This powerful, moving middle grade adaptation of the adult international bestselling narrative nonfiction book The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz shines a light on the true Holocaust survivor story of two brothers who experienced the atrocities of World War II in very different ways.

Fritz Kleinmann was fourteen when the Nazis took over Vienna. Kurt, his little brother, was eight. Under Hitler’s brutal regime, their Austrian-Jewish family of six was cruelly torn apart.

Taken to Buchenwald, one of the first Nazi concentration camps, Fritz and his Papa, Gustav, underwent hard labor and starvation. Meanwhile, Kurt made the difficult voyage, all alone, to America, to escape the war.

When Papa was ordered to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, Fritz—desperate not to lose his beloved father—insisted he must go too. Together, they endured countless atrocities to survive.

Based on a true story, Jeremy Dronfield authentically and accurately captures this family tale of bravery, love, hope, and survival with the help of extensive research and primary sources like Gustav’s diary. This gripping World War II biography includes maps, black-and-white photos, a timeline of events, a glossary, and more. 

This unforgettable true story shows the strength of family in the darkest of times—and the love between a father and son that would not be broken.

• An Unbreakable Father-Son Bond: When Gustav is sent to Auschwitz, his teenage son Fritz makes an unbelievable choice: he insists on going too, determined that they will survive together or not at all.
• Holocaust History for Young Readers: While Fritz and Gustav face the horrors of Buchenwald and Auschwitz, younger brother Kurt escapes all alone to America, showing the different paths a family was forced to walk.
• Based on a Secret Diary: Pulled directly from the secret diary Gustav miraculously kept throughout his imprisonment, this incredible narrative nonfiction account is painstakingly researched and verified.
• An Inspirational Story of Hope: A powerful and moving account of love, bravery, and resilience, showing how the bonds of family can help you survive even the most unimaginable evil.