Review Detail
Middle Grade Fiction
184
Inside the Hitler Youth
(Updated: June 29, 2026)
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the Treeline
Michael O'Shaughnessy's father is the Irish ambassador to Germany during World War II. Even after Kristallnacht, the family doesn't leave, and Michael soon finds out it's because his parents are spies. This doesn't stop him from being involved in the Hitler Youth, even though he is not a fan of the Nazis and their reign of terror. Along with his friend Fritz, he goes through the training and tries to be a good example of an Aryan youth, especially when it gives him an opportunity to spy on the airplane plans that Fritz's father has. Things are complicated by a Scottish airman, Simon Cohen, whom Michael rescues after he has crashed over Germany. When Michael realizes that his youth group is going to be in charge of assassinating scientists who are working on the bomb, he knows that he must find a way to stop them, even if it means that people he knows must die.
Michael O'Shaughnessy's father is the Irish ambassador to Germany during World War II. Even after Kristallnacht, the family doesn't leave, and Michael soon finds out it's because his parents are spies. This doesn't stop him from being involved in the Hitler Youth, even though he is not a fan of the Nazis and their reign of terror. Along with his friend Fritz, he goes through the training and tries to be a good example of an Aryan youth, especially when it gives him an opportunity to spy on the airplane plans that Fritz's father has. Things are complicated by a Scottish airman, Simon Cohen, whom Michael rescues after he has crashed over Germany. When Michael realizes that his youth group is going to be in charge of assassinating scientists who are working on the bomb, he knows that he must find a way to stop them, even if it means that people he knows must die.
Good Points
Like this author's Prisoner B-3087, Projekt 1065 is packed full of danger and adventure. It's not as dark and gruesome, but there are some sad moments. This would be a great companion to some of the new WWII nonfiction books about groups of students who were involved in the Resistance, and is just an exciting WWII book. Goodness knows, I seem to need an endless supply of historical fiction on this particular topic.
While it seemed slightly far-fetched that an Irish students would be allowed to participate in the Hitler Youth, it definitely gave this book an unusual edge. This is a great choice for those who enjoyed Osborne's Hitler's Secret, Smith's My Friend, The Enemy, or Bartoletti Campbell's The Boy Who Dared.
Not only does this book provide valuable information about the Nazi Youth during World War II, it might lead readers to investigate more about the Irish Troubles, even though I've not really seen a middle grade novel about that.
While it seemed slightly far-fetched that an Irish students would be allowed to participate in the Hitler Youth, it definitely gave this book an unusual edge. This is a great choice for those who enjoyed Osborne's Hitler's Secret, Smith's My Friend, The Enemy, or Bartoletti Campbell's The Boy Who Dared.
Not only does this book provide valuable information about the Nazi Youth during World War II, it might lead readers to investigate more about the Irish Troubles, even though I've not really seen a middle grade novel about that.
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