Soldier Boys

It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between an American and a German teenager entering World War II.I enjoyed reading the book but didn’t like the ending

I liked the story quite a bit. The author writes well, I found no typos or point-of-view shifts. Nothing to complain about. It was an easy read; the author didn't send me to the dictionary twenty times. I had trouble putting the book down, which means it was a page turner. The excitement was kept high as he showed the point of view of a German youth anxious to get into WWII and an equally young America small-town boy. I won't reveal the ending but it was very well done. Now I'll look for other books by this author. Great job!!!!!!! A wonderful coming-of-age story.

I liked to read this book. The easy way to make me understand the war itself, the feelings and thoughts of the soldiers who fought in this conflict. I liked the end of the book, it made me cry, sorry but it was true.I recommend this book to everyone who likes to read about war.I gave 5 stars because the book make me think about all of the people who died in the war.

Dean Hughes’ Soldier Boys is one of a set of war time stories that he has written. Soldier Boys is a story set in the World War II era and is about two young boys that are eager to be involved in the war. Dieter is a Bavarian farm boy that is a devoted member of the German Hitler Youth and Spencer is an American farm boy from Utah that drops out of school and convinces his parents to sign his papers so that he can enter into the service early. Both boys have great pride in wanting to serve their country in taking down the evil opposition, not knowing the trials and tribulations that lay ahead for them both. The book follows both boys through their training and movement into the battlefields showing their emotions and actions as they descend into the reality of war. Throughout the story both boys overcome obstacles all the while sticking to their beliefs and promises that lead to a heart wrenching turn of events at the end of the story.This book is well written and reflects what I perceive the war was really like. For Example, young American boys wanted to go to war after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler brainwashed the youth of Germany convincing them they where defending their homeland against aggressors trying to restrain the Germans economy and wellbeing. Once the boys are involved in the war they loose the glamorous view of war and come to the grim reality of war, losing friends and comrades along the way. They both also come to terms with what battles are really like, with the strategies, actions of the soldiers involved, the reality of how lives are taken in battle, and the aftermath of battles fought. By the end of the book it shows how the boys are impacted by the war, how the death of a soldier in battle affects the family and his community, and the challenges that the surviving soldier faces after returning from battle.Soldier Boys was well written and I would recommend it to anyone over the age of twelve that is interest in World War II history. It gives a chronological account of the boys’ lives over the time period of the war. It gives the reader background on how the families felt about the war and their boys going off to war. It shows the expectations of the boys through training and their assignments that they had to undertake to allow them to get to the front lines. The story shows the unexpected situations that happen in battle that are cultivated from the hatred of the soldiers that they are fighting against. It shows how the soldiers that live have to deal with things that happened that were out of their control, things that should have never happened. The fact that soldiers who die being heroes sometimes don’t get all of the recognition that they deserve. It is an enjoyable story of history, pride, and the reality of war.

I remember reading this book while I was in 6th grade or so, and loving every single page. Now, after stumbling upon it again over 12 years later, I find myself wanting to read it over yet again. Such a great book for both older kids and adults!

This is a simple story that is at the same time complex. It has sadness, courage and heart. You will love it. I know I do.

This is a story of two soldiers in World War II, one American and one German. They both have empathetic qualities and Dean Hughes does a good job portraying their views of the war from two different sides. I found this book quite moving at the end.

Amazing book, great condition

Historical fiction and really not worth the purchase