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The Plot to Kill Hitler
The Plot to Kill Hitler
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero
Perfect for fans of suspenseful nonfiction such as books by Steve Sheinkin, this is a page-turning narrative about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and pacifist who became an unlikely hero during World War II and took part in a plot to kill Hitler. Written by two-time National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick, author of Sold and Never Fall Down and coauthor of the young reader's edition of I Am Malala.
It was April 5, 1943, and the Gestapo would arrive any minute. Dietrich Bonhoeffer had been expecting this day for a long time. He had put his papers in order—and left a few notes specifically for Hitler's men to see. Two SS agents climbed the stairs and told the boyish-looking Bonhoeffer to come with them. He calmly said good-bye to his parents, put his Bible under his arm, and left. Upstairs there was proof, in his own handwriting, that this quiet young minister was part of a conspiracy to kill Adolf Hitler.
This compelling, brilliantly researched account includes the remarkable discovery that Bonhoeffer was one of the first people to provide evidence to the Allies that Jews were being deported to death camps. It takes readers from his privileged early childhood to the studies and travel that would introduce him to peace activists around the world—eventually putting this gentle, scholarly pacifist on a deadly course to assassinate one of the most ruthless dictators in history. The Plot to Kill Hitler provides fascinating insights into what makes someone stand up for what's right when no one else is standing with you. It is a question that every generation must answer again and again.
With black-and-white photographs, fascinating sidebars, and thoroughly researched details, this book should be essential reading.
Perfect for fans of suspenseful nonfiction such as books by Steve Sheinkin, this is a page-turning narrative about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and pacifist who became an unlikely hero during World War II and took part in a plot to kill Hitler. Written by two-time National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick, author of Sold and Never Fall Down and coauthor of the young reader's edition of I Am Malala.
It was April 5, 1943, and the Gestapo would arrive any minute. Dietrich Bonhoeffer had been expecting this day for a long time. He had put his papers in order—and left a few notes specifically for Hitler's men to see. Two SS agents climbed the stairs and told the boyish-looking Bonhoeffer to come with them. He calmly said good-bye to his parents, put his Bible under his arm, and left. Upstairs there was proof, in his own handwriting, that this quiet young minister was part of a conspiracy to kill Adolf Hitler.
This compelling, brilliantly researched account includes the remarkable discovery that Bonhoeffer was one of the first people to provide evidence to the Allies that Jews were being deported to death camps. It takes readers from his privileged early childhood to the studies and travel that would introduce him to peace activists around the world—eventually putting this gentle, scholarly pacifist on a deadly course to assassinate one of the most ruthless dictators in history. The Plot to Kill Hitler provides fascinating insights into what makes someone stand up for what's right when no one else is standing with you. It is a question that every generation must answer again and again.
With black-and-white photographs, fascinating sidebars, and thoroughly researched details, this book should be essential reading.
