The Nazi Hunters

Bascomb, Neal. The Nazi Hunters. New York, NY : Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2013.

Plot: Adolf Eichmann, a prominent leader of the Final Solution, managed to escape the collapse of the Nazi Party. However, he was not forgotten. Through a series of surprising encounters, half-remembered facts, and unexpected contacts, he was discovered by the Israeli government. Spies, Holocaust survivors, government officials, and lawyers united across several countries to bring the man to justice.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Aimed at teens; some content, especially regarding the Holocaust and execution, may be intense for sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, Lincoln's Grave Robbers

Personal Thoughts: The Holocaust has always scared me, so reading the title was difficult. However, it is also important.

Many of the Holocaust's facts are taken for granted. Modern readers know what happened. During the events of the title, though, few understood the disaster. Many of the victims refused to speak about them, both to spare others pain and move forward. Eichmann's trail drew the facts out before the world, giving victims permission to talk and acknowledge what happened. The title describes this change.

Bascomb's book also brings another fact forward: life does not behave like the movies. In most films about WWII, the villain suffers once the heroes find him. In the title, finding the criminal is only the first mission. Facts need to be found. Permission needs to be granted. International issues bleed into civilians, leading to riots. Legal issues limit and empower everyone involved. Each person participating in the capture, trial, and execution have to live with the consequences of what they and others did. While the trial ended in a victory, it did not end with fanfare, which is how real life works.