51 pages • 1 hour read
Robert SharenowThe Berlin Boxing Club
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow, set between 1934 and 1938, follows Karl Stern, a Jewish teenager in Berlin. Karl experiences anti-Semitic bullying and witnesses escalating Nazi oppression. After meeting German boxing champion Max Schmeling, he trains in boxing to build resilience. The novel blends Karl's struggles with his art aspirations and boxer's discipline against the backdrop of increasing Nazi atrocities. His journey ends with Karl and his sister escaping to the United States as their family faces severe persecution. The story addresses intense themes of violence and prejudice.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow captures readers with its compelling historical setting and complex characters. Reviewers praise its vivid portrayal of 1930s Berlin and nuanced exploration of identity and resilience. Some criticism addresses occasional pacing issues and predictable plot elements, but overall, its emotional depth and cultural context are lauded.
Who Should Read The Berlin Boxing Club?
Readers who relish historical fiction with a coming-of-age twist will be captivated by The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow. Fans of Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas will appreciate this story, set in Nazi Germany, portraying personal resilience and growth amidst political turmoil.
RecommendedReading Age
12-17yearsLexile Level
880L