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Wolfskinderen
Het is juli 1945. Het Derde Rijk van Hitler is ten einde gekomen, en de Tweede Wereldoorlog is voorbij. Otto is de leider van een groep kinderen die leven in de kelder van een verlaten ziekenhuis. De wolfskinderen moeten zien te overleven tussen de legers, de rivaliserende gangs en een oorlogscrimineel die hen stalkt. Een spannend verhaal over vriendschap en overleven tegen alle verwachtingen in. Van de auteur van o.a. ‘Ausländer’, ‘Sector 20’ en ‘Bomber’.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
7 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Paul Dowswell
143 books65 followersPaul Dowswell is a British writer of nonfiction and young adult novels who has written over 70 books for British publishers. He was a senior editor at Usborne Publishing, then went freelance in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 17, 2018
Realistisch...interessant!!
Er worden weinig verhalen geschreven over de periode na WOII, na de val van Berlijn...vooral niet vanuit het gezichtspunt van de Duitse bevolking en zeker niet vanuit het gezichtspunt van Young Adults. Volwassenen en jongeren die jarenlang geïndoctrineerd en gemanipuleerd zijn door nazi ideologieën...hoe zijn ze hiermee omgegaan na WOII...?!
Otto, Helene, Ulrich, Erich, Klaus en Hannah moeten tussen alle puinhopen en brokstukken zien te overleven na de val van een platgebombardeerd Berlijn. Ze missen hun ouders die vermist of omgekomen zijn. Iedere dag is een struggle for life. Ulrich worstelt met zijn nazi idealen, Otto en Helene zijn heimelijk verliefd, Erich en Klaus halen levensgevaarlijk kattenkwaad uit en Hannah...Hannah probeert mentaal en fysiek te overleven...Jonge mensen die pubers zijn tijdens en na WOII in een 'levensbedreigende', gevaarlijke omgeving in een platgebombardeerd Berlijn met alles wat daarbij hoort...
Er worden weinig verhalen geschreven over de periode na WOII, na de val van Berlijn...vooral niet vanuit het gezichtspunt van de Duitse bevolking en zeker niet vanuit het gezichtspunt van Young Adults. Volwassenen en jongeren die jarenlang geïndoctrineerd en gemanipuleerd zijn door nazi ideologieën...hoe zijn ze hiermee omgegaan na WOII...?!
Otto, Helene, Ulrich, Erich, Klaus en Hannah moeten tussen alle puinhopen en brokstukken zien te overleven na de val van een platgebombardeerd Berlijn. Ze missen hun ouders die vermist of omgekomen zijn. Iedere dag is een struggle for life. Ulrich worstelt met zijn nazi idealen, Otto en Helene zijn heimelijk verliefd, Erich en Klaus halen levensgevaarlijk kattenkwaad uit en Hannah...Hannah probeert mentaal en fysiek te overleven...Jonge mensen die pubers zijn tijdens en na WOII in een 'levensbedreigende', gevaarlijke omgeving in een platgebombardeerd Berlijn met alles wat daarbij hoort...
August 12, 2022
Wolfskinderen vertelt het verhaal van de zestienjarige Otto die samen met Helene voor zijn jongere broer Ulrich, een tweeling en de jonge Hanna zorgen. Het verhaal speelt zich af in Duitsland, 1945 net nadat Hitler is verslagen en Berlijn volledig in puin ligt. In het verhaal lees je vanuit verschillende perspectieven hoe het voor deze jonge kinderen is om voor zichzelf te zorgen en hoe ze moeten overleven in een wereld met weinig orde, regels of volwassen begeleiding. Niet ieder kind van deze groep heeft dezelfde denkwijze na alles dat ze hebben meegemaakt en dat zorgt voor extra spanningen in de groep. En dan zijn er nog de gevaarlijke andere bendes die het regelmatig op hun gemunt lijken te hebben.
Dit was eens een heel ander boek dan ik normaal lees. Dystopische fantasy, superhelden of bovennatuurlijke krachten, niets van deze dingen komen voor in dit verhaal, maar toch wist het me te boeien. Een element dat me heel erg aansprak waren de kinderen als hoofdpersonages. En dat ze volledig op zichzelf zijn toegewezen in een toch gevaarlijke wereld. Meestal vind ik boeken gebaseerd op of die zich afspelen rondom de tijd van de tweede wereld oorlog niet heel interessant om te lezen. Het is vaak zeer extreem, verdrietig en zwaar beladen. Het feit dat dit meer een kinderboek was, sprak me daardoor wel wat meer aan. De titel ‘Wolfskinderen’ gaf er toch een soort fantasie element aan, zo zou een groep jongeren in een dystopisch verhaal ook kunnen heten.
In dit verhaal kwamen de eerlijkheid en onschuld van kinderen en de gevaren en extremiteiten van een oorlog samen.
Wat ik er interessant vond om te lezen waren de bezigheden van elk kind apart. Ondanks dat Otto, Helene, Ulrich, de tweeling en Hanna een groepvormen, heeft elk personage een eigen gedachtegang, eigen bezigheden en eigen ideeën. Maar dat wat altijd een rol speelt is overleven. Het verhaal vertelde heel duidelijk hoe moeilijk sommige dingen die wij vanzelfsprekend vinden in die tijd waren, zoals eten, medicijnen en hygiëne. En ondanks dat dit verhaal zeer beladen onderwerpen aansnijdt is het toch redelijk luchtig beschreven, zonder dat ik de ernst ervan uit het oog verloor tijdens het lezen.
