Behind the Bedroom Wall

by Laura E. Williams

In 1939, ten-year-old Korinna Rehme becomes a member of her local Jungmaedel, a Nazi youth group. She believes that Hitler is helping the world by dealing with what he calls the "Jewish problem." When Korinna discovers that her parents are secretly hiding Jews in their house and helping them to escape the city, she is shocked. And her loyalties are put to an extreme test when a neighbor tips off the Gestapo.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Young Adult, World War II, Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade

169 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Laura E. Williams is the author of Up a Creek and Behind the Bedroom Wall, which was named a Jane Addams Peace Award Honor Book. She lives in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could possibly be more important than love? Freedom, perhaps? What if everything is taken away from us? These are questions explored in this excellent YA (could easily be read by middle grades) story about the Hitler youth.

1942. Korinna Rehme, very active in her local Jungmadel, a Nazi Youth group, learns her parents are THE ENEMY, i.e., they are hiding Jews. So begins a struggle of conscience, decision-making and growing up for this 13 year old German girl.

Includes brief afterword by the author with additional facts helpful for group discussion on ethical decision-making about life, freedom, racial issues, etc.

[Liza Wiemer]

A Holocaust story from the perspective of a girl who's a member of the Nazi youth group, Jungmädel. Shows how easily the Nazi antisemitic and hateful beliefs spread to youth, the power of manipulation and brainwashing. Deeply disturbing and chilling.

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS:
I love this book. It had a clear conflict that I was dying to know what happened next. I think there should be a 2 part to this book because I want to know what happens to korrine when she goes and leaves because it isn't safe. I like the actions and confusion that korrine has because it shows what some kids felt like when this happened. I wish there was more like figuring out if Rita was the one to tell the Nazi's to search her house, if Rachel survives, and if Korrine survives as well. I give this a 5/5 and it is an amazing book.

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

CONTAINS SPOILERS!

I liked Behind the Bedroom Wall, I just didn't like Korinna. She was so mean to Rachel, but at the end I liked her, because she was nice to Rachel. I am just confused about Rita. Rita had said she felt bad for the Jews, but was she just tricking Korinna? I think she was because everyone avoided her after that, and all of the sudden there house was getting searched.

CONTAINS SPOLIERS!

[anna tippets · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unique book. It is about a girl named korianna and her family are all loyal germans. During WW2, she finds out her parents are hiding Jews behind her bedroom wall. She has to decide weither to turn them in, or keep quiet. It was very well writen and was not too long or too short. Overall, i enjoyed it!!!

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot Summary:

The setting of this story is in Nazi Germany at the beginning of the Holocaust. Korrina is a proud German who is a member of the Fungmadel, which is a youth group for Nazi youth. She and her friends had been taught to make sweet buns, go on nature hikes, and spy on people that seemed un-German in any way. Korrina had recently told her Father that she thought she heard mice behind her bedroom wall. Her father reassured her that he would put out traps and even bought her a cat. To her dismay, one evening she heard the sounds again, of what she thought was mice. She went to move her dresser and found something she could not believe. Were her parents traitors? Should she turn them in? Should she tell someone? She found that people she thought were good, proud Germans were being arrested and sent to concentration camps. She is torn between what society has taught her is right, and the love she had for her family.

Main Characters:

Korrina: This is Korrina's story, she is an early teen who is being raised to look as "German" as possible in order for her and her family to survive during the beginning to middle of the rise of Nazi Germany. It is the story of her growing up, and learning to think for herself.

Rita: Rita is Korrina's best friend along with Eva (who is not a really large main character). Rita's brother is a Nazi, who happens to be one of the Nazis that search homes. Rita and Korrina grow apart throughout the story.

Key Issues: Holocaust, Survival, Discrimination, Cruelty, Love, Family

Other Interesting Information:

This was an interesting book to read because it is from the view of a Nazi. As a reader, you know what she is thinking is wrong in the beginning, and really start to connect to the character as she starts to change her mind about her current culture. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because I did enjoy it, but I don't think it was as captivating as it could've been. I would not mind having it in my future classroom, but I don't know if I would enjoy teaching it.

[Yader]

So far I ahveread a few chapters and it's getting very interesting and it is making me think about it when I am forced to stop reading. So far Katherine is at a difficult choice she can either tell her Germany group that her parents and hiding Jews or she can continue and risk being titled as a betrayer of the mother land.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind The Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams is an historical fiction book that tells a story about a young girl named Korinna living during World War II. In this exciting book Korinna was a strong believer to her fatherland. Things changed when she figured that her parents were hiding Jews behind her dresser, which she thought were mice. She was faced with a hard decision. Should she report her parents of not being a loyal German or not?

