Fritz and Kurt

Fritz and Kurt by Jeremy Dronfield (Puffin) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN978024156742

This book is the children’s version of The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz, the inspiring true story of a father and son’s fight to stay together and survive the Holocaust.

In 1938, brothers Fritz and Kurt Kleinmann’s family are Jewish, and that puts them in terrible danger as the Nazis come to Vienna. They hate anyone who is different, especially Jewish people.

Fritz, along with his father, is taken to a Nazi prison camp – a terrible place, full of fer. When his father is sent to a certain death, Fritz can’t face losing his beloved Papa. He chooses to go with him and fight for survival.

Meanwhile, Kurt must go on a frightening journey, all alone, to seek safety on the far side of the world.

In this extraordinary true story, Fritz, and Kurt face unimaginable hardships, and the two brothers wonder if they will ever return home.

For people who would like to know more about events, background, and context of the Kleinmann’s family story or about the Holocaust in general, the best starting place would be the original version of The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz, which includes full, detailed endnotes with source citations and a complete biography.

This children’s novel, written in third person past tense, would best suit readers aged 9+ years. Included in the back of the book is a section titled ‘What Happened After’, a timeline of events, and a note for parents, guardians, and teachers.