Er vinden soms wat tijdsprongen plaats in het verhaal wat ervoor zorgt dat de vaart erin blijft. De perspectiefwisselingen zorgen ook voor spanning omdat elk personage weer in iets anders verzeilt raakt. De spanning bouwt zich gaande het verhaal steeds verder op. En hoewel sommige dingen voor mij voorspelbaar waren, hield het verhaal me toch in zijn greep. Zeker in de tweede helft vond ik de spanning goed opgebouwd en verdeeld.
Het taalgebruik stoorde soms wel mijn leestempo. Er werd soms gebruik gemaakt van wat aparter of ouder taalgebruik. Wellicht dat dit aansluit bij het taalgebruik in Duitsland in 1945 maar sommige woordkeuzes konden naar mijn mening wat eenvoudiger zodat het volgens mij ook voor jongere lezers beter leesbaar zou zijn.
Maar toen de spanning in het boek toenam had ik hier minder last van. Misschien dat ik er in het begin even aan had moeten wennen.
Wat mij betreft is dit een zeer geschikt boek voor kinderen die een boek op de middelbare school moeten lezen. Met geschiedenis, vriendschap, loyaliteit, persoonsontwikkeling en vertrouwen als hoofdelementen kan menig jonge lezers hier iets van leren en een bredere kijk op de wereld ontwikkelen. Het is niet een boek zoals het Dagboek van Anna Frank. Dit is fictiever, maar wel aan te raden voor kinderen die in zo een thema een boek willen of moeten lezen.
Dit was eens een heel ander boek dan ik normaal lees. Dystopische fantasy, superhelden of bovennatuurlijke krachten, niets van deze dingen komen voor in dit verhaal, maar toch wist het me te boeien. Een element dat me heel erg aansprak waren de kinderen als hoofdpersonages. En dat ze volledig op zichzelf zijn toegewezen in een toch gevaarlijke wereld. Meestal vind ik boeken gebaseerd op of die zich afspelen rondom de tijd van de tweede wereld oorlog niet heel interessant om te lezen. Het is vaak zeer extreem, verdrietig en zwaar beladen. Het feit dat dit meer een kinderboek was, sprak me daardoor wel wat meer aan. De titel ‘Wolfskinderen’ gaf er toch een soort fantasie element aan, zo zou een groep jongeren in een dystopisch verhaal ook kunnen heten.
In dit verhaal kwamen de eerlijkheid en onschuld van kinderen en de gevaren en extremiteiten van een oorlog samen.
Wat ik er interessant vond om te lezen waren de bezigheden van elk kind apart. Ondanks dat Otto, Helene, Ulrich, de tweeling en Hanna een groepvormen, heeft elk personage een eigen gedachtegang, eigen bezigheden en eigen ideeën. Maar dat wat altijd een rol speelt is overleven. Het verhaal vertelde heel duidelijk hoe moeilijk sommige dingen die wij vanzelfsprekend vinden in die tijd waren, zoals eten, medicijnen en hygiëne. En ondanks dat dit verhaal zeer beladen onderwerpen aansnijdt is het toch redelijk luchtig beschreven, zonder dat ik de ernst ervan uit het oog verloor tijdens het lezen.
Er vinden soms wat tijdsprongen plaats in het verhaal wat ervoor zorgt dat de vaart erin blijft. De perspectiefwisselingen zorgen ook voor spanning omdat elk personage weer in iets anders verzeilt raakt. De spanning bouwt zich gaande het verhaal steeds verder op. En hoewel sommige dingen voor mij voorspelbaar waren, hield het verhaal me toch in zijn greep. Zeker in de tweede helft vond ik de spanning goed opgebouwd en verdeeld.
Het taalgebruik stoorde soms wel mijn leestempo. Er werd soms gebruik gemaakt van wat aparter of ouder taalgebruik. Wellicht dat dit aansluit bij het taalgebruik in Duitsland in 1945 maar sommige woordkeuzes konden naar mijn mening wat eenvoudiger zodat het volgens mij ook voor jongere lezers beter leesbaar zou zijn.
Maar toen de spanning in het boek toenam had ik hier minder last van. Misschien dat ik er in het begin even aan had moeten wennen.
Wat mij betreft is dit een zeer geschikt boek voor kinderen die een boek op de middelbare school moeten lezen. Met geschiedenis, vriendschap, loyaliteit, persoonsontwikkeling en vertrouwen als hoofdelementen kan menig jonge lezers hier iets van leren en een bredere kijk op de wereld ontwikkelen. Het is niet een boek zoals het Dagboek van Anna Frank. Dit is fictiever, maar wel aan te raden voor kinderen die in zo een thema een boek willen of moeten lezen.
