1. Dan Smith's ‘My Brother's Secret' was absolutely phenomenal - I really enjoyed the book. It is about a 12 year old boy, Karl, who has joined the Hitler Youth. However Karl loses his faith in Hitler and as a result gets into trouble. There are some parts which you might not like, but not to worry the rest of the story is great. I loved the characters as well - Karl, a 12 year old German boy, Stefan his mischievous, troublesome brother. Lisa, the adventurous, pretty girl and finally Kriminalinspektor Wolf, a strict, mean, rude man. This book was very realistic because in 1938 Germany there was a very cruel man named Hitler and he is still mean in this book as he kills everyone's fathers. My Brother's Secret by Dan Smith made me want to read more of his books because of the suspense and action.

I recommend this book for children who are aged from 10-12.

By Jesse

2. This book is about a German boy called Karl Friedman. In his country there was a war between the Germans and the Jews and in the German schools there was a club called Hitler Youth, where children his age can join and practise for war when they get older. During this book Karl has his heart broken when he finds out that his Dad had died during war. Karl's mum then becomes ill a few days after this so Karl, his older brother Stephen and their mum move in to live with their Grandma and Grandpa. Karl misses his war school and friends.

Whilst looking out of the bedroom window one day a beautiful girl called Lisa catches his eye. Lisa and Karl form a friendship and together discover Karl's brother's secret... Stephen's secret changes the way Karl sees the war and when tragedy strikes the family are faced with a huge worry.

What I like about this book is that it creates powerful images in your head. Also it's based on real World War 2 events, which gives the reader a feeling of what life was like when children were faced with real evil and conflict. The only little thing I disliked was that there were a few words in German that the author should have wrote the meaning to. Other than that I enjoyed it and I would highly recommend it to everyone my age.

By Janna

3. Although this book is a wartime, action story, I didn't really enjoy it was a bit on the tedious side and some of the sections in the novel, you can't really understand properly. My opinion for this is that there are many different affairs going on at once.

My favourite and to me the most thrilling was when the war sirens went off and Karl Friedman and his family had to take shelter in the cellar. I was overwhelmed because I didn't know what was to happen next. This part  was like a cat mewing constantly, always thinking different things all the time.

This book reminded me of when my brother wouldn't tell me something and it turned out it was something stupid! I would recommend it to anyone who actually knows about both of the great wars.

I RATE THIS 4/10

Reviewer's name not given

4. This Book was set in 1941 when Britain and Germany were at war. This story was at the Germans point of view. This story is about a proud German boy, who is twelve, that wants his country to win. Will his Brother's secret make him change his mind?

I didn't really enjoy this book because of the amount of things happening at once. There were some good parts , which were full of adjectives and powerful language.

My favourite character was Stefan Friedman because he was determined to keep his brother safe from all the gestapo officers.

The most exciting part was when Karl and Lisa made a plan to save Stefan. This was exciting because it gave a what will happen feeling.

I think the history was realistic because when there was an air raid it was exactly what I imagine an air raid to be like. The description was powerful and it made the sounds spring to life.

I do want to find more about this period of time only because certain parts made me want to find out more than others.

I don't want to read more by this author because his writing style goes on and off for me and I found it hard to read some parts.

Because of the on and off exciting parts I rate it a 7.5/10

By Issie

5. This emotional action packed thriller was extremely breath-taking. This book was wrote from the germans point of view which made it very interesting and was set around 1937 in Germany, the start of the dreadful heart wrenching wwii.

Karl is a proud German that wants his country to win the brutal war, but when a man called Wolff ( who's a horrible torturous man) starts killing innocent people Karl starts to change his mind and finds out his brothers mysterious secret...

My favourite character is Lisa. She's a  strong independent girl that helps Karl on the way. I rate this book 8.5/10 and would like to read more of his thrilling stories.

Beware it transports your soul to WWii!

By Ella 

6. This fabulous story is about a young  boy ,  at  the age of twelve, called Karl Friedman. It is the beginning  of ww2 and  Karl is desperate for the Nazis to take the war to victory . Karl's   brother Stephan hates all the things Karl likes , like being a good German . Will Karl change his mind about being a good German from his action pact adventures?

This story is a tingling tense book from the start to the end and there is nothing in the whole world that I would change about it! This story is very educational at the same time  , because you learn more about the German culture ! I feel like it is great to see ww2 from a German's point of view.

Every step Karl takes is filled with excitement , like a reservoir  filled with it's water . This book ALWAYS interreges me to read more . I'm sure everyone who reads this will be experienced with the emotions of happy and sad . This book is like a volcano erupting with descriptive language!

I would rate this book: 5/5

By Millie

7. My Brothers Secret is a one to read full of energy and life this book is amazing.

This book is set in WWII. I think this book is an exception because it is written from the Germans point of view. It is full of suspense and adjectives

(Reviewer's name not given)