51 pages • 1 hour read
The Berlin Boxing Club
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
432
Novel • Fiction
Berlin, Germany • 1930s
2011
YA
12-17 years
880L
Super Short Summary
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow, set between 1934 and 1938, follows Karl Stern, a Jewish teenager in Berlin. Karl experiences anti-Semitic bullying and witnesses escalating Nazi oppression. After meeting German boxing champion Max Schmeling, he trains in boxing to build resilience. The novel blends Karl's struggles with his art aspirations and boxer's discipline against the backdrop of increasing Nazi atrocities. His journey ends with Karl and his sister escaping to the United States as their family faces severe persecution. The story addresses intense themes of violence and prejudice.
Challenging
Emotional
Inspirational
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
6,169 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow captures readers with its compelling historical setting and complex characters. Reviewers praise its vivid portrayal of 1930s Berlin and nuanced exploration of identity and resilience. Some criticism addresses occasional pacing issues and predictable plot elements, but overall, its emotional depth and cultural context are lauded.
Who Should Read The Berlin Boxing Club?
Readers who relish historical fiction with a coming-of-age twist will be captivated by The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow. Fans of Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas will appreciate this story, set in Nazi Germany, portraying personal resilience and growth amidst political turmoil.
6,169 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Max Schmeling
Max Schmeling
A real-life boxer featured in the story as Karl's mentor, known for his survival skills and selective acts of kindness during turbulent times.
Sigmund Stern
Sigmund Stern
Karl's father, an art gallery owner and pacifist, who balances his dedication to his work with a desire for his son to forge his own path.
Rebecca Stern
Rebecca Stern
Karl’s mother, characterized by her vulnerability and moments of insight, who discerns the dangers of the Nazi regime before others in her family.
Hildy Stern
Hildy Stern
Karl’s younger sister, who grapples with her appearance and identity, and displays unexpected depth and awareness as the story progresses.
The Countess
The Countess
A flamboyant and courageous character who aids Karl and Hildy during critical moments, known for a past connection with Karl's father as a World War I comrade.
432
Novel • Fiction
Berlin, Germany • 1930s
2011
YA
12-17 years
880L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.