Product Description

Based on true-life events during the Second World War Hitler's Canary is a funny, and gripping account of a childhood spent under occupation and a daring rescue.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54942 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-06
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
It's April 1940 and German troops are pouring onto the streets of Denmark. 12-year-old Bamse is ordered by his father to keep his head down and stay out of trouble. But Bamse and his daring friend Anton can't resist playing the occasional practical joke on the invading soldiers. When it becomes clear that the trouble isn't just going to pass them by, the people of Denmark decide to take action and Bamse and his eccentric family are about to take part in one of history's most dramatic rescues - smuggling Denmark's Jewish population, across the water to Sweden, and safety. Many of the characters are based on Sandi's own family, including her father, Bamse, and the book was inspired by the stories he told to her.

From the Back Cover
Bamse is used to drama: his mother is a famous actress, and his best friend Anton is one of the most daring boys in Denmark. When the German troops invade, Bamse doesn't know how to act: should he stay out of trouble - or follow his brother into the resistance and take the most demanding role of his life?

A tale of daring rescue inspired by the experiences of Sandi Tokvig's father during the Second World War.

'An extraordinary story... truly life-affirming' Michael Morpurgo

'There are not many classic children's novels about the Second World War but this is one of them. Toksvig's enchanting and inspiring tale reminds us of how even the smallest people make a difference' Amanda Craig, The Times

'A page-turner written with warmth and wit, not to mention a keen narrative sense' Time Out

'Racily written and full of comic incident as well as suspense' Independent

'Brilliantly told... never loses sight of the child's view of war' Guardian

'Funny and gripping' Funday Times

Customer Reviews

Sandi Tovstig shows the devastating effect of Nazism in Denmark
This story is a touching novel of a young Danish boy's journey from April 1940, before the Nazis invaded Denmark, to October 1943, when the Germans were losing control. The novel portrays bravery, trust, national unity and, perhaps most importantly, multi-ethnic relationships.

Bamse's family lived in Copenhagen. Bamse's best friend was Anton, a Jewish boy who he went to school with. In 1940 the Germans invaded Denmark. Many of the Jews, including Anton's family, were worried as they had heard rumours of the atrocities that were happening in the concentration camps of Germany and Czechoslovakia. But, none of these murders seemed to have happened to any Danish Jews and so the on the surface all seemed well.

There was then a split in Danish politics. Members of the public started becoming actively involved in either left-wing or right-wing parties. Many young Danes joined the Danish Nazi Party, the Hitler Jugend, which took on similar tactics as the other European Nazis. Their supporters worked against the Jews. The others joined the Danish Resistance which helped the Jews and openly sabotaged the Germans wherever possible. Bamse's father tried not to become involved in any of these groups, but at the end, he realised that the torture of the Jews was wrong. Bamse's father appeared to believe that he had nothing worthy to contribute to the defence from the Nazis. He was wrong.

Bamse and his brother started to become involved in the Danish Resistance at a time when the Germans announced that they would deport all of the Danish Jews to labour camps. Bamse's family became one of the most important families in the rescue of the Jews from the concentration camps. They helped ship ninety-eight percent of the Jews from Denmark into Sweden, a neutral country therefore not occupied by Germany. Bamse and his family risked death each time they helped any Jews.

The book ends with the tragic death of Bamse's mother. She died from injuries sustained when trying to save the Jews that she had concealed in her own home.

This story identifies the devastating effects of the Second World War on all communities. Many books have been written about Jews escaping from Poland and other places in mainland Europe, but never a book about Denmark. This book was written with passion, as the authoress is Danish, and also with some humour.

Anyone who is interested in the difficult conflicts that arose in World War Two will find this account of a child living in occupied Denmark unforgettable.

A Thrilling Book ....
A thrilling book about a Danish family living on the outskirts of Copenhagen. The main character, Bamse, is a school boy around 12-13 years old was at the theatre were his mum worked as an actress and his father painting sets when news came that the Germans had come. They stayed for some time using fuel and food, so much that a taxi driver invents an engine that runs on cow poo!

Later on Orlando, Bamse's big brother, starts to work against the Germans. Bamse and his best friend, Anton who is a Jew disciver what Orlando is up ot and they join him doing various little jobs, even stealing a gun! Shortly afterwards Orlando is arrested. The Germans start arresting Jews. Bamse and his family help by hiding loads of Jews and transporting them to Sweden.

Commended to everyone, by this review's author Sam, aged 10.

(My son read this book in a weekend and simply couldn't put it down - it was that good. I'm reading it now!)

Human nature in real form
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and pace of this book. It was about believable people, with emotions and realistic human reactions to the events unfolding around them. No superheroes or unrealistic plot twists. A really good read about human nature at its best and sometimes worst. I would recommend it to mature children to read and gain a fuller picture of what life could be like during the 2nd World War.