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Blitzball: A Clone of Hitler Battles Nazi's in Sci-Fi Young Adult Novel
"The tone hits a range of notes between Suzanne Collins' 2010 book, Mockingjay, and Mel Brooks' 1967 film, The Producers." — Kirkus Reviews
Addie has a secret that even he doesn't know. That secret is his genome. He’s a clone of Hitler. They all know it and they are waiting. If he finds out, will he be able to stop it? Will he even want to stop it?
Maybe life is better when you're infamous.
In this darkly humorous, coming-of-age novel, Addie battles his genes, family, and upbringing in an attempt to fight racism and choose a different path. He does this while dealing with teenage obstacles, on and off the field. At Reichfield High, soccer is war and the battle is fought between Neo-Nazis and Mexicans.
A predominantly white Reichfield High has lost every game in the last few years to the North Prep, a school with mostly Mexican, Brazilian, and Filipino students. For the first game of the season, however, Addie and his teammates are confident that they will win—because they’ve personally made sure the lead player of the opposite team will be unable to play.
Addie and his supremacist and misogynistic friends are ill-prepared for what comes next, though. They are defeated by Shaylee, the best soccer player North Prep has ever seen—who also happens to be a girl. Granted an exception, Shaylee is allowed to compete in a team of all boys.
Unable to accept defeat, Addie is convinced that Shaylee must be using illegal methods to beat the Reichfield team. He sets out to expose her, but discovers instead that he has secrets of his own…
"In a book that highlights and takes a stand against fascism and racism, this story is quite relevant to society today where racism, fascism, totalitarianism and oppression can lurk under the surface." --Avery West, author
" In Farenheit 451, Ray Bradury wrote, “If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.” Addie's story is necessary to have an open dialogue about racism in order to combat racism. As George Orwell said in 1984, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” We must speak out against the racism of the past and present so that we prevent racism in the present and future." --Shira Potter, author of The Monster at Recess.
An intriguing blend of racial conflict, wry humor, and a winding plot make for an enjoyable read in Blitzball by Barton Ludwig, a narrative with a strong appeal for fans of soccer and coming of age." — Readers' Favorite
Addie has a secret that even he doesn't know. That secret is his genome. He’s a clone of Hitler. They all know it and they are waiting. If he finds out, will he be able to stop it? Will he even want to stop it?
Maybe life is better when you're infamous.
In this darkly humorous, coming-of-age novel, Addie battles his genes, family, and upbringing in an attempt to fight racism and choose a different path. He does this while dealing with teenage obstacles, on and off the field. At Reichfield High, soccer is war and the battle is fought between Neo-Nazis and Mexicans.
A predominantly white Reichfield High has lost every game in the last few years to the North Prep, a school with mostly Mexican, Brazilian, and Filipino students. For the first game of the season, however, Addie and his teammates are confident that they will win—because they’ve personally made sure the lead player of the opposite team will be unable to play.
Addie and his supremacist and misogynistic friends are ill-prepared for what comes next, though. They are defeated by Shaylee, the best soccer player North Prep has ever seen—who also happens to be a girl. Granted an exception, Shaylee is allowed to compete in a team of all boys.
Unable to accept defeat, Addie is convinced that Shaylee must be using illegal methods to beat the Reichfield team. He sets out to expose her, but discovers instead that he has secrets of his own…
"In a book that highlights and takes a stand against fascism and racism, this story is quite relevant to society today where racism, fascism, totalitarianism and oppression can lurk under the surface." --Avery West, author
" In Farenheit 451, Ray Bradury wrote, “If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.” Addie's story is necessary to have an open dialogue about racism in order to combat racism. As George Orwell said in 1984, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” We must speak out against the racism of the past and present so that we prevent racism in the present and future." --Shira Potter, author of The Monster at Recess.
An intriguing blend of racial conflict, wry humor, and a winding plot make for an enjoyable read in Blitzball by Barton Ludwig, a narrative with a strong appeal for fans of soccer and coming of age." — Readers' Favorite
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2018
25 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 30, 2019
I cannot take any more... Leaving this at DNF by 45%. I think I've given this enough of a shot to say it's not for me. I'm not sure what the author is looking to accomplish. There is almost a fantasy vs reality, the distant past vs the present. I'm slightly reminded of the rival gangs from The Outsiders. It is mostly ridiculous.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
August 6, 2018
🔴Review!!🔴
Thank you to @netgalley and @heartlabpress for this free advance readers copy of Blitzball in exchange for my honest review.
“They think they’re God. No, all they are are people who think they can control me but they can’t. I control me.”
•
This. Book. Is. Crazy. It’s crazy in a good way. The first paragraph drew me in. This is a coming of age story about an angry young man who is realizing things about his life that he never knew before. Is it him? Is it a conspiracy? That’s what he’s trying to find out.
•
He goes out of his comfort zone to work with people that he (thinks he) hates. He eventually learns to like and work together with these people and it changes his outlook on what he’s always known. The outside influences such has his classmates and his family essentially tear his emotions in two.
•
There are so many parallels between Reichfield and 1930s-40s Germany. I’ve always had an obsession with learning about WWII and German occupation of other lands. Little did I know how much of a parallel this book would have with that era.
•
There is so much anger in the book and it is portrayed in such an interesting way. I felt along with the characters; the rage, the sadness, the love. I highly recommend this book, however there are instances of death, thoughts of suicide, and sex.
•
The ending was just phenomenal. It blindsided me and I was intrigued until the very last word.
•
•
•
#bookstagram #bookreview #netgalley #blitzball #heartlabpress #bartonludwig #reading #bookish #booknerd #readingaddict #favorite #fivestars #kindle #scifi #fantasy #teen #youngadult #ya #ibpa
Thank you to @netgalley and @heartlabpress for this free advance readers copy of Blitzball in exchange for my honest review.
“They think they’re God. No, all they are are people who think they can control me but they can’t. I control me.”
•
This. Book. Is. Crazy. It’s crazy in a good way. The first paragraph drew me in. This is a coming of age story about an angry young man who is realizing things about his life that he never knew before. Is it him? Is it a conspiracy? That’s what he’s trying to find out.
•
He goes out of his comfort zone to work with people that he (thinks he) hates. He eventually learns to like and work together with these people and it changes his outlook on what he’s always known. The outside influences such has his classmates and his family essentially tear his emotions in two.
•
There are so many parallels between Reichfield and 1930s-40s Germany. I’ve always had an obsession with learning about WWII and German occupation of other lands. Little did I know how much of a parallel this book would have with that era.
•
There is so much anger in the book and it is portrayed in such an interesting way. I felt along with the characters; the rage, the sadness, the love. I highly recommend this book, however there are instances of death, thoughts of suicide, and sex.
•
The ending was just phenomenal. It blindsided me and I was intrigued until the very last word.
