Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell, Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow, Gentle Breeze Publishing Company, 2005, 176 pg

Summary: This non-fiction novel takes a closer look at the evolvement of youth in Germany during the years leading up to World War II and throughout the war and the reign of Adolf Hitler. A personal touch is added to the history and facts by following closely the affects that the Hitler Youth organization had on a few specific people as they either willingly joined the Hitler Youth program or were forced to participate by the government. The timeline of events is accented by many pictures and other images of documentation of the time period. Less focus is placed on all the events of the time period and more is placed on those events that youth were particularly involved in or that they organized and were in charge of. There is a through overview provided of where many youth are now and how they continued to be affected well after the war ended.

Evaluation: Although I was given a public school education of the events of World War II, I still felt unprepared for the information provided in this book. The photos are effective in highlighting the importance of youth during the time leading up to the war and after. I found myself completely taken by surprise at how much youth was relied upon for almost every aspect of the Hitler take over. I find that this book is more than just a children’s or young adult book, but rather is an artifact that provides information for all ages about a world event that many don’t know completely about.

Annotation: Henry,13, will do whatever it takes to serve Adolf Hitler, even killing his classmates. He is a member of the Hitler Youth.

Significance of Book: The use of so many pictures and the unbiased discussion of how youth were manipulated and used by Adolf Hitler to carry out an ethnic cleansing is expertly accomplished. Although there are a number of books about WW II and the role that youth played, this book is clear and touches on all the most notable events.

Genre/subject: nonfiction, history, WW II

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 2006
• Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2006
• Booklist Editor's Choice: 2005
• Bulletin Blue Ribbons: 2005
• Carolyn W. Field Award: 2006
• Horn Book Fanfare: 2005
• Kirkus Best Children's Books: 2005
• Newbery Honor Books: 2006
• Orbis Pictus Honor: 2006
• Parents' Choice Gold Award: 2005
• Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book: 2005
• Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor: 2006
• SLJ Best Books for Children: 2005

State:

• New Jersey: Garden State Teen Book Award Nominees: 2008
• Virginia: Readers' Choice Award Nominees: 2007

Why I selected the book: I chose this book because I was interested in knowing what the youth experienced during WWII. I had no idea they were so instrumental in the rise of Adolf Hitler.

Price: $21.99