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44th out of 402 books
—
1,451 voters
The Boy Who Dared
A Newbery Honor Book author has written a powerful and gripping novel about a youth in Nazi Germany who tells the truth about Hitler
Bartoletti has taken one episode from her Newbery Honor Book, HITLER YOUTH, and fleshed it out into thought-provoking novel. When 16-year-old Helmut Hubner listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio, he quickly discovers Germany is...more
Bartoletti has taken one episode from her Newbery Honor Book, HITLER YOUTH, and fleshed it out into thought-provoking novel. When 16-year-old Helmut Hubner listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio, he quickly discovers Germany is...more
Hardcover, 202 pages
Published
February 1st 2008
by Scholastic Press
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This story resonates so much because it's based on a true account of a young man named Helmuth during World War II. He is a patriotic German and can see why Hitler could be good for the country. Just like many others he gets sweeped up with the hysteria of a new hope for the broken down Germany. Slowly but surely though he comes to see what the whole regime is really about.
The book flips perspectives from the present to memories Helmuth has leading up to why he is in jail. The voice of the narra...more
The book flips perspectives from the present to memories Helmuth has leading up to why he is in jail. The voice of the narra...more
Sep 23, 2012
Anna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Shelves:
wwii-and-holocaust,
autobio-bio-true-story
The Boy Who Dared is about a handsome young Mormon in the Hitler Youth who was executed for operating an anti-Nazi pamphlet. This book is written in present-tense, (thou I prefer past-tense.) In italic is "present-day" - Helmuth's execution day. His life is told through flashbacks. (though this reads like a "normal" book, in present-tense.) From the very moment Hitler comes to power, Helmuth senses something is WRONG. He questions everything, a quality I admire. He doesn't just let someone easil...more
Aug 07, 2010
Valerie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Valerie by:
Cara
Shelves:
male-protagonist,
historical-fiction
Been planning to read this for a while and finally did. It is set in Hamburg, Germany during WWII. This book shows that not every German citizen was for the war even though it allowed more jobs and a better economy and some did not know what was going on because of all the laws restricting outside information. We see all of this through a boy, called Helumth.
Helmuth was a real boy growing up in WWII. And it not that the author made Helmuth such a believable character, he actually seemed real. He...more
Helmuth was a real boy growing up in WWII. And it not that the author made Helmuth such a believable character, he actually seemed real. He...more
Feb 04, 2009
Art
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in Hitler Youth, German Resistance, & Nazi Germany
Recommended to Art by:
Ms. Susan Bush
What does “Fahrenheit 451”, “The Gulag Archipelago”, “1984”, and
“The Hiding Place” or perhaps you have heard of these people: Anne Frank,
Corrie Ten Boom, Dietrich Bonnehoffer, and Martin Niemoeller have in common w/”The Boy Who Dared”. These books and people, all deal with the
Theme of good people in controlling societies or government taking a
stand against evil. Ms. Bartoletti brings to life the true story of a young Hitler youth who dared to take a stand against the NAZI Government of German...more
“The Hiding Place” or perhaps you have heard of these people: Anne Frank,
Corrie Ten Boom, Dietrich Bonnehoffer, and Martin Niemoeller have in common w/”The Boy Who Dared”. These books and people, all deal with the
Theme of good people in controlling societies or government taking a
stand against evil. Ms. Bartoletti brings to life the true story of a young Hitler youth who dared to take a stand against the NAZI Government of German...more
4 likes · like · see review
Jun 18, 2013
♥iDevourBooks♥ ☆Sonic~Obsessed☆
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
holocaust,
war,
world-wars,
young-adult,
modern,
my-reviews,
biography,
christian,
secular
Review while reading the book:
This book is a true story transformed into fiction? Wow. This should be interesting. Well, as a matter of fact, it is interesting. Most people out there write about the people who aren't German in WWII. Finally somebody decided to write about someone who is German and against Nazism. By what I see, it's hard to find these kinds of books.
I already know the ending because I spoiled it for myself. I know. Bad me! Now I know the ending! But I guess it's easy to know th...more
This book is a true story transformed into fiction? Wow. This should be interesting. Well, as a matter of fact, it is interesting. Most people out there write about the people who aren't German in WWII. Finally somebody decided to write about someone who is German and against Nazism. By what I see, it's hard to find these kinds of books.
