The Berlin Boxing Club

Sydney Taylor Award-winning novel Berlin Boxing Club is loosely inspired by the true story of boxer Max Schmeling’s experiences following Kristallnacht. Publishers Weekly called it “a masterful historical novel” in a starred review.

Karl Stern has never thought of himself as a Jew; after all, he’s never even been in a synagogue. But the bullies at his school in Nazi-era Berlin don’t care that Karl’s family doesn’t practice religion. Demoralized by their attacks against a heritage he doesn’t accept as his own, Karl longs to prove his worth.

Then Max Schmeling, champion boxer and German hero, makes a deal with Karl’s father to give Karl boxing lessons. A skilled cartoonist, Karl has never had an interest in boxing, but now it seems like the perfect chance to reinvent himself.

But when Nazi violence against Jews escalates, Karl must take on a new role: family protector. And as Max’s fame forces him to associate with Nazi elites, Karl begins to wonder where his hero’s sympathies truly lie. Can Karl balance his boxing dreams with his obligation to keep his family out of harm’s way?

Includes an author’s note and sources page detailing the factual inspirations behind the novel.

• Survival Against the Odds: In the heart of Nazi Berlin, a boy who has never felt Jewish must fight to protect the family that defines his heritage.
• An Unlikely Friendship: When German boxing champion Max Schmeling takes Karl under his wing, the young cartoonist begins to wonder if his hero’s loyalties lie with him—or the Reich.
• A Forbidden Romance: As the Nuremberg Laws make their love illegal, Karl finds a secret connection with Greta, a non-Jewish girl who understands him more than anyone.
• Inspired by a True Story: Based on the real-life actions of Max Schmeling, this award-winning novel explores the courage and moral complexity of life in the Third Reich.