Looking for novels set in Nazi Germany for a teen DD

[loveyouradvice]

She's doing history GCSE and one aspect is understanding life in Nazi Germany - any recommendations for novels? Ideally lighter weight ones, gripping narrative... even detective novels set in this era... or YA!!!

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

All Quiet is WW1, great book though.

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 :-(

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

The kommadants girl by Pam Jenhof is fantastic.

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.

Have a look at the Mighty Girl website

How teen ?
The book thief
When hitler stole pink rabbit
Hitler's canary ( Denmark I know )
Suite Francais is brilliant but probably only for older teams.

Lena Kuchler My 100 Children is amazing!

Winter by Len Deighton - fascinating story following 2 fictional brothers born in Vienna as the 20th century begins and follows their lives through WW1 and how then WW2, very interesting take on how Hitler's rise to power was able to happen, and the context, background and the effects on the lives of ordinary people.

Also by The same author is 'bomber' a full novel that is a effectively just a description of an RAF bombing attack during one night. told in detail form several points of view on both sides. The whole book describes less than 24 hours worth of real time. Again as above, really good for understanding effects on the lives ordinary people.

DS1 and I have recently read the Henderson's Boys series by Robert Muchamore - spy fiction series based around a group of kids and teenagers trained to work undercover in WW2 France. One of the series 'The Prisoner' is set mainly in Germany after one of the boys is arrested, lots of detail about conditions for prisoners but also a fair amount of information along the way about conditions in Germany. It's not exactly high-end literature but as far as I can tell the historical detail in the series is pretty reliable and they're definitely a good read.

Two Brothers by Ben Elton is brilliant as is When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. Elinor I know what you mean but when I read both of these I was struck by how even now the propaganda machine is alive and well and stirring up distrust yet again so I think they're both good at getting us to look at that and to even now read past what some of the press is reporting.

Bomber is one of the best books of the last century imo. It might not be easy for a fourteen year old though. I tried several times to read it in my early / mid teens and couldn't get into it. It was only when I was older that I appreciated it.

I'm with ElinorRigby.

I am so sorry to any I have caused distress to ... this was not my intent at all... I have always felt that reading fiction is such a powerful way of understanding how people lived and thought in different situations and different times, helping us gain insight into how and why things happen, increasing compassion and understanding ... the comment about being lighter-weight was purely because at just 14, so many of the more powerful books (like Alone in Berlin) feel a stretch too far... And I am deeply grateful to have learnt of so many new books that I had not heard of before (like Mischlind, second degree and Stones from the River and Reunion) ... as well as being reminded of Heimat which I think is brilliant and wholly appropriate to watch with her .... A huge thank you to everyone for sharing so many ideas which I'm gently working through, for both DD and myself

Oh that's fine loveyouradvice.

It's just such a difficult subject, so inevitably comments like 'really enjoyed this book about Auschwitz' can seem a bit weird....

Thank you Elinor Rigby...... thank you... and I so agree...

I remember reading Piepel by Ka-tzetnik 135633, the branded survivor from Auschwitz. It makes for grim reading, and at 15 it left a lasting impression on me.

The Runaway Family by Diney Costello is a good one and not too hard going.
Would second the "Maus" graphic novels too.
Two Brothers by Ben Elton is excellent too but the language used may be a bit strong for her.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

One of the periods in history I find fascinating as well as the post war period in Germany.