Daniel Half Human, by David Chotjewitz

It is getting close to Passover, and Holocaust Remembrance Day is May 1 this year.  I read Daniel Half Human this past week; it takes place right before and during the rise of Hitler's regime, culminating at Kristallnacht.  It has been a long time since I read a story with this subject matter, but I am glad I finally picked it up.  It is actually translated from the German, and is based on truth (the characters are fictitious).  Daniel is the only child of a well-to-do couple, and has grown up speaking German, going to German schools, and making German friends.  His best friend, Armin, is an Aryan, and at 13 both boys are supportive of Hitler and look forward to joining the Hitler Youth.  Daniel and Armin swear to be blood brothers and cut their wrists to make it official.  However, soon after the declaration of bonded friendship, Daniel finds out he is half-Jewish from his mother's side (though, technically, if it is from his mother's side, he is all Jewish).  Furious, he keeps it a secret from everyone at school, including Armin.  He hates that his ancestry will prevent him from having a normal German life.  As time goes on, it becomes harder and harder to conceal his Jewish heritage, and Daniel must make a decision about his identity and what he will do to survive under Nazi rule.  Readers get a mental picture of what it was like in Germany at the time: how the teachers taught their students about the supposed genetic inferiority of all races except the Aryan race, the behaviour of people in response to each new law set forth by Hitler's regime, and the inner struggle of individuals caught between obeying the law and doing the right thing.  It is an excellent read; the book was published for a teen audience, but I think everyone should read it when the chance arrives.  I think it's important to read historical fiction in general, and some periods of history are better understood when read about in the context of a story using characters with whom you feel close.  I learned more about the Holocaust from reading memoirs and novels than from all of my history textbooks combined.  To this day, I have not yet encountered a history textbook that does the Holocaust justice.  I have always felt that the authors never managed to adequately communicate its horror and abomination.  I understand that it can be hard for some people to know that such sins were committed by a seemingly enlightened nation, while thousands among millions of people stood by and watched without raising an outcry.  But I think that it's important to realize that there is a potential for evil in all of us, and that there are many kinds of cruelty exhibited by human beings.  Enough said; I recommend Daniel Half Human: it is thought provoking and is very significant for this time of year.