September 24, 2017
Otto laid out his stash carefully on the floor. There were twelve. Not bad for a night's work.The gaudy blue tins, with their American words, seemed like objects from an unimaginable world of plenty. A world where people were safe to go about their everyday lives and always had enough to eat. For a moment he was struck with a deep longing to be somewhere as safe as that in the world. To wake up in the morning and know that his life was not in danger and he would have enough to eat for the day. Where was like that? America, certainly. Canada, Australia? He had been born in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
I previously enjoyed Dowsell's book, Auslander, so was quick to request this when I saw it on Netgalley. The story follows a group of children, trying to survive and create some semblance of normalcy in Russian-occupied Berlin. Each of the characters is strong, though some get more development than others. At the centre of the book is the struggle Ulrich faces trying to reconcile his teachings in the Hitler Youth with the reality he is living in. If what he was taught is untrue, it paints his past actions in an unfavourable light...therefore the Nazi ideals must be true. Otto, his older brother, with whom he has a rather strained relationship, was never so firmly entrenched in his Nazi beliefs so has already re-evaluated the world and found Hitler's ideology lacking. Ulrich, on the other hand, clings desperately to the certainty of the 'Master Race Ascendancy' when everything else he has know has fallen apart.
This would be an interesting addition to a collection of books looking at the experiences of children on all sides during World War II.
On the night after that raid the Roths came out of their basement shelter at first light, and Otto could now remember that more clearly than the awful blur of the fighting he had just lived through. It had been a beautiful spring morning, blue sky hazy with the first heat of the day, but with a thin film of dust hanging in the air and covering everything around them. What had really shocked him had been the bare trees. That previous evening they had been covered in luminous cherry blossom, now blown off in a single brutal moment.
What I liked: The perspective of the effects of the war on ordinary people living n Berlin, particularly the children struggling to survive. The juxtaposition of the beauty of life and the horrors of war and the unexpectedness of tragedy.
Even better if: I felt that the ending as quite abrupt - I would have liked to see more of Ulrich's response to the post-war period, particularly as he was still struggling to change his views.
How you could use it in your classroom: It would be an interesting read for anyone studying the Second World War; although it does not 'teach' much of what happened, it provides a viewpoint that many may not have considered by showing how children in Berlin would have been affected by events happening in other parts of the world.
(Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my review copy)
I previously enjoyed Dowsell's book, Auslander, so was quick to request this when I saw it on Netgalley. The story follows a group of children, trying to survive and create some semblance of normalcy in Russian-occupied Berlin. Each of the characters is strong, though some get more development than others. At the centre of the book is the struggle Ulrich faces trying to reconcile his teachings in the Hitler Youth with the reality he is living in. If what he was taught is untrue, it paints his past actions in an unfavourable light...therefore the Nazi ideals must be true. Otto, his older brother, with whom he has a rather strained relationship, was never so firmly entrenched in his Nazi beliefs so has already re-evaluated the world and found Hitler's ideology lacking. Ulrich, on the other hand, clings desperately to the certainty of the 'Master Race Ascendancy' when everything else he has know has fallen apart.
This would be an interesting addition to a collection of books looking at the experiences of children on all sides during World War II.
On the night after that raid the Roths came out of their basement shelter at first light, and Otto could now remember that more clearly than the awful blur of the fighting he had just lived through. It had been a beautiful spring morning, blue sky hazy with the first heat of the day, but with a thin film of dust hanging in the air and covering everything around them. What had really shocked him had been the bare trees. That previous evening they had been covered in luminous cherry blossom, now blown off in a single brutal moment.
What I liked: The perspective of the effects of the war on ordinary people living n Berlin, particularly the children struggling to survive. The juxtaposition of the beauty of life and the horrors of war and the unexpectedness of tragedy.
Even better if: I felt that the ending as quite abrupt - I would have liked to see more of Ulrich's response to the post-war period, particularly as he was still struggling to change his views.
How you could use it in your classroom: It would be an interesting read for anyone studying the Second World War; although it does not 'teach' much of what happened, it provides a viewpoint that many may not have considered by showing how children in Berlin would have been affected by events happening in other parts of the world.
(Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my review copy)
November 21, 2020
3,5 stars
April 15, 2018
A compelling read about a fascinating time in history. Young people whose parents were missing surviving in the wreckage of Berlin after the war when it was occupied by the Soviets and the US.
February 18, 2018
In het boek Wolfskinderen van Paul Dowswell volg je het leven van een groep Duitse kinderen net nadat de Russen Berlijn zijn binnen gemarcheerd. Paul Dowswell beschrijft duidelijk en krachtig hoe de kinderen gedurende hun leven zijn geïndoctrineerd. Hoe ze nu ze alles zijn kwijt geraakt door de oorlog een nieuw bestaan aan het opbouwen zijn. Met angst en onzekerheid maar zeker ook hoop.
Paul Dowswell gebruikt pakkende taal maar schuwt de moeilijkere woorden niet. De beschrijvingen hoe Berlijn er uit zag in de maanden na de oorlog is beeldend. Je kan erg goed meevoelen met de kinderen. De vraag die heel gemakkelijk in je op komt is wat zou ik gedaan hebben.
Quote “Wacht nog vijf minuten.’ Hij wilde hen niet laten gaan. Hij wilde publiek bij zijn explosies; wat had het anders voor zin?’
Ik vond het erg fijn eens een andere kant van het leven na de oorlog te lezen. Ik heb veel gehoord en gelezen over de bevrijding van Nederland. Maar met het lezen van Wolfskinderen ben ik me bewuster geworden wat het betekende voor de kinderen die niet werden bevrijd maar overwonnen.
