Karl escapes Nazi Germany, and, with his new friend, Peter, settles with sympathetic hosts in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, when capture by Nazis is imminent, the two take a perilous journey with the Danish Underground, in a desperate race for freedom in Sweden.

Good read for young adults, based upon a true story. ( )

Karl and his friend Peter have escaped to rural Denmark from Germany in the 1930s. The young men have left behind their families and their homes, but the promised transport to Palestine never appears. With the help of their neighbors, they are assimilated into the Danish community and come to think of themselves as Danes. When they are told that all Jews are going to be arrested, they begin a lengthy and desperate journey to freedom in Sweden. This is a very different account than most of those telling of Jewish escapes to Sweden. Only ten miles from the German border, Karl and Peter must depend on strangers and their own ingenuity to successfully avoid the German troops and survive an arduous journey. However, with the help of the Danish people and their own determination to succeed, even in the face of Peter’s crippling bone disease, they arrive safely in Sweden. The emphasis of this story is on the kindness and decency of the Danish people and the boys’ continued struggle to find a country they can remain in safely.

Resources:
Brief historical note explains that this novel is based on the story of Karl Friedberg, who escaped from Germany when he was fourteen.