About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is beginning to ask difficult questions about world history, the roots of prejudice, or how friendships can survive when the world falls apart. While the Holocaust is the backdrop, the heart of the story is the profound test of loyalty between three childhood friends: Leo, Elsa, and Max. It offers a sophisticated way to discuss how political climates and systemic hate can infiltrate even the most innocent childhood bonds. This historical novel follows three friends in Vienna whose lives diverge sharply as the Nazi party rises to power. One escapes on the Kindertransport, one goes into hiding, and one finds himself on the side of the oppressors as his father joins the SS. It is a deeply moving exploration of bravery, the pain of forced separation, and the moral weight of our choices. While emotionally heavy, it provides a safe, expertly crafted framework for 10 to 14 year olds to process complex historical truths and the importance of standing up for others.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The book contains visceral depictions of the Kristallnacht pogrom, including the destruction of Jewish businesses and physical assaults. There are descriptions of the horrific conditions in concentration camps, including starvation, the fear of gas chambers, and the death of family members. A scene where a child is forced to leave his parents at a train station (Kindertransport) is emotionally wrenching. Max's indoctrination into the Hitler Youth involves psychological pressure and the witnessing of cruelty. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to explain the historical context of the Holocaust, including the specific terminology of the Kindertransport, the Hitler Youth, and the reality of concentration camps. There may be questions about why Max's father would choose hate over his son's friends, requiring a discussion on how propaganda and fear influence behavior.
Ideal Reader
A middle schooler who is a deep thinker and shows an interest in historical justice. It is perfect for a child who has read Number the Stars and is ready for a more complex, multi-perspective look at the era.
Parent Prep
It is highly recommended to read this alongside the child or preview the chapters regarding Elsa's experience in the camps to gauge the child's readiness for descriptions of systemic cruelty. The moment Leo's mother forces a smile while saying goodbye at the train station, knowing she may never see him again, is a universal parental heartbreak.
Age Experience
Younger readers (10-11) will focus heavily on the friendship and the adventure of Leo's journey. Older readers (13-14) will better grasp the moral complexity of Max's position and the darker historical implications.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many Holocaust stories that focus on a single victim's perspective, this novel brilliantly uses three viewpoints to show how the same event creates a refugee, a victim, and a perpetrator, emphasizing the role of choice.
Read plot summary
Set in 1930s Vienna, the story follows three friends: Leo and Elsa, who are Jewish, and Max, whose father is an ambitious Nazi officer. As the Anschluss occurs, their lives splinter. Leo is sent to England via the Kindertransport, Elsa and her family eventually end up in Auschwitz, and Max is groomed into the Hitler Youth. The narrative shifts between their perspectives and timelines, eventually converging to show the lasting impact of their shared past and the different ways they survived the Holocaust.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
At the start of the book, Leo, Elsa, and Max have a favorite photograph. How does the meaning of that photo change for each of them as they grow up?
2
Max's father exerts a lot of pressure on him to join the Nazi party. Do you think Max had a choice in who he became, or was his path decided for him?
3
Leo feels a lot of 'survivor's guilt' being in England while his friends are in danger. How does he try to cope with the feeling of being safe when others are not?
4
The 'Land of the Midnight Sun' is a place the friends dream about. What does this place represent to them during their darkest moments?
5
Elsa shows incredible bravery in the camp. What are the small ways she and others kept their humanity alive despite their surroundings?