Read
August 10, 2017I was hopeful for this novel, because I love the WW2 setting and historical novels in this context. But... it fell flat.
It was particularly tell-y, and it jerked me out of reading. Like an "and over there we have..." situation, where it's obviously pointing where to look or what to feel at any given moment. Dialogue felt stilted, as though the author described the characters' emotions rather than allow us to feel them authentically while we lived their story.
I didn't feel either that we were in the setting of World War 2 - while it was a really interesting concept unfortunately it didn't pay off and I DNF'd at 10%
It was particularly tell-y, and it jerked me out of reading. Like an "and over there we have..." situation, where it's obviously pointing where to look or what to feel at any given moment. Dialogue felt stilted, as though the author described the characters' emotions rather than allow us to feel them authentically while we lived their story.
I didn't feel either that we were in the setting of World War 2 - while it was a really interesting concept unfortunately it didn't pay off and I DNF'd at 10%
February 3, 2018
Een historisch en boeiend boek over de nadagen van WOII in Berlijn gezien door de ogen van de jeugd. Door de verschillende invalshoeken geeft Dowswell een compleet beeld van de honger, het verzet en het verlies van dierbaren tijdens de overname van de stad door de Russen, Engelsen en Amerikanen.
September 24, 2017
Otto laid out his stash carefully on the floor. There were twelve. Not bad for a night's work.The gaudy blue tins, with their American words, seemed like objects from an unimaginable world of plenty. A world where people were safe to go about their everyday lives and always had enough to eat. For a moment he was struck with a deep longing to be somewhere as safe as that in the world. To wake up in the morning and know that his life was not in danger and he would have enough to eat for the day. Where was like that? America, certainly. Canada, Australia? He had been born in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
I previously enjoyed Dowsell's book, Auslander, so was quick to request this when I saw it on Netgalley. The story follows a group of children, trying to survive and create some semblance of normalcy in Russian-occupied Berlin. Each of the characters is strong, though some get more development than others. At the centre of the book is the struggle Ulrich faces trying to reconcile his teachings in the Hitler Youth with the reality he is living in. If what he was taught is untrue, it paints his past actions in an unfavourable light...therefore the Nazi ideals must be true. Otto, his older brother, with whom he has a rather strained relationship, was never so firmly entrenched in his Nazi beliefs so has already re-evaluated the world and found Hitler's ideology lacking. Ulruich, on the other hand, clings desperately to the certainty of the 'Master Race Ascendancy' when everything else he has know has fallen apart.
This would be an interesting addition to a collection of books looking at the experiences of children on all sides during World War II.
On the night after that raid the Roths came out of their basement shelter at first light, and Otto could now remember that more clearly than the awful blur of the fighting he had just lived through. It had been a beautiful spring morning, blue sky hazy with the first heat of the day, but with a thin film of dust hanging in the air and covering everything around them. What had really shocked him had been the bare trees. That previous evening they had been covered in luminous cherry blossom, now blown off in a single brutal moment.
What I liked: The perspective of the effects of the war on ordinary people living n Berlin, particularly the children struggling to survive. The juxtaposition of the beauty of life and the horrors of war and the unexpectedness of tragedy.
Even better if: I felt that the ending as quite abrupt - I would have liked to see more of Ulrich's response to the post-war period, particularly as he was still struggling to change his views.
How you could use it in your classroom: It would be an interesting read for anyone studying the Second World War; although it does not 'teach' much of what happened, it provides a viewpoint that many may not have considered by showing how children in Berlin would have been affected by events happening in other parts of the world.
(Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my review copy)
I previously enjoyed Dowsell's book, Auslander, so was quick to request this when I saw it on Netgalley. The story follows a group of children, trying to survive and create some semblance of normalcy in Russian-occupied Berlin. Each of the characters is strong, though some get more development than others. At the centre of the book is the struggle Ulrich faces trying to reconcile his teachings in the Hitler Youth with the reality he is living in. If what he was taught is untrue, it paints his past actions in an unfavourable light...therefore the Nazi ideals must be true. Otto, his older brother, with whom he has a rather strained relationship, was never so firmly entrenched in his Nazi beliefs so has already re-evaluated the world and found Hitler's ideology lacking. Ulruich, on the other hand, clings desperately to the certainty of the 'Master Race Ascendancy' when everything else he has know has fallen apart.
This would be an interesting addition to a collection of books looking at the experiences of children on all sides during World War II.
On the night after that raid the Roths came out of their basement shelter at first light, and Otto could now remember that more clearly than the awful blur of the fighting he had just lived through. It had been a beautiful spring morning, blue sky hazy with the first heat of the day, but with a thin film of dust hanging in the air and covering everything around them. What had really shocked him had been the bare trees. That previous evening they had been covered in luminous cherry blossom, now blown off in a single brutal moment.
What I liked: The perspective of the effects of the war on ordinary people living n Berlin, particularly the children struggling to survive. The juxtaposition of the beauty of life and the horrors of war and the unexpectedness of tragedy.
Even better if: I felt that the ending as quite abrupt - I would have liked to see more of Ulrich's response to the post-war period, particularly as he was still struggling to change his views.
