What teenage boy wouldn't say yes to boxing
lessons with a world-famous boxer?
Unfortunately for the protagonist in this
week's Pick, these lessons aren't just a pleasant
diversion; they turn out to be the difference
between life and death.
Karl Stern never thought of himself as Jewish.
He's never attended synagogue, and he doesn't
look like a Jew.
But in Berlin during Hitler's rise to power,
14-year-old Karl can't help but be singled
out by the Nazi youth in his school.
He takes a bad beating right at the beginning
of this story—and it won't be his first.
Karl isn't much of an athlete; he prefers
to spend his time cartooning.
But after the attack, he's happy to be singled
out by boxing legend Max Schmeling.
Though Karl initially learns how to box so
he can defend himself, the sport soon turns
into something more—a discipline, an outlet
for his rage, and definitely a way to become
someone special.
Karl dreams of winning a boxing title...but
all too soon the only thing he's fighting
for is his life.
There are lots of Holocaust books out there,
of course, but I found this new angle on the
Holocaust—and especially the many metaphors
about what's worth fighting for—really effective.
Karl's story is both tragic and triumphant,
and chronicles a period in history that we
must never forget.
