Publishers Weekly
In this thoughtful historical novel, Lasky (the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series) chronicles Hitler's rise to power in 1932 Berlin through the intelligent narration of 13-year-old Gaby. The action proves sluggish initially, though it establishes Gaby as a voracious reader growing up in an intellectual, literate family, with a physicist father who works with Einstein and a musically talented mother. Each chapter begins with a well-chosen quote from one of Gaby's beloved books, including The Call of the Wild and The Sun Also Rises. The pacing picks up as Gaby witnesses the rise of the Nazis; she realizes her family's sensible maid supports Hitler and overhears a baker's anti-Semitic remarks. Gaby begins a “Diary of Shame,” a mounting list of morally troubling moments, as when she salutes Hitler in school. Suspense builds as teachers lose jobs and as Gaby's sister becomes more seriously involved with her Nazi boyfriend. When book-burning threatens Gaby's precious books (and free thought in Germany), Gaby and her family must make critical, costly choices about their future. Gaby's questioning but assertive nature helps form a compelling, readable portrait of pre-WWII Germany. Ages 11–up. (Feb.)
Booklist
[A] gripping story about Hitler's early rise to power...From the opening quote...the personal and the political history will haunt readers.
School Library Journal
Gr 6–10—Lasky's novel, set in Berlin in 1932, opens with an author's note that provides historical background. Gaby Schramm, 13, is an avid reader of world literature, and annoyed that her math teacher confiscates her books. Her unease grows when brown-shirted SA troops of Hitler's private army start occupying the city, signaling a distinct shift toward repression and anti-Semitism. Gaby's father, an astrophysics professor and colleague of Albert Einstein, is troubled that Einstein's work is labeled "Jewish physics," and Gaby's mother begins to fear for the safety of her Jewish friend, Baba. Although fascinated by her stylish literature teacher, Gaby withdraws from school after Fraulein Hofstadt presses her to join the Hitler Youth. Then her older sister becomes pregnant and plans to marry Karl, whom Gaby suspects of being a Nazi. Even when the family vacates to their summer house on a lake in Caputh, they cannot escape the darkening political climate, while back in Berlin, banned books are burned on a mammoth pyre. With a compelling plot, a strong sense of place, and vivid characters, the novel brings to life Hitler's inexorable rise to power and its impact on an intelligent German family forced to reconsider its loyalties.—Susan W. Hunter, Riverside Middle School, Springfield, VT
Horn Book
Lasky interweaves the personal and political with skill.
Children's Literature
- Shirley Nelson
Thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm begins this first person narrative with a brief summation of her life. Gabriella's father is a professor of Photo-astronomy at the University of Berlin. He has taught his Gabriella to be curious about the universe and to think for herself. These simple freedoms, however, are jeopardized in Berlin in 1932 as Adolf Hitler begins his rise to power. Gabriella's sees changes in the behavior of teachers as novels are confiscated from the students. The presence of the Brown Shirts and her suspicions about her sister's boyfriend make her afraid. This novel seems to move slowly at the beginning, but as the story progresses, the reader realizes that Lasky has matched the pace of the story to the pace of the events surrounding Gabriella. Quotations from classic literature at the beginning of each chapter underscore Gabriella's love of reading. How can these books be harmful to society? Why are books being destroyed? Gabriella's story, along with Lasky's prologue, will give young readers a better understanding of this terrible time in history. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson
VOYA
- Lona Trulove
Gabrielle Schramm is an inquisitive fourteen-year-old girl living in 1933 Germany when Hitler comes to power. Gaby's father is chairman of the Department of Photoastronomy at the University of Berlin, and her mother is a pianist. Her family has a comfortable life in Berlin that includes a nice home, a housekeeper, and well-known German friends, including Albert Einstein. The terror and violence that Hitler brings to Germany is not only targeted at the Jews and Communists but also intellectuals, artists, and writers. Gaby and her family begin to feel the effects of the Nazi regime, and life as Gaby knows it ceases to exist. The historical information is well written and important to the plot. The novel excerpts at the beginning of each chapter are a wonderful addition to the richness of the story line. It is an important read for studying the Holocaust because it gives perspective to how Hitler rose to power and the immediate aftereffects. Although the main character is a girl, the book is definitely not a girls-only story. The addition of Albert Einstein, interesting astronomy tidbits, the Hitler Youth, and peer pressure make it a good read for all middle school students. Reviewer: Lona Trulove
