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41st out of 139 books
—
161 voters
Hitler's Canary
"My brother stood up so quickly he almost knocked Mama over. 'Why aren't you doing something? Do you know what the British are calling us? Hitler's canary! I've heard it on the radio, on the BBC. They say he has us in a cage and we just sit and sing any tune he wants.'"
Bamse's family are theater people. They don't get involved in politics. "it had nothing to do with us," B...more
Bamse's family are theater people. They don't get involved in politics. "it had nothing to do with us," B...more
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
March 6th 2007
by Roaring Brook Press
(first published 2005)
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A great story about the German occupation of Denmark and the Danish resistance told from an eleven year old boys point of view.
This is a brilliant book for an older child to start looking at the Nazi movement and what occupation during WW2 meant. Sandi Toksvig, who never fails to make me laugh, has written this wonderful story of the Danish people who collectively saved around 90% of the Jews living in Denmark during the German occupation. It is written from the point of view of a 12 year old boy and is both comic and serious at the same time. By using humour Sandi Toksvig allows the reader to understand what is going o...more
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I cannot put into words how much I loved this book! (But I will try!)
I really enjoyed this book mainly because it was inspirational, capturing and unforgettable, really!
PROS:
~It opened my eyes to the Second World War - Everyone thinks World War 2 was just an event in the past, Jews died, it doesn't happen anymore. Well... Yes, that is true, but WW2 is so much more than that! It caused the whole of the world to panic, turn against one another, and make us trust no one. It was a whole war, caused...more
I really enjoyed this book mainly because it was inspirational, capturing and unforgettable, really!
PROS:
~It opened my eyes to the Second World War - Everyone thinks World War 2 was just an event in the past, Jews died, it doesn't happen anymore. Well... Yes, that is true, but WW2 is so much more than that! It caused the whole of the world to panic, turn against one another, and make us trust no one. It was a whole war, caused...more
*REVIEWED FOR PUBLISHER*
It's April 1940 and German troops are pouring onto the streets of Denmark. 12-year-old Bamse is ordered by his father to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. But Bamse and his daring friend Anton can't resist playing the occasional practical joke on the invading soldiers. When it becomes clear that the trouble isn't just going to pass them by, the people of Denmark decide to take action and Bamse and his eccentric family are about to take part in one of history's m...more
It's April 1940 and German troops are pouring onto the streets of Denmark. 12-year-old Bamse is ordered by his father to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. But Bamse and his daring friend Anton can't resist playing the occasional practical joke on the invading soldiers. When it becomes clear that the trouble isn't just going to pass them by, the people of Denmark decide to take action and Bamse and his eccentric family are about to take part in one of history's m...more
Hitler’s Canary is the extraordinary story of Bamse Skovlund and his youth in Denmark during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Although not written in diary form, Bamse narrates his own story as a memory.
Bamse has grown up in the theater, as his mother is an actress on the stage. His father is an artist, often building sets and drawing political cartoons for a Danish newspaper. He has an older brother and sister and his best friend, Anton, lives in the apartment upstairs. Bamse loves watching...more
Bamse has grown up in the theater, as his mother is an actress on the stage. His father is an artist, often building sets and drawing political cartoons for a Danish newspaper. He has an older brother and sister and his best friend, Anton, lives in the apartment upstairs. Bamse loves watching...more
This is a children's book but like all the best children's books, a great read for adults too. It is set during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, seen through the eyes of a child, Bamse, whose family is caught up in the Resistance movement. His mother is an actress and his father a painter in the theatre; when his older brother joins the resistance, Bamse and his best friend Anton are faced with increasingly difficult choices, as Anton turns out to be Jewish - or rather, the fact that Anton is Jew...more
Hitler's Canary is a beautifully written story of real people in Denmark during WWII. It tells a shocking story in a gentle and clever way, which keeps a good pace and so really drags you along for the ride. Although the story is reflective of similar stories taking place across Europe at this time, it has a unique flavour which paints the Danish situation with a flavour of the countries culture.
I wanted to highlight one favourite character from the book, but in thinking about it realise that ma...more
I wanted to highlight one favourite character from the book, but in thinking about it realise that ma...more
"There are hundreds of personal stories from that time, but this is not one in which all the Germans were bad and all Danes were good. It didn't work that way."