I really enjoyed this book! I love learning about the history of World War II? I'm am 13 years old and I think this book's plot explains perfectly for kids my age to understand. This story is a great representation of freedom and what to be thankful for. Overall I highly suggest reading this book!

[Sommer T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the biggest questions we have when we study the Holocaust is how did the people of Germany let this happen? This children's book gives insight into that. Our young protagonist, Korinna, is a member of the Hitler youth, believes that Hitler is the savior of Germany, and is encouraged to report those who sympathize with the Jews. She is horrified when she realizes that her parents are hiding a Jewish mother and her young daughter behind her bedroom wall.

"Someday, Korinna knew, every student in the world, in fact, would know the name Adolf Hitler. Everyone would honor and love him as she did, and everyone would say what wonderful things he'd done for Germany, the strongest and greatest power in the world." This quote perfectly encapsulates what the children of Germany were being fed daily.

As she gets to know the people her family is harboring, Korrinna's heart begins to change, and she feels deep compassion for these people being abused daily in her town.

This book is hard to read, and it only shows us a shade of what happened. It's essential, though, to show our children what happened beyond a short paragraph or two in a history book. It's important that we see the perspective of the German people as well, so we can better understand what happened and develop compassion for each other.

The book ends with Korinna realizing how important freedom is and how love and freedom are twined together, as her family goes into hiding for what they have done and who they saved.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the bedroom walls is a great book on the holocaust it is filled with great suspense.
This book contained great describing the book that make you feel like that you were in the moument.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl whose parents are protecting a family of Jews during Nazi Germany. The girl has no idea that behind the closet in her room is a secret room where a family is living. She was confused and conflicted on what to do because in school she was being taught that the Jews are the enemy and anyone helping them are breaking the law. Korinna becomes friends with Rachel the young Jewish girl being hidden in her house. When the Nazis become suspicious of Korinna's family they have to send Rachel's family away to somewhere where they can be safe. Korinna becomes sad at the thought of losing the friend she had made. She realizes through the friendship she made with Rachel that the Jewish people are not evil and realizes that her parents are doing the right thing trying to help and protect them from being killed.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Freedom is greater than Love" Without Freedom, you can't choose who or what to love!"
Good look at indoctrination of a people and the youth.
Control of the Press.
Friends remain friends forever, right?
Drawing helps one remember those who have past and helps us look to the future.
"number the stars" "The Devils Arithmetic" The Hiding Place" and many others.

[Dom Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Author tried too hard to make Korinna anti-Jew in the beginning by repeating the same things over and over again and it got annoying. I think this story could’ve been a bit longer to help flesh out characterization, because it was very rushed. But Rachel is precious.

Also, just found out Korinna was supposed to be 10 years old. what the hell I thought she was 13 the whole time.

[Carlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid read. This book has been sitting on my shelves for a while, so I am glad that I finally got around to it. I feel like I have read quite a few books about the Holocaust, and, to be honest, this book didn't do too much that I haven't read before. I liked Korinna, and I sympathized with her. I appreciate how the author chose to have the novel narrated by Korinna because of how young she is. Her brain was so malleable, and it was compelling to read about her changing and developing her own opinions. I think that the supporting characters added to the story, and the author did a good job involving side characters without them taking over the story. The plot was good, but as I said, this novel didn't do much that I haven't read before. There were no twists that really surprised me, and the ending was fairly predictable. Having said that, this was a touching and thought-provoking story. This novel would be great for younger readers who are just being introduced to the Holocaust. I don't remember there being any cursing in this novel, and there wasn't any sexual content. There was violence, but it wasn't anything very extreme. This novel is best suited in the middle-grade category. Obviously, this book is about Nazi Germany, so there are some sensitive and horrifying subjects discussed. However, this novel is a great starting point for younger readers in terms of this subject. I would mostly recommend this novel to these younger readers, but I also think that older readers could enjoy it. As an older reader, I just think there are other Holocaust-based novels that will enrich me more. I'm not going to seek out more from this author, but I'm not writing her off either.

[Roslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Behind the Bedroom Wall” by Laura E. William’s, is a GREAT book to help imagine what it was like, for people living during the Holocaust. Korinna, the main character, is a member of her local Jungmaedel, a Nazi youth group, along with her friends. When Korinna sees Nazis doing appalling things to the Jews, her friends thought it was what the Jews deserved but Korinna wasn’t so sure. They explained to Korinna that the Jews were traitors to Germany just because they were Jews.
It didn’t take me long at all to read this book because I couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed this book and I love how it was written.
“Behind the Bedroom Wall” felt so real, and reading this book actually made me feel sorry for the characters and in some parts I actually teared up. This book is one of my all-time favorites now and it’s good for all ages to read. I think maybe the book could have been longer and more detailed than it already was, but overall “Behind the Bedroom Wall” was amazing to read and I would recommend it to anyone.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Behind the Bedroom Wall because it really showed what this time period was like and how tough it was. However, despite these obstacles faced throughout the book there were also good moments too. Korinna has grown up to not be able to trust Jews. She does not like them at all and thinks everything is their fault. Will she dislike Jews and never learn to trust them or will she eventually learn to like and trust them? This book was full of a lot of different emotions and a lot of unexpected moments too. I really recommend this book.Not only is it interesting but it taught you a lot about this time period.

[Emily Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

You ever have one of those books that just kind of lives in your head, tucked away sort of, like in your subconscious? That was Behind the Bedroom Wall for me. I read it probably like 20 years ago, give or take.

Certain scenes from this book would randomly pop into my mind over the years - and I finally decided to try to track it down based on what I remembered. Thanks Google 😂

When I found it and knew for sure that, yup, this is it, it felt like unlocking a memory I didn’t know I’d been carrying this whole time. I’m giving it 5 stars for the way it’s stuck with me all these years. Maybe I’ll read it again as an adult one day. I just remember it being really, really good. 🩷

[Andria Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good story of the days set during Hitler's reign of terror to the Jews. 3.5 stars rounded up, this read quite young but still intriguing for the history buff in me. While I didn't appreciate the wide open ending, the writing was strong and the characters were realistic. As it won the Milkweed prize for children's literature I felt that I ought to have read it and added it to my collection.

[Becky Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and a quick read about a thirteen years old German during 1942 finding out that her parents are hiding 2 Jews behind her wall in her bedroom.

This book is age appropriate for someone in grade 4-6. It is short and well written and is a introductory book on historical fictiction characters.

[Michelle Akhmerov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing and really showed what it was like for kids back then. I like how it portrayed how bad the living conditions were for Jewish people when they were hiding. It was amazing how to go Mrs. Williams portrayed Korrina and how I personally would react to finding out such a big thing that my parents were hiding from me. It is incredible how this story put me in the moment I felt like a was watching a movie inside my head the whole time. You could really feel like you were in the room. Korrina was so sweet and brave. You wouldn't really see Eva doing all the things she did for Korinna being that Eva was a shy kid that could stand to see someone hurt a fly.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good book, I sorta liked it, I was kinda mad about the ending, but overall it was pretty good.

[Sophia Cha · Rating 5 out of 5]

in the beginning while korrina was admiring hitler, I just felt like she was being an idiot. I just couldn't stand how they were treating the jews, though history says that hitler was not the first person to think of jews like that and try to do these things. The thought that Rachel and Sophie had to hide to survive in that room, just makes me think how dangerous hate can be. Also, how that can shape someone into people like hitler and makes people like Rachel and Sophie suffer. it also makes people who are usually nice like korrina become so hateful to them.

[Justin Limardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would it feel to have your entire religious group persecuted for crimes they had not committed? In the novel Behind the Bedroom Wall, by Laura Williams, this is exactly what happened. All of the events in this story revolve around a German family living in Nazi Germany during World War Two. The novel points out that the beliefs of society are not always correct, and one should not always follow them.
In this story, a girl named Korrina adapts to the society’s views on Jews, but later realizes what she believed was wrong. From the community where she lives, she learns that Jews are cheating, lying monsters, and should be caught. At first she believes everything she heard. However, she later discovers a Jewish family living behind her bedroom wall. She befriends the family, and after hearing their side of the story, she comes to learn that all of her previous beliefs about Jews were incorrect. The Jewish people did nothing wrong and they were being persecuted for absolutely no reason at all. This goes to show that society may want you to believe certain things that aren’t correct, and that you should be a leader instead of a follower. However, it is not always easy or safe to oppose it.
In this novel, the girl is forced to join a Nazi youth group. This is where she learns all the false information about Jews. Also, this is where all of her friends develop a hatred for Jews. Once Korrina befriended the Jewish family in her house, she could not just stop going to youth group meets. If anybody found out she was protecting Jews, her family could face very severe punishment. This shows us that people are sometimes forced to fit in to society, and you can get punished if you stand out. Also, it shows that false suspicions can arise, even if the suspect is not opposing the beliefs of the society.
The beliefs of society are not always correct. A small group of people can mold the minds of millions of others. One should always remember not to judge people based on the beliefs of the general public, and also a whole group of people should not be discriminated based on something committed by one of them. Will the world ever be free of discrimination and hatred, or will it destroy us?

