Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
Reviewed by: Sylvia Shults, Circulation
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Teens
What is the book about?: Michael O’Shaunessy is a teenage boy living in Berlin in 1943. His parents are the Irish diplomats to Germany, and Michael is a member of the Hitler Youth. He is also a spy for British Intelligence, as are his parents. Michael must walk a fine line between blending in at school with his peers, and keeping his eyes and ears open for information that may help the Allies win the war. It’s a lot for a thirteen-year-old to handle, but Michael’s life is about to get a whole lot more interesting — and dangerous. He is tasked with learning more about Projekt 1065, an experiment that may win the war for the Allies — and may get Michael killed.
My Review: Okay, I knew the Nazis were horrifying. But wow — seeing the Nazi Party “from the inside” — through the eyes of a member of the Hitler Youth — was intense. Teenage boys are creatures of impulse, and Michael has to keep a tight rein on his emotions during things like book burnings and attacks on Jews. He has to fit in so his peers will trust him, and so he and his parents aren’t arrested as spies and executed, or worse, sent to a camp. This book gave me a new appreciation of what ordinary people had to go through during World War Two, fighting for justice in the face of unspeakable cruelty. Michael is so very believable as a teenage kid who’s just trying to survive the war, and trying to help as best he can. This is a firestorm of a book in which the action never lets up, and the author really makes you feel the urgency of life in Berlin in 1943. The war was not going well for the Axis at that point, and the Nazis were getting desperate. That desperation, and the dedication of the Allies, shines through in every page. Highly recommended!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Fast-paced, exciting, intense
Give This a Try if You Like… Any Captain America movie, World War Two movies where the odds seem impossible
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!