The Nazi Hunters: How
a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi
Author: Neal Bascomb
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 and up
Lexile Measure: 1000L
Publisher: Arthur A.
Levine Books (2013)
256 Pages
Awards:
- YALSA Nonfiction Award, 2014
- Sydney Taylor Book Award, 2014
- Rosie Book Selection, School Year 2015-2016 (Indiana)
As a reader new to nonfiction, I have found that the truth
is often stranger (and even more interesting) than fiction. This definitely applies to The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb. A young adult adaption of Bascomb’s book Hunting Eichmann, this nonfiction
narrative reads like an espionage thriller, detailing the precisely planned abduction
of Eichmann after finally identifying him and locating him, 15 years after he
vanished. A group of Israeli spies sets out to capture Eichmann. The book identifies each of these men and
provides details and brief histories on each of them. It does get confusing keeping track of who is
who since there are so many operatives, and we only get brief snapshots of each
of them.
The book opens with Eichmann in WWII and details his
atrocities during the holocaust. The
experience of Zeev Sapir, a holocaust survivor who later testifies against
Eichmann at trial, is detailed in this section.
The horrifying account of his experiences and the loss of his family in
the holocaust brings the terrible consequences of Eichmann’s actions to a
personal level. In fact, many of the
spies who eventually captured Eichmann also lost family members in the
Holocaust. Their interactions with Eichmann
are tempered by these experiences and being around this man who was responsible
for so much death and misery puts terrible emotional strains on them: “Not one of them had anticipated the soul-hollowing
effect of inhabiting the same space as Adolf Eichmann. They had to feed him, dress him, shave him,
and bring him to the toilet…Eichmann was obedient to the point of subservience…It
would have been easier had they felt only hatred toward him, but he barely seemed
worth the emotion.” (p. 149). Below is a
photo drawn by Peter Malkin, while he was guarding Eichmann.
Bascomb details the actions of the spies, how they captured
Eichmann, and transported him back to Israel to stand trial. The book includes fascinating documents and
pictures of tools and other items used in the operation. Below is the false passport created for
Eichmann in the name Zeev Zinchroni to take him back to Israel.
In addition, Bascomb details the trial including testimony
of Zeev Sapir who was introduced in the first section of the book through a
description of his horrendous experience and loss during the Holocaust. In addition, the book describes Eichmann’s execution
which is a little unsettling. Here is a
photo of the courtroom
I agree with the recommendation of this book for grade 7 and
up. Since this book is about the Holocaust,
as well as the hunt, capture, and execution of one of the worst Nazis; some of
the subject matter is upsetting.
However, I think it is presented in an appropriate way for a young
reader and is not overly graphic. However, I did notice on Amazon that some
parents had given it a low rating and said not appropriate for children. I think this is one of those books that will
be fascinating to one child while horrifying and terrible to another. I would suggest having this as a reading
option rather than making it required reading for every child.
Links:
This YALSA link includes 5 fiction read-alikes for The Nazi Hunters:
This YALSA link has an interview with Neal Bascomb:
This link provides a review with discussion. They suggest reading with Night by Elie Wiesel. I agree with this. I have also reviewed Night on this blog.
Very thorough review! Along with all the photos, you've provided some fabulous links for read-alikes and additional material which is really useful for both school librarians and us public librarians. I have this book in my YA nonfic collection, but I haven't read it yet; the school does a Holocaust unit study every year in the spring, so... would you mind if I post a link to this review on my library teen page for students to find? I'll be putting together a collection of titles for them to use during this time, but I can't review them all - you've done this one so well, I couldn't ask for anything better, especially with the associated review of Night by Wiesel. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Sure that would be fine.
ReplyDelete