Janna is an eleven-year-old girl who lives in a small German town during WWII. She is a proud member of the Hitler Youth group, and admires Hitler above all else. All of her life she has been told that the Jewish people are dangerous criminals and that Hitler is doing the world a favor by getting rid of them. She believes that the Jews are being sent to a special place where they will be treated kindly and kept from harming other people.
One day Janna is sent to Holland to live with her parents, famous German actors who she has not seen in 2 years.
During her stay in Holland, certain events occur that slowly but surely began to shake her faith in Hitler and his soldiers, and which challenge her bigotry against Jewish people.
This thoughtful, descriptive story by one of my favorite historical-fiction authors instantly grabbed my attention. It explores the lies Hitler told to his people and unearthed the reasons so many German young people admired and believed in him. During the book, instead of feeling angry at Janna and other young people for supporting Hitler, I was deeply saddened for them. They were carefully shielded from the truth and consistently spoon-fed lies, ultimately becoming brain-washed supporters of one of the most terrible and wicked tyrants who ever lived.
As you read this book you will cheer Janna on as she searches for the truth.
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