•
•
•
#bookstagram #bookreview #netgalley #blitzball #heartlabpress #bartonludwig #reading #bookish #booknerd #readingaddict #favorite #fivestars #kindle #scifi #fantasy #teen #youngadult #ya #ibpa
August 10, 2018
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Richfield High may be a mythical place in Barton Ludwig’s, Blitzball, but to the predominately white, Aryan residents of the town of Upper Richfield, the school and more importantly its soccer team is the focus of their pride, their hopes, and their dreams. Unfortunately, Upper Richfield’s Soccer team spearheaded by Addie and his motley collection of oddball team-mates is on a real losing streak. Their nemesis is the Lower Richfield, North Prep School, which is predominately populated by immigrants, a collection of Mexican, Brazilian and Filipino students. When Richfield High is beaten again, by North Prep and to add insult to injury, their team is led by a girl, Shaylee, Addie determines to discover what black magic this girl is using to always beat up on their beloved team. What Addie discovers when he delves into Lower Richfield will surprise and shock him, challenging all his preconceived notions of Aryan Supremacy and the purpose of his life.
Blitzball, I suspect, is intended as a comedic parody and in that it does perform extremely well. Author, Barton Ludwig, by ludicrously stretching our imaginations and challenging our prejudices, gives us a possible insight into our world today. Many of the situations and ingrained prejudices highlighted in this story have direct parallels with the rise of populism and nationalism that appears to be currently sweeping the Western world. I’m not 100% sure if that was the authors intent, but in many ways this story does smack us in the face and remind us that the veneer of western civilisation is indeed very thin and we don’t have to look far to see what evil can occur when “good men do nothing”. I found Ludwig’s writing style very suited to the nature of the material. It is potentially aimed at the Young Adult market and at its core it is a “coming of age” story that will resonate within the hearts of many of its readers who have also suffered the taunts, bullying, and unreasonable prejudices of their peers. I enjoyed the read, which did at times make me chuckle and can definitely recommend it as something outside the mainstream of young adult literature.
Richfield High may be a mythical place in Barton Ludwig’s, Blitzball, but to the predominately white, Aryan residents of the town of Upper Richfield, the school and more importantly its soccer team is the focus of their pride, their hopes, and their dreams. Unfortunately, Upper Richfield’s Soccer team spearheaded by Addie and his motley collection of oddball team-mates is on a real losing streak. Their nemesis is the Lower Richfield, North Prep School, which is predominately populated by immigrants, a collection of Mexican, Brazilian and Filipino students. When Richfield High is beaten again, by North Prep and to add insult to injury, their team is led by a girl, Shaylee, Addie determines to discover what black magic this girl is using to always beat up on their beloved team. What Addie discovers when he delves into Lower Richfield will surprise and shock him, challenging all his preconceived notions of Aryan Supremacy and the purpose of his life.
Blitzball, I suspect, is intended as a comedic parody and in that it does perform extremely well. Author, Barton Ludwig, by ludicrously stretching our imaginations and challenging our prejudices, gives us a possible insight into our world today. Many of the situations and ingrained prejudices highlighted in this story have direct parallels with the rise of populism and nationalism that appears to be currently sweeping the Western world. I’m not 100% sure if that was the authors intent, but in many ways this story does smack us in the face and remind us that the veneer of western civilisation is indeed very thin and we don’t have to look far to see what evil can occur when “good men do nothing”. I found Ludwig’s writing style very suited to the nature of the material. It is potentially aimed at the Young Adult market and at its core it is a “coming of age” story that will resonate within the hearts of many of its readers who have also suffered the taunts, bullying, and unreasonable prejudices of their peers. I enjoyed the read, which did at times make me chuckle and can definitely recommend it as something outside the mainstream of young adult literature.
August 16, 2018
Blitzball by Barton Ludwig is one of those books that stands out. Why it stands out is the character and the plot that keeps you reading to the last page.
Addie, cloned to be Hitler faces an insurmountable challenge, to become Hitler and be infamous or to choose good, if that's even possible for him.
It was a great mix of comedy as well as coming of age.
Having lived in England, I'm really into the wittiness of British comedy and this had that same type of wittiness.
Overall, a good book and would recommend as it has a very strong lead character and interesting plot.
Addie, cloned to be Hitler faces an insurmountable challenge, to become Hitler and be infamous or to choose good, if that's even possible for him.
It was a great mix of comedy as well as coming of age.
Having lived in England, I'm really into the wittiness of British comedy and this had that same type of wittiness.
Overall, a good book and would recommend as it has a very strong lead character and interesting plot.
August 14, 2018
Addie has lived a very sheltered, very comfortable, very white life. In school he studies subjects like German, and learns in science how the white man is superior to other races. For reasons like these and others it drives him to near insanity that Addie and his German-speaking soccer teammates Karl, Heinrich, and Jon—who goes by his surname “Mengela”—cannot overcome the Spanish and other “lowly” language speaking North Riechfield team. If this scenario sounds familiar it is because it is history being played out in the present day—Addie is a clone of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, and his hometown of Reichfield is a closed-door experiment to breed the next white supremacist world power leader.
The summary provided for this book struck my historical fiction interest, and from the minute I started reading it was difficult to put down. My knowledge of WWII history had me making connections between Hitler and Addie’s lives from the very beginning, ranging from some of the name similarities to how Addie sees and describes minorities, even non verbally, using animalistic character traits. His relationship with Shaylee was confusing at first, requiring some thought beyond the name game between Addie and Hitler’s stories. Overall, the book was phenomenal and I look forward to reading more that Barton Ludwig has to offer. My only criticism is that some of the literary tools are a bit difficult to follow, the most prominent being Addie’s thinking and speaking in German occasionally. I had to check translations from time to time, and some of the terms and phrases he uses are slang, making it that much more difficult for a non-German speaker such as myself to follow. Overall, a dynamite book that I look forward to seeing on shelves and suggesting to my friends.
The summary provided for this book struck my historical fiction interest, and from the minute I started reading it was difficult to put down. My knowledge of WWII history had me making connections between Hitler and Addie’s lives from the very beginning, ranging from some of the name similarities to how Addie sees and describes minorities, even non verbally, using animalistic character traits. His relationship with Shaylee was confusing at first, requiring some thought beyond the name game between Addie and Hitler’s stories. Overall, the book was phenomenal and I look forward to reading more that Barton Ludwig has to offer. My only criticism is that some of the literary tools are a bit difficult to follow, the most prominent being Addie’s thinking and speaking in German occasionally. I had to check translations from time to time, and some of the terms and phrases he uses are slang, making it that much more difficult for a non-German speaker such as myself to follow. Overall, a dynamite book that I look forward to seeing on shelves and suggesting to my friends.
September 25, 2018
As a reader of mystery and YA, I thought this was a very good read that I couldn't put down.
What hooked me was the mystery surrounding it all as well as Addie and his witty remarks. I liked the irony, that the reader knows what is going on but Addie doesn't. Very much liked this book and would like to read more by this author.
What hooked me was the mystery surrounding it all as well as Addie and his witty remarks. I liked the irony, that the reader knows what is going on but Addie doesn't. Very much liked this book and would like to read more by this author.
September 25, 2018
This book is very appropriate for the time we live in with the political situation especially. A clone of Hitler who has so much to go up against. A great book, a really great book.
Agree that if you liked the truman show, you'll like this book.
