Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature)
Julia was leading a security and happy life with her family and friends in Copenhagen, Denmark even though the Nazi regime was killing in other cities. Julie and her friends knew they didn't have anything to worry about. In 1940 her world changed. For the first time Julie had to come to terms with the possibility of her family being sent to a concentration camp, and being separated from everyone important to her. When the Nazis arrive in her beloved city, her brother Niels was so incensed at the arrogance of the Nazis that he sees the Danish resistance as one of the few hopes for Danish Jews. This is a compelling story and based on facts about how many of Denmark's Jews were saved. Readers will learn about heroes, kindness, and strength of endurance. Many emotions are tapped while reading this book and once started, you just can't put it down. The way this book is written, invites thinking about the topic, characters, and courage long after you have finished it. 2003, Dutton Books, $16.99. Ages 12 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 19))
A solid historical novel explores the Nazi occupation of Denmark, from the night it begins to the extraordinary boatlift that saved some 7,000 of the country's 8,000 Jews. Alternating third-person narrations focus on Jewish Julie and Christian Niels, the older brother of Julie's best friend. The two young people-Julie is 13 at the beginning, Niels, 15-undergo a parallel politicization, Julie learning of Nazi atrocities through the underground leaflets Niels delivers as his part of the Danish Resistance effort. The lead-up to the boatlift spreads over three years and occupies fully half the story, taking a deliberate pace that highlights the tensions of occupied Denmark. Less successful than the primary narrative are the diary entries of Niels's older sister (a terribly self-conscious budding writer), as well as an unfortunate tendency to write in set-pieces. But when the story moves into the two days of crisis that precede the evacuation of the Jews, the tension ratchets up so effectively that readers will be on the edges of their seats, historical fact having become immediate textual present. 2003, Dutton, $16.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 12 to 15. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sharon W. Leafe (Library Media Connection, April/May 2004)
This is a thought-provoking historical novel about Denmark's Jews, and their escape to freedom during World War II. From 1940-1945, the Danish Resistance combated the tyranny of Hitler and saved many Jews from being deported or sent to concentration camps. The author notes that all the events in this story are based on true experiences that were related to her through documents and books or personal interviews, by rescuers and survivors of this gallant episode in history. The story is told through the eyes of the youth of that period; Julie, Niels, Fredericka, Jacob, Peter, and Ingrid all share their fear of the events taking place, but boldly help others to escape. The pace of the book could be faster; a bibliography is included. Additional Selection. 2003, Dutton Children's Books (Penguin Putnam), 190pp., $16.99 hc. Ages 15 to 18.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004)
Levitin creates a cast of believable, even flawed, human beings caught up in the Nazi takeover of Denmark. She concentrates on two Danish families, acquainted through the friendship of thirteen-year-olds Julie and Ingrid. Levitin tries to capture the true feelings behind the mythology that has grown up around the Danish resistance, providing a full moral spectrum of characters. Category: Older Fiction. 2003, Dutton, 290pp, $16.99. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Monica Irwin (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 4))
This is basically about the lives of two teenagers living in Denmark during World War II. Each is tied to the other through family and friendship but also eventually through a romantic relationship. Julie is a Jew, and her life has been a pretty simple one. She went to school, had piano lessons, and had a Gentile best friend. Niels’s life has been very similar except that he is a Gentile. When the Germans invade Denmark, life slowly begins to change. Julie’s piano teacher is sent to a German Concentration Camp. A young Jewish boy who had been living in Denmark temporarily tries to get to Palestine only to be killed. Niels begins to get involved in underground activities against the Nazis. This story is an excellent tale of suspense, as well as romance. Julie and Niels will both appeal to readers. It is a story of courage--the large courage that is shown by many and small everyday instances of courage shown in small ways. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades High school. 2003, Dutton, 290p., $16.99. Ages 14 to 18.

Jenny Ingram (VOYA, February 2004 (Vol. 26, No. 6))
Four teenagers provide alternating perspectives in this novel about the occupation of Denmark during World War II. Julie is a young Jewish resident of Copenhagen, Niels is her classmate, Fredericka is Niels's sister, and Willi is a German soldier. The story follows Julie and Niels from the first day of the occupation in 1940 until the famous evacuation of the Danish Jews to Sweden in 1943. Daily life in Copenhagen becomes increasingly grim during this time, reflected best in the occasional journal entries written by Fredericka. The Germans have appropriated most of the food, there is a strict curfew, and armed guards are posted on every street corner. Niels, wanting to fight the occupation, becomes a member of the resistance and eventually helps Julie and her family to safety. Willi appears only in the form of letters written to his mother during his posting to Denmark, and his perspective mirrors the powerful Nazi propaganda machine. This novel provides a realistic view of the Danish occupation and evacuation. There are a few Danish informers and Nazi sympathizers in the story, something often overlooked in the telling of Denmark's illustrious reaction to Germany's invasion. Unfortunately, Levitin's prose is awkward and stiff, making the book hard to wade through. Readers will not lose themselves in this story they way they do in Lois Lowry's Number the Stars (Houghton Mifflin, 1989), also about the same subject. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Dutton, 256p., $16.99. Ages 11 to 15.

Rebecca Moreland, Teen Reviewer (VOYA, February 2004 (Vol. 26, No. 6))
This book held my interest because of the way Levitin ended her chapters in the middle of a compelling conflict. By alternating the viewpoint of each chapter, Levitin is able to show both sides of the war. She made her characters seem lifelike because she went into depth about their conflicts, and she did a good job of portraying their emotions. I think that this book would appeal to mainly girls in the middle school to early high school range. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Dutton, 256p., $16.99. Ages 11 to 15.