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Hitler Trilogy #2
Pennies for Hitler
It′s 1939, and for Georg, son of an English academic living in Germany, life is full of cream cakes and loving parents. It is also a time when his teacher measures the pupils′ heads to see which of them have the most ′Aryan′- shaped heads. But when a university graduation ceremony turns into a pro-Nazi demonstration, Georg is smuggled out of Germany to war-torn London and then across enemy seas to Australia where he must forget his past and who he is in order to survive.
Hatred is contagious, but Georg finds that kindness can be, too.
The companion book for HITLER′S DAUGHTER, PENNIES FOR HITLER examines the life of a child during World War 2, from a different perspective.
Hatred is contagious, but Georg finds that kindness can be, too.
The companion book for HITLER′S DAUGHTER, PENNIES FOR HITLER examines the life of a child during World War 2, from a different perspective.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
85 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
321 books870 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
July 19, 2015
This was a poignant and, at times, heart-rending story of a young German boy, Georg, whose world is turned upside down in 1939 when his father is found to have had a Jewish grandfather. To the Nazis at that time - Brown Shirts or Gestapo - this “tainted” the blood of the whole family, and Georg was hustled to safety while undergoing great privation.
Georg is a very mature young boy - some of the things he had to deal with during the war should have affected him greatly, but he seemed to take most things in his stride and was able to adapt easily in new situations.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and Humphrey Bower’s narration was easy to listen to. I am now keen to read Hitler’s Daughter, to which this is a companion book. This is a junior fiction book, and while I can see the appeal in it for children, it’s still a great book for adults as well - I'm giving it 4.5 stars. There were only a couple of instances where I remembered that it was actually a book for children! The author’s notes at the end are definitely interesting reading.
Georg is a very mature young boy - some of the things he had to deal with during the war should have affected him greatly, but he seemed to take most things in his stride and was able to adapt easily in new situations.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and Humphrey Bower’s narration was easy to listen to. I am now keen to read Hitler’s Daughter, to which this is a companion book. This is a junior fiction book, and while I can see the appeal in it for children, it’s still a great book for adults as well - I'm giving it 4.5 stars. There were only a couple of instances where I remembered that it was actually a book for children! The author’s notes at the end are definitely interesting reading.
March 2, 2021
This is the first of Jackie French’s 140+ books that I've read and I’m delighted I’ve found her after such a late start. Perhaps it’s not surprising as most of her books are written for children and teenagers.
She has won more than 60 national and international awards for her work https://www.jackiefrench.com.
Pennies for Hitler is part of The Hitler Trilogy, which she says is about when the war is over (and evil is fought and won) how can you win the hardest and most necessary battle - to understand and to forgive? (Her website identifies it as the first in the trilogy but Goodreads calls it number 2).
Georg/George is about 9 when we meet him in a catastrophic situation – so frightening that I don't know how a 9 year old would cope with it, but I don't know many 9 year olds at present. I would think that around 11-12 onwards would manage better.
Georg is German, son of an English father, a professor of German literature, and a German mother. He’s an uncritical Hitler enthusiast, proud of the fact that his head is identified in Racial Studies class as being pure Aryan in shape.
But his father is thrown out of a high window by young Nazis at a graduation ceremony, and his mother immediately arranges to save Georg by sending him to live in England. It’s 1939, war breaks out and England becomes unsafe so he is sent again to safety, this time to Australia. In England and Australia he has to be English, to suppress his German name and become George.
Through all his adventures, he grapples with the knowledge that he cannot talk about who he really is and he yearns for his lost family and identity.
French says that Pennies for Hitler ‘is about a boy who isn’t there, who can’t be anywhere, because wherever he goes he is the enemy. It is about how hatred is contagious, but it is also about how kindness, love and compassion are contagious too’.
Many of our schools teach The Diary of Anne Frank: The Revised Critical Edition as part of their curriculum and this would make an excellent complementary read. I can see, but didn't check, that her website has a section of resources for teachers to accompany books taught in Australian schools. No wonder she has won awards.
