Parallel Journeys

Parallel Journeys
By Eleanor Ayer
Aladdin Paperbacks, 2000. 244 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

When Hitler rose to power in Germany, Helen was a Jew who needed to escape. Alfons was a child who got swept up into the Hitler Youth organization. As Helen was hiding in the Netherlands, trying to keep herself and her family alive, Alfons was rising in the ranks of the Hitler Youth, fervently believing in all that Hitler promised. In this book, Ayer combines excerpts from Helen's and Aflons's autobiographies with her own commentary to show how Hitler's regime affected different groups of people.

This was an interesting book to read. Particularly interesting is the ideas that the Hitler Youth were Hitler's victims as well--although they fervently supported him, their actions were influenced by the teachings of parents and other adults. Also fascinating is the story of how Helen and Alfons met, years after the war, and began doing speaking engagements together.

AE