The Boy Who Dared
A powerful and gripping novel about a youth in Nazi Germany who dares to the truth about Hitler, written by a Newbery Honor Book author.
Susan Campbell Bartoletti has taken one episode from her Newbery Honor Book, Hitler Youth, and fleshed it out into a thought-provoking nonfiction novel. When 16-year-old Helmut Hubner listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio, he quickly discovers Germany is lying to the people. But when he tries to expose the truth with leaflets, he's tried for treason. Sentenced to death and waiting in a jail cell, Helmut's story emerges in a series of flashbacks that show his growth from a naive child caught up in the patriotism of the times, to a sensitive and mature young man who thinks for himself.
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Community Reviews
Like many of the reviewers before me, the brilliance of this book is how real it felt. The feelings and frustrations that Helmuth, a young boy of sixteen growing up in Nazi Germany, felt were very real - because they are based on a real person and his experiences. The author did extensive research in order to make this story as accurate as possible, while giving Helmuth the voice that he otherwise wouldn't have. The pictures in the back of what Helmuth and his friends looked like were an added bonus.
As Helmuth watches his beloved Germany deal with the changes brought in by the new Fuher, he struggles between patriotism and finding the voice he needs to stick up for his beliefs. Helmuth is LDS (Mormon), and while that is rarely mentioned in the book, it is a strong foundation for Helmuth's beliefs and what he is eventually led to do. He was an active Hitler Youth, but an advocate for justice and truth. He abhors bullying and lying, and that leads him to find the courage to do what few others were able to. The sacrifice that this young, intelligent and courageous young man makes written down is an interesting, informative and good read.
The book is a little juvenile. And in order to keep the information as accurate as possible, Bartoletti does not take liberties in order to give more background or more story that I would have liked to have seen. For instance, Helmuth comes from a broken home. His brothers are only his half-brothers. What happened to his father? How did he become a member of the LDS church? I would have liked to have known, as it seemed to be an important factor in Helmuth's strong beliefs for freedom and truth. The book progresses quite quickly and is a fast read.
As Helmuth watches his beloved Germany deal with the changes brought in by the new Fuher, he struggles between patriotism and finding the voice he needs to stick up for his beliefs. Helmuth is LDS (Mormon), and while that is rarely mentioned in the book, it is a strong foundation for Helmuth's beliefs and what he is eventually led to do. He was an active Hitler Youth, but an advocate for justice and truth. He abhors bullying and lying, and that leads him to find the courage to do what few others were able to. The sacrifice that this young, intelligent and courageous young man makes written down is an interesting, informative and good read.
The book is a little juvenile. And in order to keep the information as accurate as possible, Bartoletti does not take liberties in order to give more background or more story that I would have liked to have seen. For instance, Helmuth comes from a broken home. His brothers are only his half-brothers. What happened to his father? How did he become a member of the LDS church? I would have liked to have known, as it seemed to be an important factor in Helmuth's strong beliefs for freedom and truth. The book progresses quite quickly and is a fast read.
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