I read it because one of my book club friends chose it as our book for this month. I was initially reluctant but was gripped by it.
She's a great story teller.
She has won more than 60 national and international awards for her work https://www.jackiefrench.com.
Pennies for Hitler is part of The Hitler Trilogy, which she says is about when the war is over (and evil is fought and won) how can you win the hardest and most necessary battle - to understand and to forgive? (Her website identifies it as the first in the trilogy but Goodreads calls it number 2).
Georg/George is about 9 when we meet him in a catastrophic situation – so frightening that I don't know how a 9 year old would cope with it, but I don't know many 9 year olds at present. I would think that around 11-12 onwards would manage better.
Georg is German, son of an English father, a professor of German literature, and a German mother. He’s an uncritical Hitler enthusiast, proud of the fact that his head is identified in Racial Studies class as being pure Aryan in shape.
But his father is thrown out of a high window by young Nazis at a graduation ceremony, and his mother immediately arranges to save Georg by sending him to live in England. It’s 1939, war breaks out and England becomes unsafe so he is sent again to safety, this time to Australia. In England and Australia he has to be English, to suppress his German name and become George.
Through all his adventures, he grapples with the knowledge that he cannot talk about who he really is and he yearns for his lost family and identity.
French says that Pennies for Hitler ‘is about a boy who isn’t there, who can’t be anywhere, because wherever he goes he is the enemy. It is about how hatred is contagious, but it is also about how kindness, love and compassion are contagious too’.
Many of our schools teach The Diary of Anne Frank: The Revised Critical Edition as part of their curriculum and this would make an excellent complementary read. I can see, but didn't check, that her website has a section of resources for teachers to accompany books taught in Australian schools. No wonder she has won awards.
I read it because one of my book club friends chose it as our book for this month. I was initially reluctant but was gripped by it.
She's a great story teller.
January 31, 2023
Another beautiful story from Jackie French. Young Georg, an only son in a much loved German family that with the onset with WW2 has his small life changed forever, Hitler has Germany stirred up in hatred of Jewish people that sadly for Georg has consequences when at a graduation, his father, a respected university lecturer as observed by him and his mother is thrown out of a window and killed, mocked as being Jewish. His papa, an Englishman, had married a German girl, his Mutti. His English Grandfather had been Jewish even though it was never practiced. Still, as it came to be, the Germans searched back generations looking for anything not acceptable for their pure Ayrian race.
After this event his Mutti arranges for Georg to be sent to England, having an English passport enables this to happen and he is to live with his aunt. This young boy is bundled up in a suitcase and warned no noises no movement. Arriving in London all goes well with him learning to speak with an English accent and to become George. His burden is heavy because if it were to become known that he was German his situation could become dire. Fortunately he has an understanding aunt who makes him safe and welcome. The War in Britain worsens and to keep George safe he is placed on a ship along with many children to go to Australia. Australian men and women are fighting in the war but war hasn't yet come to Australia. George once again is lucky in that he is fostered with a farming family, just what he wanted, cows, chickens and two dogs, who instantly take a liking to him. Of course around the dinner table there is always vitriolic talk about Hitler and Germans for which burdens George even more. He is beginning to have a wonderful life of plenty of good food and a great friend, Mud, a wild girl. When Japan strikes at Australia all of his worst nightmares come to light and after a desperate time in the family he lets it all go, he admits to being German and in his own grief he runs away, blindly into the dark countryside where he encounters a man parachuting, a Japanese. He just can't kill this man instead he saves him with the result of becoming a hero. In an emotional state he relates his story to the Peaslakes and instead of hatred he receives love.
