Street Boys Audiobook

" In 1943 a group of children in Italy destroy one of the most powerful tank divisions of the Nazi war machine. The idea of this book is great but I found the events a little unbelievable. The author says that the book is loosely based on real events. I imagine so, although I enjoyed this book I found the events and the outcomes more fantasy than reality. "

" This book starts out with a great premise (a few hundred street kids protecting their city from an invading Nazi regiment), and then wastes every opportunity to fully take advantage of it. The end result is like an uncomfortable marriage between Inglorious Basterds and a Disney cartoon: It's violent and completely out of touch with reality. For example, a kid kills Nazis by intentionally kicking a soccer ball directly onto a land mine, an old woman appears out of nowhere and throws a knife into a Nazi's chest like she's Steven Seagal (then, of course, we never hear from her again), kids are able to build large catapults for attacking the enemy tanks, kids shoot machine guns more accurately and effectively than trained soldiers, etc., etc. The motivations of the characters aren't all that clear, either. We're told that the Nazi commander could easily wipe out all the street kids at a moment's notice, but sees that as being unethical--as if shooting them all one at a time is somehow more morally acceptable. And what it is exactly that the American soldier at the hub of all this is trying to accomplish is never really made clear, either. Carcaterra does a great job with the setting, but once the action starts, everything just seems formulaic, predictable, and repetitive. The romance angle is stale, and way to many people are saved in the nick of time by someone who happens to arrive on the scene at just the last moment. Cue old woman with the throwing knife. The Nazi soldiers are stupid and ineffective. For some reason, they often end up trying to kill the kids with their bare hands instead of by using their weapons. Needless to say, this tactic doesn't pan out very well for them. Lastly, there's too many melodramatic moments to try to make up for the fact that the story doesn't contain much tension at all, especially for a book about a bunch of kids being in constant danger. "

" Outstanding fiction based on facts. In Italy during WWII a group of abandoned children not only survive, but become fighters who save their city with only one adult as support. I continue to think about those children long after having read the book and often wonder what kind of life they had. "

" Is a young adult book but is really great "

" Great read. Page turner. Children in Naples trying to survive the war against the Nazis. Exciting story of one American helping them pull together and fight back. "

" Some language and violence but an interesting take on a mythic legend of Naple orphan children taking on the Nazis at the end of WWII. "

" So different - a great, fresh read. "

" Good story, but the battle scene stretched on for 130 pages! And I got confused with all the different character's names, Pepe, Franco, Luigioso etc. "

" The story is quite predictable. No surprises here. "

" A very interesting WW2 book that chronicles how a gang of street orphans fought the nazis. I love to hear different perspectives, so this was very enjoyable. "

" Yet again new information about some events from WWII that was not taught in school. The story is sad, and the ending is not happy, but it is realistic and honest. "

" Interesting if you like historical fiction about WW2. This guy tells pretty good stories though. "

" this is probably the best book in the world about world war II. it has most of the killing an stuff that u could seein any movie "

" I'm not normally a fan of war books (or movies) but my brother recommended this to me over the holidays and I couldn't put it down. Spectacular. "

" This book was good, although it might disturb some folks who don't like violence. It is about war, after all, and war is violent. The story is good, and as a mother, I thought about how my kids would react if they were thrust into an impossible situation as the children in the book were. "

" This was such a good book. "

" I love historical fiction and reading about WWII. This book is a fictionalized account based on a true historic event. "

" An Amazing story about children in Italy in world war II, and how they have to protect their town from the invading nazis... great amazing book "

" touching with thrilling and romantic passages, its got all a good book should have; it is based on true story though there are some passages that are too fictional or seem unrealistic to me "

" Interesting story. Not much character development. Kind of like a good B adventure story. "

" I really liked this book. It was set in world war II. Craig read it and now sid is reading it. highly recommend if you like stories about the war. "

" Interesting if you like historical fiction about WW2. This guy tells pretty good stories though. "

" This book was good, although it might disturb some folks who don't like violence. It is about war, after all, and war is violent. The story is good, and as a mother, I thought about how my kids would react if they were thrust into an impossible situation as the children in the book were. "

" Yet again new information about some events from WWII that was not taught in school. The story is sad, and the ending is not happy, but it is realistic and honest. "

" Some language and violence but an interesting take on a mythic legend of Naple orphan children taking on the Nazis at the end of WWII. "

" I really liked this book. It was set in world war II. Craig read it and now sid is reading it. highly recommend if you like stories about the war. "

" This was such a good book. "

" Good story, but the battle scene stretched on for 130 pages! And I got confused with all the different character's names, Pepe, Franco, Luigioso etc. "