Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark

by Deborah Hopkinson

Overview

Critically acclaimed Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson brings to bold life the remarkable story of the Danish resistance and rescue of over 7,000 Jews during WWII.

When the Nazis invaded Denmark on Tuesday, April 9, 1940, the people of this tiny country to the north of Germany awoke to a devastating surprise. The government of Denmark surrendered quietly, and the Danes were ordered to go about their daily lives as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed.

Award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson traces the stories of the heroic young men and women who would not stand by as their country was occupied by a dangerous enemy. Rather, they fought back. Some were spies, passing tactical information to the British; some were saboteurs, who aimed to hamper and impede Nazi operations in Denmark; and 95% of the Jewish population of Denmark were survivors, rescued by their fellow countrymen, who had the courage and conscience that drove them to act.

With her talent for digging deep in her research and weaving real voices into her narratives, Hopkinson reveals the thrilling truth behind one of WWII's most daring resistance movements.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545592208
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/25/2015
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	443,623
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Deborah Hopkinson is the acclaimed author of over forty award-winning books, including Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt and Dear America: Hear My Sorrow. Her nonfiction books Shutting Out the Sky, an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book and a Jane Addams Peace Award Honor book; Up Before Daybreak, a Carter G. Woodson Honor Award winner; and Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, a Sibert Honor book, have garnered much acclaim. Deborah lives with her family near Portland, Oregon.

Editorial Reviews

07/13/2015
Utilizing interviews and extensive documentation, Hopkinson (Titanic: Voices From the Disaster) reconstructs the stories of those who lived during—and fought against—the Nazi occupation of Denmark. In an easy-to-follow, accessible manner, she touches on a wide cast of characters as they find ways to resist and disrupt the invaders, from solo sabotage to organized rebellion. It's a compelling look at everyday heroism and acts of valor, as Hopkinson follows the exploits of men like Tommy Sneum, who gained spy footage of a German radar station in action before making an impossible escape to England by plane. The account takes a turn for the near-miraculous as Hopkinson looks at how the Danes spirited the vast majority of Denmark's Jewish population to safety before the Nazis could round them up, then dips into the tragic as she covers the conditions of the prison camps many suffered through. With numerous pictures and illustrations accompanying the text, this is a fascinating look at a little-known corner of WWII. Ages 8–12. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

On Tuesday, April 9, 1940, the government of Denmark quietly allowed Germany to take over their country, leading to just over five years of German occupation. While some Danes tolerated the occupation, others resisted. Some worked alone; others were somewhat organized in groups. Hopkinson focuses on certain individuals or groups who destroyed German vehicles, stole weapons, or bombed German facilities; wrote, printed, and distributed leaflets urging resistance; spied on the Germans and gave the information to the British; or quietly aided the removal of Jews before the Nazis could round them up. Most were young males with strong personal convictions. Hopkinson uses a chronological approach to her well-researched and documented text, which is mesmeric at times. Photographs, illustrations, and documents supplement the text, as do a Danish pronunciation guide, “People in this Book” section, chronology, map, bibliography, source notes, and index. Unfortunately, the book itself will appear dense to its audience since the text is long. Most will not read it cover to cover, but rather use it as a research tool. That is a shame, as the book reads like a real-life spy thriller. Chapters are like small stories, with topics sometimes revisited later. Hopkinson has pulled together several narratives to create a multifaceted, complex, and thought-provoking look at an extremely difficult period. Hopkinson’s scope is broader than Hoose’s The Boys Who Challenged Hitler (Farrar, 2015). Both make clear that ordinary people put their lives on the line when it matters, underscoring that one person can indeed make a difference in the world. Reviewer: Peg Glisson; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Peg Glisson

Denmark, Germany’s neighbor to the north, had hoped to remain neutral during World War II like it had in the First World War, but that hope changed on April 9, 1940, when the country was invaded overnight. Knowing that his country’s army was no match for the advancing German soldiers, Danish king Christian surrendered without a fight, and Denmark became an occupied country. Although there was no official military response, the people of Denmark quietly did all they could to fight back against their German occupiers. Some became saboteurs, starting with inconveniencing the Germans by damaging their vehicles and progressing to bombing important military installations. Others became spies who reported back to the British. Thanks to ordinary Danish citizens, the majority of the Jewish population was able to safely escape to Sweden rather than be sent to the German concentration camps. Hopkinson tells the stories of these people—the ordinary citizens who stepped up to the challenge of defending their country—in an easily readable narrative. This is not an in-depth look at the causes of WWII or the general plight of the Jews—it is specifically about the response of the regular Danish people and how they helped change the outcome for their country. Courage & Defiance will be useful for students working on WWII projects or for those who want more information. Reviewer: Jennifer McIntosh; Ages 11 to 15.