How you could use it in your classroom: It would be an interesting read for anyone studying the Second World War; although it does not 'teach' much of what happened, it provides a viewpoint that many may not have considered by showing how children in Berlin would have been affected by events happening in other parts of the world.
(Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my review copy)
November 5, 2025
Wolf Children is a haunting, deeply human story that lingers long after the final page. Set in the shattered remains of Berlin in 1945, it follows Otto and a band of orphaned children struggling to survive amidst the ruins of war. Though the fighting has ended, Paul Dowswell reminds us that survival doesn’t always begin with peace sometimes it begins in the aftermath.
Through vivid, cinematic storytelling, Dowswell captures the fear, confusion, and fragile hope that define postwar Berlin. Otto is not just a boy trying to survive he’s a symbol of resilience in a world that has lost its moral compass. His group’s encounters with rival gangs, foreign soldiers, and a lingering Nazi menace reveal both the darkness and humanity that war leaves behind.
What makes Wolf Children stand out is its emotional honesty. Dowswell writes with the sensitivity of a historian and the heart of a storyteller. The novel explores loyalty, survival, and the search for belonging in a time when trust itself has become a luxury. Readers of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Private Peaceful will find the same emotional depth and moral gravity here but with a unique, gritty realism all its own.
Even years after its original release, Wolf Children feels strikingly relevant. In today’s world where stories of displacement, resilience, and survival continue to echo globally this book deserves a fresh audience and renewed recognition.
Through vivid, cinematic storytelling, Dowswell captures the fear, confusion, and fragile hope that define postwar Berlin. Otto is not just a boy trying to survive he’s a symbol of resilience in a world that has lost its moral compass. His group’s encounters with rival gangs, foreign soldiers, and a lingering Nazi menace reveal both the darkness and humanity that war leaves behind.
What makes Wolf Children stand out is its emotional honesty. Dowswell writes with the sensitivity of a historian and the heart of a storyteller. The novel explores loyalty, survival, and the search for belonging in a time when trust itself has become a luxury. Readers of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Private Peaceful will find the same emotional depth and moral gravity here but with a unique, gritty realism all its own.
Even years after its original release, Wolf Children feels strikingly relevant. In today’s world where stories of displacement, resilience, and survival continue to echo globally this book deserves a fresh audience and renewed recognition.
December 9, 2020
This was part of a haul from school and initially I didn’t expect I was going to like it, however the story as a whole was pretty good. It was hard to suspend disbelief and consider how the children had managed to stay hidden and self sufficient for so long, but the characters themselves were brilliantly engaging.
The two main issues really were with the ending. The whole thing sort of felt very abrupt as you never get the reunion with their father or the resolution as to whether Hanna and Helene are going to be saved. The ending of the twins was also incredibly frustrating as they were very endearing characters and to have them blown apart as they were was frustrating from a readers perspective.
It’s also raised the question at work as to who it would be suitable for - it’s clearly aimed at a young demographic but the mindset of Ulrich and the way the twins die is written in a very blasé sort of way.
The two main issues really were with the ending. The whole thing sort of felt very abrupt as you never get the reunion with their father or the resolution as to whether Hanna and Helene are going to be saved. The ending of the twins was also incredibly frustrating as they were very endearing characters and to have them blown apart as they were was frustrating from a readers perspective.
It’s also raised the question at work as to who it would be suitable for - it’s clearly aimed at a young demographic but the mindset of Ulrich and the way the twins die is written in a very blasé sort of way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2018
I had hoped this book would offer a fresh perspective on World War Two. It’s set in Berlin, 1945, at the end of the war. The historical information is excellent but there was a really missed opportunity for action and adventure here. There’s a group of kids, all parent-less, fending off ex-Nazi soldiers and the Ivans (the Russians), but it all feels really disconnected. Honestly, there’s one paragraph where two kids are playing with an old explosive and it blows them up and kills them and it’s just so poorly done- no build up, no fall out, no tension. A lot of missed opportunities to build suspense and investment in the story.
I’ll still recommend it to war-story loving kids though!
I’ll still recommend it to war-story loving kids though!
May 7, 2018
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
This was such an interesting read. I've not read any of Dowswell's books before but I'm so glad I got the opportunity to try one. This was a fantastic piece of historical fiction that explores the war and Nazi Germany's attitude at the end of it from the perspective of abandoned children. All the characters have either lost their parents or been orphaned and it's done so well. I really enjoyed how well this was put together to explain how the German people couldn't comprehend what the Nazis were doing to others - absolutely brilliant.
Wolf Children
This is a story about the children of Berlin at the very end of WWII living in a broken and dangerous world. The children are on their own and struggling to survive. It follows their story from where we’re introduced to them to the end of the war and what happens to them. It's set after Hitler is killed, so that interesting little window of time.
The purpose of the book - because oh boy do I believe there is a great educational purpose to it - is to explore the difficulties of children this age growing up in Nazi Germany having been taught Nazi ideology (subhumans, racial hygiene, etc) and deconstructing this as they realise it is wrong, cruel and disgusting.
We battle with the danger of living on the streets of Berlin when nowhere was safe, no help was available and death threats were a way of life.
It’s a simple story and one you can read on surface level or have a full on debate about. I highly recommend it for its unique perspective that helps readers understand the stance of Germans who were shocked when they found out about concentration camps and how hard it was to be overruled by Russians and Americans and find a way to be proud of being German again.
