The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero
Written by Patricia McCormick
Narrated by Adam Verner
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Perfect for fans of suspenseful nonfiction such as books by Steve Sheinkin, this is a page-turning narrative about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and pacifist who became an unlikely hero during World War II and took part in a plot to kill Hitler. Written by two-time National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick, author of Sold and Never Fall Down and coauthor of the young reader’s edition of I Am Malala.
It was April 5, 1943, and the Gestapo would arrive any minute. Dietrich Bonhoeffer had been expecting this day for a long time. He had put his papers in order—and left a few notes specifically for Hitler’s men to see. Two SS agents climbed the stairs and told the boyish-looking Bonhoeffer to come with them. He calmly said good-bye to his parents, put his Bible under his arm, and left. Upstairs there was proof, in his own handwriting, that this quiet young minister was part of a conspiracy to kill Adolf Hitler.
This compelling, brilliantly researched account includes the remarkable discovery that Bonhoeffer was one of the first people to provide evidence to the Allies that Jews were being deported to death camps. It takes readers from his privileged early childhood to the studies and travel that would introduce him to peace activists around the world—eventually putting this gentle, scholarly pacifist on a deadly course to assassinate one of the most ruthless dictators in history. The Plot to Kill Hitler provides fascinating insights into what makes someone stand up for what’s right when no one else is standing with you. It is a question that every generation must answer again and again.
Patricia McCormick
Patricia McCormick is a former journalist and a two-time National Book Award finalist whose books include Cut, Sold, Never Fall Down, The Plot to Kill Hitler, the young readers edition of I Am Malala, and the award-winning picture book Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero. Patricia lives in New York. Visit her online at pattymccormick.com.
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Reviews for The Plot to Kill Hitler
53 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Enjoyed the book and learned a lot. How inspiring Dietrich's life is.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good book!
What stood out to me the most was the development of Bonhoffer's call love a nd serve God.
Throughout the book Patricia points out the formative moments in Bonhoffer's life and shows how he as a man struggled with what it means to be a pastor, a Christina, and a citizen of a dysfunctional country. I was touched by Bonhoffer's willingness to stand by his convictions in spite of the danger, the fear, and the valid excuses to pick the easy road.
Definitely worth listening/ reading.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I’ve taught this book for two years and it’s a continual favorite. My 7th grade history students are always enthralled by the story and connections of Bonhoeffer’s life. McCormick does a wonderful job of making the content historically yet accessible and heartfelt.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good overview on the life of Bonhoffer. Didn't get as much into the actual assassination plots though.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This may be a book for young adults, but I’d give it to any adult interested in the US political system as it is playing out after the 2016 election. How interesting that the assassination plot involved a clergyman who refused to let his national leader override his religious and moral views.