Looking for novels set in Nazi Germany for a teen DD

Have a look at the Mighty Girl website

Two Brothers by Ben Elton is brilliant, well worth a read. It's a bit far fetched in parts in terms of the plot but it really brought to life for me what happened in Berlin before and during the war.

The kommadants girl by Pam Jenhof is fantastic.

For some reason, I am finding this thread rather distressing. It's because my mother was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany.

I am pleased that some people have pointed out the shortcomings of 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'.

I suppose I think the ideal thing for children to be encouraged to think about is the way that, here and now, certain groups are gradually being demonised and marginalised in a way that is not dissimilar to what happened in my mother's childhood.

That's a bit of a diversion from the point of the thread. But I think one of the important things about studying history should be taking a look at the way in which it tends to repeat itself - though with 21st century variations.

I know you wanted books but if she wants to watch a drama on TV

"Secret Army" is being shown on DRAMA channel or you can catch up on TV PLAY

I loved it as a teenager and am enjoying it now as an adult

It is about "lifeline" which rescued British airmen that had been shot down and got them back to Britain

It is set in Brussels and France but also has Gestapo and Luftwaffe stories too

They have just had an episode set on June 6th and it made a very different slant on other stories that I had heard before. Like transport chaos and telephone lines between Belgium and France being stopped for civilians. Also, Germans making everyone get off trains heading for Paris so they can use them to move troops around

Anyway, maybe another choice for her

Absolutely agree with Katnis re Boy in Striped Pyjamas. It's a crap book and really patronising about the Jewish victims.

Please don't read Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Firstly it's too young, it's a Y7 text, and secondly it's rubbish in terms of factual accuracy. As a history teacher it drives me mad that it is taught as factually written and gave to constantly unready the crap details in it.

Friedrich (or, if she's got German GCSE, the original 'Damals war es Friedrich' is not a difficult read) by Hans Peter Richter.

Brilliant book about two teenage boys, one Jewish one not, growing up in the late thirties/early forties in Germany.

Suite Francaise by Irene nemirvsky. Set in France under nazi rule, starts during g the invasion and occupation of Paris.. Author died in Auschwitz

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is an amazing book, I've recommended it to many teen girls at school.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is another good one.

I've had a copy of the book thief in my car for months and just can't get into it :-(

All Quiet is WW1, great book though.

I see that it also won the 2015 Pulitzer prize
www.pulitzer.org/winners/anthony-doerr

My DD is also fascinated by Nazi Germany and how Hitler managed to come to power with such intolerable and corrupted beliefs. She recommends the Diary of Anne Frank, How Hitler stole Pink Rabbit, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and Eva's Story

All the light we cannot see by A Doer. Suitable for teenagers and has the twin stories growing up in Nazi Germany and occupied France. Carnegie Medal winner and IMO a beautiful book.

Reunion by Fred Uhlman is brilliant. DS read it in Year 9.

The book theif isn't too harrowing.

If she is an older teen and can cope with some pretty harsh stuff, then I'd agree with Alone in Berlin. It was written just after the war by pretty much the only major German writer who did not go into exile but lived through it all. Too caught up in his own problems of MH and cocaine addiction to get involved in any resistance but he saw a lot and knew how ordinary people were affected.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit! Loved it as a young teen, read it a zillion times.

Winter by Len Deighton. Not lightweight but a very good historical novel. I read it at around 14 and thought it was a very good read. It's about a German family. It's set from 1900 to 1945 so gives a some background as to how the Nazis came to power.

Another one recommending Mischling: Second Degree. As it's an autobiography you can look up on a street map all the places she lived, the evocation of her day to day life is very clear. I read it when I was about 13 or 14 and really small details have just stayed with me for over 30 years. It's not light, but it is readable.
It might also be interesting to watch "Heimat" (it's about 10 hours so maybe good for a rainy weekend). It covers about a 50 year period (? Can't quite remember) including both world wars but you get a very clear feel for everyday life.

Another vote for stones from the river

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PQJHIZ0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

I really enjoyed this book about auschwitz and nazi rule in general!

agree it's harrowing stuff. not easy to deal with

Number the stars is about the evacuation of the jews from nazi occupied denmark.

Agree Alone in Berlin is excellent but may be a bit hard going.