VOYA, October 2015 (Vol. 38, No. 4) - Jennifer McIntosh

07/01/2015
Gr 9 Up—As the book's subtitle indicates, this narrative is a chronological collection of personal stories of the daring exploits of the courageous and (mostly) young people who fought German occupiers from the shadows, in many cases defying the Danish government's collaboration with Hitler. Hopkinson explains that this book isn't a complete history of World War II Denmark, and she focuses on a small group of people, most men, who waged a secret war against Germany by establishing an intelligence and resistance force with British aid, carrying out individual or small-group acts of sabotage or printing or distributing underground newspapers. Well-documented chapters include background about the war and the lives of the resistance fighters and incorporate lengthy quotes from published accounts and memoirs, giving readers the opportunity to understand the fighters' motivations, reactions, and fears. Hopkinson also describes the spontaneous and altruistic efforts of countless Danes who first sheltered and then relocated Denmark's small Jewish population to neutral Sweden. The strongest and most moving section of the book is about the arrests, imprisonment, and concentration camp internments of captured fighters, who found their enemy more evil than they could have imagined. The text is supplemented with large period photos of resistance fighters and wartime Denmark. This book is generally well written, and although it lacks the drama and teen focus found in Phillip Hoose's outstanding The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club (Farrar, 2015), its coverage of an often overlooked topic makes it a solid option. VERDICT A strong supplemental purchase choice.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Public Schools, MO

School Library Journal

2015-06-06
Patriotic men and women fight against German occupiers in this absorbing chronicle of the World War II resistance movement in Denmark. When Denmark was invaded in April 1940, the Danish government surrendered almost immediately. For Danes like Tommy Sneum, a young lieutenant in Denmark's tiny air force, this quick capitulation was unacceptable. Sneum escaped to Great Britain and worked on espionage and sabotage operations in occupied Denmark. His is one of several stories Hopkinson tells. Two others are those of saboteur Niels Skov and the members of Holger Danske 2, a group involved in extensive sabotage activities. Passing mention is given to the Churchill Club, a small but remarkably effective student resistance group, now the subject of a full-length book, The Boys Who Challenged Hitler, by Phillip Hoose (2015). A significant portion of text discusses the extraordinary efforts of Danes to rescue 95 percent of their Jewish countrymen, a subject covered in more detail in other books, most notably in Ellen Levine's Darkness Over Denmark (2000). An informative, often gripping chronicle of daring, heroic acts of young men and women who did not stand by as their country was occupied by a dangerous enemy. (photos, maps, chronology, bibliography, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark:

A Sydney Taylor Notable Book
An NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
A Cybils Award Finalist

"With numerous pictures and illustrations accompanying the text, this is a fascinating look at a little-known corner of WWII." -- Publishers Weekly

"[A] spirited, inspiring, and extremely well-researched book... ideal for both classroom use and independent reading." -- Booklist

Praise for Titanic: Voices from the Disaster:

A Sibert Honor Book
A YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An IRA Teacher's Choice
A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A Horn Book Fanfare Book
A Cybils Award Finalist

"An affecting portrait of human ambition, folly and almost unbearable nobility in the face of death." -- The Wall Street Journal

"A meticulous recounting of the disaster... Hopkinson's reporting is so rich with information that it will be equally fascinating to young readers and adults alike."
-- Los Angeles Times

*"Hopkinson knows precisely what's she doing in her coverage of the Titanic disaster... [A] fine book." -- The Horn Book, starred review

*"Fascinating... A thorough and absorbing re-creation of the ill-fated voyage."
-- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Riveting." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

*"An absorbing and richly satisfying read." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Up Before Daybreak:
*"Rarely have the links between northern industry, southern agriculture, slavery, war, child labor, and poverty been so skillfully distilled for this audience." -- Booklist, starred review

*"Superb nonfiction writing." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Excellent." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Shutting Out the Sky:
*"Nonfiction at its best." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*"[A] fascinating read." --School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher