My Brother's Secret

by Dan Smith

My Brothers Secret

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Historical, World War II

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Dan Smith writes books!

Dan Smith's Official Website

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Reviews

[Jaidee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 "exciting, well-crafted, meaningful" stars!!!

2016 Honorable Mention Read

This is one of the best children's novels I have ever read!!!

Karl Friedmann is 11 going on 12 and is extremely proud to be part of boys Nazi youth group where he is being groomed to be a "Good German for the Fuhrer". In the next few months events occur in his life that teach him what Nazism is really about, devastating losses and the extreme love his family have for him.

Throughout this book I had a consistent lump in my throat as this book is so respectful of what it means to be a boy on the cusp of manhood. The expectations to be brave and strong when so vulnerable and needing mama and papa's love despite peer and societal pressures. The emotions, characters and plot are easy to follow for younger readers but complex and realistic enough for adult readers (this one anyway).

The book does a wonderful job in showing (not teaching) young readers (specifically boys age 10 to 13) what it means to think for yourself, remember your values, be brave within reason and display vulnerability to those that care and love for you.

I am extremely impressed with the sensitivity, realism and the values portrayed in this novel and would feel extremely safe and secure in gifting this wonderful book to young male readers and yes you old (er) readers as well !!

[Chris Horsefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great young Adult ww2 novel. I read it in two days, it was okay, not quite a 5 star novel, it lacked emotion for me. It is very similar to the Edelweiss Pirates novel, where the Pirates have an on going battle with the Hitler Youth and a sibling is a secret member of the group. Some parts seemed dangerously similar! I will say no more on that.
I hope to read more of author; Dan Smiths novels, very good characters and storyline. Easy to read and follow!

[Tatyana Naumova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Единственный вопрос - откуда у этой книги такой рейтинг?

[Allison Tebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtakingly beautiful. This author is amazing; each sentence is like an icicle - perfect, chilling, beautiful, burning a memory in your brain that you will not soon forget. A raw, gut-moving look at humanity in an impossible situation - and the amazing God-given ability for humans to survive the unthinkable and still reach, despite all odds, for Truth.

Content: This book is a very moody and intense just because of the setting. Several characters have family members who have 'disappeared'. A few mentions of torture - but most of it is cut around - except for one point when the main villain uses a switch to punish the MC and his friend. During the aftermath of a bombing, the MC and his friend witness several bodies being pulled out of the wreckage. The main villain strikes the MC's mother and knocks her down. The Hitler Youth gain up on a boy and collective beat him.

Considering the subject material - I was actually amazed with how little gore was in this book - the author navigated this whole book with great restraint - and his words were all the more powerful because of the implication - instead of spelling out every detail.

Note: I can especially recommend the audio version of this book - the narrator is beyond spectacular and his voice makes the story even more powerful, hitting and pulling my emotions by turn. I read the last few chapters in the hardcover version - and while it was still wonderful - the narrator adds an especial magic to the powerful voice of the author.

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I've just realized I'm a heartless bitch - I was well aware of what I should feel, and I often thought things were awful - but in a detached way. If it's a book on nazi Germany, I really should be left weeping, searching the internet and textbooks, that is the way of the traditional ww2 books, filling you to the brim with rage and tragedy - but the emotions were really background noise in this one, it was so 'meh.' That, or I'm evil...

[Shiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. If you are thinking about buying the book read page 58 for a sneak peak. (On the actual book not kindle/iPad/iPhone) I love the time period it is set in. I found out about a certain group of people that I never knew existed before.

[Hope]

I dunno. Maybe I wasn't in the mood or something. I may pick this up again sometime.

[Loganholbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother's secret shows a book about a boy ( Karl Friedmann ) living in Nazi Germany, during WW2. Karl's father passed and his faith in Hitler has perished. After the death of Karl's father, he moved to a new town and meets this young girl named Lisa. during this time Karl finds out that his brother is a member in a "rebel gang" called the "edelweiss pirates". After finding this out Karl becomes vengeful and wants at revenge from Hitler. He does this by sending out letters to neighboring houses and villages saying " Hitler is killing our fathers ". By committing this act Karl gets Himself into a bit of turmoil.
I personally recommend this book to any one between the ages of 10 and 18. the book is tremendously frantic and horror stricken. at the same time this book is caring, touching, and almost relatable. For anybody interested in history especially ww2 era this book is for them

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Sharpe
Title: My Brother’s Secret
Author: Dan Smith
Genera: Historical-fiction
Rating: 5/5

