Soldier Boys

by Dean Hughes

Book Overview

This tense and thought-provoking World War II story, from the acclaimed author of Missing in Action and Search and Destroy , examines what it truly means to be a hero. Spencer Morgan and Dieter... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1481427040
• ISBN13: 9781481427043
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Soldier Boys

I recently read this book and I loved it! It is a wonderful story about two teenage boys (an American and a German) joining the army in World War Two. The story is very moving yet action packed. Although the battles can be too gory for some people's tastes, it describes the characters thoughts and pains very well. This book truly covers all the ranges of emotions a real soldier might feel. I really got into the characters and was moved by the ending. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody that enjoys World War Two books.

Soldier Boys

Have you ever wanted something really badly? Have you ever thought that something would be fun and exciting, but when you finally got to do it, it was the exact opposite of what you thought it was going to be like? Well that is how Spence felt in Soldier Boys. Spence really wanted to go fight in World War II over in Germany, thinking that it would be fun, but his parents wouldn't sign his papers allowing him to go into the military, and finally at age 17 he dropped out of high school without his parent's knowledge. After a lot of begging he got his wish, just to find out that the army was just a torture session. Soldier Boys is about two boys, Spence and Dieter, from two different countries. Spence is from the U.S and Dieter is from Germany but share the same goal, to fight for their country in World War II. In the book Spence and Dieter end up meeting each other on the battlefield in the strangest of situations. I thought Soldier Boys was an awesome book. I liked how Dean Hughes went from Dieter`s life to Spence's life throughout the chapters. I also liked how Hughes used so much detail. He used so much detail in every chapter. In one chapter Spence was going into a German house, and all of the people he was with got shot, Hughes described the scene so well I felt like I was watching a video. I also liked how there was never a "dull" or "boring" part; it was always exciting to read. Hughes made every part exciting. Even during Spence's training camp it was exciting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you like lots of action. It was very hard to put Soldier Boys down. I often found myself saying "just one more chapter, then I'm done," but I just couldn't put it down.

Soldier Boys

The book I read called Soldier Boys, is written by Dean Hughes. The main characters in this book are 16 year old Spencer Morgan and 15 year old Dieter Hedrick. Spencer, a high school student in Utah, drops out to enter training as a paratrooper. While Dieter is apart of the Hitler Youth, he gets promoted to the German army. Although living with completely different beliefs, both young boys enter the war for the same reason, to prove themselves. Although, they never thought about death until they face danger in the face. All the boys thought about was flashing thier medals after the war. When they go into battle, they relaize they have made a terrible mistake, and that the most important thing is to survive.Both go through grueling weather and unbeaarable pain. The story takes place in the 1940's during World War 2. During the book Spencer and Dieter fight battles in many parts of Germany.I believe the theme of Soldier Boys is that things may not always turn out the way you suspected, and you should just be able to accept it. Another thing I think it's trying to state is that you should be thankful for what you have and not take it for granted. I loved every page of the book, and I recommend it to everyone. Soldier Boys is full of tragic and heart warming moments. Every page makes you feel like you are in the story and will leave you in tears.

A great read

As a lover of WWII history I was first surprised to discover that Soldier Boys was a YA novel--the writing was as well done as any novel I have read. I found my self drawn to both boy-soldiers on either side of the war. I even found myself in tears at the end of the book. I'm highly recommending it to my friends, and pre-teen kids!

Interesting look at both sides of the story

Spencer Morgan is just sixteen when he convinces his father to sign his induction papers so he can fight in World War II. He wants to be a paratrooper, the toughest soldiers in the world, to prove to his family and all of Brigham City, Utah, that he can amount to something. Of course, he would also like to impress LuAnn Crowther, the girl he has a crush on even though she doesn't think about him as anything more than as a friend.Dieter Hedrick is a member of the Hitler Youth movement. He has met and been praised by the Fûhrer himself. He wants to make it to the front lines and defend his country's honor. Both boys get their wishes when they end up in the Battle of the Bulge.A realistic story that looks at the feelings of soldiers on both sides of the conflict. This would be a good book to read together as a family and then discuss the feelings of patriotism, honor, and duty to country.