Recommended.
Agree that if you liked the truman show, you'll like this book.
Recommended.
September 25, 2018
I received this ARC and decided to write a review as I enjoyed it.
What was great about it: the story, the character of Addie (surprisingly likable), the humor
What I wanted to see more of: It pretty much was a great read, I wouldn't add anything or take anything away. I would have liked it to be a bit longer even as was surprised when I finished it so quickly. Would have liked to have longer with the characters as experiencing the mind of Addie was quite enjoyable.
What was great about it: the story, the character of Addie (surprisingly likable), the humor
What I wanted to see more of: It pretty much was a great read, I wouldn't add anything or take anything away. I would have liked it to be a bit longer even as was surprised when I finished it so quickly. Would have liked to have longer with the characters as experiencing the mind of Addie was quite enjoyable.
September 30, 2018
I loved the concept of this novel, it's such a scary idea that you're a clone of someone and I really think this took that concept and perfected it. It was a really good read, and the characters were really well done.
November 23, 2018
I have never read anything quite like this book. I kept stopping to read parts to my husband, which drove him crazy. I’m not even sure how to review it, it’s one of those you will love and read in one sitting (me) or not finish.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
October 24, 2018
Advanced reader copy provided by Heartlab Press in exchange for an honest review
I had a professor who told me that history does not repeat itself but it is we who repeat history. Blitzball is a coming of age story on how our past does not have to define us and how we are the masters of our own fate.
I read this book in just two days and I have to say, this is one of the strangest coming of age stories I have ever read and I love it. The concept in itself is already insane yet it's worth venturing into. At first, I was quite doubtful especially considering the fact the book is told in the perspective of a teenage boy growing up in a facist and racist environment yet this was actually the reason why I was so hooked into the book. Addie's perspective is humorous and at times, chilling. The conflict in him regarding drawing himself away from the identity he was given and from the people he grew up with or choosing to remain with them is quite relatable in a way and the added sci-fi twist to it makes it such a unique book that I'm still not over it.
It wasn't just Addie's growth that kept me reading but I really liked the parallelisms of Reichfield and 1930s-40s Germany. This book was just really well thought of from the characters and Addie's life to the events happening in the story. The narration, once again, puts the reader not only into a state of disturbance (which I believe to be quite important as the book sheds light on the mindset of white supremacy) but also into a state of shock and bewilderment as the plot unfolds and starts to connect. Here we watch Addie grow up and learn things that are new to him and there are times where his commentary is just utterly disturbing but amusing at the same time.
The book however could improve on developing the other characters. I would have liked to see more development on the citizens of Lower Reichfield, especially on Shaylee. It's stated that she's Filipino and Mexican and as a Filipino, I really couldn't identify with her since I could barely find my culture in her. The word "Filipino" is mentioned throughout the story yet I couldn't even feel my culture at all.
Overall, this book is an enlightening read and an ingenious coming-of-age story that doesn't just focus on becoming an independent person but also gives us a haunting perspective on the white supremacy that could still be seen to this day.
I had a professor who told me that history does not repeat itself but it is we who repeat history. Blitzball is a coming of age story on how our past does not have to define us and how we are the masters of our own fate.
I read this book in just two days and I have to say, this is one of the strangest coming of age stories I have ever read and I love it. The concept in itself is already insane yet it's worth venturing into. At first, I was quite doubtful especially considering the fact the book is told in the perspective of a teenage boy growing up in a facist and racist environment yet this was actually the reason why I was so hooked into the book. Addie's perspective is humorous and at times, chilling. The conflict in him regarding drawing himself away from the identity he was given and from the people he grew up with or choosing to remain with them is quite relatable in a way and the added sci-fi twist to it makes it such a unique book that I'm still not over it.
It wasn't just Addie's growth that kept me reading but I really liked the parallelisms of Reichfield and 1930s-40s Germany. This book was just really well thought of from the characters and Addie's life to the events happening in the story. The narration, once again, puts the reader not only into a state of disturbance (which I believe to be quite important as the book sheds light on the mindset of white supremacy) but also into a state of shock and bewilderment as the plot unfolds and starts to connect. Here we watch Addie grow up and learn things that are new to him and there are times where his commentary is just utterly disturbing but amusing at the same time.
The book however could improve on developing the other characters. I would have liked to see more development on the citizens of Lower Reichfield, especially on Shaylee. It's stated that she's Filipino and Mexican and as a Filipino, I really couldn't identify with her since I could barely find my culture in her. The word "Filipino" is mentioned throughout the story yet I couldn't even feel my culture at all.
Overall, this book is an enlightening read and an ingenious coming-of-age story that doesn't just focus on becoming an independent person but also gives us a haunting perspective on the white supremacy that could still be seen to this day.
November 12, 2018
Blog Post: https://museofnyxmares.wordpress.com/...
2.5/5 Stars
Well this book definitely was an experience, a confusing and sometimes unpleasant one, but an experience nonetheless. I really struggled with this book to begin with because the main character is not likeable at all, he’s downright insufferable. He’s whiney, racist, selflish, manipulative and just generally unpleasant. But I was intrigued enough by the premise of this book to continue. I was only able to look past all of the racist remarks, because I knew that there’d probably be some in the book beforehand, soon as it’s to do with Hitler, and because I wanted to see if these views would be changed or challenged in anyway as the book progressed. I don’t blame people if they couldn’t continue reading this though because it was a bit much. And it’s not just racism, this guy seriously has a thing for going after people’s appearances, I’m going to include some quotes just so people are prepared. “I don’t hate her because she’s a woman. I hate her because she has chin hair that she refuses to pluck”, “Heinrich runs with the ball. What are you doing, you globby fat goat”. These comments are bad, but the racist remarks are worse and sometimes are plain nonsensical “I look in the mirror. Oh my gosh, I’m black?” Hanging out with the lowlies is turning me into a negro. There’s a giant freckle on my face and it wasn’t there before. It just appeared. I’ve been marked.” This was so stupid that I can’t even be mad at how racist it is, I’m just disappointed that such offensive words such as “negro” need to be included in modern day works to display a character’s racism.
Addie was just a very bad person, probably because he’s a Hitler clone, but still! There’s parts in the book where he considers drugging girls in order to get his first time over with and the racism that comes into play with this is disgusting “It grossed me out to think that my first sexual experience will be with a lowly…with shaylee unconscious, I’d be able to explore the female form without scrutiny…it’s like an experiment. Experiments are first done on rats and then on people”. I understand where the author was going with this whole Hitler influence thing, but this line in particular just didn’t sit right with me. I’d hate for younger and more impressionable readers to be presented with this type of behaviour, now, there is some regret and a change of heart by Addie about his views “suddenly, disgust overtakes me when I think about how much a monster I was for even contemplating durgging her…how could I have reduced her to nothing?” But I still think this idea shouldn’t of even been included to be honest. It made for very uncomfortable reading and there were many times when I had to stop and question did he actually just think/say that. Addie does undergo some gradual change as he is forced to spend time with the POC and he starts unraveling the mysteries that surround his identity, and at times I did find him funny, but most of the time I didn’t enjoy his character.