After this event his Mutti arranges for Georg to be sent to England, having an English passport enables this to happen and he is to live with his aunt. This young boy is bundled up in a suitcase and warned no noises no movement. Arriving in London all goes well with him learning to speak with an English accent and to become George. His burden is heavy because if it were to become known that he was German his situation could become dire. Fortunately he has an understanding aunt who makes him safe and welcome. The War in Britain worsens and to keep George safe he is placed on a ship along with many children to go to Australia. Australian men and women are fighting in the war but war hasn't yet come to Australia. George once again is lucky in that he is fostered with a farming family, just what he wanted, cows, chickens and two dogs, who instantly take a liking to him. Of course around the dinner table there is always vitriolic talk about Hitler and Germans for which burdens George even more. He is beginning to have a wonderful life of plenty of good food and a great friend, Mud, a wild girl. When Japan strikes at Australia all of his worst nightmares come to light and after a desperate time in the family he lets it all go, he admits to being German and in his own grief he runs away, blindly into the dark countryside where he encounters a man parachuting, a Japanese. He just can't kill this man instead he saves him with the result of becoming a hero. In an emotional state he relates his story to the Peaslakes and instead of hatred he receives love.
April 19, 2017
Without divulging plot points, this book is about a ten-year-old boy in Germany in 1939. He is a sponge, soaking up Nazi propaganda without question. Two massive cataclysmic events happen in this young boy's life, changing his identity.
What a winsome protagonist! We watch him occupy a solitary life fraught with anxiety. When it is safe to make friends, he proves to be a good one.
Jackie French gives us tiny clues, strewn throughout her text, that indicate this is more complex than a Cinderella story. With a deft hand, she illustrates that children in the best foster home still continue to yearn.
Kudos to Humphrey Bower for his narration. Three accents, all done to perfection. In my immediate enthrallment I give this five stars.
What a winsome protagonist! We watch him occupy a solitary life fraught with anxiety. When it is safe to make friends, he proves to be a good one.
Jackie French gives us tiny clues, strewn throughout her text, that indicate this is more complex than a Cinderella story. With a deft hand, she illustrates that children in the best foster home still continue to yearn.
Kudos to Humphrey Bower for his narration. Three accents, all done to perfection. In my immediate enthrallment I give this five stars.
February 25, 2018
3.5* for the book itself
I think that this YA novel would probably be more effective on its target audience of adolescents than it was for me. Even so, French did a good job showing how Nazi propaganda had affected 10-year-old Georg and the slow process of changing his viewpoint occurred. At first I thought that the boy was too old for his naive belief that but slowly I came to the realization that Georg (now called George) was hiding from the pain of the truth rather than stupid or naive.
I think that this YA novel would probably be more effective on its target audience of adolescents than it was for me. Even so, French did a good job showing how Nazi propaganda had affected 10-year-old Georg and the slow process of changing his viewpoint occurred. At first I thought that the boy was too old for his naive belief that but slowly I came to the realization that Georg (now called George) was hiding from the pain of the truth rather than stupid or naive.
November 7, 2022
honestly, although technically being a children’s/middle-grade book, one of the best historical fictions I have read! Would give it a 10/5 if I could, that’s how much I loved it.
August 9, 2020
it was ok. 3.5 stars but thats illegal so
July 31, 2025
Finally read this classic for myself after watching so many students read it. Loved it. Can see how at 12 or 13 this would be a great intro into the historical world of Australia, England and Germany and World War II.
French has a way of crafting beautiful stories around the true horrific history of the world.
French has a way of crafting beautiful stories around the true horrific history of the world.
October 26, 2018
This is not my usual type of book. I’ve never been keen on books based in the past. I’m glad I chose to read it as I really enjoyed it. It was such a powerful story. You can only imagine the horror people suffered when there countries at war. Having to hide who you really are and your true identity. Luckily for George he found a new family in Australia and found happiness along with that. But you spare a thought for those who wouldn’t have been so lucky. Still it’s a huge upheaval for the adults sending your children off to a strange country to live with total strangers never k owing if you will ever see them again. Highly recommend this book. It’s well written. Nice characters you could relate to
September 8, 2013
It has been quite a while since I enjoyed a book as much as I did this one. Perhaps it was because my own background has had some similar elements. Georg is German and at the age of 10 has been told he has the perfect head dimensions of a true Aryan. He is patriotic and very proud of Der Führer. Until everything goes wrong. Although his father did not consider himself to be Jewish, unbeknownst to Georg, his father's grandfather was Jewish. Since Jewish inheritance is matrilineal, Georg's father thought he was fine living and working in Germany with his German wife. But Georg's father is attacked at his university and Georg has to be smuggled out of the country to England to live with his aunt. When London is bombed and his aunt can't keep him, he is sent to Australia to live with a family there.
