The Enemy Above

April 15, 2016
An old-fashioned boys' adventure tale emerges from an almost unrecognizable retelling of a true Holocaust survival story.Twelve-year-old Anton is a Jewish peasant in the Ukrainian village of Borshchiv. Anton's grandmother (evidently based on real-life heroine Esther Stermer, never named in the author's note) is sure the Nazis can't be trusted. In the dead of night, Anton and his family sneak away to hide in a nearby cave. Evil Gestapo officer Von Duesen is determined to make Borshchiv Judenfrei, completely free of Jews, and he's sure there's a Jewish family hiding around here somewhere. Von Duesen becomes increasingly unhinged throughout the year as Anton outwits him. He makes mean threats when Anton's grandmother spits in his face, and eventually he turns to murder, horrifying other Nazis by shooting some Jews in cold blood: " 'Mein Gott, Herr Major...Was haben Sie getan?' What have you done?" His Gestapo superiors even punish him for the murder, because of potential public relations damage. Of the historical and cultural inaccuracies permeating Anton's adventure, the most egregious is this portrayal of Nazis (who by 1943 in the real Borshchiv had shot or buried alive over 3,000 Jews, including one massacre of 1,800 that took three days, just months before Von Duesen's supposed crime).The world has no need of a Holocaust tale that presents Nazism as relatively benign. (sources, author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-11)

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April 1, 2016

Gr 5-7-The year is 1942, and 12-year-old Anton, his bubbe, and his uncles are forced to flee their small Ukrainian village with other Jewish residents when the Nazis invade. They seek refuge in secret caves that are known only to locals, sneaking out at night to find water for their survival. Meanwhile, Major Von Duesen, a Nazi commander whose mission it is to capture or kill as many Jews as possible, is outwitted time and again by Anton and his kin. Chapters alternate between Anton, who often seems wise beyond his young years, and Von Duesen, a caricature villain who will stop at nothing, including personal ruin, to capture the boy and seek revenge. Scenes of sabotage and suspense, including several lucky escapes and a couple of disturbing murder scenes, will keep readers turning the pages. However, the breakneck action supersedes any real character development. Although Anton struggles with issues of faith, longing for his missing father, and loss, these themes are dealt with only on a cursory level. VERDICT Set in an interesting locale, this will satisfy historical fiction fans who want page-turning action without much depth.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2016
Grades 4-6 During WWII, Nazis troops invade Ukraine. Burning villages and farms, they either kill Jews or round them up for transport. Twelve-year-old Anton, his two uncles, and his grandmother, Bubbe, are soon on the run. Along with other Jewish escapees, they hide in underground caves and tunnels. Meanwhile, above ground, Major Karl Von Duesen directs his troops in a cat-and-mouse game, hoping to destroy these hidden enemies. After Bubbe is captured, Anton strikes back against Von Duesen, who focuses his energy on a personal vendetta to salvage his pride. More accessible to a younger audience than most historical novels on similar topics, this chapter book features a determined protagonist who does what he can to help his family survive. The stakes are high and so is the tension as the action scenes play out. While some characters are depicted as wholly good or evil, the more nuanced portrayals are convincing. Still, readers can feel confident that, whatever price individuals may pay, good will triumph in the end.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)