It was weird because sometimes I found myself enjoying this, because without the racism and Hitler thing, it could of just been about an awkward boy navigating school life. The writing (again overlooking the racism) was easy to get into and I sped through this book, finishing it in one day. In regards to the whole clone of Hitler situation, this didn’t work for me at all, we didn’t really get an explanation as to why it happened and what it actually meant for Addie, other than a vague idea of them wanting him to become, well Hitler, in the future. This aspect kind of got lost in the whole ‘I’m extremely racist and selfish, because I’m Hitler’s clone thing’ and actual details about the experiment were sparse and felt random when they did pop up. The ending chapters were so confusing to me, I had no idea what was going on and still don’t fully understand how and why Addie was made a clone of Hitler and just how much of his life was an illusion. Despite finding Addie funny at times, which I still feel guilty about, this book failed to meet my expectations and this, paired with the expected – but still shocking racism, lacking plot and unlikeable main character means I wouldn’t recommend this.
2.5/5 Stars
Well this book definitely was an experience, a confusing and sometimes unpleasant one, but an experience nonetheless. I really struggled with this book to begin with because the main character is not likeable at all, he’s downright insufferable. He’s whiney, racist, selflish, manipulative and just generally unpleasant. But I was intrigued enough by the premise of this book to continue. I was only able to look past all of the racist remarks, because I knew that there’d probably be some in the book beforehand, soon as it’s to do with Hitler, and because I wanted to see if these views would be changed or challenged in anyway as the book progressed. I don’t blame people if they couldn’t continue reading this though because it was a bit much. And it’s not just racism, this guy seriously has a thing for going after people’s appearances, I’m going to include some quotes just so people are prepared. “I don’t hate her because she’s a woman. I hate her because she has chin hair that she refuses to pluck”, “Heinrich runs with the ball. What are you doing, you globby fat goat”. These comments are bad, but the racist remarks are worse and sometimes are plain nonsensical “I look in the mirror. Oh my gosh, I’m black?” Hanging out with the lowlies is turning me into a negro. There’s a giant freckle on my face and it wasn’t there before. It just appeared. I’ve been marked.” This was so stupid that I can’t even be mad at how racist it is, I’m just disappointed that such offensive words such as “negro” need to be included in modern day works to display a character’s racism.
Addie was just a very bad person, probably because he’s a Hitler clone, but still! There’s parts in the book where he considers drugging girls in order to get his first time over with and the racism that comes into play with this is disgusting “It grossed me out to think that my first sexual experience will be with a lowly…with shaylee unconscious, I’d be able to explore the female form without scrutiny…it’s like an experiment. Experiments are first done on rats and then on people”. I understand where the author was going with this whole Hitler influence thing, but this line in particular just didn’t sit right with me. I’d hate for younger and more impressionable readers to be presented with this type of behaviour, now, there is some regret and a change of heart by Addie about his views “suddenly, disgust overtakes me when I think about how much a monster I was for even contemplating durgging her…how could I have reduced her to nothing?” But I still think this idea shouldn’t of even been included to be honest. It made for very uncomfortable reading and there were many times when I had to stop and question did he actually just think/say that. Addie does undergo some gradual change as he is forced to spend time with the POC and he starts unraveling the mysteries that surround his identity, and at times I did find him funny, but most of the time I didn’t enjoy his character.
It was weird because sometimes I found myself enjoying this, because without the racism and Hitler thing, it could of just been about an awkward boy navigating school life. The writing (again overlooking the racism) was easy to get into and I sped through this book, finishing it in one day. In regards to the whole clone of Hitler situation, this didn’t work for me at all, we didn’t really get an explanation as to why it happened and what it actually meant for Addie, other than a vague idea of them wanting him to become, well Hitler, in the future. This aspect kind of got lost in the whole ‘I’m extremely racist and selfish, because I’m Hitler’s clone thing’ and actual details about the experiment were sparse and felt random when they did pop up. The ending chapters were so confusing to me, I had no idea what was going on and still don’t fully understand how and why Addie was made a clone of Hitler and just how much of his life was an illusion. Despite finding Addie funny at times, which I still feel guilty about, this book failed to meet my expectations and this, paired with the expected – but still shocking racism, lacking plot and unlikeable main character means I wouldn’t recommend this.
September 6, 2018
Going by the synopsis, Blitzball seems to be a straightforward modern Sci-Fi story about cloning and metamanipulation. Our main character, Addie, finds out he is the clone of the leader of the National Socialist movement of 1930-40 Germany, Adolf Hitler (hence the nickname Addie). The twist to the story, however, is that Addie and his friends are high school soccer players at Reichfield High, and they are repeatedly beaten by their North Prep rivals; when they grow tired of the humiliation, they-of course-decide to cheat by poisoning the North Prep star player.
This could have been an amazing story. I pictured from the description: “An adolescent student grows up in a racist, megalomaniacal culture and is brainwashed to believe the “Aryans" are superior. He finds out through working with his rivals that he is actually a clone of Hitler and his whole life has been manufactured as an experiment to recreate all of Hitler’s experiences. Of course, the master manipulators do not anticipate that their Truman Show-style life script will fail. Addie finds out that he’s a clone and everyone around him has been strategically placed to recreate a Hitler in the United States so they can take over the world again.”
What I got was woefully short of the goal to which the description aspired. The narrative was, to borrow the perfect word from another reviewer, disjointed. The transition between the events of the plot were nonsensical, and the content of the novel as a whole was incredibly mature, if not vulgar and obscene, for young adult readers. The characters use the worst profanity and most hideous racial slurs regularly, even when thinking (the North Prep students are all non-white and called “lowlies”-and that’s the best word used). The plot teeters on the edge of Young Adult as far as the age of the characters; but the novel just brims with graphic sexual content, very graphic language, and violence that I think would garner an “R” rating at best in a movie.
This could have been an amazing story. I pictured from the description: “An adolescent student grows up in a racist, megalomaniacal culture and is brainwashed to believe the “Aryans" are superior. He finds out through working with his rivals that he is actually a clone of Hitler and his whole life has been manufactured as an experiment to recreate all of Hitler’s experiences. Of course, the master manipulators do not anticipate that their Truman Show-style life script will fail. Addie finds out that he’s a clone and everyone around him has been strategically placed to recreate a Hitler in the United States so they can take over the world again.”
What I got was woefully short of the goal to which the description aspired. The narrative was, to borrow the perfect word from another reviewer, disjointed. The transition between the events of the plot were nonsensical, and the content of the novel as a whole was incredibly mature, if not vulgar and obscene, for young adult readers. The characters use the worst profanity and most hideous racial slurs regularly, even when thinking (the North Prep students are all non-white and called “lowlies”-and that’s the best word used). The plot teeters on the edge of Young Adult as far as the age of the characters; but the novel just brims with graphic sexual content, very graphic language, and violence that I think would garner an “R” rating at best in a movie.
February 7, 2023
E-arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is confused. It’s confused about what it wants to be, whether it wants to be sci fi with a twist of realism, or reality with a mere flash of sci fi. Those two might sound like the same thing but they’re not.