[Hannah Kennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Korinna is the main character. Korinna's dad get's her a cat because he say's there's mice in the walls. Korinna looks under a dresser to see if she can find a hole where the mice are climbing through. She see's some hatches. It's a secret door hidden behind the dresser. She open's the door and see's two people. There is an adult and a child. At first she is confused because she thought that her family worshiped and loved Adolf Hitler. Whenever her parent's try to do anything for the Jews Korinna get's angry she thinks they are worthless and don't deserve her parents care She is stunned because she never though that her family would hide Jews because everyone knows the penilties that will occur. Now she is forced to lie to her friends, peers and ect. Can she do it, or will she blab?

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams is about a 13-year-old German girl named Korianna, and it's set during World War 2. She is very loyal to Hitler and her local Jungmadel, a Nazi youth group. However, everything changes when Korianna finds out that her parents are hiding Jews and helping them escape from Germany. She has to decide who she is loyal to and reconsider everything she has always been told.

I really enjoyed this book because it had a great message and a very exciting plot. I've read a lot of books like this, but Behind the Bedroom Wall is the best. I really liked the ending, and I think it's a book all middle/high schoolers should read.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I classified this book as young adult instead of tween (which is what the world probably would classify it as) because it is pretty violent in parts--beginning with the, well, beginning.

Different look at Germany during WWII because it's told from the point of view of a nationalist/nazi girl who finds out her parents are hiding Jews behind her bedroom wall. I loved her turn around as she realizes that perhaps the things she's been taught to believe by the nazi's aren't all true--beginning with the fact that Jews are people just like her.

Good read. Runners up.

[Magda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is kinda bratty, but not as bad as some of her friends. I like the way the ages are portrayed rather realistically in terms of mood, and overall the book was enjoyable, but it lacked that something that books like Number the Stars have.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nazi Germany from the perspective of a family who tries to hide a Jewish mother and daughter and whose own daughter is a member of one of Hitler's youth groups and sees her parents as traitors. A quick and easy read that reminds us that not all Germans were Nazis and not everyone was afraid to take a stand against them.

[Taressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this with my daughters. The main character is close to their age. Great insights into what it was like to live in Nazi Germany during WW II and to be a child in Hilter's youth army.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Reader,
I just finished Behind The Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams. This book is not like any other Holocaust book. It is from a completely different perspective; from the perspective of a 13-year-old girl named Korinna Rehme. Korinna is part of a Hitler youth group, and very dedicated to Hitler, and her Jungmendel (youth group) meetings. This book overall shows how many German children were brainwashed by Hitler and the Nazis into thinking that what they were doing to people who look or are different than them was the right thing to do. Korinna goes through it all. She loses friendships and relationships that she never thought she would lose. Korinna and her two best friends: Eva, and Rita, witness people getting shot and taken away. In the end, Korrina comes up with a plan that saved not only her life but the people around her. Rita’s brother, Hans, is part of the Gestapo, the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Korinna has to be careful about what she says in front of Rita because if she sounds one bit un-German she puts her family in danger. Living in 1942, Korinna’s family is not very wealthy because of the war, poverty is an issue. Her parents turn her world upsidedown when they reveal what they have been hiding for the last few days.
I rate this book a 9.5/10. The only downfall is that I wish there was more of it. The book is short with only 169 pages, and every page comes with something you don’t expect. The book never gets boring; once I began, I couldn’t stop; with a hand over my mouth most of the time. I see this throughout the whole book but definitely at the end when Korinna realizes who her friends really are.
A lesson that can be taken from this book is not to judge people no matter what. Throughout the book, Korinna judges people based on what everyone thinks. By the end of the book, she realizes that it does not matter what other people think it’s what she thinks that matters. She recognizes that some things have more priority than others, her parents are a very big part in teaching these lessons to her. They show her a new world that is different from what she has learned her whole life.
Korinna changes and matures a lot throughout this book. She starts off having one opinion of everything. It’s only what she has ever been allowed to learn from her parents, teachers, and peers. However, over the course of the book, she changes her opinion about what’s going on at the time. Overall Korinna really blossoms as a person.
In conclusion, while it is a short read, it is a page-turner and a book I highly recommend. I really enjoyed how her perspective changes throughout the book. In Korinna’s words, “If you’re not free to love whom you wish, what good is love?”
Sincerely,
Zoe