My Brother’s Secret demonstrates a book about a boy who live in Nazi Germany at the time of WWII. Karl is the name of the boy who is also the main character in the story. Karl’s dad died and his faith in Hitler is shaken. After Karl moves cause of his father's death at their knew town Karl makes a friend named Lisa. Later Karl finds out that his brother is a rebel from a gang of people called the “edelweiss pirates.” Finding this out causes him to seek revenge on Hitler by sending letters to people’s houses saying “Hitler is killing our fathers.” However doing this causes him to get into a big predicament of trouble.
My Brother’s Secret was such an amazing and astounding book and fully deserves in 5 stars. The book was very tense and terrifying. At other times the book was memorable and touching. These aspects of the book made it so good. I would recommend this book to 5th grade boys. This is a book for people that are interested in WWII. Karl is willing to do so much to avenge his father.
“I liked this book and how they made it action packed and all the talk about history and war made it good.” --- Julie Bonser Amazon Reviewer
“A fast based gripping story.” --- Lisa Tortorello Amazon Reviewer

[Misty McClaskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great from beginning to end! The main character goes through so much you feel like you are on the journey with him. He starts the novel a devout member of the Hitler Youth. But, he receives news that his Papa died in battle a war he starts to not believe in. This book explored the Edelweiss Pirates. I had not heard of this before this book. I enjoyed learning about it.

[Samantha 8/9]

I loved this book! When ever I read a world war II book it was usually in a Jewish perspective, and this book was in a Nazi's perspective. The other thing I liked is that someone in the youth actually realized that Hitler was not doing a good thing, he was doing something horrible.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. Really held my 12 year old son's attention. I read it along with him and we've had lots of great discussions about history and making choices for yourself. A real coming of age story in a sad, sad time.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karl Friedmann, age twelve, is caught up in the glory of being a good German for the Fuher and is even proud his father died in battle on the Russian front. But when a fellow upcoming Hitler Youth friend is taunted because he cries over his father's death on the war front, Karl steps back to ponder the behavior of his mother, grandparents, new neighbors, and older brother Stephan.

Stephan isn't involved with Hitler Youth and has secrets which involve using a flower as a code. Then Karl sees signs on walls that say, "Hitler is killing our fathers" and other signs, he sees in people, that make him want to learn more. With the help of the girl in the new neighborhood the Friedmann's have moved into, Karl acts on the truths he learns.

The viewpoint of a boy immersed in the Hitler youth culture of the time and the conflicts within that community was different from many WWII middle grade stories.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karl Friedmann loves to play war games, and can't wait to join the Hitler Youth. But after his father's death, he begins to question the rightness of the war, and the rightness of the Nazi party. This change of heart isn't immediate, it's more of a journey as he observes what the war has done to his family, to his friends, to his neighborhood. Two people definitely make an impact on him: his older brother, who does have a secret, and his new best friend, a girl around his own age.

My Brother's Secret is an intense read with plenty of action and drama.

I definitely found it a compelling read--a quick one too! It was action-packed until the very end. I was almost sure there was no way they could resolve it with so few pages left, and, in a way, it did feel rushed. But still. Quite a read.