I already know the ending because I spoiled it for myself. I know. Bad me! Now I know the ending! But I guess it's easy to know th...more
This book was a great follow up to Hitler Youth (same author). It is the story,made into a novel, of one of the real-life characters from Hitler Youth. Helmuth Hubener was a 16 year old boy who, along with his friends, did what they could to go against Hitler. He paid with his life. I am sure he didn't think at the time, that people would now consider him a hero, but he most definitely was. I like the way she addressed his struggle with his religious belief in "obeying, honoring and sustaining t...more
Helmuth, a member of Hitler Youth who disagreed with Nazi politics and policies, wrote and distributed pamphlets calling for resistance. For this he is imprisoned and executed, and the story is told in flashback from his prison cell. Helmuth is an incredible character – believable as an ordinary boy who grows and learns, takes responsibility, and draws upon his conscience to act in the face of evil. Helmuth’s remarkable act of courage will hopefully inspire readers to stand up for their beliefs...more
Helmuth Hubener is a Mormon boy who lives in Germany during WWII. Helmuth was excited at first when Hitler be amd the leader, then he started noticing what the Nazis were really doing. He begins to write letters and pamphlets about what is really happening outside Germany. He got two of his friends to help him but then something goes wrong. Helmuth now has to protect his friends and himself. The setting in the book is accurate and in the authors note it explain what research she did to make it c...more
Audience: Students ages 9 and up, and history and social studies classes.
Appeal: Teachers looking for a historical fiction title to enhance a Holocaust unit. This book also appeals to students who are interested in learning about the Holocaust from a teenagers perspective.
Awards: Golden Sower Nominee 2011-2012
Appeal: Teachers looking for a historical fiction title to enhance a Holocaust unit. This book also appeals to students who are interested in learning about the Holocaust from a teenagers perspective.
Awards: Golden Sower Nominee 2011-2012
I am very thankful to this author for bringing this hero out in the open. I know some people say they are tired of books about WWII but I think there could never be enough..millions of innocent people and heros lost their lives and I want to read all of their storys ..they need to be heard. Helmuth is my new hero at only 17 he stood up and did something to help the innocent. The only thing I dont like is when shes talking about him being scared to die while he was waiting in his cell I think she...more
4 likes · like · see review
This young adult book is excellent. It is a fictional story about a true person, Helmuth Huebener, who "is a boy who dared to speak out for the truth." It was so interesting, because the perspective is of a young German boy who knows in his heart of hearts that what the Nazi party does is wrong, and that people must be told the truth, despite the risk. Part of what is so fascinating/terrifying is the hold that the Nazis had on everything-even those who felt they were wrong would go along with th...more
I don't read much YA, but this book caught my eye. It is a novelization of a true story. Raised in Nazi Germany, having even joined the Hitler Youth, the story opens with 17 year old Helmuth awakening the day 264 of his prison sentence. He has been imprisoned for his "unpatriotic" activities. WWII literature has entranced me for many years, and knowing this story was based on a true one (the author interviewed the real Helmuth's brother and a surviving friend, as well as researched his records a...more
1 like · like · see review
Why I picked it up: It’s on the middle school battle of the books for next year and was a contender for my annual book discussion collaboration with the local middle school battle students.
Helmuth is growing up in Hamburg, Germany as Hitler and the Nazis come to power. We start with Helmuth awaiting execution; most of the story is told in flashbacks. The flashbacks are a little bit episodic and they skip forward in history, though they do stay in chronological order. We see Helmuth learn of Hitl...more
Helmuth is growing up in Hamburg, Germany as Hitler and the Nazis come to power. We start with Helmuth awaiting execution; most of the story is told in flashbacks. The flashbacks are a little bit episodic and they skip forward in history, though they do stay in chronological order. We see Helmuth learn of Hitl...more
Helmuth wants to do what’s right and try to stop the Nazis from doing wrong, but, the Nazis make so many laws that make it hard for Helmuth to make a difference. So, Helmuth must break the laws to stand up for what he believes in.
