THE EDELWEISS PIRATES

Working-class teenagers who secretly resisted fascism during World War II are the subject of this work of historical fiction translated from German.

An introduction by prolific author for young people and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen explains that this novel is rooted in fact: Although they are not well known today, the Edelweiss Pirates really existed. The book opens with Josef Gerlach’s diary entry from late November 1944, describing the killing of his brother, Horst, by the SS as witnessed by Josef and his friends. In 2011, a boy named Daniel, visiting the cemetery where his grandfather was recently buried, meets Josef, who is by Horst’s grave. Josef piques Daniel’s interest with the claim that Horst’s story might interest him especially. Daniel is hooked—and readers will be too. From this point, diary entries spanning the period from March 1941 to May 1945 are counterpointed with scenes of Daniel and Josef at the latter’s modest digs in a home for elderly bachelors. Reinhardt’s energetic novel is both a coming-of-age story and a historic thriller that works best when Josef and his fellow Pirates are in action, ambushing Nazi patrols, hiding from the SS, or breaking into a van to secure provisions. Along the way, Tilly and Floss, two girls, also join the group. While fueled by a sense of romantic adventure, the novel doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war and Nazism.

Important history tucked into a brisk roman à clef.