Parents' Guide to

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

By Lucinda Dyer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

Book Phillip M. Hoose History 2015
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Jenikey
Jenikey Adult
February 13, 2020
age 9+

GREAT true adventure book

This book is a great example of research done well and also portrays the story of the relationship the author had with the main character. So inspiring to see what young teenagers did to stand up to Nazis when no one else around them was doing so.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
matheal
matheal Adult
September 27, 2018
age 12+

My son loved this book

2-years ago when my son was 12 years old he bought this book the scholastic book fair at his school thinking that it looked cool and he's really glad he bought it because he loved the story that it told and it led him to the enjoyment of books based on world war 2 and led him to another one of his favorites The Enemy Above.the boys who challenged Hitler tells the story of a group of boys who were disappointed in the immediate surrender of Denmark so stepped up and joined the fight the best way they knew how

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After Germany invades Denmark in April 1940, its citizens do not resist -- something that 15-year-old Knud Pedersen can't understand. So with his brother and a small group of friends, Pedersen forms the Churchill Club, named after Great Britain's feisty prime minister. If the adults won't stand up to the Germans, the Churchill Club members will do it for them. THE BOYS WHO CHALLENGED HITLER: KNUD PEDERSEN AND THE CHURCHILL CLUB recounts how, between December 1941 and May 1942, the teens commit numerous acts of sabotage and steal an arsenal of weapons from unsuspecting German soldiers. Finally caught by the German authorities, the boys are tried and imprisoned, but their heroic exploits inspire the Danish nation to rise up against the Nazi occupation.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

This true story of courage and resolve is history that reads like a thriller, as a group of unlikely teen heroes are pitted against a formidable and ruthless enemy. Pedersen's first-person accounts give a real sense of immediacy to the story, as do the many black-and-white photographs. There's even a Danish police photo of an army truck vandalized by the club and several photos of the boys in the club. The writing is accessible enough for younger readers and the story fast-paced enough to keep older readers engaged.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about keeping secrets. Was is right for the boys to undertake actions that could have meant arrest (or worse) for their families without telling their parents?

  • Members of the Churchill Club communicated with one another and did all their planning without any of the modern technology we take for granted. How difficult do you think it was to take on the German army without cell phones or computers?

  • Are there challenges faced by your community in which teenagers can take the lead in finding solutions?

Book Details

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