Sydney Taylor Award-winning novel Berlin Boxing Club is loosely
inspired by the true story of boxer Max Schmeling's experiences
following Kristallnacht. Publishers Weekly called it "a masterful
historical novel" in a starred review.
Karl Stern has never thought of himself as a Jew; after all, he's never
even been in a synagogue. But the bullies at his school in Nazi-era
Berlin don't care that Karl's family doesn't practice religion.
Demoralized by their attacks against a heritage he doesn't accept as his
own, Karl longs to prove his worth.
Then Max Schmeling, champion boxer and German hero, makes a deal with
Karl's father to give Karl boxing lessons. A skilled cartoonist, Karl
has never had an interest in boxing, but now it seems like the perfect
chance to reinvent himself.
But when Nazi violence against Jews escalates, Karl must take on a new
role: family protector. And as Max's fame forces him to associate with
Nazi elites, Karl begins to wonder where his hero's sympathies truly
lie. Can Karl balance his boxing dreams with his obligation to keep his
family out of harm's way?
Includes an author's note and sources page detailing the factual
inspirations behind the novel.