HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER'S SHADOW by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER’S SHADOW. New York, NY: Scholastic Nonfiction. ISBN 978-0439353793.

PLOT SUMMARY

Susan Bartoletti provides an encompassing tale of the young people living in Nazi Germany in the 1930s – 1940s, highlighting twelve of them. These 12 young adults or children come from various backgrounds, but they have one singular tie drawing them together, Adolf Hitler. While she outlines the rise and fall of the infamous tyrant, Bartoletti focuses on the sentiments and perceptions of the young people serving in the Hitler Youth group, and those fighting to subvert it. The book also touches on the persecution of the Jewish people, and the feelings gripping those who suffer at their hands along with their families. The book portrays the fanatical brain washing techniques by the institution of the “Hitler’s Youth” on the young people in Germany, and their saddening end of their self-sacrificing dogma to fight to the bitter end.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The nonfiction book offers a window into the lives and their surrounding world of chaos during Adolf Hitler’s rise and fall during the infamous World War II. Bartoletti’s writing is powerful and raw, providing a voice to the faces on the pages, as well as those that remain faceless. The seamless flow of teenage voices, whose sentiments are sometimes contradictory to one another or complimentary, provide the reader with an accurate sensation of confusion.

Baroletti titles each chapter with a well-phrased quote closely followed by an explanation. One can hardly pull their gaze away from reading each line, and then finds it even harder to remove it from the mesmerizing pictures adjoining the paragraphs.

The black and white images dominate the pages, and appear to take on a size larger than their measurements. In particular, the images and text describing the horrific Night of Broken Glass causes chills to trickle down the spine. It is the truth and well documented evidence alone that brings this artfully worded text to life.

BOOK EXCERPT(S)

Newberry Honor Book

Robert F. Sibert Award

Bccb Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award

“The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum. The extensive back matter is a part of the gripping narrative.” – Booklist

“The final chapter superbly summarizes the weighty significance of this part of the 20th century and challenges young readers to prevent history from repeating itself. Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.” – School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS

Encourage open discussions with young people on their perceptions of the book, and focusing on particular chapters or characters they found unforgettable or notable. Perhaps they could research more on that particular person or aspect for further activity or personal interest.

Read other books written by Susan Bartoletti:

THE BOY WHO DARED. ISBN 978-0439680134

THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE K.K.K.: THE BIRTH OFAN AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUP. ISBN 978-0618440337