My Brother's Secret

by Dan Smith

Overview

A fascinating new perspective on World War II; a fictitious, personalized take on the real-life rebel German youth group, the Edelweiss Pirates.

Karl Friedman is only twelve, but like all boys his age in Germany, he's already playing war games, training to join the Hitler Youth. Stefan, Karl's nonconformist older brother, wants nothing to do with it. Then their father is killed, and what had been a game suddenly becomes deadly serious. Karl's faith in the Fuhrer is shaken: Is Hitler a national hero--or a villain? What is the meaning of the flower symbol stitched inside Stefan's jacket, and what is the mission of the shadow group he belongs to? Karl soon finds out as he joins his brother in a dangerous rebellion against the burgeoning threat of Nazism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545771603
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/28/2015
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Growing up, Dan Smith moved with his family through Africa, Asia, and South America. He now lives in Newcastle, England, with his wife and two children. He is the author of books for both adults and children, four of which have been published by Chicken House. Find out more about the author at www.dansmithsbooks.com.

Read an Excerpt

From MY BROTHER'S SECRET:Stefan's movement had pulled open his jacket, revealing a white flower embroidered on his inside pocket. It was small, perhaps the size of my thumbnail, and the stitching was crude, as if Stefan had done it himself.At first, I didn't think anything of it, but it was right there, staring me in the face, and the longer I looked at it, the more I became aware of it."What's that?""Hmm?""That flower."Immediately, Stefan stepped back and drew his jacket closed. "Nothing." He stared at me, eyes glistening, as if he were wondering what to tell me. When he spoke again, there was a defensive edge to his voice. "It's nothing," he said. "You didn't see it.""What do you mean? I don't . . .""Just forget it." Then his face softened and he closed his eyes. He sighed, letting his breath come out through his nose in one long whoosh. When he opened his eyes again, he said, "Reallyit's nothing. It's just a flower."

Editorial Reviews

Praise for My Brother's Secret:"[P]atriotism, courage, and compassion are presented through believable characters, gripping suspense, and an unflinching look at the lengths some will go to in order to retain control. A heartfelt look at coming of age in a time of war." --Kirkus Reviews"An exciting novel with compelling characters for those interested in historical fiction and Nazi Germany." --School Library Journal"It is breathtaking to see Smith open with a character who so clearly and yet innocently goes against the values of most readers, and the author handles Karl's growing realization of the truth beautifully. [T]his is clever, gripping storytelling--and the plot up to the climax is incredibly compelling[.]" --VOYA

From the Publisher

2015-04-01
It is 1941 in western Germany. World War II has been raging for almost two years, and Hitler's propaganda machine is in full force. The German people are being forced into submission through a combination of fear, indoctrination, and lies. Hitler wants a generation of young soldiers willing to do anything for their Führer. Twelve-year-old Karl Friedman is a true believer. His 16-year-old brother, Stefan, is not. Karl is a member of the Deutsches Jungvolk, but Stefan is a member of the Edelweiss Pirates, insurrectionists determined to spread the truth about Hitler and the war. When Karl witnesses firsthand the brutality of the Nazis, he begins to suspect his loyalty has been misplaced. Based on true events, Karl and Stefan's story exposes what life was like for regular German citizens during the war. The quiet themes of patriotism, courage, and compassion are presented through believable characters, gripping suspense, and an unflinching look at the lengths some will go to in order to retain control. Rather than a pedantic lesson on right and wrong, Karl's journey is an awakening of one boy's understanding of the world around him. A heartfelt look at coming of age in a time of war. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews