Hindenburg, 1937

Historical Disasters #1

by Cameron Dokey

To escape the escalating turmoil of Nazi Germany, Anna Becker, with the help of a handsome young stranger named Eric, sneaks aboard the Hindenburg just before its voyage to America and finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Eric and Karl, an old flame and a passenger on the doomed airship.To escape the escalating turmoil of Nazi Germany, Anna Becker, with the help of a handsome young stranger named Eric, sneaks aboard the Hindenburg just before its voyage to America and finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Eric and Karl, anold flame and a passenger on the doomed airship

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Historical Romance, Teen

212 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Cameron Dokey is an American author living in Seattle, Washington. She has a collection of over 50 old sci-fi and horror films. Cameron was born in the Central Valley of California. Cameron grew up reading classical literature and mythology, perhaps due to her father, Richard, being a teacher of Philosophy, Creative Writing, and Western Literature.

Cameron has one husband and three cats, and is the author of over a dozen young adult novels. Her favorite read is J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings." Her favorite TV show is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

When she's not writing, Cameron likes to work in the garden and is learning to quilt.

Reviews

[Nick Zolikoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt you were forced to do everything, but what you wanted. That’s how Anna feels in the Hindenburg 1937.

Anna is young woman in Frankfurt, Germany in April 1937.Since, Anna’s grandfather had died Anna did not have any immediate family near by to stay with so she is taken care of by her brother a military commander. When her grandfather died his wish was for her to travel to America on the zeppelin Hindenburg and Anna agrees, but her brother has other plans. Anna’s brother wished for her to have an arranged marriage to advance his military career. Kurt, Anna’s older brother, makes a final decision to have a marriage and they are set to leave soon the next week. Anna secretly promises not to go anywhere with Kurt except the USA.

Anna draws up a plot to sneak on the Hindenburg, but first Anna needs a companion to go with her. Next, Kurt and Anna left to stay at a hotel before leaving for Berlin to have Anna married. As Anna sneaks out to the load onto the Hindenburg she surprisingly finds a young man who is a perfect traveling companion for her. Anna finds Erik Peterson and they quickly become acquaintances and load the zeppelin. When Anna joins the other citizens riding the Hindenburg she finds an ex-love in Karl Mueller. Karl Mueller left Anna’s company to join the military and is on the Hindenburg to investigate a “problem” on the trip. Erik Peterson suggests that Karl is a Nazi spy and Anna buys in. Later Kurt finds out that Anna is on the trip against his request, so he sends Karl a message to send Anna back to Germany on the first trip available. But Karl is questioning whether to send her r to let his past love leave to a happy life.

While Karl tells Anna he needs her to watch Erik Peterson for anything suspicious in his actions Anna gets suspicious of Karl herself. Even Anna does not want to help Karl but he will send her back to Germany if she doesn’t. Eventually, Anna is faced with a decision to tell Karl of an event late at night with Erik and a worker on the blimp but she votes against it. Later she comes to herself to tell Karl but doesn’t get the chance. Anna finds that decision was disastrous and would cause some terrible events.

I loved the book Hindenburg 1937 because you learn that you don’t have to be commanded like a pet to do what they want but you choose your fate also. Read the book to find out what events occurred and if Anna makes it to America or even survives…

[Rom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a teen and remembered liking it. It’s been so long since reading that I forgot most of the story line and it was like rereading it again. I read it in one day and really enjoyed it. Totally worth a reread. It’s peaked my interest in the Hindenburg and time period. A great historical fiction.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel does a good job of telling the story of the Hindenburg disaster, with a reasonable explanation of who was responsible for the conflagration. It gives good background on Nazi Germany and the conflicting loyalties of many young Germans. However, the romance story that forms the basic plot is hackneyed and formulaic, not up to the other books I have read by this author. The book is positive and harmless, with vivid description of the disaster.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was short and mostly sweet - but not long enough or detailed enough for me. I liked it, but I wanted so much more. It was like those little sample tastes of ice cream when you are trying to decide which one to get.

