Execution

The Plot to Kill Hitler #2

by Andy Marino

Based on the real-life scheme to take down one of history's greatest monsters, this heart-pounding trilogy puts two courageous kids at the center of the plot to kill Adolf Hitler.
Summer 1944.

Max, Gerta, and their parents have abandoned their home and relocated to a safehouse in a different Berlin neighborhood. The Hoffmanns share the tight quarters with Kat Vogel, the daughter of an executed Becker Circle conspirator. Though they have strict orders to stay inside unless absolutely necessary, the three kids sneak out regularly, all while concocting a plan to keep the spirit of their resistance alive. They're going to burn down the headquarters of the Hitler Youth.

Meanwhile, Claus Von Stauffenberg, a member of Operation Valkyrie's inner circle, vows to carry out the assassination of Adolf Hitler himself. And he will do it soon. Time is running out.

The plots are carried out. Two small decisions change the life of one family -- and the path of history -- forever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Young Adult, World War II, Historical, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Andy Marino was born in upstate New York, spent half his life in New York City, and now lives in the Hudson Valley. He is the author of seven novels for young readers, most recently THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER trilogy.

THE SEVEN VISITATIONS OF SYDNEY BURGESS is his first novel for adults.

Reviews

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For the past few weeks, there had been no question in his mind that he would have to be the one to carry out the assassination of Adolf Hitler. There had been too many failures already, too many false starts and near misses, and the urgency was growing. Now, as he stepped toward the round table to meet the Füher himself, he was certain that he could do it without hesitation...."

✏️ Review ✏️

Execution, the second book in The Plot to Kill Hitler trilogy, brings more drama and excitement to this continuing story. Wow, yeah, I really got caught up in this story (couldn't put it down!) and enjoyed it a lot more than the first book. The multi-POV narrative provides quite a lot of suspense and action going on all at the same time.

"Stauffenberg picked up the fuse — a metal rod encasing a vial of sulfuric acid — and willed his hand to stop trembling.... Once he squeezed the pliers and clipped the vial inside the rod, there would be no going back. The bomb would be armed and the countdown would begin.
For Germany, he thought. For the world."

Since this book's plot culminates to the characters' ultimate goal of killing Hitler, things get really gripping. Character tension builds and more high-stakes action seeps into this story. And I appreciate how this book doesn't draw the plot out; instead, the plot produces a more realistic feel with its rushed delivery, making the reader feel the urgency in fulfilling the mission of assassinating Hitler and a sense of anxiety as the clock ticks closer and closer to the final moments of the mission's execution (pun intended 😉).

"[Stauffenberg] squeezed the pliers, putting a deep crimp in the fuse and breaking the vial inside. He wrapped up the bomb and placed it back in his briefcase. He couldn't help but wonder about the supposed ten-minute fuse. Would the summer heat affect the timing? Would he only have seven minutes? Or five?"

Execution is definitely a great piece of MG historical fiction. Totally enjoying this series so far. I'll have to see how it ends in the final book: Escape.

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The high-stakes action.
• The rushed delivery of the plot.
• The multiple POVs — brings layered suspense to the story.
• The internal character tension, especially with Claus von Stauffenberg's POV.

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Minor complaint: there probably could have been deeper character development; but in order for that to come about then the plot probably would have been longer, so this just a very minor criticism.

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❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓

— Would I recommend this book? Yes, of course.*

— To whom? To those who have read and enjoyed the first book in this series — Conspiracy.

*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)

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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 2.5/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 1/5

• Two uses of God's name in vain and two uses of "d*mn(ed)."

— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5

• A few mildly descriptive instances of brutality.

— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5

• Just one mention of homosexuality.

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📣 Random Comments 📣

• (None)

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

• (None)

[sophia bart · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐s!

It was pretty good. Honestly I'm just trying to finish this series and cross it off my list.

[rhonda granquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is volume 2 in the trilogy of the plot To Kill Hitler. Max and Greta , siblings and Kat Vogel the daughter of an executed Becker Circle conspirator form their own group of Hitler Youth, only they are the 'good guys' fighting Hitler. This brings in Operation Valkyrie and the actual plot To destroy Hitler.
This was very tense and suspenseful.

[Liam Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very intense. I do not recommend this book to readers that are sensitive to violence. This story was very fascinating in the way that this actually happened. I like how the author made this real-life story into something that readers like myself could read.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackson read this on his own and rated it 5 stars! He recommends this book!

[Ayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone who likes old war books. It’s about Hitler and Max and Gerta and also Kats life during the war.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I immediately picked this book up once I was finished with the first one. I had to know what was going to happen with the plot. Was it going to be Executed in this book or were we going to have to wait even longer? Andy Marino did not disappoint with this second book either. I enjoyed it just as much as the first.

I love how the kids created their own group, The Red Dragons, and made it seem like there were tons of members when in fact there was only the 3 of them. having changed their location from the first book, things are a little different because they are all in hiding. They are not supposed to be out in public so that makes it hard for them and makes them claustrophobic. The family listens to the radio every time that they can anticipating the report that Hitler has been killed. Days go by and nothing. The family thinks it is never going to happen but she has gotten word that the Americans are advancing. She marks off her map in order to help her take up her time and to track where they are.

When the Colonel finally gets the perfect chance to set the bombs at Hitler's feet, there are reports that the attack was not successful. How could that be? There is no way anyone survived that bombing that was in the map room. Now they are going to have to move once more.

Kat, Max and Gerta have been devising a plan of their own and now they are down one member because he was captured. Will they get Max back before they have to move? You will have to read this one to find out how everything goes for The Red Dragons.

Now I have to wait for the next book in the series!!! NO!!!!! Come on June!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this 5⭐ because for a second book, it was great! It kept my attention and made me excited to listen to the next book. It also made me want to learn more about the Valkyrie. I think 3-6 graders would really enjoy this and it is written at a level for them to understand and pique their interest in WW2.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this 3.5/5 stars. It was harder to get into than the first book and didn't have the same feel as the first one for me. I liked the ending. The events from Operation Valkyrie are in this book, and I enjoyed reading Claus von Stauffenberg's POV in the book.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot better than the first one I enjoyed it more then the first but it is not 5 stars worthy. It is definitely the rising action and climax of the over all story. It is also a fast easy read.

[Mickela Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of this Series. I am really enjoying these books, one more to read. Great writing, you feel what these characters are going through. Lots of tension and relief in these short books. Mostly from the children's point of view during WWII Berlin.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and interesting. Reading in advance for my children - does give a reference to the disgust Nazis had with homosexuals and does talk about people being executed. Just a heads up depending on the child and their age.

[Marney Hawes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exciting followup to the first book.

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how this story is based on the real event of Valkyrie.

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhhhhhhh, not as good as the first one.

[Parson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is ok, it only has a bit of interesting stuff. So I kinda like it.

[Amy Torcaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the plot thickens from book one, the Hoffmans adventure continues. The children step up their actions against Hitler and his Youth Army. I’m sure excited to see how this ends in book three.

[Bennett Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of an amazing series and a great plot.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series, I found this one more enjoyable than book 1. It focuses more on Operation Valkyrie and the resistance put up by youth groups in Berlin.

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the second book in the series it is intriging and mysterious.