Friedrich (Puffin Books) [Paperback]

Hans Peter Richter (Author), Edite Kroll (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up | Series: Puffin Books

Friedrich and his best friend were growing up in Germany in the early 1930s. At first, Friedrich seemed to be the more fortunate, but when Hitler came to power, things began to change. Friedrich was expelled from school and became an orphan when his mother died and his father was arrested and deported. This is a terrifying story of the destruction of a single Jewish family.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; 1St Edition edition (May 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140322051
• ISBN-13: 978-0140322057
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Holocaust
  • #42 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Holocaust

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FRIEDRICH, August 1, 2007

By 

Drama/English teacher "RD" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friedrich (Puffin Books) (Paperback)

In considering what other book about the Holocaust (besides Anne Frank's DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL) to have my eighth-grade students read this year, I am considering FRIEDRICH as it offers something new to the mix that I consider thought-provoking: what was it like to be swept up into the Nazi party as a child, thinking that the initial get-togethers with other kids were fun!

DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL is light-years ahead of FRIEDRICH in writing style, emotional depth, and the overwhelming intricacies of what it is like to watch someone mature. It is also non-fiction, very much from a girl's perspective, and is a slowly evolving story that deals with Jews in hiding -- the story becomes more about the internal world of Anne Frank than external world of the Nazis; FRIEDRICH offers something different.

I think the most affecting aspect of FRIEDRICH is the slow development of the horror of the Third Reich. At first, both boys (Friedrich and the narrator) think being a member of the Jungvolk is great, but over time comes the slow realization that the world is not all fun and games. In fact, when the narrator joins the mob destroying a Jewish school, he doesn't share the political will, but simply enjoys the idea of smashing things -- the internalization of what he's doing doesn't really enter the picture until he sees the same mob enter Friedrich's apartment and do the same thing.

This unique, horrifying de-evolution of civility is presented very simply; so simple that the reading level of FREIDRICH is probably fifth- or sixth-grade. However, I have read many children's/young adult books that are told simply, but convey much deeper meaning, and deserve a careful analysis.

FRIEDRICH is not meant to replace DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL, but it is a very good companion piece -- particularly as it is more of a boys' book and that's important for a teacher to have in his/her arsenal when working with such a difficult subject.

I believe that the publisher could package this book better (new cover art, more factual addenda), and I would recommend getting a translation that uses a higher level vocabulary to attract more students to it. These changes would truly give a boost to the use of this book in the classroom.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compeling novel you must have in your libraray, February 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Friedrich (Hardcover)

As a 12 year old student I decided to read "Friedrich" a novel about the holocaust and how it treats him. Hans is Friedrich best friend and the author of the book. He saw and heard everything that happened to Friedrichin the book. At frist, Friedrich is more fortune then his friend Hans, who is poor, but as you read on, freidrich's life changed. His father is fored to quit his job because Hitler doesn't allow jew to own a business. Friedrich is kick out of school becuase Hitler thinks Jew don't deserve an education. Worst when he's gone, the evil Nazis beat and killed his mother and sent his father to a concentreation camp. This book isn't all about Friedrich's torture. His friends and family help him by taking care of him and giving him a picture of his parents to remember them by. "Friedrich" is a compelling heart warming book. I rate it on a scale of 1-10 a 10, because this is the first novel I enjoyed. This book made me think about why God would ever let this happen. It almost made me cry, then I remembered how his friends helped him and it stopped the tears.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Story!, October 12, 2005

By 

K. Spoden "British/Western Civilization Histo... (Chicago,Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Friedrich (Puffin Books) (Paperback)

There are so many great stories out there that one can find about Holocaust Europe. Although this story is written for younger ages, it is a great story none the less. Richter tells this story as a first person narrative writing in a simple but elegant way. It depicts the childhood of Richter and his friendship with his Jewish friend Friedrich. One really gets a good idea of the way Jews were treated in the 1930's and 40's by others influenced by the new Nazi party. Richter's story also gives you an idea of how the Holocaust tore apart families and friendships. This is an excellent story, that will really take you away with the author's excellent story telling and very personal narrative.