[Maryse · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is obviously targeting teenagers with its romantic love triangle. The historical background is interesting enough, though.

[lunarlibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still my heart! I read this so many times growing up, and it was wonderful reading in my old playground again.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I really liked Cameron Dokey's other contribution to the series and was really looking forward to this one. It definitely feels like those classic 90s YA paperbacks, which was the basis of its appeal for me. A little overdramatic at times, but still compelling, and I really liked the characters. Not very much gets written about the Hindenburg, either, so I was very excited to read some historical fiction about it. But, ok SPOILER ALERT...... this book does not have an HEA. The ending is satisfying, in a sense, for the heroine, but not at all what I was expecting and I'm not sure I liked it. I kind of felt like I was set up for one thing and got something completely different. But I still...liked it? Kind of? I don't know. Maybe I need to sit with it for a few days.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books when I was younger and I had completely forgotten about it until I stumbled across a copy in a used book sale. I’m so glad I bought it because I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this book. It’s definitely intended for younger audiences but it was an easy-before-bed read. The author did a great job of blending fact with a fictional romance aspect unlike some other historical fiction works I’ve read recently.

[Aly Hampton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read as an adult out of boredom and I remember it being better as a kid. I still enjoyed reading it for nostalgias sake but.... well. The plot was weak at its best moments, and the only redeeming characteristic is the unexpected ending.

[Melanie Irizarry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a cute book. Loved the spark of the main fraulein but gave me major titanic vibes. And the ending just came too quick. Where the whole book drags on and then the plot twists grab you, the ending came and went like a sneeze.

[elle_adore_lire · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was about some ship that sank. It was really interesting. It was kinda short, but if she kept adding I would have dragged on. It was really cute tho, the love triangle. THE PLOT TWIST AT THE END....

[Sie Teo · Rating 4 out of 5]

a love story about a girl and a boy 🤣

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Young Adult novel describing a young woman's journey on the final voyage of the zepellin Hindenburg in 1937. The cover artwork was appealing and I knew very little about the Hindenburg (beyond that it had exploded) prior to reading this.Anna is running away after the death of her beloved Opa as she knows that if she stays in Germany her brother Kurt will see that she is married off to someone who will control her and shape her into a dutiful German frau.in going on the Hindenburg she believes she is keeping a deathbed promise to her grandfather and that she will be able to start a new life in America.Young women of this era rarely travelled alone, so Anna co-opts a young man she has never met before to accompany her . On-board. She discovers that an old boyfriend who she felt had abandoned her is also aboard and her heart is torn between Eric whom she has just met and Karl, her old love who just might be a Nazi spy.As a reader I knew the journey would end in disaster, and although history has not been able to definitively show what caused it, the author chose to pursue the idea that it was sabotage. Who was the guilty party? Read the book to find out.

The author finished with a postscript giving more information for those interested and recommendations of videos one can watch to learn more. I was inspired to do some online searching and found a Pathe video clip which actually showed the zepellin as cc it burst into flames.A book that inspires extra research is one well worth reading whether by a young adult or someone aged sixty like myself.

[Dlora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of a young girl in pre-World War II years trying to escape the Nazi role for women her brother is determined to force her into. Her grandfather has just died and her Hitler-loving brother plans for her to advance his Nazi career by arranging a suitable marriage for her (though since she doesn't completely fit the ideal Aryan image with her brown eyes and her dark-blond hair, she isn't the best marriage bet). She also doesn't fit the mold of the subservient woman who should be working in a factory or bearing children to support "what is best for Germany" -- meaning the Nazi war propaganda. Anna manages to slip away from her brother's control long enough to board the Hindenburg for a trans-Atlantic voyage, hoping to jump ship in America--but we all know the Hindenburg blows up in 1937. Her trip is complicated by her brother realizing what she has done and making arrangements to have her sent back to Germany, by the presence on ship of an old love interest who is a Nazi spy, and a new love interest that is the focus of an onboard investigation. The story is good history for young readers, with strong characters, a thorny love story, and an unexpected denouement--even though we know the airship is going to blow up!