“The boy who dared” by Susan Campbell is my new favorite historical fiction book, it has action, drama, betrayal, etcetera. I really enjoy this book because the author makes me feel the emotions of the characters, and the author gives me a very good visual aid of the...more
“The boy who dared” by Susan Campbell is my new favorite historical fiction book, it has action, drama, betrayal, etcetera. I really enjoy this book because the author makes me feel the emotions of the characters, and the author gives me a very good visual aid of the...more
In the book, The Boy Who Dared written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, based in Hamburg, Germany, Helmuth wants to show his opinions about the war, but it’s illegal to do anything or have associated actions with negative things about Nazis, so he anonymously posts pamphlets all around town with his friends, to get the truth and his strong opinion out about the war.
The book’s strengths I would say is the author’s ability to make a biography, because really this is what it is, and make it fascinat...more
The book’s strengths I would say is the author’s ability to make a biography, because really this is what it is, and make it fascinat...more
In The Boy who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Helmuth wants to show Germany the truth about the Nazis, but he is in danger of getting caught, so he takes a chance to stand up for what’s right. In the story, the main technique that the author uses is flashbacks. A majority of the story is flashbacks. Flashbacks are very good at catching the reader's attention and pulling them into the book. Also, flashbacks give details about the character's life that you otherwise may not have known about....more
The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
In the Boy Who Dared a young boy named Helmuth Hubener wants to have the war over, nazis finished and Hitler out of the government but he doesn’t have enough willpower to just get Hitler out or Nazis gone or to end a war so he makes these pamphlets to put all over town that tell German people the truth.
In The Boy Who Dared some strengths were the truth, since the book is based on a true story that added a lot of detail and real life sequences becau...more
In the Boy Who Dared a young boy named Helmuth Hubener wants to have the war over, nazis finished and Hitler out of the government but he doesn’t have enough willpower to just get Hitler out or Nazis gone or to end a war so he makes these pamphlets to put all over town that tell German people the truth.
In The Boy Who Dared some strengths were the truth, since the book is based on a true story that added a lot of detail and real life sequences becau...more
Cole Peterson
pd.5
The Boy Who Dared Book Review
In The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Helmuth wants to show the German public that Hitler has lied to the people of Germany and committed brutal crimes against different races, but he is sentenced to death, so Helmuth decides to die with dignity, knowing that his life had purpose. One thing that I really enjoyed in this book was Susan Campbell’s writing style. First, Helmuth would be in a current event or situation. Then, he would provi...more
pd.5
The Boy Who Dared Book Review
In The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Helmuth wants to show the German public that Hitler has lied to the people of Germany and committed brutal crimes against different races, but he is sentenced to death, so Helmuth decides to die with dignity, knowing that his life had purpose. One thing that I really enjoyed in this book was Susan Campbell’s writing style. First, Helmuth would be in a current event or situation. Then, he would provi...more
I would rate this book at 3.5 stars if I was able. I have been wanting to read this book because it is popular with my middle school students and now I understand why. The book presents a interesting and different perspective for younger readers, many of whom may have read books that look at Hitler's Germany through they eyes of its Jewish citizens. By contrast, this book focuses on the life German boy who becomes increasingly disillusioned with and ultimately rejects Hitler's rule, and the terr...more
Apr 17, 2013
Amy Gonzalez
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
selective middle/high school readers
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
middle-school
This is a book I have included in my Historical Fiction Book Club Unit. It immediately caught the attention of many of my students who claim to not like to read much. Since we have started the unit, not one student who has been assigned this book has complained (unlike some of the other books which start off slow or confusing). It's a quick read, but as one student said, "It's scary." I'm giving away nothing here by saying that this is based on a true story about a German boy, named Helmuth, inv...more
The Boy Who Dared is a great book filled with horror and suspense. I think that this book is a "good read" because it involves an important part of the world's history, the Holocaust. I enjoyed this book because I love to read war books. Since the setting in The Boy Who Dared is during World War II and is a war related book, this book was just right for me. During this book, there is a boy named Helmuth Hubener who lives under the control of the Nazi party. Helmuth lives in a town named Hamburg...more
The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti Review by Chris Querrard
I had never really learned in school about what happened in Germany during the period form World War I to World War II, but this book really showed the corruption in Germany during that time period. It was amazing to read how closely related this book was to the real time during the rise of World War II. This book was an amazing work of fiction based on the facts of Helmuth Hubener.
This book was based on a real boy named H...more
I had never really learned in school about what happened in Germany during the period form World War I to World War II, but this book really showed the corruption in Germany during that time period. It was amazing to read how closely related this book was to the real time during the rise of World War II. This book was an amazing work of fiction based on the facts of Helmuth Hubener.
