For families exploring identity, belonging, and the complexities of history, this memoir offers a poignant, firsthand account of a hidden heritage in Nazi Germany.
A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful teen is ready to explore the nuances of history beyond simple heroes and villains. It is ideal for conversations about how personal identity can clash with public pressure. This powerful memoir tells the true story of Ilse Koehn, a girl growing up in Nazi Germany. Outwardly, she is a model citizen and a leader in the Hitler Youth. Secretly, her family is hiding a dangerous truth: she has a Jewish grandparent, which classifies her as a “Mischling, second degree.” The book explores themes of hidden identity, belonging, fear, and resilience, offering a unique and complex perspective on life under the Third Reich. It is best suited for mature readers aged 12 and up who can handle the emotional weight of the subject.
Depicts family separation, constant fear, and the profound emotional toll of war.
ViolenceModerate
Descriptions of wartime bombings and their aftermath. Not overly graphic but realistic.
Moral AmbiguityIntense
Protagonist is a leader in the Hitler Youth while being a target of Nazi laws.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with racism and identity as defined by the Nazi state. The approach is secular and historical. It discusses the constant fear of persecution and the realities of war (bombings, death, separation) directly, but without graphic detail. The resolution is realistic: Ilse survives and is reunited with her parents, but she must now process the immense trauma and the truth of her identity that was kept from her. The ending is hopeful in terms of survival but acknowledges the deep psychological scars.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 13 to 16-year-old who is studying World War II and is ready for a story that complicates simple narratives. This book is for the teen who asks, "What was it like for kids who weren't in concentration camps but still weren't safe?" or who is grappling with their own complex family history or feelings of having a hidden self.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared to discuss the historical context of the Nuremberg Laws and the term "Mischling." The book itself provides good context, but a pre-conversation about propaganda and the different ways people resisted or complied with the Nazi regime would be beneficial. While not graphically violent, the constant psychological stress and themes of persecution are intense and warrant discussion. A parent has just seen their teen express interest in the Holocaust or WWII, and the parent wants to provide a resource that shows the insidious nature of totalitarianism from a personal, relatable perspective. The trigger is a desire to move from facts and figures to the human experience of history.
Age Experience
A younger reader (12-13) will likely connect with the personal story of fear, friendship, and family separation. They will see it as a story of survival. An older teen (14-18) will better appreciate the profound moral and political complexities: the psychology of indoctrination, the impossible choices faced by Ilse's parents, and the long-term impact of a state-defined identity on a person's sense of self.
What Makes It Special
Unlike most Holocaust literature for this age group, which focuses on the Jewish experience of ghettos and camps, this memoir provides a rare view from within German society. It uniquely illustrates the experience of being a target of Nazi racial laws while simultaneously being part of the state's apparatus (the Hitler Youth). It masterfully explores the gray areas of complicity, survival, and identity.
Read plot summary
This is the first-person memoir of Ilse Koehn, who grew up in Berlin during the Nazi regime. To protect her from the Allied bombings, her anti-Nazi parents send her to a Hitler Youth evacuation camp. There, she thrives and becomes a youth leader, all while being unaware that her paternal grandmother was Jewish. This fact makes her a "Mischling, second degree" under the Nuremberg Laws, putting her and her family in constant, secret peril. The book details the daily indoctrination, the fear of discovery, the hardships of war, and the bewildering experience of living a contradiction.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ilse's parents chose not to tell her about her Jewish heritage for many years. Why do you think they made this choice? Do you think it was the right decision to protect her?
2
While at the Hitler Youth camp, Ilse became a successful leader. How did her experiences there conflict with her family's values and her own secret identity?
3
The book shows how Nazi propaganda was a normal part of daily life for children. Can you identify moments where Ilse or her friends accept the propaganda? How does this make you think about information and media today?
4
After the war, Ilse learns the full truth. How do you think this discovery changed her understanding of her childhood, her parents, and herself?
5
Discuss the title, 'Mischling, Second Degree.' How did this official, secret label shape Ilse's entire life, even when she was unaware of it?