My similarities: I grew up in a conservative and religious family and then went to Germany as a foreign student. It is a challenge to see a lot of your values and personal convictions completely changed by experience. In the US, my parents supported the Viet Nam war, so I did, too. In Germany, though, the people I knew were both intelligent and well-informed, but also were very strongly against the war. Religion was not important to them, either. Good, moral people, but not religious - how could that be?
With the background of the war and Georg's own disillusionment and angst, you see Georg gradually come to understand morality and the choices that one has to make - all with eyes wide open for the effects of one's choices. Love of country, love of family, both important, but needed to be understood through the complexity of humanity.
One of the things I love about a lot of the books I read from Australia is the fundamental love of family that comes shining through. This book has so much of that and it is both sweet and painful. The love of the land also comes shining through. From the first glimpse of the Nullarbor Plain to Melbourne, then Sydney, then to a small village called Bellagong, you can almost see and smell the gum trees, the cattle, and the rambling house.
Great book.
My similarities: I grew up in a conservative and religious family and then went to Germany as a foreign student. It is a challenge to see a lot of your values and personal convictions completely changed by experience. In the US, my parents supported the Viet Nam war, so I did, too. In Germany, though, the people I knew were both intelligent and well-informed, but also were very strongly against the war. Religion was not important to them, either. Good, moral people, but not religious - how could that be?
With the background of the war and Georg's own disillusionment and angst, you see Georg gradually come to understand morality and the choices that one has to make - all with eyes wide open for the effects of one's choices. Love of country, love of family, both important, but needed to be understood through the complexity of humanity.
One of the things I love about a lot of the books I read from Australia is the fundamental love of family that comes shining through. This book has so much of that and it is both sweet and painful. The love of the land also comes shining through. From the first glimpse of the Nullarbor Plain to Melbourne, then Sydney, then to a small village called Bellagong, you can almost see and smell the gum trees, the cattle, and the rambling house.
Great book.
February 13, 2015
This is a companion novel to Hitler’s Daughter but is not a sequel. The two books easily work as stand alone stories but each offer different perspectives on WWII. In Pennies for Hitler, set in 1939 Germany it is dangerous for anyone to have any Jewish ancestry. Life for 11-year old Georg is good, offering a lot of promise under the Führer. Everything changes when Georg’s father, an English university professor, is killed by a group of pro-Nazi students. His crime is that he is suspected to have a Jewish heritage. Georg’s German mother, fearing for her son’s safety, arranges for him to be smuggled into England. After an uncomfortable and frightening journey Georg reaches England and stays with his father’s sister, his Aunt Miriam. Her wartime work means that Georg spends a lot of time alone. He spends his time listening to the radio, reading newspapers and trying to improve his English accent. When the London bombing becomes too prolific Aunt Miriam, like many others at that time, decides to send Georg to safety in Australia. He is put into foster care and is taken by a kindly elderly couple living in country NSW. When things go wrong here as well Georg has an important decision to make. This is a well written book with a lot of historical accuracy. It is about war, and peace, and seeing things from different perspectives, developing empathy for others and tolerance.
CBCA 2013 Short list: Younger readers
CBCA 2013 Short list: Younger readers
January 25, 2021
Humphrey Bower does a wonderful job of narrating this book as it moves from Germany to London and then to Australia. I find that when a book has names, words and accents from a variety of nationalities a good narrator can make the experience even better (for me anyway) than reading the actual book.
