Projekt 1065: A Novel of World War II Audio CD – CD, November 29, 2016

I read this with my 11 year old grandson each night. Forget that it was for adolescents. I loved it. So well written. Suspenseful. Educational from a historical perspective. The imagery was vivid and stoked the emotions.We’re hooked on Alan Gratz!!!

Bought this book for grand daughter as she needed it and it was never available. Nana to the rescue; she loved it. Thanks.

This is an amazing book. I bought this for a 16 year old boy. He had trouble putting it down. I highly recommend this book!

Project 1065: A Novel of World War II is written by Alan Gratz. This book is definitely acceptable for 3-7 grades but I suggest at least 6th as the basic content may be a little over the heads of 3-5 grades.Michael O’Shaunessey, of Ireland, lives in Berlin in Nazi Germany with his parents. His parents are Irish ambassadors and it is the only embassy open in Germany. Ireland is neutral and accepted as such by the Nazis. Michael attends a German school and is treated just like the others. He is a member of the Hitler Youth, like the other boys. Unlike them, he doesn’t believe the doctrine he is suppose to learn. Because he is smart, he can understand what they are saying; but not the severity. Besides not believing the Nazi doctrine, Michael has another secret, he is a spy as are his parents.He learns about Project 1065, a jet plane, from his friend Fritz who shows him a page of the document that his Father has created. Fritz is having problems with the Hitler Youth because he is so small and does not know how to fight. Michael helps him and Fritz passes into the next section of the Hitler Youth.In addition to the secret of his parents being spies, they are also on the underground to get pilots and others out of Germany to England. When Michael finds a pilot, he brings him to the house and they hide him. Simon helps Michael recreate the pages for Project 1085 from memory.Even though he does these things to help his parents in their spying, just how serious is Michael about it. Is he willing to give everything and everyone he loves for his country?

This is a fast read and I imagine most middle school readers will like it, full of adventure and about a thirteen-year-old Irish boy stuck in Berlin during World War II. His father is the ambassador to Ireland and what Michael O'Shaunessey doesn't know until the night of Kristallnacht is that his parents are spies. Ireland was neutral in this war and was often criticized for that decision, but in his author's note, Gratz explains that after the war it was discovered that many Irish in this situation served as spies and helped the Allies in the war. I didn't care for the book as much as the others I've read by Alan Gratz. It felt too fabricated, too "all works out". Like Gratz's others, however, it is based on historical truth. The parts about the indoctrination of Hitler Youth are frightening. It is hard to believe that such actions might happen with a thirteen-year-old taking care of his own spying responsibilities. I will say that those times are not today and sadly, they probably happened more than I can imagine.

Alan Gratz has written a compelling story about a young man fighting for what he believes is right. From the night he first witnessed the cruely of the Nazis, Michael has been doing his part to help the Allies defeat them. Joining the Hitler Youth and working with his spy mother, Michael gathers intel that is then sent on to the British. But after helping rescue a downed British pilot and finding out about Projekt 1065. When a fellow Hitler Youth who he helped escape a beating shows him part of the blueprints for an experimental jet airplane, Michael becomes determined to see the whole set of plans. With his photographic memory, he believes just a few minutes with each of the twelve pages will allow him to pass the plans on to the British airman who will pass them on to the British. But things get complicated as Michael discovers that his new found friend, Fritz has become part of a secret mission and he himself gets pulled deeper into the world of the Hitler Youth. Themes of friendship, loyalties, and sacrifice shine through as Michael and his family have to make some really tough choices about the price they are willing to pay to help the Allies, maybe even their lives. I wish I had more historical fiction like this in my library. Books like this help history come alive along with telling a compelling, edge of your seat story. I appreciated the notes the author makes at the end, highlighting the parts of the story that were real and the parts that aren't. Gratz has created another powerful story about a time in the history of the world that left it's mark on all who were touched by it.

The book that I’m reviewing is called Projekt 1056 by Alan Gratz. Alan Gratz is an author of 14 other books, many also being about WW2. The reason I like this book is because of some of the History of WW2 that it provided. Although what was happening to the main character Michael, wasn’t all true there were some parts that were. For example the main character was part of a nazi group, doing many bad things for Hitler. Also some of the events happening at the time were also real. As well as that I like this book because of how many times it made me keep wanting to read, and left me on the edge of my seat. By this I mean that a lot of the time when I was reading this book there were parts when the characters had to get by really tough situations, often being life threatening. Another reason I liked this book is all the problems that the main character Michael had to go through. Many of problems, like I said above kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was also easier to see what was going on during WW2 with everything Michael had to do. From this book I have learned that I enjoy books about this time, period, and with a lot of action like this one.

My son picked this book for a book report for school so I read it too. It was great! Fast moving, twists and turns, so exciting. You never knew what was going to happen next and had to keep reading to find out!

Good to read for G6.

I just love the book. The way the author portrayed the story of hitler youth and Michael O'Shaunnesey made me finish the book in a day! Just love the story and got to know a lot about the Nazi monsters...

This author is AMAZING. Buying more of his books

Bought for my son for Xmas he loves these books, great Author. Great learning book for kids.

This book gives the reader suspense as the main character tries to fit in the Hitler Youth to retrieve a blueprint.