The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow scholastic. Editions of the berlin boxing club by robert sharenow. Also, i often find it difficult to find books that will appeal to the boys. The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow should be read by all teenage boys. The berlin boxing club robert sharenow for stacey, who is always in my corner. At the same time, the nazis revered schmeling, as he was seen to embody the aryan ideal of strength, forcefulness, and discipline.
The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow fantastic fiction. There is one kind of sport which should be especially encouraged, although many people. The berlin boxing club tells the story of a secular jewish 14yearolds struggles in 1930s germany. Feb 28, 2012 the whole megillah interviews the berlin boxing club s author, robert sharenow, and his editor, harpercollins editor kristin daly rens. Sep 19, 2014 this feature is not available right now. If you are a reader of apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, or a. The berlin boxing club timeline timetoast timelines.
He gets beaten up and, eventually, expelled from school. It is a great historical fiction piece that gives insight to this tragic time in history. It will appeal to historical fiction readers, boys who are fascinated by boxing and those interested in the oppression of jews in germany before. I highly recommend the berlin boxing club for both children and adults. The berlin boxing club summary and study guide supersummary. In the gym the boxers spend every day improving their technique. But to the bullies at his school in naziera berlin, it doesnt matter that karl has never set foot in a synagogue or that his family doesnt practice religion. Sep 07, 2011 the berlin boxing club by robert sharenow.
This 52page guide for the berlin boxing club by robert sharenow includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 47 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Choose from 65 different sets of boxing club flashcards on quizlet. It was easy to read, flowed well, and held my interest throughout the entire story. The berlin boxing club was a book that combined two genres i am. Neblig one of karls only friends at he club worjyk the owner of the berlin boxing club the wolf pack the group of bullies at karls school her boch karls favorite teacher the countess a friend of karls fathers. That becomes clear when karl becomes a target for hitler youth bullying at school. The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow goodreads. Oc fight club 10411 doe dr, berlin, maryland 21811 rated 4.
If a book about boxing can interest me since i have very little interest in the sport then, it is a good book. Boxing has an essential motor space of the pugilistic world, the gymnasium, a complex institution overloaded with functions and representations, which are not offered immediately to the observer, not even to the good connoisseur of the place. Enter max schmeling, heavyweight champion of the world, who offers karl boxing lessons in exchange for a portrait from mr. But to the bullies at his school in nazi era berlin, it doesnt matter that karl has never set foot in a synagogue or that his family doesnt practice religion. Karls family is jewish by race but they remain without a religion so karl doesnt consider himself jewish at all. What teenage boy wouldnt say yes to boxing lessons with a worldfamous boxer. The berlin boxing club figurative language setting affects mood plot twist theme the setting affects the mood in a bad way because this took place during the holoaust and the main character is jewish. Im drawn to time periods and circumstances that inherently have extremely high stakes for the people involved. Historical fiction now, before we begin the actual sketch i would like to say something. Neither his aryan looks, his own dislike of jews, his gentile grandmother, nor the fact that his family isnt observant can save karl stern or his family.
The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow, a quote that c. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It is young adult, historical fiction based loosely on the true story of max schmeling, a boxing star in nazi. The berlin boxing club historical fiction by robert sharenow by lori mcgovern this newsletter was created with smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for. Rising action 1 karls dad accepts boxing lessons from max in exchange for a painting after karl gets beat up by his nazi classmates. World war ii holocaust main character character name. He notices that karl got beat up and instead of paying for the paintings offered to give karl boxing lessons instead. Robert sharenow is an awardwinning writer and television producer. In 1936 berlin, 14yearold karl stern, considered jewish despite a nonreligious upbringing, learns to box from the legendary max schmeling while struggling with the realities of the holocaust. Tall, long hair, muscular, long eyebrows emotional traits. The novel is set during the early years of hitlers rule.
Based on the events in germany from the early to mid 1930s and centered with the figure of max schmelling, the berlin boxing club is both historically accurate and manages to be emotionally resonant without being emotionally exploitative and in a novel dealing with the events leading up to the holocaust, this is no small feat. The book takes place beginning in 1934 and takes us through karls experience as a young jewish boy in germany all the way until kristallnacht in november, 1938. It can be sad and dark at times so if you are someone who likes sunshiney books this one may not be for you. There is no other sport which equals this in developing the militant spirit, none that demands such a power of. This book is one of the best books i have ever read in my entire life. The historically freighted match between joe louis and max schmeling forms the backdrop for this compelling comingofage novel. Can karl balance his dream of boxing greatness with his obligation to keep his family out of harms way. The berlin boxing club is about a boy that never consider himself a jew growing up in berlin from 19341938.
I am always on the lookout for historical fiction that i can use in my classroom. Karl stern has never considered himself a jew and his aryan looks have always helped him get away with that. I picked it up in my classroom library mainly because im jewish and wanted to learn about my past. Rob sharenow in 1936 berlin, fourteenyearold karl stern, who is considered jewish despite a nonreligious upbringing, learns to box from the legendary max schmeling while struggling with the realities of the. Joe louis, the first africanamerican world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, is a faraway and yet pivotal figure in both these novels, each set in the mid1930s. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. By the author of the awardwinning my mother the cheerleader. Fourteenyearold karl stern has never thought of himself as a jew. Unfortunately for the protagonist in the berlin boxing club by robert sharenow, these lessons arent just a pleasant diversion. Although the book is slightly juvenile and truly meant for a younger audience, i still enjoyed it. This book is historical fiction which i love especially when it is well written. Learn boxing club with free interactive flashcards.
The berlin boxing club was a book that combined two genres i am passionate about. The berlin boxing club is an historical fiction novel about a young secular jewish teen coming of age in nazi germany between 1934 and 1939. The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow, paperback barnes. For karl its a new world, a world of men and warriors, where he could dream of becoming german youth champion. Sydney taylor awardwinning novel berlin boxing club is loo. Sydney taylor awardwinning novel berlin boxing club is loosely inspired by the true story of boxer max schmelings experiences following kristallnacht. Its publisher is harperteen, and it was published in new york city. O the berlin boxing club, written by robert sharenow, was published april 21st, 2011. As a new yorker who lives in queens, i feel this fear acutely at this particular point in time. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. World war iiholocaust main character character name. The berlin boxing club by robert sharenow 60second book. The book the berlin boxing club by robert sharenow covers a fiveyear period in the life of karl stern, a fictional german teen who trains under real life german world champion boxer max schmeling. Karl was terrable and he was put in the courner many times.
He lives in an apartment with his mother, father and sister, hildy. The assorted plot threads and immersion in the worlds of art and boxing make the novel a bit crowded, but sharenows deft touch with his characters and his portrayal of turbulent prewar berlin. But in 1934 berlin, with the rise of the nazis and the newly entitled bullies at school, karl is jewish. With emilio castillo, jeremias castillo, alberto santoro. His fathers friend, boxing champion max schmeling, agrees to train karl as a boxer so that he can defend himself and his younger sister, hildy. Going to the boxing club karl met max at the berlin boxing club and max right away put me up against johann.
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