This beautifully written book follows World War 2 through the perspective of German boy Georg, who is 10 at the outbreak of the war. Georg's English father has Jewish ancestry and becomes a target of the Nazis, causing his mother to have Georg smuggled out of Germany to his English aunt in London, where he has to become "George" and pretend to be English. Once the bombings of London begin George is moved on again, being sent with other child evacuees on a ship to Australia.
As well as chronicling through Georg/George how different communities experienced and responded to the war, Jackie French also shows his own struggles with feeling as though he's an alien and living a lie wherever he goes.
Highly recommended.
This beautifully written book follows World War 2 through the perspective of German boy Georg, who is 10 at the outbreak of the war. Georg's English father has Jewish ancestry and becomes a target of the Nazis, causing his mother to have Georg smuggled out of Germany to his English aunt in London, where he has to become "George" and pretend to be English. Once the bombings of London begin George is moved on again, being sent with other child evacuees on a ship to Australia.
As well as chronicling through Georg/George how different communities experienced and responded to the war, Jackie French also shows his own struggles with feeling as though he's an alien and living a lie wherever he goes.
Highly recommended.
February 25, 2022
I only meant to skim this book to check its suitability for a reading list I am compilng, but found myself getting absorbed by the narrative, though Georg at the beginning seemed rather too young for his age.
This book is great for younger readers. The historical details are authentic and the characters sympathetic. The author does not gloss over ugly facts of war, but paints the details vividly without dwelling too long on each horror.
Georg's shift from a happy, naive childhood into a frightening, bewildering few years of drastic change, having to always hide his real identity, is quite heart-rending. The enormous strain and insecurity experienced by this young refugee might have been almost too much even for an adult. Georg comes through as a really strong chatacter - intelligent, kind and sensitive. His earlier ignorance can be the basis of discussion for adults and children alike - how much should adults tell children about the real world?
This book is great for younger readers. The historical details are authentic and the characters sympathetic. The author does not gloss over ugly facts of war, but paints the details vividly without dwelling too long on each horror.
Georg's shift from a happy, naive childhood into a frightening, bewildering few years of drastic change, having to always hide his real identity, is quite heart-rending. The enormous strain and insecurity experienced by this young refugee might have been almost too much even for an adult. Georg comes through as a really strong chatacter - intelligent, kind and sensitive. His earlier ignorance can be the basis of discussion for adults and children alike - how much should adults tell children about the real world?
April 25, 2020
Loved it! Meant to be for a young adult audience but I think Jackie's writings can be read by anyone.
January 11, 2023
A story of tenacity in a time of turmoil
August 2, 2024
studied this in school and actually really enjoyed cried at the end 😘
April 22, 2017
We loved it. We listened to this on the way to Florida. My children really enjoyed it. This book was part of SYNC, a program that gives 2 free audiobooks for teens each week in the summer. The 2017 program starts up again April 27.
January 10, 2020
I listened to the Bolinda audio reading of this book. The narrator Humphrey Bower does an excellent job of all the characters, and one of the best read stories I have heard for a while. Jackie French is an awesome Australian writer. This book was so well written and her turn of phrase is masterful. She has a way of capturing the humanness of suffering and bewilderment. She has taken real stories and moulded them into a skillfully and we'll crafted believable story. I can't recommend this story enough.
July 26, 2023
THIS BOOK KILLED ME🤬🤬 I HATE IT🤬 jamie was the only good thing about it and bro was there for two chapters, wrote a letter, then was never talked abt again. i hate english for making me read this. and i hate jackie french.
but it was an okay book in terms of exploring how people were affected by ww2. and i think if i wasn’t forced to read this then i could’ve actually enjoyed it. wish me luck on my exam🙏
but it was an okay book in terms of exploring how people were affected by ww2. and i think if i wasn’t forced to read this then i could’ve actually enjoyed it. wish me luck on my exam🙏
August 22, 2016
Really I'm giving this 2 and a 1/2 stars because I hated the beginning of this book. I wanted to give up on it so badly, but am glad I didn't (not by choice, I had to finish it for a school assignment), it ended up having a good ending despite the start, but it couldn't make up for the beginning completely.
