Praise for PLAYING WITH MATCHES: “Illuminating.”“Gripping, entirely credible and a page-turner. Recommended.”Heinz Schultz’s word could send a man to prison. Though only a youth of fifteen, he was strong, tall, and blond. The boys in his Deutsches Jungvolk unit esteemed him and feared him.And they wanted to be just like him.Emil Radle wanted to be just like him.A dedicated member of Hitler Youth, … they wanted to be just like him.
Emil Radle wanted to be just like him.
A dedicated member of Hitler Youth, Emil was loyal to the Fuehrer before family, a champion for the cause and a fan of the famous Luftwaffe Airforce.
Emil’s friends Moritz and Johann discover a shortwave radio and everything changes. Now they listen to the forbidden BBC broadcast of news reports that tell both sides. Now they know the truth.
The boys along with Johann’s sister Katharina, band together to write out the reports and covertly distribute flyers through their city. It’s an act of high treason that could have them arrested—or worse.
As the war progresses, so does Emil’s affection for Katharina. He’d do anything to have a normal life and to stay in Passau by her side. But when Germany’s losses become immense, even their greatest resistance can’t prevent the boys from being sent to the Eastern Front.
****Available in German as Gefährliche Zettel****
What readers are saying:
“Using actual real-life stories from those who lived through it, Lee Strauss paints a bleak picture of fear and survival. Her characters seem real and jump right off the page.”
“A real page-turner. If you like a good story and great history, read this book.”
“An interesting perspective from the “other” side of the Holocaust.”
“This is novel is an outstanding novel depicting the viciousness if the Nazi regime….Lee Strauss presents an unbelievable report on child abuse of the children “drafted” to serve the crazy sicko from Bavaria. This is a great read and I highly recommend your reading it.”
“So moving, heartbreaking. A startling reminder of what happens when evil is allowed to bloom.”
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Enjoy reading this well-researched, dramatic story of what it was like to be a teenager in Hitler’s Germany. A slightly different perspective than many world war two novels.
Author Interview
Why did you feel compelled to write Playing with Matches?
It started a few years ago when a friend of ours sat on our couch and started telling us his story from when he was a young teenager in Hitler Youth and what happened to him directly after the war. It was very compelling and told from a different angle than any world war 2 novels that I had seen. Most books and movies tell stories of world war two heroes who were fighter pilots or soldiers in the field. Not many focus on the young people who bravely resisted from inside the ranks of Hitler’s Youth.
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Great historical fiction!
Far too many trite and uninteresting conversations that were quite repetitive. I actually haven’t finished it yet, but I have moved it to the bottom of my list.
If you want to learn about WW2 based on what happened to children who were forced into joining Hitler youth organizations, read this book.
This book is quite an eye-opener. Many don’t realize how the German people dealt with the incroachment of the Nazis into their own families and neighborhoods. In spite of being a fictional story, I feel there’s a great deal of history and truth in what is written in this book. We must not let our guard down and allow something like this to happen …
Lee Strauss did a lot of helpful research on Germany in WWII that made her story realistic and believable. The characters were well developed and interesting and made me want to keep going to see where they would end up. The book also helped me learn a lot more about the war, what Hitler was doing, Germany’s lust for power and domination, and what …
I have read many World War Two books, but never one through the lives of the German people. We forget that this was a tragic and horrific time for the average German citizen.
Revealing not thought of facts about WWll. Heart wrenching details. Looks into the minds of the regular German peoples. So sad for the young. Kept my attention throughout the whole book. Please read it!
Very well written.
The writing was just OK and story good enough that I kept reading to the end. The best way I can describe it would be shallow.
A historical fiction set in Germany before and during the war that tells the tragic story of how the average German is affected. This tells a story that we seldom hear about this horrible era of world history.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a terrible time in history.
If you are into WWII, the Nazi era and related impacts on humanity, this is a great read.
A great read for anyone interested in Holocaust history. The vivid characters, the brutality of the Nazi regime, and so much more. Bravo to the author.
I loved the boy who grew up in Nazi Germany. He was so real and described things like a 15 year old. I wanted him to be safe. He was brave and so we’re his friends. Great read for me since WWII is my favorite genre.