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Description
When Peter's parents are killed, he is sent to an orphanage in Warsaw. With his blond hair and blue eyes he appears a perfect Hitler Youth specimen. But Peter does not want to be raised a Nazi and decides to take a dangerous risk.
Quick Summary
If you want a WWII story that grabs you right away and doesn't let go, this one's for you. Peter is just a regular kid trying to hold onto who he really is in a world that's determined to turn him into something he's not, and watching him make impossible choices had me turning pages way past bedtime. Kids who love stories about standing up against injustice, or anyone who's ever felt like they don't fit in, will find something to love here the tension builds steadily, and there are moments that are genuinely thrilling without being too scary for the middle grades range. Parents should know it deals with loss and the realities of war, but it's handled thoughtfully and never gratuitously, making it a solid choice for introducing historical fiction about this period. It reminded me a lot of Number the Stars in how it shows ordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances, though this one has a slightly more action-driven plot. The bottom line is it's a quick, powerful read that proves age doesn't determine courage, and kids come away from it wanting to discuss what they would have done in Peter's situation.