Daniel Half-Human

This is the story of Daniel; a boy that is caught up in the rise of Hitler and the Nazis in Germany. Daniel and his best friend Armin believe in Hitler and his ideology as Nazism begins to take power. Both boys want to join the Hitler Youth and eventually join the SS. After Hitler ascends to power Daniel learns that he is half Jewish by the Nazi definition. Daniel must confront an internal struggle between being German, Jewish, and a supporter of Nazism. As Hitler’s actions against Jews escalate Daniel is thrust into a world where his friendships, family, education, and even his life are threatened.

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. It was great to view the rise of Hitler and Nazism from a German boy’s show more perspective. The internal struggle that Daniel faced was well versed and it helped to illuminate the struggle that most Germans must have faced when confronted with nationalism and abandoning the fatherland. There were times where it was obvious that this book was written for a young adult because I found myself wanting the authors to delve deeper into situations and emotions. However, this was a surprisingly good book that shows a side of Germany during Nazi rule that many Americans may be unaware of. show less

Although Daniel's family is well-to-do and Armin's much less so, the two are best friends in 1933 Germany. The attend the prestigious Christianeum and aspire to join Hitler Youth. When Daniel brings the permission slip for his father to sign, he learns that his mother is Jewish, which makes Daniel half-Jewish and ineligible to join the group. Daniel is outed at a soccer game but Armin sticks by him even though he himself is now in Hitler Youth. Social pressure bears down on Daniel's family and his father ends up being fired from his law office. Miriam, Daniel's cousin, stays with the family when her father is sent to a concentration camp, further complicating the family situation. Armin falls for Miriam and they meet secretly. Armin show more learns from Nazi superiors that something will be going down against the Jews. He warns Daniel and Miriam ahead of time and thereby sparing their lives. show less

The book isn't as emotionally loaded as I thought books on this subject would have to be - but I'm assuming that's because its style was geared for a YA audience.

It was surprisingly fast and easy to read - there are some German words in it, but their meanings are pretty clear from the context. I spent most of the book wondering how true to life it was - it had the feel of a non-fiction/biography but the author does indicate that it is a work of fiction, but based on true events.

One of the things that has always baffled me about the Holocaust is how the rest of the community/country/world could have just stood by and waited/watched while millions of people were displaced and then murdered. How would it have felt to be German during those show more days when the people you knew and loved were scooped up and "disposed" of?

This book does give an interesting rationale for why more Jews didn't escape before the War broke out - how would one have known that Hitler would have stayed in power, that he would have started a war, that he would have orchestrated mass murder? And by the time the writing on the wall was clear, the Jews had already lost most of their escape options.

Hard choice - wait out the storm or escape ahead of it with nothing? If only they could have seen the future, millions could have gotten the hell out before it was too late. show less

Daniel, a German teenager in the years of Hitler's rise to power in pre-war Germany, is in favor of the Nazi party until he discovers that he is half-Jewish. Story revolves around his friendship with Armin, who is 100 percent German. As Armin becomes more involved in the Hitler Youth, he must distance himself from Daniel, until the crisis when he must decide between his friend and his own future. Gripping pageturner. Translated from German.

As young swastika-painting teens in 1933 Germany, Daniel and Armin swear everlasting blood brotherhood and hope to join the Hitler Youth. But Daniel finds out his mother is Jewish and realizes the Aryans will think of him as half human. Armin tries to continue his friendship with Daniel and grows to love the latter's cousin, the beautiful Miriam. Nazi pressure intervenes. This novel, based on research into the Hitler years, reveals the vast indoctrination against the Jews and details the vicious Night of the Broken Glass. Daniel and his parents barely escape Germany. Chapters about Daniel returning as a translator for the British army are interspersed throughout this Holocaust story. So, the friends meet again, and when interrogated, show more Armin says he was not in the SS and Nazi Party. Daniel's shocking response shows the clash of duty and loyalty show less

Daniel is half Jewish, making him only half human by Nazi criteria. This changes his life forever when the Nazis come to power, his family is destroyed and his best friend becomes an enthusiastic member of Hitler Youth. Their paths cross again at the end of the war when Daniel must make a decision

RGG: Excellent depiction of 1930's Nazi Germany and the rise of anti-Semitism in an environment of silence and fear.