Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Roaring Brook Press (2007), Edition: First Edition, 192 pages
Description
Ten-year-old Bamse and his Jewish friend Anton participate in the Danish Resistance during World War II.
Subjects
Awards
National Jewish Book Award (Finalist — Children’s and Young Adult Literature — 2007)
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 6-8 — 2008)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2006)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — Middle School — 2009)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member hezann73
Twelve year old Bamse is the son of Denmark's most famous actress. He spends most of his free time at the theater or with his friend Anton. But that was before Germany invaded Denmark. Now Bamse spends his time worrying about his sister who is secretly dating a German solider; his brother who is
Bamse is an easy character to get to know and sympathize with. His family and the other citizens of his town are remarkably portrayed, but the author still drives home the fact that not all Germans were bad and not all Danes were good. Not a cut and dry book, but a definite good read!
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working with the Danish Resistance movement;his uncle who supports the Nazis; and Anton, whom Bamse never thought of as Jewish before. As the occupation of Denmark continues, Bamse and his family decide it is not enough to worry, that sometimes real action is needed.Bamse is an easy character to get to know and sympathize with. His family and the other citizens of his town are remarkably portrayed, but the author still drives home the fact that not all Germans were bad and not all Danes were good. Not a cut and dry book, but a definite good read!
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LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
Perhaps because this is written for young adults, this partly biographical account of one family’s bravery during the occupation of Denmark by the Germans is very frank, and the details somewhat un-shaded beyond the fear and confusion that soon becomes a constant in young Bamse’s life. Because
I think this book deserves recognition as an important addition to the genre of young adult books about the Holocaust, the German invasion, and even simply about the dangers of treating people differently just because of how they look or what they believe. Its location and approach is subtly different than those books that try to deal with the Jewish interment from an immediate point of view, but no less horrifying for that.
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he begins naively, the naïveté of his Country at first seems reasonable. Over time, his growing bravery is echoed in his family, his community and his country. The actions of his family, his neighbours and his country are all well researched and based on real accounts, though of course even a family biography will be subject to fictional in-filling after time.I think this book deserves recognition as an important addition to the genre of young adult books about the Holocaust, the German invasion, and even simply about the dangers of treating people differently just because of how they look or what they believe. Its location and approach is subtly different than those books that try to deal with the Jewish interment from an immediate point of view, but no less horrifying for that.
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LibraryThing member ChristianR
During World War II, Denmark was occupied by the Germans in order to use their factories. Ulitimately, the Jews were targeted. This story, based on fact, is of a theater family's life during the occupation and each member's role in the resistance. Bamse, the narrator, becomes involved along with
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his Jewish friend Anton despite his fear. Show Less
LibraryThing member edenjean
Based upon historical events and the experiences of the author’s family, Sandi Toksvig’s Hitler’s Canary is an effective and suspenseful telling of the German occupation of Denmark. Told from the perspective of ten-year-old Bamse, the book begins with the German invasion in 1940 and ends with
Although the historical events of World War II play a large role in the story, it is the family drama and coming-of-age tale that will likely keep the reader turning the pages. In the beginning Bamse, his family, and his Jewish friend Anton only barely affected by the occupation. But as the suspense rises and the invaders tighten their grip on the country, Bamse’s family is drawn into the war. At the center of the family conflict is Bamse’s older brother Orlando, who joins an underground resistance movement in an effort to actively oppose the Germans. The boys’ father wants the family to lay low and wait out the war, but Orlando refuses to let his country become Hitler’s Canary – the dictator’s little songbird in a cage.
Inspired by Orlando’s actions, Bamse and Anton eventually join the fight, carrying out increasingly dangerous tasks for the resistance. The boys’ father is devastated to find out about his sons’ involvement, but it soon becomes clear even to him that the family cannot sit idly by while the war rages on. It takes the cooperation of the entire family, even Bamse’s Uncle Johann – initially a Nazi-sympathizer – to protect their Jewish friends and defend their homes from the Germans.