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction from the Hitler Youth and Deutsches Jungvolk perspective during WW II, this suspenseful novel reveals life in western Germany in wartime through a child's eyes in 1941. Karl loves war games, but after his papa is killed on the Russian front, they go to live with Opa & Oma. When Karl finds a small white flower on his brother Stefan's coat, he doesn't know it symbolizes the Edelweiss movement against Hitler, Nazi cruelty, & the war. There are more than one brother's secrets here, and the riveting story with a terrifying denouement exposes conflicting viewpoints and the struggle of standing up for what is right. A winner.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about a German boy who is very into Hitler Youth until a series of events causes his to reconsider.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Brother’s Secret by Dan Smith was a powerful, heartbreaking children’s novel that totally consumed me. It is perfect for ages twelve years and over. Whatever your age, this is a great read.
The novel is set in 1941 in Nazi Germany. We meet twelve year old Karl and his brother Stefan who is four years older. Karl is a member of the Hitler youth group. He wears his uniform proudly, blindly believing everything he is told – until one day that changes everything and Karl begins to have doubts – a dangerous mindset at the time. Karl begins to question everything including his beloved Fuhrer.
Stefan is the opposite to Karl. He hates the Fuhrer and everything he stands for. Stefan does what he can to disrupt the Nazis. He is brave, and seemingly reckless at times. He loves Germany but hates the people running it and those who follow blindly.
Even as a member of the Hitler youth group, Karl has a conscience and empathy but is too afraid to follow it. “No one could help him. We were all too afraid.” Karl watches acts of cruelty but stays silent. His lack of actions keep him awake at night.
As Karl starts to question all he has heard, his true nature emerges. “You can’t believe everything they tell us at school.” Karl, along with a nation, has been brain washed.
We feel the pain of a family when the telegram boy appears. “It wasn’t about being proud of Papa. Now it was about dying and being scared.” War is neither glamorous nor glorious. It is dirty and painful. There are no winners, only grieving families on all sides.
There is an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. Even within families, other members could inform. Trust had to be earned.
We meet plucky, twelve year old Lisa who is holding on to hope for her father. The Nazis dragged him off, accusing him of being a communist. He was sent to a camp. Hope keeps her going. Lack of hope crushes and simultaneously awakes the giant within.
All the characters were well drawn, likable, realistic and easy to empathise with. Dan Smith has perfectly described the atmosphere within Nazi Germany – of pride and parades; of fear and cruelty; of hope and despair.
My Brother’s Secret was a heartbreaking, yet inspiring read as we follow a life from brain washing to eyes wide open.
My Brother’s Secret should be part of the National Curriculum as it helps the reader to empathise with the times. It was such a powerful read.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Nazi Germany novel is not widely known in America because the author is British. However, it's an excellent addition to the WW2/Hitler/Holocaust genre of historical fiction.

Karl is a 12-year-old German boy who is a exemplary member of the Deutsches Jungvolk, the organization for German youth age 10-14. All of the young boys admire Hitler and can't wait to join the Hitler Youth organization when they are older. Stefan, Karl's older brother, is the exact opposite. He is revulsed by Hitler and all he stands for. Karl can't understand how his brother can be so anti-Hitler. After all, Hitler is simply trying to bring a better life for Germans.

Then they receive news that their father has died on the frontline fighting against the Russians. His grandparents arrive to bring them back to their home to help take care of them. He can't understand why his grandparents are keeping him out of school and not letting him join the Deutsches Jungvolk. When Karl sneaks out he sees a sign painted on the wall that says "Hitler is killing our fathers," followed by an emblem of a white flower. Karl has seen this emblem before in his brother's jacket. He quickly learns that his brother is a member of an anti-Hitler Youth gang called the Edelweiss Pirates. As events unfold, Karl begins to see the injustice and brutality of the Gestapo police. His beliefs take a 180 turn, and he has a hard time keeping his new opinions contained. If he isn't careful he is going to get his entire family in trouble.

The purpose of the story is to bring light to a little known gang of teenagers called the Edelweiss Pirates who stood defiantly against Hitler in WW2. They risked severe punishment by not succumbing to the indoctrination Hitler attempted on Germany's youth.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Good, but not the most moving or heart-stirring novel. Which is fine, this did its job; it kept me engaged while introducing us to young (impressionable) characters who grew and changed their perspective throughout the story.

Karl is a young twelve (read, immature) and really doesn't know the meaning of safe, cautious, and discreet. Lisa gives off Luna Lovegood energy, and they both are graced with so much good luck, it's semi-miraculous.
I did really like Stefan, and think a story of brothers is a great way to showcase a split of consciousness (especially with a younger brother, swept up in the Hitler Youth).

The end action was wild the break out from "prison" and the explosion that kills Wolff. I have to say, I LOVE that Wolff was killed at the end. I think it makes it a little bit more "real" than other kids' books..
And while this book was a work of fiction, Smith writes a note at the end on the Edelweiss Pirates, which was a real "loosely organized youth movement." <3

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karl Friedmann is a 12-year-old German boy during WWII who has lived his whole life being loyal to Hitler and the Nazis. He soon realizes what is really happening in the war after his father is killed in the war. He meets a girl across the street named Lisa. Her father was taken from their home and taken to a death camp and she hasn't seen him since. Stefan is Karl's older brother who is involved in a group that sabotages the Gestapo and other Nazis. The main Gestapo officer Kriminalinspektor Wolff has many run-ins with the Friedmanns. Karl has to find out what to believe about the war and about his country.
It is a tough time for Karl and his family when his father dies and his loyalty starts to shift away from the Nazi Party. This begins what nearly gets his family in huge trouble or even killed. This leads to a good plot of how Karl can save his family with the help of others.