If it was going to be sci fi with a twist of realism it would have the main character, Addie discovering his identity earlier in the book and would continue the narrative to a surprising conclusion, given Addie’s “real” identity as a clone.
If it was going to be realism with a twist of sci fi, Addie would discover his identity much later and would either rebel against it and buck against the system that created him.
However this book seems to do neither. It just putters along in fits and spurts with clunky scene changes and chapters that seem to have been edited to within an inch of their existence and other chapters that seem not to have seen the merest hit of editing finesse.
The setting is confusing (which may be intentional) with the reader unsure of what year it is, what technology is available and very little consistency between slang that is used by various characters. At some points it has a very 1950’s feel to it and at others it seems thoroughly modern with cell phones featuring prominently as a way for our main characters to communicate.
The sub plot with the counterfeit paintings seems unnecessary and out of place and altogether confusing.
Addie’s racist attitudes are disturbing but unsurprising given who he is a clone of but his attitude toward women and losing his virginity is downright disgusting. At one point he asks his friend to get some Rohypnol for him so that he can drug one of the other MC’s in order to rape her so that he can lose his virginity without worrying what the girl will think of his sexual prowess.
This subplot is deeply uncomfortable, disturbing and frankly dangerous in a book that is seemingly directed towards the YA market given the age of the characters and the tone of the writing. In essence this book is confused and confusing to read. I would like to read other books by the author in order to see if this is their preferred writing style or just a quirk of this book.
2/5 stars
This book is confused. It’s confused about what it wants to be, whether it wants to be sci fi with a twist of realism, or reality with a mere flash of sci fi. Those two might sound like the same thing but they’re not.
If it was going to be sci fi with a twist of realism it would have the main character, Addie discovering his identity earlier in the book and would continue the narrative to a surprising conclusion, given Addie’s “real” identity as a clone.
If it was going to be realism with a twist of sci fi, Addie would discover his identity much later and would either rebel against it and buck against the system that created him.
However this book seems to do neither. It just putters along in fits and spurts with clunky scene changes and chapters that seem to have been edited to within an inch of their existence and other chapters that seem not to have seen the merest hit of editing finesse.
The setting is confusing (which may be intentional) with the reader unsure of what year it is, what technology is available and very little consistency between slang that is used by various characters. At some points it has a very 1950’s feel to it and at others it seems thoroughly modern with cell phones featuring prominently as a way for our main characters to communicate.
The sub plot with the counterfeit paintings seems unnecessary and out of place and altogether confusing.
Addie’s racist attitudes are disturbing but unsurprising given who he is a clone of but his attitude toward women and losing his virginity is downright disgusting. At one point he asks his friend to get some Rohypnol for him so that he can drug one of the other MC’s in order to rape her so that he can lose his virginity without worrying what the girl will think of his sexual prowess.
This subplot is deeply uncomfortable, disturbing and frankly dangerous in a book that is seemingly directed towards the YA market given the age of the characters and the tone of the writing. In essence this book is confused and confusing to read. I would like to read other books by the author in order to see if this is their preferred writing style or just a quirk of this book.
2/5 stars
September 23, 2018
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise sounded so interesting and I was invested in reading this, but I got to 24% and I just couldn't read more, I didn't connect to the characters, I got lost so many times, I felt like it was just weird.
I'm not saying this is a bad book, but it just wasn't for me, a lot of other people really liked this, I'm sad I didn't. I went to read some reviews to see what I could expect for the rest of the book and see if I should continue, and from what I read it won't be something that interests me. So I DNFed at 24%...
The premise sounded so interesting and I was invested in reading this, but I got to 24% and I just couldn't read more, I didn't connect to the characters, I got lost so many times, I felt like it was just weird.
I'm not saying this is a bad book, but it just wasn't for me, a lot of other people really liked this, I'm sad I didn't. I went to read some reviews to see what I could expect for the rest of the book and see if I should continue, and from what I read it won't be something that interests me. So I DNFed at 24%...
December 19, 2018
This book is kind of like, "The Boys From Brazil," told from the point of view of the teenage Adolf Hitler clone. It also answers the question, "What if Hitler had been admitted to art school?"
The story opens in an isolated town in Pennsylvania named Reichfield, which literally means "rich field." I assume the people living there came from Germany, but nothing about that is ever mentioned; however, German is interspersed throughout the dialogue. The whole town is centered around the high school soccer team even though it is a consistent loser. Addie (I wonder if he ever questioned his name) is on the team and hates the coach (also his art teacher). He thinks he can strategize much better. Hmm...
They are beaten by a team from Lower Reichfield, whose star player is a girl, Shaylee. Addie can't believe this girl is so good, so he beats up the mascot, takes his costume, and gets on the bus heading back to Lower Reichfield, which is described by him as a very poor area, a ghetto perhaps, and they call the people from there "lowlies." These people are Hispanic, African-American, Asian, etc. In other words, they are ethnically diverse, as opposed to Upper Reichfield (they like to call themselves Aryans).
He follows them, gets caught, and while they are distracted, he finishes a painting that is in the room. When Shaylee returns, she is blown away by how good it is. Addie is very happy because no one ever reinforces his artistic talent in Upper Reichsfield. It turns out Shaylee and a guy are forging famous paintings for profit, and Addie becomes their new star painter.
As we go on from there, it turns out that Addie starts to like the people he's hanging out with in Lower Reichfeld, especially Shaylee, and he really loves going there to paint every day, which no one from the Upper area knows about. It is never explained, but Addie and the others must have been completely isolated and fed propaganda their entire lives because Addie knows nothing of the real world. Shaylee tells him about Hitler and WWII, but Addie laughs and tells her there was only one World War. She is shocked by his lack of knowledge and shows him Wikipedia on her cell phone--and there it is--Hitler and World War II. Addie is confused.
He really doesn't start to take it seriously for a while because he is more focused on his desire for Shaylee, which goes against everything he has ever been taught. There is a girl from his own school that likes him. Her name is Ava Brown. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it? She goes after him with everything she has, but he really isn't interested. He just uses her for sexual gratification (not sex).
As time passes, Addie's soccer team finally beats Lower Reichfield, mainly because he steps up and becomes a star, most likely to prove his manhood to Shaylee. It seems like these two schools only play each other, which is strange, but no other school is ever mentioned. It seems to be set up so that Lower Reichfield beats Upper Reichfield all the time so that "Addie" is conditioned to hate them--them and their diversity (not being white), but Addie throws a wrench into the plans by falling for Shaylee and starting to win on the soccer field.
Shaylee tells him she thinks he is a clone of Hitler. He thinks she's crazy, but there are a lot of uncanny coincidences he can't deny. As the story progresses, things get more violent leading to an ending I didn't see coming.
Very little of the back story is made available, but I imagine Addie and his friends were raised in a type of American-clone city--the way the Soviets used to prepare spies to be infiltrated into America, although Addie sees a picture of his friend's family along the Danube. Were the other people allowed to travel, while Addie stayed in his fake city. The reason I wonder is because, although German phrases are used throughout the book, nothing is ever mentioned about anyone having a German accent. It seems the people of Upper Reichfield know their roles and believe in their cause.
