FRIEDRICH By Richter, Hans Peter (Author) Paperback on 01-May-1987

by Hans Peter Richter

New Ed

Genres: Holocaust

Paperback

About the author

Hans Peter Richter (1926–1993) was a German author. Born in Cologne, Germany, went to school in Germany, went to the university of Hannover, and graduated in 1968. He also spent some of his life in the German army. Richter wrote many books for children and young adults. Notable among them is the novel Friedrich (in German Damals War Es Friedrich), about the persecution of Jews in Germany during the Holocaust. Friedrich (published in 1970) was the subject of an American Library Association 1972 ALSC Batchelder Award. -- Richter also published several books on sociology and psychology.

Reviews

[Ruger Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such an amazing Holocaust story. It’s told from the view of an unnamed boy (assuming he is a boy through the context of the story) about a Jewish boy named Friedrich (as the title suggests). It is such an amazing story, but the ending is an incredible heartbreak to everyone who reads this.

[Bob Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Jewish teenager Friedrich through the eyes of his best friend and his family. Frightening and bizarre changes are happening in Germany as the Nazi's ever tightening grip on the Jewish population forces many to go into hiding and those that don't are belittled and eventually brutalized.
Insightful as to how changing societal norms, as deranged as they may be, force friendships and alliances to change. A sad reflection on humanity.

[Jessica Bretthauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I can understand the criticism of the way the author glosses over questions of accountability and the inaction of well-meaning people in the face of evil, I still find this short book as affecting as I did when I first read it as a young teenager. It still deserves a place in the canon of youth literature on the topic of the Holocaust.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic historical fiction about a German boy and a Jewish German boy before and during WWII. It does a good job depicting the gradual decline in freedom the Jewish people experienced and the frightened/ambivalent feelings other Germans experienced as they saw what was happening.

[Chris Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reread this for the third or fourth time. I use it with my tutoring lients. I like it better than Anne Frank, because it is a quicker read, and it shows the progression of the rise of the Nazi party so well. It creates a lot of discussion.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 The writing (translation?) wasn’t the best, but the story was heartbreaking, and anger-inducing. Strikingly poignant, especially these days. Such awful parallels. Clearly society didn’t learn.

[Elaine YokeLin Yeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The horrendous acts of Nazis against Jews told the lens of a German boy.
Very hauntingly sad.