[Darin Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read how what's right is not always easy. Karl Friedmann is playing war games with Hitler's Youth, and is recognized for having potential the same day the family finds out their father was killed on the Russian front. Karl then realizes that his brother, Stefan, is going out at odd times, and has a flower stitched on the inside of his jacket. The questions continue to mount inside him: was this a just war? Was Hilter a hero or a killer? What were they fighting for? And his brother's group, the Edelweiss Pirates what were they? Both Karl and Stefan end up in "Headquarters", guests of of Gerhard Wolff, the local SS officer because their involvement with the group, and the conclusion will blow you away.

A great story on the power of family and of doing the right thing, even when it's hard.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 year old Karl Friedman was proud to be a part of the Hitler youth. That all changed when his father was killed on the Russian front. His family moves in with his grandparents. They live in a small town. There he encounters a Gestapo leader, which make him start to question everything he knew about Hitler and Nazis. I loved everything that this book was about. The only problem I had was the ending didn't seem like it was an ending that would actually happen. The book showcases things like what it means to be a boy going into manhood. Society puts pressure on young men to be brave and strong and not show vulnerability. The characters and plot are easy enough for young adult readers to follow but still has a complexity that adult readers would enjoy. I love how the author showed both sides of the coin. He really shows Karl's struggle between his political views and his philosophy.

[Anna Farris]

This book started out slow, but once the story started to pick up speed, this book was riveting! The story starts with Karl, a young German, who is wholeheartedly devoted to Hitler and his country. As events unfold, including the death of his father, Karl starts to realize that being a Nazi is not all he thinks it is. Things get more intense as Karl, his brother Stefan, and his new friend Lisa start engaging in rebellious acts against the Nazis as they see the horror unfold around them. I really like historical fiction, so I knew this was a book I would like. Once I started reading, I was concerned this book was not going to get interesting. However, when the story got to the climax, I could not put it down. The last fifty pages of this book made the whole beginning of the book worth it.

[Adi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in eighth grade when my school was teaching us about the German revolution and as I was learning it for the first time, this book gave me an insight of the lives of people who were brainwashed by the army to join them since a young age. For some reason this book has always been my favourite, it was my first step towards knowing more about the war and the German army.

In some way while I was reading this book I always thought about me and my elder brother and how much it would have affected me if one day I got to know about my brother's secret during the time of the war. How much I would have been shaken knowing that what my brother is doing is eventually going to lead him to his death.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the story was pretty good and gor the most part, the writing was well done. What really got to me was Karl, and not in a good way. He was so irritating the entire time and his character didn't grow at all. Instead of learning from his mistakes, he kept acting selfish and childish. When his brother was taken away he didn't seem to have a lot of remorse aside from "oh no, my brother" and then in the next scene he does something rash again.
Stefan was a good character, and even Lisa. If either of them had been the main character, I would have rated the book at a higher level. But because Karl, the main character, was frustrating and naive, I really did not like it as much.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, there is a boy named Karl and he is excited to join the Hitler youth like all the other 11-year-old boys in Germany. But his dad is killed and he realizes that Hitler is using people to kill innocent people. He meets a girl and they become close friends. He was kept inside his house and he could not go out. But one day he snuck out and he drove away on his bike. He was riding and he saw signs on walls saying, " Hitler is killing our fathers". Karl thought about that and decided not to join the Hitler youth.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good introduction for kids to war and authoritarian regimes. I read it to my precocious almost 8 year old who chose it from the library. It's really aimed at older kids, say 10+ and would be better for that age due to the violence and concepts covered. My son is war crazy, obsessed with soldiers and weapons (no idea where he gets it from), so this type of book is perfect for showing him the harms of war in an age appropriate way.

I had never heard of the Edelweiss Pirates before, so it was an interesting historical education as well.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

in this book you have Karil. he loves Hitler. but then there is his brother. he is exactly the opposite.when their father is killed they move to their grandparent's house. when they are living there Karil learns what Hitler is really doing. This is an amazing book that tells the German side of the story.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly thrilling, and realistic! I myself love historical fiction so this one really hit the spot! As you read,Dan Smith makes it very easy for you to imagine the situation at hand, and picture yourself being there.This book is about how a young man's perspective on joining Hitler's Youth Camp changes after a tragic death of a loved one

[Donna Dobihal Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of a young boy in the Hitler Youth, a "good German," who has embraced all the Nazi propaganda unlike the other members of his family, especially his beloved older brother, this novel is packed with suspense. A compelling work that steadily builds in intensity, racing to the satisfying finish line. A great choice for a book club. Highly recommended.