The story is very historically accurate and based on the life of Helmuth Hubener, a German boy who was part of the youth SS, while his father was an SS officer. Helmuth got upset with the SS regime and felt as though they were lying to him about the war, and so he began listening to BBC radio on an illegally-imported radio that he shared with his two friends. He created a secret youth group that would make mini pamphlets, which would then be distributed around town, but eventually he gets ratted out by the fourth member of his little group. Helmuth was sentenced to death and his friends were given other punishments. This book is incredibly important, especially since the horrors of the Holocaust are being downplayed in today's society, and the rise of anti-Semitism is becoming quite alarming. As someone with Jewish/Israeli heritage, this story had a profound impact on me when I read it. The idea that this young boy didn't just take the information he was given and actually did his own research is a great lesson to teach students. Today, with social media and the strong influence of celebrities and "influencers," the younger generations are struggling to think for themselves and to make informed and educated decisions. ( )

History

good - Katrina

This was a gripping book based on real events. I enjoyed it a lot. ( )

A fantastic story for upper middle school grades that tells a fictional account of a true event. Helmuth Hubener was the youngest person sentenced to death by the Nazis during WWII. As a young boy, Helmuth loved his country and wanted to become a soldier for Germany. However, as he grows, he learns the truth about the Nazi regime. After witnessing his Jewish friend's father murdered, Helmuth begins distributing anti-Nazi material and making secret broadcasts revealing the truth about Hitler and the regime. Helmuth is eventually caught and executed by guillotine at 17. ( )