Hitler excelled in WWI, which propelled him toward Nazism and becoming the leader of Germany. Is Addie's WWI supposed to be the soccer field? And then what? They moved to Pennsylvania. Did they have plans to take over? You can see parallels between the haves and the have-nots of both Reichfield and America today. That is quite chilling.
We never know the story of the people behind this, how and why they did this, and what their ultimate goal is. We can guess and maybe that's what the author wants us to do. Who can have so much power to put an operation like this together? Who has the technology? Who has the vision? Does a situation like that of Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s exist somewhere today? Germany was treated very badly in the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI. That caused resentment and it turned inward as it built its military and industrial capacities. Hitler took advantage of that resentment and turned the German people against other ethnicities in their country, blaming them for Germany's problems. And we all know what came after that.
I can see a parallel that is quite frightening.
There is definitely an opportunity for a prequel to answer all the questions this book leaves open? Does it need to be written? No. Would it be nice to know the whole story? Yes.
I definitely recommend this book, as much for what's not in it as for what is. It makes you think. It makes you afraid. It makes you consider possibilities you'd rather not acknowledge. That's a good book.
The story opens in an isolated town in Pennsylvania named Reichfield, which literally means "rich field." I assume the people living there came from Germany, but nothing about that is ever mentioned; however, German is interspersed throughout the dialogue. The whole town is centered around the high school soccer team even though it is a consistent loser. Addie (I wonder if he ever questioned his name) is on the team and hates the coach (also his art teacher). He thinks he can strategize much better. Hmm...
They are beaten by a team from Lower Reichfield, whose star player is a girl, Shaylee. Addie can't believe this girl is so good, so he beats up the mascot, takes his costume, and gets on the bus heading back to Lower Reichfield, which is described by him as a very poor area, a ghetto perhaps, and they call the people from there "lowlies." These people are Hispanic, African-American, Asian, etc. In other words, they are ethnically diverse, as opposed to Upper Reichfield (they like to call themselves Aryans).
He follows them, gets caught, and while they are distracted, he finishes a painting that is in the room. When Shaylee returns, she is blown away by how good it is. Addie is very happy because no one ever reinforces his artistic talent in Upper Reichsfield. It turns out Shaylee and a guy are forging famous paintings for profit, and Addie becomes their new star painter.
As we go on from there, it turns out that Addie starts to like the people he's hanging out with in Lower Reichfeld, especially Shaylee, and he really loves going there to paint every day, which no one from the Upper area knows about. It is never explained, but Addie and the others must have been completely isolated and fed propaganda their entire lives because Addie knows nothing of the real world. Shaylee tells him about Hitler and WWII, but Addie laughs and tells her there was only one World War. She is shocked by his lack of knowledge and shows him Wikipedia on her cell phone--and there it is--Hitler and World War II. Addie is confused.
He really doesn't start to take it seriously for a while because he is more focused on his desire for Shaylee, which goes against everything he has ever been taught. There is a girl from his own school that likes him. Her name is Ava Brown. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it? She goes after him with everything she has, but he really isn't interested. He just uses her for sexual gratification (not sex).
As time passes, Addie's soccer team finally beats Lower Reichfield, mainly because he steps up and becomes a star, most likely to prove his manhood to Shaylee. It seems like these two schools only play each other, which is strange, but no other school is ever mentioned. It seems to be set up so that Lower Reichfield beats Upper Reichfield all the time so that "Addie" is conditioned to hate them--them and their diversity (not being white), but Addie throws a wrench into the plans by falling for Shaylee and starting to win on the soccer field.
Shaylee tells him she thinks he is a clone of Hitler. He thinks she's crazy, but there are a lot of uncanny coincidences he can't deny. As the story progresses, things get more violent leading to an ending I didn't see coming.
Very little of the back story is made available, but I imagine Addie and his friends were raised in a type of American-clone city--the way the Soviets used to prepare spies to be infiltrated into America, although Addie sees a picture of his friend's family along the Danube. Were the other people allowed to travel, while Addie stayed in his fake city. The reason I wonder is because, although German phrases are used throughout the book, nothing is ever mentioned about anyone having a German accent. It seems the people of Upper Reichfield know their roles and believe in their cause.
Hitler excelled in WWI, which propelled him toward Nazism and becoming the leader of Germany. Is Addie's WWI supposed to be the soccer field? And then what? They moved to Pennsylvania. Did they have plans to take over? You can see parallels between the haves and the have-nots of both Reichfield and America today. That is quite chilling.
We never know the story of the people behind this, how and why they did this, and what their ultimate goal is. We can guess and maybe that's what the author wants us to do. Who can have so much power to put an operation like this together? Who has the technology? Who has the vision? Does a situation like that of Germany in the 1920s and early 1930s exist somewhere today? Germany was treated very badly in the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI. That caused resentment and it turned inward as it built its military and industrial capacities. Hitler took advantage of that resentment and turned the German people against other ethnicities in their country, blaming them for Germany's problems. And we all know what came after that.
I can see a parallel that is quite frightening.
There is definitely an opportunity for a prequel to answer all the questions this book leaves open? Does it need to be written? No. Would it be nice to know the whole story? Yes.
I definitely recommend this book, as much for what's not in it as for what is. It makes you think. It makes you afraid. It makes you consider possibilities you'd rather not acknowledge. That's a good book.
October 21, 2018
Blitzball by Barton Ludwig was an interesting book. There were parts that I really liked about this book, and parts that I liked a little less. Overall, I thought the book was good.
The story was about "Addie," a soccer player for Reichfield High, located in this off the grid country somewhere in North America. Reichfield High is a school consisting entirely of "Aryans," with the exception of one Jew. Every week, his soccer team plays the team from one town over, which consists of players that are primarily non-white. After Addie and his friend Thomas debilitate the star player of their team, a girl, Shaylee, takes their place, and Addie's life changes. He comes to realize that things might not be exactly as they seem, and he might not be exactly who he thought he was. Can he defy genetics?
I really liked "Addie" the character who was a genetic clone of Adolf Hitler. Not in an "I'd love for him to come to my house and hang out" kind of way (he is a Nazi, after all), but because he is well-written. He is one of those "ugh, what a horrible person he is" types. However, he sees tremendous growth throughout the story. While I don't think he quite gets over his Nazi-like attitude before the end of the story, he's headed in the right direction.
I thought the concept was really interesting. It reminded me a little bit about the movie "Er ist Wieder da," which is a movie where Adolf Hitler suddenly appears in a park and this photographer finds him. This book is a little different in that the town Addie grows up in seems to be specifically built into recreating the life of Adolf Hitler in modern times.
There were a few things that I liked a little less about this book. The ending seemed a little over-the-top. Plus there were quite a few unanswered questions that came with this book. Who was setting up this Truman-show type scenario in the first place? Why? I thought that the epilogue seemed fitting, but the climax of the book before that was a little bit too much, I thought.
