Booktalks Quick and Simple

Booktalk #1

What would life have been like as a young man during World War II? In America, does it matter that you're a Mormon and therefore opposed to any war? Spence Morgan saw how the girls looked at the soldiers, especially the paratroopers, returning from boot camp on their way to the war. So he quit school and joined the army to become a paratrooper.

In Germany, if you don't participate in the war, something must be wrong with you. You must be a traitor! Dieter (pronounced Dee-ter) Hedrik wanted the approval of the leader of the Hitler Youth. He wanted the camaraderie with the top ranks of the Hitler Youth. Even when his father tried to tell him that he was learning untruths, Dieter refused to listen. He thought of his father as a traitor. Finally, the Hitler Youth were called to serve the Fatherland! Dieter pushed himself and his men (really just boys) hard. Their reward was a visit from the Fuhrer himself who presented them with medals! Then Dieter met Shaefer, a veteran corporal who had seen enough of war. Dieter’s dogged devotion to the Third Reich did not falter, however, until he had to go into battle and see boys and men killed. This was where he met Spence.

Prepared by: Joy Danigel for South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominees 2005

Booktalk #2

This book is about two solders who want to join the army. Spencer is an American soldier who wanted to join the army to impress a girl who he like. Dieter wanted to join the army to defend his country. (Niko R., K-12 student)

Booktalk #3

Soldier Boys is a book about both sides of the World War Two in first person. It tell the Nazi side from a boy named Dieter, and the American side by Spencer. It gives a very descriptive portrayol to the the actual war. This book ends off with a courageous boy named Spencer, helping a wounded Nazi soldier (Dieter), so that he doesn't die, while getting himself killed in the process...

I would rate this book an 8 because it is full of actioin and adventure and true facts about the war. I would recommend this book to people who like action and people who are into historic facts... (Blake M., K-12 student)

Booktalk #4

At the beginning, Dieter Hedrick is taking a hike with the rest of his camp and then they stop to cool off by taking a swim. Dieter makes a solomn promise to protect his country at all cost even if it means death. Then it goes into a boys life named Spencer Morgan. He is still in school but his brother goes of to war. In school people are talking about his brother and how good he looks and Spencer doesn't look that good. But a girl is talking about the war and Spencer says when he is old enough he will join the army just to impress the girl.
Dieter is now 16 and is a leader of a small group. He meets Hitler on a train and gets an award. But one of his men runs away and it was Dieter's old friend and he is shot. Spencer is now in the army like he said he would, Spencer gets his first kill and he is happy. but then in the middle of the war he sees Dieter and he goes to help him even though he's on the other side.
You'll have to read the book to see if Dieter dies or if Spencer dies. (Levi McCabe, K-12 student)

Booktalk #5

In this book two boys in the World War 2 era decide to join the army. But there is one catch... They are on different sides. As the war escalates, they both know they got more then they bargined for. (Keaton Miller, 3millerhikers@sio.midco.net, K-12 student)