Hitler's Canary
Sandi Toksvig
The history of the Danish
resistance to the Nazis during World War II is nothing short of extraordinary,
with a significant portion of the country's ordinary citizens not only refusing
to capitulate but also organizing the flight of most of the country's Jewish
population to neutral Sweden. Hitler's
Canary is a charming little book inspired by the memories of Danes who grew
up in that trying period, focusing on a likeable schoolboy, Bamse, and his
increasing awareness of the world around him. As a book primarily aimed at a
younger audience, Hitler's Canary can
oversimplify at times, and despite its promise to explore how not all Danes
were good, nor Germans evil, nuance can be a bit difficult to come by in the
book. This, however, does not detract excessively from the quality of the
novel, which delivers an important story through Bamse's scared and simple eyes,
which see things perhaps more clearly than do those of the adults around him.
His narration is constructed carefully, divided into three acts to complement
the Skovlund family's deep association with the theater. Indeed, acting is used
to great effect in the novel both literally- in a surprisingly humorous moment
of tension- and metaphorically- as Bamse and those around him learn how best to
deal with troubled times. The book ends rather abruptly, but offers an
intriguing and chronologically comprehensive view of wartime Denmark from
the initial invasion to the country's massive Jewish exodus. Hitler's Canary is an excellently
written, detailed, fun, and serious story of courage and growing up that will
inform and entertain audiences of all ages.
Grade: A
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