Good heartwarming story that shows the Nazi occupation of Denmark from a kid's point of view, so kids can understand and relate to it (not in the black-and-white way kids are usually told of WW2, but not cynically or confusingly either). At the same time, it's a good read for grown-ups, too. Includes the amazing true story of how the Dane...more
Good heartwarming story that shows the Nazi occupation of Denmark from a kid's point of view, so kids can understand and relate to it (not in the black-and-white way kids are usually told of WW2, but not cynically or confusingly either). At the same time, it's a good read for grown-ups, too. Includes the amazing true story of how the Dane...more
Hitler’s Canary takes place in Denmark during World War II. This chapter book follows Bamse’s family as they struggle with the Nazi occupation in their country. Despite the historical context in which Hitler’s Canary occurs, this book is surprisingly light-hearted. Bamse’s family works in the theater. His mother is an overdramatic actress who prefers quoting great plays rather than speaking in laymen’s terms, and his father is an even-tempered set designer who occasionally draws political cartoo...more
Hitler's Canary is so far about a family who is at war as well as their country of Denamark. Germans have now invaded Denamark, now the people of Denmark have a big choice to make. They can either to make sure all of the Nazis are safe and they can try to make the best out of this terrible invasion or they can make sure that the nazis protest for what they believe in whether it's big or small. Teddy the protagonist is experiencing this invasion and his family is going through devastating time. T...more
Danes Bamse and his best friend Anton enjoy life fully. Then Germany invades. The Nazis immediately find themselves sabotaged at every turn. Bamse's papa does not want his family to participate in the irritation of the Germans at all. Orlando, Bamse's older brother, becomes part of the resistance anyway. Bamse and Anton long to help and after some coaxing Orlando allow them to assist.
When things heat up and the Germans begin rounding up Denmark's Jews, the Danish people refuse to give up their n...more
When things heat up and the Germans begin rounding up Denmark's Jews, the Danish people refuse to give up their n...more
Based on the experiences of her father during the War, this is an often funny and occasionally moving and touching children's story of a family whose life changes when the Nazis invade Denmark. It touches on the conflict in the nation, condensed into one family: should they keep their heads down and try not to be noticed, or should they join the resistance?
I hadn't know, but in the course of about a week in 1943, many Danes, of all races and creeds, risked their lives to help Denmark's Jews esca...more
I hadn't know, but in the course of about a week in 1943, many Danes, of all races and creeds, risked their lives to help Denmark's Jews esca...more
I am in love with Denmark right now. In love. And proud to be Danish. This book was a pleasure to read. It was about WWII which I have a thing for reading about, but it was different than any other Nazi book I've read because this was about the Danish resistance. Absolutely amazing stuff. The little boy Bamse, the main character, was so loveable and believable and wonderful and his family was quirky and weird and loveable, too. His mom was an incredibly dramatic actress who lived her entire life...more
Strangely, I had never heard of this book until a member of our book club suggested to read it for this month's meeting. It's strange because I am a huge fan of Sandi Toksvig and religiously listen to her weekly "News Quiz" on BBC radio as well as watch her on TV for numberous news and stand-up comedy shows. I should know that she is written not that this one but other books, too. She is brilliant, smart, witty and....
(half) Danish.
Which is the other reason why it's strange that I'd never hear...more
(half) Danish.
Which is the other reason why it's strange that I'd never hear...more
1 like · like · see review
Ideally I'd give this 3.5 stars. During World War II, Denmark was referred to as Hitler's Canary, since it gave in as soon as Germany invaded and basically sung to Hitler's tune throughout the war. Amazingly, however, many Danes hated what was happening to their country and stood up against the Nazis. Most Danes were part of a nationwide resistance movement. The best part of this novel was learning that the Danes banded together, and even quite a few of the Nazi occupiers, to spirit Jews out of...more
This is really a children's story. However, like many children's books it has a much deeper story than many adult books. The simple way it is written through the eyes of a boy still in short trousers about a serious issue [how the Danes reacted to Nazi treatment of the Jews] was in my view a minor classic.
I thoroughly enjoyed it to the point of constantly picking it up until I had too soon, finished it. It is funny, dark, illuminating of human nature and true to life in the way people constantly...more
I thoroughly enjoyed it to the point of constantly picking it up until I had too soon, finished it. It is funny, dark, illuminating of human nature and true to life in the way people constantly...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Bamse, a 10 year non-jew, and his best friend Anton, a jew, both live in Denmark where German Nazi’s are beginning to roam the streets. Bamse’s parents refuse to get involved with anything political and with the war in general, but Bamse’s elder brother was the doing the opposite in his resistance group. His brother urges his parents to think their country and to help save it. Though the parents resisted originally they decided after seeing Dane Jews rounded up by Nazis that they need to do some...more
This book reminded me a lot of "Number the Stars". It takes place in Denmark during World War II, and has a Danish family that protects and helps their Jewish friends to hide and escape from the Nazi's. It differs though as it covers in greater detail the Danish resistance, and the fact that not all Germans were bad, and not all Danes were good. There were German soldiers who "looked the other way", and there were Danes who turned in Jews that were in hiding. I felt like the quality of teaching...more
I had no idea that Denmark was called Hitler's canary, I didn't even realise how the Nazi's treated Danish people until this book. I, of course, knew about the Holocaust and the monstrous things that happened during that time but I had no idea that for such a small and normally peaceful country, they put up such a big resistance and evacuated THAT many jews.