I have to say I don't like war books, they're just not my thing and the beginning of this book did not help my view of them. Georg was a complete idiot. Stupid, with no perspective and no thoughts of his own, if someone told him to jump off a cliff, he'd do it without question. He was the single most irritating person I've ever read about or heard of. Every time I thought about this book, I wanted to rip my hair out. I prayed that in every chapter he'd get shot or blown to smithereens by a bomb. He is so mind numbingly dumb I can't even explain it.
All he cared about were cream-cakes and having the perfect 'Aryan' head. He'd just seen multiple people tossed out a window to their deaths, including his own father, and as he and Mutti (his mum) were running for their lives he wanted to stop and grab a cream-cake! Seriously?! And after Mutti tells him he has to leave Germany and her behind or he'll die he asks for food because he missed out on his cream freckin cakes! Urg!!! I hated it so much I envisioned sticking the book in the fire and watching it burn.
Pennies For Hitler is still annoying in the middle, god does it ramble! I literally skipped three chapters and didn't miss a single thing. The author goes into so much detail about his (boring) life in London and then its like he couldn't be bothered finishing the story with the same level of detail and his time in Australia is just tiny snippets.
The end is his time in Australia and I did enjoy that. Him making a new family for himself and everything, but the author just didn't focus on that, like all they wanted to tell was his journey from Germany to London and the editors made them do the last part. The letters were really cool though, but the time jumped around to much.
I don't want to give away any more of the storyline but I just want to say something about Mud. It was Maud but she spelled it wrong at school so everyone started calling her Mud. She's my favorite character, funny, strong willed and a leader of girl power. I wish she'd been in more of the book. She was an awesome character.
So over all I'm happy I read to the end of this because his time in Aussie was good (besides being to cut) but I don't think not reading this book at all would've been tragic. If you like war time stories you might love this, but I didn't.
I have to say I don't like war books, they're just not my thing and the beginning of this book did not help my view of them. Georg was a complete idiot. Stupid, with no perspective and no thoughts of his own, if someone told him to jump off a cliff, he'd do it without question. He was the single most irritating person I've ever read about or heard of. Every time I thought about this book, I wanted to rip my hair out. I prayed that in every chapter he'd get shot or blown to smithereens by a bomb. He is so mind numbingly dumb I can't even explain it.
All he cared about were cream-cakes and having the perfect 'Aryan' head. He'd just seen multiple people tossed out a window to their deaths, including his own father, and as he and Mutti (his mum) were running for their lives he wanted to stop and grab a cream-cake! Seriously?! And after Mutti tells him he has to leave Germany and her behind or he'll die he asks for food because he missed out on his cream freckin cakes! Urg!!! I hated it so much I envisioned sticking the book in the fire and watching it burn.
Pennies For Hitler is still annoying in the middle, god does it ramble! I literally skipped three chapters and didn't miss a single thing. The author goes into so much detail about his (boring) life in London and then its like he couldn't be bothered finishing the story with the same level of detail and his time in Australia is just tiny snippets.
The end is his time in Australia and I did enjoy that. Him making a new family for himself and everything, but the author just didn't focus on that, like all they wanted to tell was his journey from Germany to London and the editors made them do the last part. The letters were really cool though, but the time jumped around to much.
I don't want to give away any more of the storyline but I just want to say something about Mud. It was Maud but she spelled it wrong at school so everyone started calling her Mud. She's my favorite character, funny, strong willed and a leader of girl power. I wish she'd been in more of the book. She was an awesome character.
So over all I'm happy I read to the end of this because his time in Aussie was good (besides being to cut) but I don't think not reading this book at all would've been tragic. If you like war time stories you might love this, but I didn't.
June 11, 2013
If there is one thing I detest it is a book full of potential with no substance.
