
The Berlin Boxing Club
HarperCollins · Paperback · October 23, 2012
Sydney Taylor Award-winning novel Berlin Boxing Club is loosely inspired by the true story of boxer Max Schmeling's experiences following Kristallnacht.
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- Who it’s for
- A serious historical novel where boxing, identity, and family duty meet under Nazi rule.
- Themes
- Identity and heritage, Family protection, Nazi persecution
- Pacing
- Mixed
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Start with this bookAbout this book
Sydney Taylor Award-winning novel Berlin Boxing Club is loosely inspired by the true story of boxer Max Schmeling's experiences following Kristallnacht. Publishers Weekly called it "a masterful historical novel" in a starred review. Karl Stern has never thought of himself as a Jew; after all, he's never even been in a synagogue. But the bullies at his school in Nazi-era Berlin don't care that Karl's family doesn't practice religion.
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Demoralized by their attacks against a heritage he doesn't accept as his own, Karl longs to prove his worth. Then Max Schmeling, champion boxer and German hero, makes a deal with Karl's father to give Karl boxing lessons. A skilled cartoonist, Karl has never had an interest in boxing, but now it seems like the perfect chance to reinvent himself. But when Nazi violence against Jews escalates, Karl must take on a new role: family protector. And as Max's fame forces him to associate with Nazi elites, Karl begins to wonder where his hero's sympathies truly lie. Can Karl balance his boxing dreams with his obligation to keep his family out of harm's way? Includes an author's note and sources page detailing the factual inspirations behind the novel.
Belonging and Bravery
A serious historical novel where boxing, identity, and family duty meet under Nazi rule.
Come here for
- Boxing entwined with questions of heritage and belonging
- A portrait of courage shaped by family loyalty
Expect
- A tense, thoughtful reading experience
- An author's note and sources page on the novel's factual inspirations
Where it sits
| Holocaust Stories for Teens | 95% |
|---|---|
| War & Military YA | 23% |
| Coming of Age | 18% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- YA Art & Artists
- Coming of Age
- YA Family Stories
- YA Stories About Girls & Women
Show all 8 publisher categories
- Historical YA - Europe
- Holocaust Stories for Teens
- Historical YA Romance
- Faith & Belief
- Authors
- Robert Sharenow
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- October 23, 2012
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Identity and heritage · Family protection · Nazi persecution
- Reading lane
- YA Art & Artists