Children’s Fiction?
This definitely reads as children’s fiction but I wouldn’t give it to anyone under 12 just because of the mature issues dealt within, a couple of deaths and one particularly brutal murder. Being a war setting this is kind of inevitable - I’ll discuss in a spoiler section what the adult moments are:
The Characters
All of the characters were awesome in this book. It’s really well written as I’ve said and Helene and Ulrich were definitely the main interesting ones for me — why? Because they were total opposite ends of the spectrum.
Helene has moved past the Nazi teachings and is doing her best to rebuild her life. Whereas Ulrich is so set on being a pure and proper Nazi and you watch him see reason painfully slowly without being altogether convinced he’ll ever see the light.
However, Otto was great too. He was a strong main character but a decent one. The twins were a bit of fun and I liked what Hanna brought to the story although she is barely in it for a solid 50% of it.
Ernst terrified me and the Doctor was a slippery character who I was never sure whether I liked or could trust. It was interesting also to see the German perspective on the Russian and American soldiers.
This isn't relative, but it's a great moment in Mulan, no?
Summary
Highly recommend! Nothing beats a good historical fiction, especially one as short and sweet and done so well as this. I have no negative points to give to this — it’s a simple and interesting read that I’d recommend to anyone.
Happy reading!
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
This was such an interesting read. I've not read any of Dowswell's books before but I'm so glad I got the opportunity to try one. This was a fantastic piece of historical fiction that explores the war and Nazi Germany's attitude at the end of it from the perspective of abandoned children. All the characters have either lost their parents or been orphaned and it's done so well. I really enjoyed how well this was put together to explain how the German people couldn't comprehend what the Nazis were doing to others - absolutely brilliant.
Wolf Children
This is a story about the children of Berlin at the very end of WWII living in a broken and dangerous world. The children are on their own and struggling to survive. It follows their story from where we’re introduced to them to the end of the war and what happens to them. It's set after Hitler is killed, so that interesting little window of time.
The purpose of the book - because oh boy do I believe there is a great educational purpose to it - is to explore the difficulties of children this age growing up in Nazi Germany having been taught Nazi ideology (subhumans, racial hygiene, etc) and deconstructing this as they realise it is wrong, cruel and disgusting.
We battle with the danger of living on the streets of Berlin when nowhere was safe, no help was available and death threats were a way of life.
It’s a simple story and one you can read on surface level or have a full on debate about. I highly recommend it for its unique perspective that helps readers understand the stance of Germans who were shocked when they found out about concentration camps and how hard it was to be overruled by Russians and Americans and find a way to be proud of being German again.
Children’s Fiction?
This definitely reads as children’s fiction but I wouldn’t give it to anyone under 12 just because of the mature issues dealt within, a couple of deaths and one particularly brutal murder. Being a war setting this is kind of inevitable - I’ll discuss in a spoiler section what the adult moments are:
The Characters
All of the characters were awesome in this book. It’s really well written as I’ve said and Helene and Ulrich were definitely the main interesting ones for me — why? Because they were total opposite ends of the spectrum.
Helene has moved past the Nazi teachings and is doing her best to rebuild her life. Whereas Ulrich is so set on being a pure and proper Nazi and you watch him see reason painfully slowly without being altogether convinced he’ll ever see the light.
However, Otto was great too. He was a strong main character but a decent one. The twins were a bit of fun and I liked what Hanna brought to the story although she is barely in it for a solid 50% of it.
Ernst terrified me and the Doctor was a slippery character who I was never sure whether I liked or could trust. It was interesting also to see the German perspective on the Russian and American soldiers.
This isn't relative, but it's a great moment in Mulan, no?
Summary
Highly recommend! Nothing beats a good historical fiction, especially one as short and sweet and done so well as this. I have no negative points to give to this — it’s a simple and interesting read that I’d recommend to anyone.
Happy reading!
November 24, 2018
This book for middle school readers is set in Germany at the end of World War II. Otto and Helene, at 16, are the surrogate parents for a group of lost and orphaned children who are battling to survive as the British and American soldiers arrive and clash with the Russians who are already throwing their weight around in the war torn city. Sadly, I found the narrative to be quite mundane and it felt like a poor cousin to some of the astonishingly good books written with the same setting and ideas. It’s a no from me.
November 17, 2025
Definitely kept my interest and entertained me on a 5hr bus ride. I normally have issues on book endings but this one felt right. It wasn't fluffy and all is right in the world, it just gave hope with that air of uncertainty (especially after WW2).
I do wish there was a dictionary of the German words used at the back.
I do wish there was a dictionary of the German words used at the back.
October 25, 2017
This book was incredible, I really enjoyed it. The writing was fantastic and I am an emotional wreck. Is there another book to this? Because my heart will break if there isn't. There is so much to be done and so much the characters need to know! I'm desperate!!!
June 11, 2018
Wolf Children was a quick YA historical fiction following a 'rag-tag' band of orphans after Germany has fallen and the country is in ruins. Struggling to survive with only each other to rely on, danger lurks around every corner.
This was great, almost education read. From what I can remember from my history class and from reading other reviews, this was very realistic and accurate, and definitely, be used in schools. It is a book that I will bear in mind for my children.
