Plot: This is a book by Neal Bascomb. It is a true story of one of the most daring prison breaks of all times. During WWI, POWs (Prisoners of War) were kept in prison camps. In Germany, one such camp was Holzminden, which was one of the most brutal and unforgiving camps for POWs in Germany. This story revolves around this camp and some of the inmates stationed in it, such as ace pilot and former British army sapper David Gray. Gray and some of his acquaintances decide to break out and escape the brutal camp and its even more hateful commandant, Karl Niemeyer. After many failed attempts, he and 28 others commit the greatest prison escape of The Great War.
Likes: I like this book because – you know it- it is based on history! Also, the book is about a daring prison break and has a lot of suspense, action and thrills. It is about bravery and the courage to live in spite of harsh conditions and hopelessness. The book has a section dedicated to photos from the documents, actual prison, the prisoners, and some of the contraband the prisoners used. It also has caricatures of the commandant made by the prisoners, poems, and drawings which were all made by either orderlies or prisoners during their spare time.
Recommendations: I recommend this book to kids 10 and up since some of the details are a little hard for younger kids to follow. The prison details are vivid and descriptive. It is true story of bravery and resilience.
Rating: 5/5
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