The novel is written with a theatrical flair that adds a unique layer to the story. Bamse has grown up with the theater: his mother is a well-known actress who speaks in quotes from famous plays, and his father is a set designer. After the Germans invade, Bamse’s world of make-believe is gradually taken apart by the harsh reality of war. The author uses the stark contrast between imagination and reality to explore the ways in which war undermines everything from the innocence of childhood to the security of our everyday lives. The theater dynamic is the strongest aspect of the novel. The narrative is broken into Acts and Scenes rather than chapters, parallels are drawn between famous plays and the events of the story, and the family’s unique talents are put to use fooling the Germans and saving their friends.
Toksvig wrote the novel after telling her ten-year-old son stories of her family’s involvement in the war. It’s clear that she understands how to present such serious subject matter to young children: the language is simple, the violence is minimal but treated seriously, and the subtle humor is used appropriately. Those factors, along with the life lessons Bamse learns along the way, make Hitler’s Canary a worthwhile and unique addition to children’s historical fiction. It is appropriate for children ages nine to twelve, though older children may also enjoy the story.
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the 1943 escape of Danish Jews. In the intervening years, both Denmark and Bamse are forever transformed.Although the historical events of World War II play a large role in the story, it is the family drama and coming-of-age tale that will likely keep the reader turning the pages. In the beginning Bamse, his family, and his Jewish friend Anton only barely affected by the occupation. But as the suspense rises and the invaders tighten their grip on the country, Bamse’s family is drawn into the war. At the center of the family conflict is Bamse’s older brother Orlando, who joins an underground resistance movement in an effort to actively oppose the Germans. The boys’ father wants the family to lay low and wait out the war, but Orlando refuses to let his country become Hitler’s Canary – the dictator’s little songbird in a cage.
Inspired by Orlando’s actions, Bamse and Anton eventually join the fight, carrying out increasingly dangerous tasks for the resistance. The boys’ father is devastated to find out about his sons’ involvement, but it soon becomes clear even to him that the family cannot sit idly by while the war rages on. It takes the cooperation of the entire family, even Bamse’s Uncle Johann – initially a Nazi-sympathizer – to protect their Jewish friends and defend their homes from the Germans.
The novel is written with a theatrical flair that adds a unique layer to the story. Bamse has grown up with the theater: his mother is a well-known actress who speaks in quotes from famous plays, and his father is a set designer. After the Germans invade, Bamse’s world of make-believe is gradually taken apart by the harsh reality of war. The author uses the stark contrast between imagination and reality to explore the ways in which war undermines everything from the innocence of childhood to the security of our everyday lives. The theater dynamic is the strongest aspect of the novel. The narrative is broken into Acts and Scenes rather than chapters, parallels are drawn between famous plays and the events of the story, and the family’s unique talents are put to use fooling the Germans and saving their friends.
Toksvig wrote the novel after telling her ten-year-old son stories of her family’s involvement in the war. It’s clear that she understands how to present such serious subject matter to young children: the language is simple, the violence is minimal but treated seriously, and the subtle humor is used appropriately. Those factors, along with the life lessons Bamse learns along the way, make Hitler’s Canary a worthwhile and unique addition to children’s historical fiction. It is appropriate for children ages nine to twelve, though older children may also enjoy the story.
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LibraryThing member Anager
Very decent and witty childrens book with a refreshingly civil tone. Good illustrations and a beleiveable storyline but with some faults: Uncle Johann breaks character by both chasing the servantgirl and confessing his love of Mom without any repercussions. The name of the paper Berlingske Tidende
The author misspells some placenames and ends rather abrupt but overall a good read.
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(Berlingske Times) is reproduced as "Berlingske Tiden" meaning either "Time of the Berlingske" or "The Berlingske Time", The meaning of BOPA is given as "Borgerlige Partisanar"/"Citizen Partisans" which is as correct as can be but omits both the detail of Borgerlig having the double meaning bourgouis(name of the Danish rightwing) as in non-communists and "ar" being the Swedish ending to plural nouns.The author misspells some placenames and ends rather abrupt but overall a good read.
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ISBN
1596432470 / 9781596432475