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Facing the Enemy

How a Nazi Youth Camp in America Tested a Friendship
By Barbara Krasner
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Check link for latest rating. ( 115 ratings, 41 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Facing the Enemy by Barbara Krasner, a Jewish girl named Sarah navigates the tumultuous landscape of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War II. As Sarah's family struggles with the oppressive regime, she finds herself forced to make difficult decisions that test her courage and spirit. The novel deeply explores themes of identity, resilience, and the harsh realities of war, making it a poignant read for young adults.
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Format: Hardback
$3700
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in a compelling journey through history, offering a fresh perspective on the Second World War through the eyes of a young protagonist. It delves into themes of identity, courage and the complex realities of war, making it both an engaging and thought-provoking read for young adults.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

"In 1930s Newark, NJ, best friends Tommy and Benny are torn apart when Tommy attends a Nazi youth camp for German Americans, and Benjy forms an anti-Nazi vigilante group."--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Facing the Enemy by Barbara Krasner explores the heart-wrenching turmoil between friends torn apart by ideology in a gripping novel-in-verse set in New Jersey during World War II.

What do you do when your best friend becomes the enemy?

Growing up in Newark, NJ, in the 1930s, Tommy Anspach and Benjy Puterman have always done everything together. It never mattered that Benjy was Jewish and Tommy was of German descent. But as Adolph Hitler and his Nazi party rise to power in Germany and war brews in Europe, everything changes.

Tommy is sent to Camp Nordland, a Nazi youth camp for German Americans, where he quickly learns that Jews are considered the enemy. Heartbroken by the loss of his friend, Benjy forms a teen version of the Newark Minutemen, an anti-Nazi vigilante group, all the while hoping that Tommy will abandon his extremist beliefs.

Will Benjy and Tommy be able to overcome their differences and be friends again?

Based on real-life events and groups like the Newark Minutemen and the pro-Nazi German American Bund, this daring novel-in-verse reveals the long history of American right-wing extremism, and its impact on the lives of two ordinary teens.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Facing the Enemy, a young adult novel by Barbara Krasner, is praised for its powerful and well-researched portrayal of a friendship impacted by rising Nazi ideology in America. The narrative, told in verse, effectively explores the complexities of personal adversities faced by its characters while shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of U.S. history. The alternating first-person accounts of the protagonists provide depth, making the book suitable for both independent reading and educational settings.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781662680250

Publisher: Astra Publishing House

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 December 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Minedition (imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc)

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 160.0mm

Height: 236.0mm

Weight: 561g

Pages: 368

Collections

Barbara Krasner Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Fiction Penguin Books Young Adult

About the Author

Barbara Krasner is the author of many books across genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and children's literature. Her recent titles include 37 Days at Sea- Aboard the M.S. St. Louis, 1939, Civilian Casualties in War and Ethel's Song- Ethel Rosenberg's Life in Poems. Her book Goldie Takes a Stand! Golda Meir's First Crusade was a recipient of the Sydney Taylor Honor Award. She holds a Ph.D. in Holocaust and genocide studies from Gratz College, teaches in the Holocaust andgenocide studiesprogram at the College of New Jersey, and serves as director of the Mercer County Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Education Center. She also holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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