While it didn't bother me (as I'm a German speaker) there is a LOT of German in this book (mostly swear words). Some people might find it a little distracting. It isn't always translated (even some of the words that aren't swear words). Because I speak German, I can't really say how much this might bother people, but it might make it difficult for some readers.
One content note: this is not a book for younger YA readers. There are some situations in this book that aren't quite appropriate for younger teens, and younger readers might not have the maturity to realize that some of the attitudes in this book are supposed to be seen in a negative light. It could be confusing to some.
So while overall I did like this book, there were parts that I didn't like quite as much that brought down my enjoyment of the book a little.
The story was about "Addie," a soccer player for Reichfield High, located in this off the grid country somewhere in North America. Reichfield High is a school consisting entirely of "Aryans," with the exception of one Jew. Every week, his soccer team plays the team from one town over, which consists of players that are primarily non-white. After Addie and his friend Thomas debilitate the star player of their team, a girl, Shaylee, takes their place, and Addie's life changes. He comes to realize that things might not be exactly as they seem, and he might not be exactly who he thought he was. Can he defy genetics?
I really liked "Addie" the character who was a genetic clone of Adolf Hitler. Not in an "I'd love for him to come to my house and hang out" kind of way (he is a Nazi, after all), but because he is well-written. He is one of those "ugh, what a horrible person he is" types. However, he sees tremendous growth throughout the story. While I don't think he quite gets over his Nazi-like attitude before the end of the story, he's headed in the right direction.
I thought the concept was really interesting. It reminded me a little bit about the movie "Er ist Wieder da," which is a movie where Adolf Hitler suddenly appears in a park and this photographer finds him. This book is a little different in that the town Addie grows up in seems to be specifically built into recreating the life of Adolf Hitler in modern times.
There were a few things that I liked a little less about this book. The ending seemed a little over-the-top. Plus there were quite a few unanswered questions that came with this book. Who was setting up this Truman-show type scenario in the first place? Why? I thought that the epilogue seemed fitting, but the climax of the book before that was a little bit too much, I thought.
While it didn't bother me (as I'm a German speaker) there is a LOT of German in this book (mostly swear words). Some people might find it a little distracting. It isn't always translated (even some of the words that aren't swear words). Because I speak German, I can't really say how much this might bother people, but it might make it difficult for some readers.
One content note: this is not a book for younger YA readers. There are some situations in this book that aren't quite appropriate for younger teens, and younger readers might not have the maturity to realize that some of the attitudes in this book are supposed to be seen in a negative light. It could be confusing to some.
So while overall I did like this book, there were parts that I didn't like quite as much that brought down my enjoyment of the book a little.
October 19, 2018
Thank you Netgalley for this Young Adult coming-of-age by Barton Ludwig.
There is a plethora of things I enjoyed about this novel. Of these include:
The character of Addie
The fact it reminded me of successful movies such as the Truman Show, Brick
It had a dystopian feel although it wasn't dystopian if that makes sense
the alienation
the male protagonist who stands up to the nazi's arround him and despite being surrounded by nazis and rpists, he thinks for himself.
What could have been improved
I really would have liked to hear more of Shaylee's backstory. I'd like to know more about how she became so good at soccer. It goes into that a bit with telling of her playing with her cousin on the street in a town in South America.
Also, she's part filipino and part Mexican, I'd would have liked to hear more about her cultural background but it is great to have a south american and asian protagonist and she's a strong protagonist as is Addie.
Its great when a story has one strong protagonist but this didn't just have one it had two. Not only that but the antagonist and antagonistic forces were strong which created a lot of suspense.
Would I recommend this book to people who are looking for dark humor with a backdrop of soccer? YES
I enjoyed this novel and I finished it very quickly. It read like a script to me and for that reason with this generation of ADD, I'd really recommend this novel.
There is a plethora of things I enjoyed about this novel. Of these include:
The character of Addie
The fact it reminded me of successful movies such as the Truman Show, Brick
It had a dystopian feel although it wasn't dystopian if that makes sense
the alienation
the male protagonist who stands up to the nazi's arround him and despite being surrounded by nazis and rpists, he thinks for himself.
What could have been improved
I really would have liked to hear more of Shaylee's backstory. I'd like to know more about how she became so good at soccer. It goes into that a bit with telling of her playing with her cousin on the street in a town in South America.
Also, she's part filipino and part Mexican, I'd would have liked to hear more about her cultural background but it is great to have a south american and asian protagonist and she's a strong protagonist as is Addie.
Its great when a story has one strong protagonist but this didn't just have one it had two. Not only that but the antagonist and antagonistic forces were strong which created a lot of suspense.
Would I recommend this book to people who are looking for dark humor with a backdrop of soccer? YES
I enjoyed this novel and I finished it very quickly. It read like a script to me and for that reason with this generation of ADD, I'd really recommend this novel.
October 9, 2018
Bitzball by Barton Ludwig is just what the world needs right now with fascism being ever so prevalent under the seems of modern society, as if screaming to get out. Germany was a civilized place before the Nazi's came to power. It was a western country. People didn't understand that it would head to fascism, neither did the Jews. They were so comfortable in Germany and did extremely well in the theater and all areas of society.
The reason we need a book like this is because people don't become slaves overnight. It's a process. People also don't become fascists overnight. It's a process. It's the small drops that lead up to fascism.
Addie doesn't know he's Hitler and neither does the reader until weird occurrences happen around him. Yes, he talks like you'd expect Hitler to talk but in the process of the book, he grows and decides to think for himself, rather than digest the racist lies that the neo-nazi's around him feed him.
This is an inspiring and important message: Just because you are surrounded by racists and corrupt people, doesn't mean you have to be one. If a clone of Hitler can question racism and choose a non racist life (don't want to give away the ending), so too could humanity even in the most dire of circumstances.
This is a great read. As a former journalist, we need more books like this especially with the current political times.
The reason we need a book like this is because people don't become slaves overnight. It's a process. People also don't become fascists overnight. It's a process. It's the small drops that lead up to fascism.
Addie doesn't know he's Hitler and neither does the reader until weird occurrences happen around him. Yes, he talks like you'd expect Hitler to talk but in the process of the book, he grows and decides to think for himself, rather than digest the racist lies that the neo-nazi's around him feed him.
This is an inspiring and important message: Just because you are surrounded by racists and corrupt people, doesn't mean you have to be one. If a clone of Hitler can question racism and choose a non racist life (don't want to give away the ending), so too could humanity even in the most dire of circumstances.
This is a great read. As a former journalist, we need more books like this especially with the current political times.
October 9, 2018
Racism is everywhere, even under the seams. Sometimes people can be racist even if they don't realize they hold racist beliefs. This book has a strong anti-racist sentiment which is what is needed now with the racism that is often encountered at colleges and school settings.
The plot of this novel is entertaining and kept me reading. I finished this book surprisingly in 2 days. I wanted to know what happened or rather how it happened as I realized the author was probably not going to let Addie become Hitler. But the thing I didn't know is what exactly would happen as the writer went about the final outcome in an unpredictable way.
