaced God with Hitler as it head. Eventually, as things in Germany worsened, Dietrich's siblings and and brothers-in-law drew him into a plot to kill Hitler. But Dietrich was a pacifist, even wanting to study under Gandhi in India, so how could he possibly justify an assassination of another human being, even one as dangerous as Hitler?
Dietrich's answer was simple and may surprised young readers of this very well-done biography. The book begins with Cast of Characters, always a good idea when writing about people that are probably not familiar to readers, but whom they will no doubt find fascinating.
And even though the Cast of Characters tells the readers the fate of these participants in the plot to kill Hitler, McCormick has written in such a way that it maintains a tension throughout and even knowing the outcome assassination attempt, makes you hope against hope it will come out differently.
McCormick includes copious photographs, occasional offsets to give more information about certain people or concepts that may need a little more explanation, and the is lots of informative back matter. This includes an Author's Note, a extensive Timeline, Endnotes (always important), and a Selected Bibliography,
I found The Plot to Kill Hitler to be a very inspiring book, not because it was full of grime detail about the planning to pull off an assassination attempt, but because it was full of ideas and the development of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's thinking. Like Bonhoeffer, I am also a pacifist and I have often wondered what I would do if I found myself in the kind of situation he found himself in. Interestingly, I did find at least part of an answer in The Plot to Kill Hitler.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book is an ARC received from the publisher.
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
flanflanshazam's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for 7th grade and up, I would say. Read more like a novel than nonfiction.
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one, which surprised me. I read it immediately after reading another book about a minister, which I didn't enjoy as much and I thought perhaps it had to do with the protagonist's profession. I guess not! This book traces Dietrich Bonhoeffer's entire life, but concentrates mainly on his adulthood. You learn about this particular conspiracy to kill Hitler. I think, in this time when many people feel lost and helpless, it's important to read books like this which show us that, yes, you can stand up to power, but there will be consequences. I felt so bad for Bonhoeffer's family. McCormick's style of writing must have worked better for me than the other book I read. I was a little irritated by the short chapters, but I think for reluctant readers and people who are used to that style, they will like it more.
bookworm_baggins's review against another edition
5.0
03/18: read aloud to Emma and Will. This went along well with our WWII studies this year, but also with a lot of different things happening in the world for us. I appreciated the book even more the second time, and think that this particular version is definitely accessible for kids.
11/11: This book is very short,and accessible for younger readers. I found it to be well-written and engaging, and I learned quite a few things. I also loved that it had real photographs throughout. I plan to have Emma read this book also.
11/11: This book is very short,and accessible for younger readers. I found it to be well-written and engaging, and I learned quite a few things. I also loved that it had real photographs throughout. I plan to have Emma read this book also.
ksuppes's review against another edition
3.0
Germany is in a dark time after WWI ends. They are in debt, the blame of the war was placed on them, and the country was left in shambles. When Adolf Hitler comes along and starts talking about creating a strong country, the people jump for joy. What they don't know are all of the terrible things that have to be done to bring forth this "strong country". A pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and his brothers decide that Hitler needs to be stopped, and will do whatever it takes to stop him. The thrilling novel by Patricia McCormick follows Bonhoeffer's life as he struggles between good and evil and tries to stop Hitler.
This book was very interesting. I learned more than I expected and it actually inspired me to read more historical books. McCormick does a good job giving background on Bonhoeffer and letting the reader know about his life, but she could have gone into more detail about the actual plots to kill Hitler. Maybe she didn't have the information, but I expected to learn more about the actual plots. I found the book an interesting read and really did learn a lot about WWII from Germany's perspective. My only critique is that it needs more detail regarding the actual plots to kill Hitler.
This book was very interesting. I learned more than I expected and it actually inspired me to read more historical books. McCormick does a good job giving background on Bonhoeffer and letting the reader know about his life, but she could have gone into more detail about the actual plots to kill Hitler. Maybe she didn't have the information, but I expected to learn more about the actual plots. I found the book an interesting read and really did learn a lot about WWII from Germany's perspective. My only critique is that it needs more detail regarding the actual plots to kill Hitler.