Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. New York, NY: Scholastic,
Inc. ISBN 0439353793
2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Holocaust that occurred in Germany and Europe is one of
the most horrifying human events of all time.
Susan Campbell Bartoletti has written a book that details how children
were indoctrinated into the Nazi political party at a very young age. The book shows how the average, every day
child became enraptured with the passion that was exuded by the Nazis.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Susan Campbell Bartoletti assembles diaries, letters,
interviews, and other oral histories to create a phenomenal text that shares
both personal and historical facts. This
book is a significant contribution to the already published, historical
accounts of the Nazi regime. Bartoletti
has written a credible account of the lives of children in Germany during World
War II and the individual tales engage readers of all ages.
The stories of the twelve profiled children are both
heartwarming and heartbreaking. The
ability to share the human side of such tragedy is impressive; the flowing
storylines will certainly peak the curiosity of readers and instigate further
discussion and reading on the subject.
The book includes crisp photos on nearly every page, which
captivate and further immerse the readers into the individual storylines. While the font used is larger than would be
expected, the language used throughout the book is appropriate, easy to read,
and still addresses the complex subject matter.
The brief epilogue at the end of the book gives readers a better sense
of the long-term consequences of living in Europe during the Nazi regime.
This book is an exemplary piece of non-fiction for late
elementary age to middle school age children.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Honor 2006
Carolyn W. Field Award Winner 2006
Parents Choice Award Gold Winner 2006
Orbis Pictus Honor 2006
Sibert Medal Honor 2006
Starred Review in
School Library Journal: “The book is
structured around 12 young individuals and their experiences, which clearly
demonstrate how they were victims of leaders who took advantage of their innocence
and enthusiasm for evil means.”
Starred Review in Booklist: “The handsome book design, with
black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in
readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust
curriculum.”
Starred Review in Kirkus Review: “Case studies of actual
participants root the work in specifics, and clear prose, thorough
documentation and an attractive format with well-chosen archival photographs
make this nonfiction writing at its best.”
Starred Review in Publishers
Weekly: “…offers a unique and riveting perspective on WWII by focusing on the
young people…”
Starred Review in
Horn Book: “…clarity and apt quotation (scrupulously
sourced)…”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Audio book version of the award winning text:
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.
Hitler Youth: Growing Upon in
Hitler’s Shadow. ISBN 0-7393-3662-2
*More books on
children during the holocaust:
Warren, Andrea. Surviving
Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps.
ISBN 978-0060007676
Zullo, Allan. Survivors:
True Stories of Children in the Holocaust.
ISBN 978-0439669962
Polacco, Patricia. The
Butterfly. ISBN 978-0142413067