I was brilliantly written and shows the unusual perspective of life in Germany after the war from the view of young teenagers.
Personally, it was a little slow paced for me, and I did struggle to get into it, to begin with. Written for readers 10-12+ it did feel a tad too young for me.
This was great, almost education read. From what I can remember from my history class and from reading other reviews, this was very realistic and accurate, and definitely, be used in schools. It is a book that I will bear in mind for my children.
I was brilliantly written and shows the unusual perspective of life in Germany after the war from the view of young teenagers.
Personally, it was a little slow paced for me, and I did struggle to get into it, to begin with. Written for readers 10-12+ it did feel a tad too young for me.
October 29, 2017
This young adult novel is packed full of historical facts an ideal read for any teenager history
student . The ending is not fully complete so looks like more to follow.
student . The ending is not fully complete so looks like more to follow.
July 26, 2018
Bit disappointed that the ending never told us if
1. The brothers found their dad
2. Did the remainder know what happened to the twins
Maybe book 2
1. The brothers found their dad
2. Did the remainder know what happened to the twins
Maybe book 2
August 15, 2018
great book that is written really well but I think it needed a bit more action or another book.
June 13, 2020
Carino, interessante. Niente di che.
Nel finale un po' troppo surreale.
Nel finale un po' troppo surreale.
April 14, 2022
I have nothing to say about this book except that i just didn't like it:)
May 3, 2023
Goed boek, duidelijk verhaal en fijn geschreven. Ideaal voor jongeren om een beeld te krijgen van Stunde Null in Berlijn na de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
May 10, 2021
26/12/2018
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Dutch
Ik vond het een erg goed boek. Nooit eerder heb ik echt stilgestaan bij de situatie in Berlijn na de oorlog. De verhalen van de kinderen waren ronduit schrijdend. Paul Dowswell heeft wat mij betreft uitstekend werk verricht met het schetsen van die periode. De karakterontwikkeling van de kinderen is erg sterk, vooral die van Ulrich. Ook de hele situatie rondom Hannah is erg interessant onder woorden gebracht.
Eén van de sterkste dingen van het verhaal, vond ik dat de onzekerheid van de kinderen zo sterk naar voren komt. Terwijl je als lezer het grootste gedeelte van het boek weet wat alle kinderen aan het uitspoken zijn, weten de kinderen dit van elkaar niet. Dit wordt heel duidelijk gemaakt. Voor mij was dit een nieuwe realisatie. Ik had mij nooit gerealiseerd hoe mensen gewoon geen keus hadden en door moesten, zonder dat zij wisten hoe het met hun kameraden en familie was. Zelfs aan het einde van het boek, waar veel problemen zijn opgelost, is er nog veel onzekerheid. Ik denk dat dit misschien wel het meest typerende is voor oorlog, wat dit boek mij heeft bijgebracht. Zeker een interessant boek om gelezen te hebben, om ook eens een andere kant van de bevrijding te laten zien.
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English
I thought this was a really good book. Never I considered the situation in Berlin after World War II. The stories of the childeren were horribly poignant. Paul Dowswell did a great job, in my opinion, in showing that period of time. The character development was very strong, especially that of Ulrich. The whole 'situation' around Hannah is also really interesting.
One of the best aspects of the book was the insecurity in which the children were living. While as a reader you know what's going on with all the different children, the children themselves have no clue about the others. This is stated very clearly. For me this was a completely different point of view I hadn't thought of before. I never realized that people had no choice but to continue with living, without knowing if their friends and family were even alive. Even at the end of the book, where most problems are solved, some things stay uncertain. I think this is the most important thing I learned about war. Defenitely an interesting read to show the other side of liberation.
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Dutch
Ik vond het een erg goed boek. Nooit eerder heb ik echt stilgestaan bij de situatie in Berlijn na de oorlog. De verhalen van de kinderen waren ronduit schrijdend. Paul Dowswell heeft wat mij betreft uitstekend werk verricht met het schetsen van die periode. De karakterontwikkeling van de kinderen is erg sterk, vooral die van Ulrich. Ook de hele situatie rondom Hannah is erg interessant onder woorden gebracht.
Eén van de sterkste dingen van het verhaal, vond ik dat de onzekerheid van de kinderen zo sterk naar voren komt. Terwijl je als lezer het grootste gedeelte van het boek weet wat alle kinderen aan het uitspoken zijn, weten de kinderen dit van elkaar niet. Dit wordt heel duidelijk gemaakt. Voor mij was dit een nieuwe realisatie. Ik had mij nooit gerealiseerd hoe mensen gewoon geen keus hadden en door moesten, zonder dat zij wisten hoe het met hun kameraden en familie was. Zelfs aan het einde van het boek, waar veel problemen zijn opgelost, is er nog veel onzekerheid. Ik denk dat dit misschien wel het meest typerende is voor oorlog, wat dit boek mij heeft bijgebracht. Zeker een interessant boek om gelezen te hebben, om ook eens een andere kant van de bevrijding te laten zien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
English
I thought this was a really good book. Never I considered the situation in Berlin after World War II. The stories of the childeren were horribly poignant. Paul Dowswell did a great job, in my opinion, in showing that period of time. The character development was very strong, especially that of Ulrich. The whole 'situation' around Hannah is also really interesting.
