A review by rebelbelle13
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose

4.0

This isn't the type of book I normally read, or would ever think to reach for. I had to read a YA non-fiction for grad school- and since my son had truly enjoyed this title last year in middle school, I decided to borrow his copy and jump in. The author was truly informed and the narrative flowed smoothly from event to event, covering the German occupation of Denmark, the formation of the club, to Knud and friends' eventual incarceration, to the end of the war and five years after. Hoose spent hundreds of hours interviewing Knud Pederson, the leader and the one who formed the club via in person interview and over a thousand emails. There were many pictures, maps and diagrams to convey the time period and geographical locations, and it helped with placement. I learned many things by reading this novel that I wasn't aware of before; like the occupation of Denmark by Germans during the war and what it was like, and the creation and activities of the Churchill Club. What those teens did for their country was incredibly brave, and I'm so glad that they were finally recognized for their efforts. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the epilogue and what happened to all the major players in their later lives.