Hilter Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti


Bibliography

Bartoletti, S. C. (2005). Hitler youth: Growing up in hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction.  ISBN 0439353793

Summary

Susan Campbell Bartoletti gives the reader an inside view of life as a child during the rise, reign and fall of one of the world’s most hated men.  Although clearly viewing the story through the lens of history, she writes sympathetically to both children who supported and those who subverted the Nazi Party.  Get your heart tangled up with real German and Jewish children living through what we now consider one of the most appalling times within modern memory.

Critical Analysis

This compelling portrayal of what it was like growing up in or near the Hitler Youth is an emotionally riveting page turner that still manages to be historically accurate and full of detail. The pictures take you back to the time and place discussed and allow you to get to know the young people profiled.

 The organization of the book is one of its strengths.  It has many access features that make the information presented easy to locate after a front to back reading. In addition to the typical Contents, Introduction, Bibliography, Acknowledgements, and Index, Hitler Youth also has a helpful reference called The Young People in this Book, an Epilogue which tells the end of the young peoples’ stories, a Time Line, an Author’s Note, Quote Sources and Photo Information.

This is a hard book to read, not because of the reading level, but because of the content.  Almost as much as you want to turn the page, you want to put it down.  But the truth is the truth and this book tells it. Children can be expected to need to discuss what they read here with a parent or mentor, but a valuable history lesson is learned which hopefully helps children answer the closing question, “What are you willing to do to prevent such a shadow from falling over you and others?”

Review Excerpts

*Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, “ … this superb book is unreservedly recommended for middle school and high school readers.”

*Kirkus, “ … an attractive format with well-chosen archival photographs make this nonfiction writing at its best.”

*Horn Book, “scrupulously sourced"

Connections

* Pair with the story of Helmuth Hubener from Hitler Youth.  Here is a link to THE BOY WHO DARED: A Novel Based on a True Story by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.

* Here is an excellent video interview with Susan Campbell Bartoletti. She discusses her career, the writing process for nonfiction, and her books Hitler Youth and The Boy Who Dared.  The total interview is 24 minutes. I can not recommend this interview enough.