Brothers is the story of two young boys growing up in pre-WWII Germany.  The year is 1937 during Hitler’s reign of Germany.  It is a time of great turbulence and strife.  The two brothers, Hans and Danny, develop opposing ideologies about the Nazi Reich as a result of their different life experiences and temperaments.  The older brother, Hans, is coerced into becoming an SS officer against his family’s wishes, while his younger brother, Danny, joins a covert resistance movement.  This is a story about how the boys learn to handle this dichotomy.  It is a story of loyalty, love, and courage.  It is also a story of Fritz, one remarkable dog, who is the personification of all of these traits.

Brothers is historical fiction and was originally written to be used in a classroom setting to teach about the Holocaust, as well as an excellent resource to teach reading comprehension.  However, in these uncertain times where homeschooling has become the norm, it is just as easy for parents to use the book at home. A Parents’ & Teachers’ Guide has been developed to provide chapter-by-chapter higher-order thinking questions and vocabulary to “guide” the instruction through the story.  For more information, click Teachers’ Guide.

Brothers covers many themes, including:
Bullying
The Power of One
Brotherhood
The Importance of Reading
Standing Up For What You Believe
Overcoming Disabilities
The Power of Propaganda/Advertising
Opposing Ideologies
How Personality Forms Opinions
True Courage