One of the best aspects of the book was the insecurity in which the children were living. While as a reader you know what's going on with all the different children, the children themselves have no clue about the others. This is stated very clearly. For me this was a completely different point of view I hadn't thought of before. I never realized that people had no choice but to continue with living, without knowing if their friends and family were even alive. Even at the end of the book, where most problems are solved, some things stay uncertain. I think this is the most important thing I learned about war. Defenitely an interesting read to show the other side of liberation.
April 10, 2020
Wolf Children is a book that describes the perspective and struggles of German children in Berlin after the second world war. The story and characters display the struggle of strongly believing in something and then being left with nothing. What do you do when all you believe in is taken away and how do you react when the people you unknowingly love have different ideologies?
Read
February 23, 2018It is July 1945, Hitler's Third Reich has fallen, and Berlin is in ruins. Living on the edge of survival in the cellar of an abandoned hospital, Otto and his ragtag gang of kids have banded together in the desperate, bombed-out city.
The war may be over, but danger lurks in the shadows of the wreckage as Otto and his friends find themselves caught between invading armies, ruthless rival gangs and a strange Nazi war criminal who stalks them ...
The war may be over, but danger lurks in the shadows of the wreckage as Otto and his friends find themselves caught between invading armies, ruthless rival gangs and a strange Nazi war criminal who stalks them ...
Read
March 9, 2018Het is 1945 en Hitler is verslagen. Berlijn ligt in puin. Otto, 16 jaar , zijn jongere broertje Ulrich en Helene zorgen samen voor 4 andere kinderen. De meeste kinderen zijn wees of zijn de ouders uit het oog verloren. Ze schuilen in een kelder van een verlaten ziekenhuis en proberen te overleven , hun leven bestaat uit plunderen van winkels en verlaten huizen om iets eetbaars te vinden. Berlijn is overgenomen door de Amerikanen, de Britten en de Russen. Ze hopen op betere tijden en misschien wel op hun ouders. Ulrich vind de anderen echter landverraders en wil bij de Weerwolven, een strijdgroep van de Hitlerjugend. Ze worden in de gaten gehouden en weten niet wie er te vertrouwen is. Iedereen kan de vijand zijn …
Otto en Helene zijn de twee belangrijkste personen in het verhaal. Je leert ze kennen als zelfverzekerde kinderen, die graag willen helpen en niet al te bang zijn uitgevallen.
Ulrich is een tegendraads mannetje, hij is het nooit met de anderen eens en wil het liefst zijn eigen dingen doen op zijn manier. Je voelt een antipathie tegen hem .. waarom doet hij zo naar tegen zijn broer? Hij heeft een erg belangrijke rol in het geheel en wat mij betreft is hij de interessantste persoon qua ontwikkeling in het verhaal.
De andere personages worden minder goed uitgediept, waardoor je daar niet echt een band mee hebt. Behalve dan bij Ernst en dokter Holzmann , daar kan je je zeker wel in verplaatsen. Vooral Ernst.. wat een creep. Ik word echt bang van die man.
Het boek lees vlot , je maakt alles mee wat de kinderen ook meemaken. De schrijver is erg realistisch in de beschrijving van de omgeving .Ik geloof meteen dat het echt zo kan zijn gebeurd. Je hoopt iedere keer dat alles met de hoofpersonen goed blijft gaan, maar dat is niet altijd zo. Er zitten spannende verhaallijnen in, die het nog indrukwekkender en interessanter maken om door te lezen.
De opbouw naar het plot is erg spannend, je hebt het idee dat je weet wast er gaat gebeuren maar dan zit er een verrassende plotwending in die je echt niet ziet aankomen.
Ik geef het boek 4,5 sterren
Otto en Helene zijn de twee belangrijkste personen in het verhaal. Je leert ze kennen als zelfverzekerde kinderen, die graag willen helpen en niet al te bang zijn uitgevallen.
Ulrich is een tegendraads mannetje, hij is het nooit met de anderen eens en wil het liefst zijn eigen dingen doen op zijn manier. Je voelt een antipathie tegen hem .. waarom doet hij zo naar tegen zijn broer? Hij heeft een erg belangrijke rol in het geheel en wat mij betreft is hij de interessantste persoon qua ontwikkeling in het verhaal.
De andere personages worden minder goed uitgediept, waardoor je daar niet echt een band mee hebt. Behalve dan bij Ernst en dokter Holzmann , daar kan je je zeker wel in verplaatsen. Vooral Ernst.. wat een creep. Ik word echt bang van die man.
Het boek lees vlot , je maakt alles mee wat de kinderen ook meemaken. De schrijver is erg realistisch in de beschrijving van de omgeving .Ik geloof meteen dat het echt zo kan zijn gebeurd. Je hoopt iedere keer dat alles met de hoofpersonen goed blijft gaan, maar dat is niet altijd zo. Er zitten spannende verhaallijnen in, die het nog indrukwekkender en interessanter maken om door te lezen.
De opbouw naar het plot is erg spannend, je hebt het idee dat je weet wast er gaat gebeuren maar dan zit er een verrassende plotwending in die je echt niet ziet aankomen.
Ik geef het boek 4,5 sterren
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