This book was aimed at children as an adventure story but I beleive that unless you know and understand the context of this book you won't b...more
This book was aimed at children as an adventure story but I beleive that unless you know and understand the context of this book you won't b...more
I didn't know anything about Germany's occupation of Denmark in WW2 before I read this book. It centres around Bamse and his older brother, who is a member of the Danish Resistance movement, and their actions against their occupiers. At first, Bamse is concerned for his brother, but eventually after witnessing the treatment of his Jewish friend Anton and Anton’s family, he joins too, helping out in small, but vitally important ways. His parents also have a role to play when events take a terrify...more
I really thought I would love this book...I really wanted to like this book. It takes place in Denmark during WWII and tells the story of one family's experience participating in the danish resistance against the Nazi invasion. In telling their story, it also touches on some of the overall experiences that occurred in Denmark during this time. While I LOVE stories of the remarkable Danish people and their amazing efforts during this time in history, this particular story really fell flat for me....more
Based on accounts of her own grandparents' work in the Danish resistance, Toksvig tells a compelling story of the many Danes who helped smuggle Danish Jews out of the country to Sweden before they were taken to Hitler's Concentration camps. The story revolves around ten-year-old Bamse and his family--a group of "theater people" as he calls them (the story is broken into scenes and acts instead of chapters). The story begins with the German occupation of Denmark in 1940 (when the BBC began to cal...more
This book, based on the author's father's experiences during WWII in Copenhagen, was excellent, both in its voice and its story. The young boy who narrates the story is the son of a famous stage actress and a painter, and as his family is swept into the events of the occupation, he is exposed to many unusual situations and surprising moments. Very balanced, interesting and at times exciting -- it pulled me in from the first page and kept me until the end.
Excellent in every way. Loved it and think you should read it. I learned a lot about the Danish resistance. It is a very quick read.
165: You must stand up for everyone's right to be be who they are- otherwise you may find one day that it is you who is singled out, who is seen as different, and then there will be no one to defend you.
27:Do whatever you do well. You never know- it might just save your life.
14 Learned a new word,"livskunt" the art of living.
8 Remembering to laugh when things were b...more
165: You must stand up for everyone's right to be be who they are- otherwise you may find one day that it is you who is singled out, who is seen as different, and then there will be no one to defend you.
27:Do whatever you do well. You never know- it might just save your life.
14 Learned a new word,"livskunt" the art of living.
8 Remembering to laugh when things were b...more
1 like · like · see review
Jul 10, 2011
Melissa
added it
It wasnt' a really fast read. A 10 - 13 year old boy is in a Danish family. The most remarkable thing is that the Danes saved most of their Jewish people and gave them their stuff when they came home from Sweden. The Germans were going to round them up on Rosh Hoshana, and the people spread the news and most were saved. Amazing. Based on a story about his Grandparents. His Grandma was an actress, so chapter titles were written in stage jargon...
Ok it's for kids but the messages remain valid for everyone.A book for children about the German occupation of Denmark written using acts and scenes rather than chapters but still in the form of a narrative. Excellent book, bought it for my 10 year old who was studying WW2 at school. Thought I'd have a sneaky peak and very glad I did. "Not all Germans were bad, and not all Danes were good" read it and find out why.....
Bamse has a normal live.....until the Germans invade Denmark. He hears the German Luftewaffe flying overhead. The Germans completely take over all of Denmark, Sending every Jew to the feared concentration camps, along with anyone who tries to rebel. Two years later, Bamse turns thirteen. When he and his best friend Anton, who is Jewish himself, start to rebel against the Nazis, tensions rise. So Bamse, his family, and Anton's family start a risky journy to switzerland, the one safe place to go....more
Very intereseting peice of history seen through the eyes of a school boy. Well written and reminded me of the The Silver Sword Ian Serraillier which I read in English at school many years ago.
Bamse is the son of a famous actress and an artist who have been invaded by the Nazis in WWII Denmark. This is a story about how normal people helped the Danish underground protect the Jewish Danes from capture and persecution. These people were helped by some not-so-mean Germans and fought against some not-so-nice Danes in a heartwarming story of courage and responsibility.
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