abigailbat's review against another edition
2.0
I read this for my Sibert class and to be honest I ended up skimming most of the second half. It's not necessarily a problem with the book (although I do think that more recent political biographies for teens are written in a more engaging manner - like The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming), but more that I knew the basics already and wasn't interested in reading a lot of detail about the politics and war maneuvers of WWII. The first half, which was of course more centered on Adolf Hitler's life, was more interesting to me. I got bogged down in the second half.
I think this would make an excellent in-depth introductory text about WWII and Adolf Hitler for middle schoolers and high schoolers. But it wasn't my cup of tea, really.
I think this would make an excellent in-depth introductory text about WWII and Adolf Hitler for middle schoolers and high schoolers. But it wasn't my cup of tea, really.
lindsayb's review
3.0
I didn't particularly care for the writing, but it certainly contained exhaustive facts.
luann's review
4.0
From the back cover: "Hitler's murderous actions left their mark, in one way or another, on everyone who lived in the latter two-thirds of the twentieth century. What sort of man could plan and carry out such horrendous schemes? How was he able to win support for his deadly ventures? And why did no one try to stop him until it was almost too late?" These are some of the questions this book explores.
I never realized how much I didn't know about Hitler - especially about his childhood and his early life as he attempted to earn a living as an artist before serving as a soldier in World War I. Giblin has written a well-researched, interesting, and very readable biography in his attempt to answer the questions above about a complex and evil man. Pair this with [book: Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow] for older students who are researching the Holocaust or WWII.
I never realized how much I didn't know about Hitler - especially about his childhood and his early life as he attempted to earn a living as an artist before serving as a soldier in World War I. Giblin has written a well-researched, interesting, and very readable biography in his attempt to answer the questions above about a complex and evil man. Pair this with [book: Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow] for older students who are researching the Holocaust or WWII.
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