At the outset of World War II, Denmark did not resist German occupation. Deeply ashamed of his nation's leaders, fifteen-year-old Knud Pedersen resolved with his brother and a handful of schoolmates to take action against the Nazis if the adults would not. Naming their secret club after the fiery British leader, the young patriots in the Churchill Club committed countless acts of sabotage, infuriating the Germans, who eventually had the boys tracked down and arrested. But their efforts were not in vain: the boys' exploits and eventual imprisonment helped spark a full-blown Danish resistance. Interweaving his own narrative with the recollections of Knud himself, here is Phil Hoose's inspiring story of these young war heroes.
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"Rate this book exceptional. This era in history is especially interesting and should never be forgotten, through these journals written by survivors and those who lost their lives show the goodness of mankind will and does prevail."
— Anne Couch (5 out of 5 stars)
“These teenagers risked all-and lost much…This energetic work of nonfiction…will cheer the hearts of readers whatever their age.”
— Wall Street Journal“A rousing real-life adventure tale.”
— Christian Science Monitor“Vividly recounts the true story of the courageous and brazen teens who inspired the Danish resistance movement in WWII…[A] gripping story.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Their story is one of bravery in the face of constant danger and of increasingly meaningful acts of sabotage…An important and unforgettable book that adds a significant chapter to the history of WWII.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Hoose tells this largely unknown story with passion and clarity…A superbly told, remarkable true story.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“The book alternates between passages of meticulously researched historical narrative—read ably by the author, who masters challenging Danish names and words—and Knud Pedersen’s first-person accounts, performed by Michael Braun. Listeners of all ages will be captivated by Hoose’s thoughtful portrayal of courage under fire…Meanwhile, Braun’s dramatic presentation of Pedersen’s recollections adds an immediacy that rounds out this astonishing account of a time when a handful of brave boys helped change history.”
— AudioFilePhillip Hoose is the widely-acclaimed author of the National Book Award winner Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, which is also a Newbery Honor Book, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, a YALSA Finalist for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, among other honors. His other books include The Race to Save the Lord God Bird, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and We Were There, Too!, a National Book Award Finalist. He lives in Portland, Maine.
Michael Braun is an experienced and versatile narrator with over one hundred credits on Audible (both under his name as well as various pseudonyms) in genres ranging from thrillers to young adult, science fiction to romance.