I've long been a fan of Jackie French's stories, they are clever, well researched and often grab me, forcing me to turn the page. This book is no exception, French's exploration of Germany, London and Australia are spot on and I find myself transported back in time, forced to watch as the poor ignorant protagonist is shipped from country to country in a war torn age. I find myself compelled to read but detest doing so. The hole in Jackie French's book is the lack of technique.
The main protagonist is not believable. No child would remain so fixated on cream cakes after the events that transpire in front of him. No child would remain so heavily in denial. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. I feel that in this book French has tried to capture a child's style of thinking and mimic how easily they can lose focus, but she's done it too well. The main character jumps from one subject to another, fleetingly providing descriptions that leave me desperate for more but doomed to remain hungry. Furthermore this style creates and almost unbearable 'blocky' nature to her writing. Her foreshadowing at the start of he text is clever but far too blunt, instead of using a pen she has opted for a Sledgehammer and her obsession with object (eg. Gargoyles) serves almost no purpose.
The most disappointing part is that what is there is amazing. It is captivating, historically accurate and provides plenty of stimulation. But I can't help but feel that her writing has let down the brilliant story. Plot and technique must be met hand in hand or you are left with a book full of potential but with little substance. An amazing story, a disappointing read.
I've long been a fan of Jackie French's stories, they are clever, well researched and often grab me, forcing me to turn the page. This book is no exception, French's exploration of Germany, London and Australia are spot on and I find myself transported back in time, forced to watch as the poor ignorant protagonist is shipped from country to country in a war torn age. I find myself compelled to read but detest doing so. The hole in Jackie French's book is the lack of technique.
The main protagonist is not believable. No child would remain so fixated on cream cakes after the events that transpire in front of him. No child would remain so heavily in denial. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. I feel that in this book French has tried to capture a child's style of thinking and mimic how easily they can lose focus, but she's done it too well. The main character jumps from one subject to another, fleetingly providing descriptions that leave me desperate for more but doomed to remain hungry. Furthermore this style creates and almost unbearable 'blocky' nature to her writing. Her foreshadowing at the start of he text is clever but far too blunt, instead of using a pen she has opted for a Sledgehammer and her obsession with object (eg. Gargoyles) serves almost no purpose.
The most disappointing part is that what is there is amazing. It is captivating, historically accurate and provides plenty of stimulation. But I can't help but feel that her writing has let down the brilliant story. Plot and technique must be met hand in hand or you are left with a book full of potential but with little substance. An amazing story, a disappointing read.
April 9, 2015
This was a well written story, based on history and aimed at the young adult market yet, like the best of this genre, a very worthwhile read for adults. It explores the ideas of discrimination, hatred and fear of being different with the ongoing idea that while hatred is contagious so is love and respect for others.
Georgis an 11 year old German boy born to an English father and German mother, living in Germany where his father is a Professor of Poetry in a German University. After seeing his father killed by Nazi students, because of his Jewish grandfather, Georg is smuggled to England, survives the blitz in London and then is transported for his safety to country Australia, fostered by a wonderful retired couple.
In England and Australia Georg has to become the English boy George, losing his accent along with his identity because of the wartime hatred of everything German and Japanese,
The book is didactic no doubt but it is also charming. I found the description of the thinking processes of young preteens to be very well described. This would be a great book to have mutually read with young people who are dealing with cultural differences.
Georgis an 11 year old German boy born to an English father and German mother, living in Germany where his father is a Professor of Poetry in a German University. After seeing his father killed by Nazi students, because of his Jewish grandfather, Georg is smuggled to England, survives the blitz in London and then is transported for his safety to country Australia, fostered by a wonderful retired couple.
In England and Australia Georg has to become the English boy George, losing his accent along with his identity because of the wartime hatred of everything German and Japanese,
The book is didactic no doubt but it is also charming. I found the description of the thinking processes of young preteens to be very well described. This would be a great book to have mutually read with young people who are dealing with cultural differences.
