Starred Review German 12-year-old Christa von Hofacker's diary, like Anne Frank's, provides a child's window into WWII, helping to tell the fascinating and shocking story of how German families were made to pay the price when a plot to kill Hitler by German military leaders and officers failed. Operation Valkyrie's failure prompted a vindictive Hitler to retaliate against all the conspirators' family members in what is known as Sippenhaft (kin liability). The book describes Hitler's rise to power and explains the reasons for this attempt (and others) on his life. It tensely recounts the events on the fateful day when Operation Valkyrie was attempted and failed and the fate that awaited the conspirators and their families: their children were taken away without explanation and hidden at a secluded retreat called the Borntal. Their names were changed, and they were forbidden to speak when outside, and called "ghost children" by observers. Bausum collects firsthand accounts from Christa and other survivors, their experiences lending authenticity and immediacy to the history. Few records about Sippenhaft survived so this extensively researched book offers an eye-opening look at an unforgettable historical event. Back matter includes a time line, family lists, resources and resource notes, maps, and archival photos and illustrations. Highly recommended.

Gr 7 Up-A compelling account of the Valkyrie plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler in 1944 and the brutal aftermath of the plot's failure. The text begins with an overview of how Hitler utilized a blend of personality, propaganda, and fear to assume total control of the German government after the death of Chancellor Hindenburg in 1932. The majority of people living under Hitler's regime who objected to his rule were terrified to express dissent because of his policy of retaliation. When prominent military men attempted to assassinate Hitler at his retreat known as the Wolf's Lair in the Valkyrie plot and failed, Hitler's retribution was particularly brutal. The German word Sippenhaft , which means "clan arrest" but is usually translated as "family punishment," epitomizes the scale of Hitler's revenge on the Valkyrie participants and their families. Forty-six children from 19 high-ranking Nazi families who survived the beginnings of the Sippenhaft were sent to a tourist town in central Germany called Bad Sachsa. The children were forbidden to use their family names, to enroll in school, to go to church, or even to speak when outdoors. A time line, a list of the Sippenhaft families, a resource guide, a note from the author, and research notes are included. VERDICT A well-researched, detailed account of a part of World War II that remains unknown to many today. For those who enjoyed The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. Susan Catlett, Green Run H.S.., Virginia Beach

Bausum (The March Against Fear) reveals a nearly forgotten chapter of WWII, one centered on the retribution faced by the children and families of Germans who failed in an effort to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Revenge known as Sippenhaft (-family punishment-) came swiftly following the 1944 attempt to bomb Hitler inside one of his bunkers: -Hitler wanted the Sippenhaft policy applied as broadly as possible within the families of the conspirators.- Children were separated from parents, rounded up by Gestapo, and secreted away to a forested youth retreat, some for almost a year, where they were given new surnames, forbidden from speaking in public, and called -ghost children- by the outside community. Based on extensive research and interviews with some of these children-now octo- and nonagenarians-this detailed account offers overlapping family stories and numerous names, which at times can be hard to keep straight. Maps, archival photographs, and documents from Nazi Germany, as well as photographs of the Sippenhaft families, round out this comprehensive account that provides a glimpse into the horror and trauma of the Nazi regime. Back matter includes a timeline, a meticulous listing of the Sippenhaft families whose children were detained, a resource guide, further reading, a bibliography, source notes, and index. Ages 12-up. Agent: Hannah Mann, Writers House. (Jan.)