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The romance elements were a bit overpowering at times, but the story provided a lot of historical information.

[Tena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I can review this without spoiling anything so *SPOILERS AHEAD, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK*

I'm trying really hard not to judge this so quickly, especially since it doesn't have a happy ending. It has a hopeful one, but not a happy one. HINDENBURG, 1937 is a short book, and well written, but I didn't particularly connect with the MC, Anna. If she hadn't been quite so stubborn, and had actually talked to Kurt, then the book might've gone in a different direction. And that's my least favorite trope - miscommunication to create tension and problems. But in that same vein, Kurt is guilty as well. If he had just told Anna who he was working for from the start....but that's not the story the author wished to tell.

[Tristine Fjerstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna is stuck in a sticky predicament when her grandfather dies just before they were to board the Hindenburg together. The problem is that just before her grandpa died he did not finish his final wish for her, he just grabbed her ticket to the Hindenburg. Anna took this wish to mean that her grandpa would want her to board the Hindenberg. Her brother seems to forbid the whole trip though, how will Anna outwit her brother?

This was a good read, it had some history in it and kept the story entertaining with romance. Anna is adventurous and smart which makes the novel even more fun to read. This book would be a great way to introduce what the Hindenburg was and what happened in 1937.

Content Warning: Death, Language.

[Patt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a young adult book which was thoroughly enjoyed by this "not so young" adult. A trip on the last flight of the Hindenburg is a time for romance and for suspense. Who is the good guy, Kurt or Eric? Aside from the romance, there are lots of great descriptions of the interior of the Hindenburg and the workings of it. I didn't realize the owner of the Hindenburg was totally anti Nazi until I read this.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little book I picked up to see what Cameron Dokey's writing was like outside of fairy tales. It was pretty basic, but all in all a pretty good, quick read. I don't know that it derserves a full 4 stars from me, but it gets the 4th for a completely unpredictable suprise at the end. Definitely NOT what I had expected, and Ms. Dokey definitely gets some props for that!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

04/10/2010: Found on clearance for 50 cents at Half Price Books Omaha. I like reading WWII/Holocaust novels.

04/14/2010: This book was going along just fine when something happens that made me take away two stars. I was not a happy camper after reading it. I will definitely be selling this book next time I sell stuff at Half Price Books.

[Rick Bavera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at a historical event from the perspective of a teenage girl in Nazi Germany.

The lead character loses her grandfather, thinks he wanted to tell her on his deathbed to take the Hindenberg trip. She takes it, thinking it will get her out of a bad situation, and an even worse even occurs--the Hindenburg disaster.

[Hally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. It was the first book to make me cry. It has everything I love in a book: true love, excitement, mystery, danger. The only sad part was the end....if only.....but it was still great. The only book I reread once a year.

[Cowgirl4christ16 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy novels like this, that base a fictional story on actual historic events. I read it high school sometime.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books like this! Ones that tell about history but in a story version. Ones perspective of what happened in that ancient historic event.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely more of a two star book, but it gets three stars for the simple fact that the love interest was killed off. And to think I thought that was a lost art....

[Cinnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay. I will probably recommend to a girl wanting historical romance, but no one else.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this love story centered around the Hindenburg disaster. A quick, easy read with a surprise ending. Not what I expected.

[Cheri]

really good for tweens.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cameron Dokey does an excellent job of surprising her readers, I was blown away by the truth of the situation. Careful though, there is a definate tear-jerker ending.

[Donya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is most definitely my favorite book of all time. The book keeps you fascinated till the very end when it shocks you with a sudden twist that you would never see coming.