February 13, 2015
Georg is a 10 year old boy in Nazi Germany in 1939 who has the perfect Aryan head and proud supporter of Der Führer. His father is English and his mother German. Georg's father is killed because his grandfather is/was Jewish. Georg is smuggled out of Germany in a suitcase to stay with his Aunt Miriam in England where he must become George. However when England starts being bombed George is evacuated to Australia and stays with a family in country New South Wales whose sons, brothers, fathers are off fighting the Germans and later the Japanese. George must keep his German heritage a secret because he doesn't want to be labeled a spy and be put in prison.
At the end of the book there was the authors note and she said it was a book about hatred and how quickly it grows and also how quickly it can change. I would have to agree with her but it's also a book about love and acceptance. The book was written from Georg's/George's point of view from age 10 through to 13 or 14.
It was a very enjoyable book, highly recommend it.
At the end of the book there was the authors note and she said it was a book about hatred and how quickly it grows and also how quickly it can change. I would have to agree with her but it's also a book about love and acceptance. The book was written from Georg's/George's point of view from age 10 through to 13 or 14.
It was a very enjoyable book, highly recommend it.
Want to read
January 25, 2021I didn't know this was a companion to "Hitler's Daughter", now I really want to read that too. This was different to other historical war books that I've read. I enjoyed learning about what it might be like for a boy to grow up in London and then Australia during World War 2.
I also really loved hearing about how Jackie French heard stories from real people and used them in this book. So some of the moments in this book are inspired/based on true stories.
There was a sad part towards the end and it almost had me in tears, (it's very hard to make me cry in books or movies) Jackie French is marvelous and has a wonderful way with words. She made me believe in her characters and I felt that they were real.
I really recommend this!
I also really loved hearing about how Jackie French heard stories from real people and used them in this book. So some of the moments in this book are inspired/based on true stories.
There was a sad part towards the end and it almost had me in tears, (it's very hard to make me cry in books or movies) Jackie French is marvelous and has a wonderful way with words. She made me believe in her characters and I felt that they were real.
I really recommend this!
November 28, 2016
The story of a young German boy sent to England just before WWII started. He ends up evacuated to Australia where he lives with a foster family during the war. He lives as an English boy, under an English name and has to learn to pass for English so that he can stay alive. Very interesting to see how he manages and the relationships he makes. So many questions are explored, and may or may not be answered... "What is family?", "What is a hero?", "Are the 'enemy' really bad people/enemies?"
I will be looking for the companion book because this one was so well done.
2016 eclectic reader challenge # 11 ~ YA historical fiction
I will be looking for the companion book because this one was so well done.
2016 eclectic reader challenge # 11 ~ YA historical fiction
April 4, 2017
Georg is the the perfect Aryan child - blonde hair, blue eyes, and an unquestioning belief in the publicised version of the Nazi regime. All of this is shaken when Georg's father is killed by the brownshirts. Georg is shipped off to an aunt in England and becomes George, a perfect English child. What follows is an achingly relatable story of a young boy whose world is turn upside down again and again. The characters, landscapes, and politics are all painted incredibly vividly. This book is Jackie French at her best, capturing a period of history and making it come to life on the page. 8/10
May 26, 2015
This book is AMAZING! I loved it so much. It is enjoyable and tells a sad story. You can really imagine what it is like through the hard times Georg is going through. I recommend this book to people who are interested in world war two and love adventures. The writing makes you able to feel what the character is feeling. I love this book.
August 20, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it was well worth the read. A beautiful look into the life of a German boy trying to survive after it is found he has a Jewish ancestor. This book is sad, happy, and everything inbetween. A quick read, though the message is deep. Definitely recommend this to anyone!
July 22, 2016
Intended for younger readers but so rewarding for anyone searching for a story that will entertain, inform and warm the heart - can't go wrong with this one! Once again, a wonderful narration by Humphrey Bower. Recommended.
October 12, 2016
This book made me messy cry -- twice. The average book does that maybe 0.05 times. And then the author's note nearly did it again. Not sure if this says more about me or the book, but either way, there it is.
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