Hitler's Daughter

Reach for this book when your child starts asking difficult questions about the fairness of the world, inherited guilt, or why good people sometimes have bad parents. It is a profound choice for pre-teens who are beginning to look beyond their own lives to understand the complexities of history and morality. The story follows a group of modern Australian children waiting for the school bus while one girl, Anna, tells a story about Heidi, the hidden daughter of Adolf Hitler. As the fictional Heidi struggles with her physical disabilities and her father's horrific actions, the modern-day protagonist, Mark, begins to question if we are responsible for the sins of our ancestors. This book is a gentle but serious bridge into historical understanding and moral philosophy, perfect for the child who feels things deeply and seeks to understand the 'why' behind human behavior.