Risking Exposure

Reach for this book when your child is facing a sudden physical limitation, struggling with the feeling of being an outsider, or beginning to ask complex questions about how media and propaganda can be used to hurt others. Set in 1938 Germany, the story follows Sophie, a loyal Hitler Youth member whose life is upended when she contracts polio. Suddenly, she is no longer the ideal German citizen but a target of the very regime she once admired. Through the lens of her camera, she must find the courage to see the truth and resist a system that labels her as less than human. It is a powerful exploration of empathy, resilience, and the moral weight of our creative choices. While the historical setting is somber, the focus on Sophie's personal agency and her journey from a timid follower to a brave observer makes it an empowering read for middle schoolers. It offers a unique entry point into Holocaust education by focusing on the T4 program and the persecution of people with disabilities.