Like George Orwell's 1984, the world needs "Blitzball" as it's a book that allows teens to realize how slippery a slope racism can be. The neo-nazi's in this novel think they are doing the right thing with their racism. It's Addie of all people who realizes that something is inherently wrong with their racist train of thought.
Anti-racism books are needed right now and this is quite an enjoyable read. Reminded me of the movie "The Believer" but in a sci-fi setting that is coming of age and filled with a lot of humor.
The plot of this novel is entertaining and kept me reading. I finished this book surprisingly in 2 days. I wanted to know what happened or rather how it happened as I realized the author was probably not going to let Addie become Hitler. But the thing I didn't know is what exactly would happen as the writer went about the final outcome in an unpredictable way.
Like George Orwell's 1984, the world needs "Blitzball" as it's a book that allows teens to realize how slippery a slope racism can be. The neo-nazi's in this novel think they are doing the right thing with their racism. It's Addie of all people who realizes that something is inherently wrong with their racist train of thought.
Anti-racism books are needed right now and this is quite an enjoyable read. Reminded me of the movie "The Believer" but in a sci-fi setting that is coming of age and filled with a lot of humor.
September 3, 2018
**I recvd this from netgalley in exchange for my honest review**
This was just one big ball of crazy. A clone of hitler that befriends a "lowly" and learns of being a clone, and the ending was just a big dose of wow. I had a hard time getting into it but once I got used to the flow of it, I couldn't really put it down, that being said, I wasn't really thrilled with it, I thought the potential was there but it didn't quite grasp it. I didnt get the sense that he really changed much, only superficially, he never felt remorse or anything that I could see. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and he'd be like, just kidding, kill them all! I was impressed though with the parallels and the thoughts that went into this, the names and situations that matched up with the real hitler, I could google Ava and hitler to see if there was a Ava in his life, and I learned about Eva and hitler in real life, I knew about her but not enough. Same for Blondi.
This was pretty entertaining, a quick easy read, a little out there, not my favorite book, but still a good one.
This was just one big ball of crazy. A clone of hitler that befriends a "lowly" and learns of being a clone, and the ending was just a big dose of wow. I had a hard time getting into it but once I got used to the flow of it, I couldn't really put it down, that being said, I wasn't really thrilled with it, I thought the potential was there but it didn't quite grasp it. I didnt get the sense that he really changed much, only superficially, he never felt remorse or anything that I could see. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and he'd be like, just kidding, kill them all! I was impressed though with the parallels and the thoughts that went into this, the names and situations that matched up with the real hitler, I could google Ava and hitler to see if there was a Ava in his life, and I learned about Eva and hitler in real life, I knew about her but not enough. Same for Blondi.
This was pretty entertaining, a quick easy read, a little out there, not my favorite book, but still a good one.
October 9, 2018
Wow, what a read. Addie is funny as hell (my kind of humor). Humor is a hit or miss with me. I'm a big watcher of comedy on netflix and right now into this show called "Maniac".
In between watching Maniac, I'd pick up this book. Barely got any work done in two days.
What stood out for me was not just the message (anti-racist) was that it was extremely funny and I really cared about the main character.
Up against huge odds, the author asks the question - can a clone of Hitler be more than what he was designed to be? And that really got me thinking even after I put the novel down. It would be nice to see in real life, real life racists, abandoning their racism.
“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” ― Leonardo da Vinci
In between watching Maniac, I'd pick up this book. Barely got any work done in two days.
What stood out for me was not just the message (anti-racist) was that it was extremely funny and I really cared about the main character.
Up against huge odds, the author asks the question - can a clone of Hitler be more than what he was designed to be? And that really got me thinking even after I put the novel down. It would be nice to see in real life, real life racists, abandoning their racism.
“One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” ― Leonardo da Vinci
December 13, 2018
Reading the premise led me to believe that certain things may happen inside. These predictions did not flourish and that is one thing I am glad of! The idea that this boy is a clone of Hitler and that football is a way of "attacking" those countries was an interesting way at looking at the destruction and invasions that were orchestrated by Hitler. Ludwig took a slightly weird idea and made it work really well. This book made me think about the the nature vs nurture debate and how certain things can be coded in ourselves whilst others affect us more than we realise. Ludwig created a highwire feeling were you where unsure what Addie was going to do and accept his "fate".
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2018
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very intriguing idea the whole nature/nurture thing but for some reason a lot of times the book just fell flat for me. There were a few moments where Addie's notions about life were challenged and I would have loved to see him interacting more with these ideas and technology.
Addie's is great for an unlikable narrator. Maybe a little too good? I don't exactly get the feeling that he'd actually changed that much by the end of the book.
This was a very intriguing idea the whole nature/nurture thing but for some reason a lot of times the book just fell flat for me. There were a few moments where Addie's notions about life were challenged and I would have loved to see him interacting more with these ideas and technology.
Addie's is great for an unlikable narrator. Maybe a little too good? I don't exactly get the feeling that he'd actually changed that much by the end of the book.
October 9, 2018
Although we've come along way from the anti-semitic and racist culture of 1930s Germany, we still have a long way to go.
Addie is a teenage boy who is cloned to be Hitler. Everyone wants him to be Hitler and he has all the pressure in the world to choose that direction. However, this book leads him on a path where he begins to question the racists who want him to go that route.
A great book that deals with issues of racism and can help people see that they need not choose racism even if they live in racist society.
Addie is a teenage boy who is cloned to be Hitler. Everyone wants him to be Hitler and he has all the pressure in the world to choose that direction. However, this book leads him on a path where he begins to question the racists who want him to go that route.
A great book that deals with issues of racism and can help people see that they need not choose racism even if they live in racist society.
October 2, 2018
Set in Reichfield, the reader meets Addie who unbeknownst to him is a clone of Hitler. Addie notices that strange things are happening around him, strange things he can't explain. Without ruining the novel for someone who likes to read it, it's a lot like the truman show, except instead of truman Addie is Hitler.
I really liked this book and would recommend it as it's very humorous and unusual.
I really liked this book and would recommend it as it's very humorous and unusual.
December 18, 2018
I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to read this book because it had such an interesting premise. I think I expected a bit too much from it. While the cloning aspect was cool, I found it really repetitive and I had a really hard time getting into it. Not bad by any means, but not nearly as good as I expected.
I was really excited to read this book because it had such an interesting premise. I think I expected a bit too much from it. While the cloning aspect was cool, I found it really repetitive and I had a really hard time getting into it. Not bad by any means, but not nearly as good as I expected.
December 20, 2018
Too unbelievable.
This story was done much better in the movie Boys from Brazil. Clones of Hitler, bad guys trying to recreate Hitler's youth to turn him into a monster. A childish version. Look up the movie.
This story was done much better in the movie Boys from Brazil. Clones of Hitler, bad guys trying to recreate Hitler's youth to turn him into a monster. A childish version. Look up the movie.
December 20, 2018
Not a bad read but I t’s definitely not a mature adult read. Events were too far fetched and the ending was a little lacking. There are some great chapters and I do recommend if u want something not too light or too serious.
October 18, 2018
I tried and tried to read this but ultimately failed. I'm not sure if it was the characterisations or the writing style but whatever the reason I dnf this
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