This book was based on a real boy named H...more
This book was amazing. I absolutely loved this book. It is about a boy, Helmuth Hubner, growing up during Hitlers regime. He becomes a part of Hitler's Youth. But it is not your normal, Nazi story, he comes to a realization that what is really happening is injustice and he must stand up for the people, even though he knows that it can cost him his life.
The book starts in present time and works its way back and fourth from present to past, all leading to his execution. It is about this young boy...more
The book starts in present time and works its way back and fourth from present to past, all leading to his execution. It is about this young boy...more
Helmuth is a young German man growing up during World War ll. When his older brother is shipped off to fight in France, Helmuth's hate starts to grow for Hitler and the Reich. After Germany bans listening to foreign radio and reading, Helmuth despises Hitler with all of his heart. But coming home from France, Helmuth's older brother brings back a short wave radio that is banned. Helmuth is warned that if he uses the radio illegally he could put the whole family in danger. Not heeding warning, H...more
This novel is a historical fiction based on the life of Helmuth Hubener. Helmuth was born in Germany before World War II. As a youth, Hitler came to power. As a teen, Germany was at war with the world. Helmuth was a Mormon living in Hamburg, who was forced to join the Hitler Youth, struggled with his views of the Nazis, and dealt with his mother marrying a Rottenfuhrer in the S.S.. When Helmuth reaches 17, he decides he has to do something. This book is written mostly in flashbacks. The parts o...more
Based on the life of Helmuth Hubener, the novel opens with young Hubener sitting on Death Row at Plotzensee Prison in Berlin. In flashback scenes we learn about events surrounding his conviction. Initially, Helmuch is caught up into the nationalism that Hitler brings to Germany. However, as he witnesses the practical application of the implementation of those policies Hubener’s views slowly change until he comes to the conclusion, “I don’t want to remember a time I could have done something but...more
The setting takes place in the second world war when Hitler tried taking over the world. It follows the German schoolboy Helmuth and his family through the second world war.
This is a heavy subject easiest to understand for 11+ but reading level is much easier, I think someone of 10 years old could read it without much trouble. It IS about the second world war anyways, so that gives you a picture of the content.
I love this story how it shows pieces of the ending through-out the beginning of the...more
This is a heavy subject easiest to understand for 11+ but reading level is much easier, I think someone of 10 years old could read it without much trouble. It IS about the second world war anyways, so that gives you a picture of the content.
I love this story how it shows pieces of the ending through-out the beginning of the...more
The novel is based on the true story of a Hitler youth. Helmuth Hubener is a German schoolboy who, in the beginning, shows unwavering patriotism to Germany. As time progresses Jews are threatened and their businesses are destroyed. Hemuth’s world turns upside down: “Patriotism means denouncing others, love means hate, and speaking out means treason.” Helmuth must decide where his loyalties lie, and face what is right versus wrong. The story is told through flashbacks as Helmuth waits execution i...more
Mar 06, 2012
Andrew
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who are interested in WW2 stories
Recommended to Andrew by:
The library
Shelves:
3rd-quarter
I thought this book was an interesting book. It taught me about the was in Germany and how Hitler ruled as the president. This book was educational and interesting at the same time. I like the way the author wrote the book. It was mostly flashbacks on Helmuth's life. There were small parts of Helmuth's most current life.
The book takes part in Germany. Helmuth lives in the time of world war two. Hitler just gained power when the book begins. The story is about how Helmuth dislikes the rules tha...more
The book takes part in Germany. Helmuth lives in the time of world war two. Hitler just gained power when the book begins. The story is about how Helmuth dislikes the rules tha...more
The story of a young boy/man growing up in Nazi-era Germany who feels compelled to not only illegally listen to foreign radio (the BBC) but to spread the truth by typing up leaflets. As a Mormon, Helmuth cannot agree with the Nazi's about the treatment of Jews nor believe the propaganda fed to him, even though defying one's government is against one the tenets of his religion. As a young man, Helmuth starts his journey idealistically, not really believing there will ever be any consequences for...more
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Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an American writer of children's literature. She was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but eventually the family ended up in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. Susan started as an English teacher and inspired many students before deciding to pursue writing in earnest. She sold her first short story in 1989. Three years later in 1992 she published her first pict...more
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“The worst experience can bring out a person's deepest strength.”
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