RGG: Excellent depiction of 1930's Nazi Germany and the rise of anti-Semitism in an environment of silence and fear.

Although Daniel's family is well-to-do and Armin's much less so, the two are best friends in 1933 Germany. The attend the prestigious Christianeum and aspire to join Hitler Youth. When Daniel brings the permission slip for his father to sign, he learns that his mother is Jewish, which makes Daniel half-Jewish and ineligible to join the group. Daniel is outed at a soccer game but Armin sticks by him even though he himself is now in Hitler Youth. Social pressure bears down on Daniel's family and his father ends up being fired from his law office. Miriam, Daniel's cousin, stays with the family when her father is sent to a concentration camp, further complicating the family situation. Armin falls for Miriam and they meet secretly. Armin learns from Nazi superiors that something will be going down against the Jews. He warns Daniel and Miriam ahead of time and thereby sparing their lives.

Daniel, a German teenager in the years of Hitler's rise to power in pre-war Germany, is in favor of the Nazi party until he discovers that he is half-Jewish. Story revolves around his friendship with Armin, who is 100 percent German. As Armin becomes more involved in the Hitler Youth, he must distance himself from Daniel, until the crisis when he must decide between his friend and his own future. Gripping pageturner. Translated from German. ( )

RGG: Excellent depiction of 1930's Nazi Germany and the rise of anti-Semitism in an environment of silence and fear.

As young swastika-painting teens in 1933 Germany, Daniel and Armin swear everlasting blood brotherhood and hope to join the Hitler Youth. But Daniel finds out his mother is Jewish and realizes the Aryans will think of him as half human. Armin tries to continue his friendship with Daniel and grows to love the latter's cousin, the beautiful Miriam. Nazi pressure intervenes. This novel, based on research into the Hitler years, reveals the vast indoctrination against the Jews and details the vicious Night of the Broken Glass. Daniel and his parents barely escape Germany. Chapters about Daniel returning as a translator for the British army are interspersed throughout this Holocaust story. So, the friends meet again, and when interrogated, Armin says he was not in the SS and Nazi Party. Daniel's shocking response shows the clash of duty and loyalty ( )