HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER’S SHADOW by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  2005.  HITLER YOUTH:  GROWING UP IN HITLER’S SHADOW.  New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439353793

 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

HITLER YOUTH:  GROWING UP IN HITLER’S SHADOW gives the reader a glimpse of what it was like to be a Hitler Youth from 1933-1945.  Hitler understood that young people’s drive and energy could be a powerful force in politics.   The book shows how much the youth propelled the Nazi movement and how loyal many were to the cause.   The book also includes accounts of those youth who resisted the Nazi movement.  Many of these resistors paid a high price.  By learning the stories of these young people, readers can acquire knowledge and a greater understanding about the World War II era.   

     

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Bartoletti wrote in the foreword of the book that “this is their story” and the author was successful at letting their voices be heard.  Bartoletti’s use of many primary sources and quotes make this book very personal.   Most pages have at least one quote which not only makes the book more interesting but it also shows that Bartoletti did extensive research for the book.   The bibliography is extensive.  She even did interviews with former Hitler Youth and Jews who grew up during that time period.  There are many primary sources used in the bibliography and these personal accounts sweep the reader into the dark world of the Nazis.  The book has engaging prose and is not like the dry history books of the past.  The book has many photos.     

 

The book is organized in chronological order. The chapters of the book have a catchy title followed by a more descriptive subtitle.  The chapter titles engage a reader’s curiosity while the subtitles help students who are trying to find information about a particular event in history.  The bibliography includes a symbol by books that children might find interesting.  The back of the book also includes many other resources including a timeline, quote sources, and an index.    The dark times that the book is about is mirrored by absence of any color inside the book besides black and grey.  The book is a gem that should be in all children’s library collections.     

 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Newbery Honor Book

Robert E. Sibert Honor Book

BOOK LINKS:  “An epilogue describes what happened to the teens profiled, and a time line, source notes, bibliography, and more round out this gripping book.”

A Junior Library Guild selection A Junior Library Guild selection A Junior Library Guild selection

5. CONNECTIONS

* Reading sections from HITLER YOUTH:  GROWING UP IN HITLER’S SHADOW by Susan Campbell Bartoletti will be a great way to enhance a lesson on the Nazi’s and Germany.   The students can then think about what they would have done if they lived in Germany during that time period. 

 *Other nonfiction books by Susan Campbell Bartoletti:

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  BLACK POTATOES:  THE STORY OF THE GREAT IRISH FAMINE, 1845-1850.  ISBN 0618002715

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  GROWING UP IN COAL COUNTRY.  ISBN 0395778476

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE K.K.K.:  THE BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUP.  ISBN: 9780618440337

 

 

 

Newbery Honor Books ; 2006

Sibert Honor Books ; 2006