A scared young Jewish boy growing up in Nazi Germany transforms, with boxing lessons, into a braver version of himself as conditions in Germany worsen. I didn‘t love this one, and I think it‘s because I felt no emotional connection to it. Its reach is limited by narrator Karl‘s naive, youthful perspective that remains unrealistically naive even after what should be his coming of age. ( )

During the Nazi occupation, a young teen needs to step out of his comfort zone to protect himself and his family. Help comes in the form of a pro boxer and his lessons.

This is a fairly interesting tale of a Jewish boy, Karl Stern, living in Berlin after the Nazis came to power and as they are beginning to "crack down" on political dissidents and all people not fulfilling the Aryan "ideal." He learns how to box from Max Schmeling (Boxing World Champion) but things continue to get very bad for his family. Unfortunately, for most of the book, Karl is just unlikable. A lot of it is usual teen angst but he is also self-absorbed to the point that I don't know why his family doesn't disown him. He resents and dismisses his father for a good portion of the story, feels burdened my his mother who seems to suffer from depression, and ignores his little sister who, because of her "Jewish" appearance, suffers much more at the hands of classmates and the Hitler Youth than Karl does. It reminds me of MST3K's _Mitchell_ episode where they say, "He doesn't have much more time to become likable. Do you think he can do it?" And the response is "I don't think so." Karl as a few redeeming epiphanies but most of those aren't actually manifested in his actions. Additionally, the ending leaves something to be desired. I just didn't feel much in the way of closure. ( )

Karl, raised in a secular household, never considered himself Jewish until Hitler became Chancellor. Now, his pro-Nazi classmates do. After being beaten & expelled from school, Karl starts training with a champion boxer, with unknown loyalties, to protect his family.