Reviews-
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Starred review from June 13, 2016
In short, chronological chapters, two-time National Book Award–finalist McCormick (Never Fall Down) recounts the life of theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, his efforts to alert the world to the horrors of Hitler’s Germany, and his conversion from pacifism to would-be assassin in a failed effort to overthrow the dictator. In this carefully researched work, McCormick synthesizes complex realities, documenting the gradual capitulation of the German church to Hitler’s vision of the “Reichskirche,” in which the swastika replaced the cross; the resistance of the Pastors’ Emergency League; and the apathy of European ministers, who refused to “take a stand against Hitler.” Chapters open by drawing readers into Bonhoeffer’s personal story (“The doorbell rang, and the parlor maid at the Bonhoeffer home hurried to answer it”) and close with hooks indicating his larger historical role (“The young pastor had become a double agent”). Photographs and inset sidebars provide supplementary historical information. Without oversimplifying, McCormick offers a lucid history of the rise of Nazi Germany and a dramatic account of one man’s resistance to evil. Ages 8–up. Agent: Heather Schroder, Compass Talent. (Sept.)■ -
July 1, 2016
The story of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer's brief but notable life is related in the context of his resistance to the Nazis and association with the 1944 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. McCormick discusses formative experiences that shaped Bonhoeffer's theological views: visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, studying with such influential American theologians as Frank Fisher and Reinhold Niebuhr at Union Theological Seminary, worshipping at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, and his friendship with Rabbi Stephen Wise. Bonhoeffer's resistance to Hitler intensified with the systematic persecution of Jews and the co-option of the German Church. In protest, Bonhoeffer co-founded the Pastor's Emergency League and, later, the breakaway Confessing Church. As a member of an organized conspiracy to overthrow Hitler, Bonhoeffer was a courier and spy passing information to Allied representatives about Nazi atrocities and resistance activities. He was executed in 1945 for his involvement. Novelist McCormick pens a gripping narrative, adeptly developing Bonhoeffer's character and exploring his struggle to reconcile his pacifism with being part of the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. Some subjects, such as the Confessing Church and figures like Pastor Martin Niemoller, warrant further explanation, however. This insightful, compelling account is an excellent introduction to Bonhoeffer and a perceptive look at what makes someone stand up for what's right. (photos, timeline, source notes, bibliography) (Biography. 11-14)COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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July 1, 2016
Gr 5 Up-McCormick provides a very readable account of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life, from his wealthy childhood in Berlin to his death at the hands of the Nazis in 1945. Readers learn of Bonhoeffer's family, childhood, talent as a piano prodigy, and eventual calling to become a minister. He traveled to Spain, the United States, and England as he tried to reconcile his deep faith with the growing Nazi threat at home. Ultimately, though he had pacifist views, Bonhoeffer joined the German effort to assassinate Hitler. Despite the title, McCormick omits many details in the conspiracy. The focus is primarily on Bonhoeffer and his personal struggles. However, this account of his life is interesting and enlightening. Michael J. Martin's Champion of Freedom: Dietrich Bonhoeffer is more comprehensive, but McCormick's is a more compelling read. VERDICT An appealing narrative suited for students interested in history but not quite ready for heavy analysis.-Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Offers a lucid history of the rise of Nazi Germany and a dramatic account of one man's resistance to evil."
- Booklist (starred review) "[A] tragic, inspirational, and quite unusual tale of a man who was the moral center of a resistance movement that, though it failed, continues to live on in international memory."
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Readers will discover how compelling a story about ideas and ideals can be."
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu Praise for NEVER FALL DOWN: "One of the most inspiring and powerful books I've ever read. Never Fall Down can teach us all about finding the courage to speak our truth and change the world."-
- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review) Praise for NEVER FALL DOWN: "Following the pattern of excellence McCormick began with her novel SOLD, she has created another amazing story through skilled and patient research."
- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Praise for PURPLE HEART: "Timely and provocative thriller."
- Kirkus Reviews Praise for PURPLE HEART: "McCormick builds the plot subtly and carefully with rich, spare prose."
- ALA Booklist Praise for PURPLE HEART: "Gripping details of existence in a war zone bring this to life."
- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Praise for SOLD: "Hard-hitting ... poignant. The author beautifully balances the harshness of brothel life with the poignant relationships among its residents."
- Booklist (starred review) Praise for SOLD: "Unforgettable"
- The Horn Book Praise for SOLD: "Searing...poetic."
- School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for CUT: "Poignant and compelling."
- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Praise for CUT: "This novel, like Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, sympathetically and authentically renders the difficulties of giving voice to a very real sense of harm and powerlessness."
- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for CUT: "McCormick tackles a side of mental illness that is rarely seen in young adult fiction in a believable and sensitive manner."-
- Robert Cormier Praise for CUT: "You will not soon forget a girl named Callie and this remarkable novel."
- Boston Globe Praise for CUT: "CUT is one of the best young-adult novels in years. Riveting and hopeful, sweet, heartbreaking.'"
