The Boy Who Dared

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2008

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Pages 1-38

Pages 38-78

Pages 78-127

Pages 128-165

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

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Themes

The Value of the Individual

The Boy Who Dared illustrates the value of the individual in several ways. Helmuth comes of age during Hitler’s rise to power, a time when Germany was increasingly nationalistic. As a child, Helmuth enjoys patriotic displays like flags and parades that make him proud to be German. However, he rejects the way this patriotism turns into an “us versus them” mentality. The belief that “outsiders” like Jewish people and Communists threaten Germany’s power and unity leads to a devaluation of the individual. The Nazis’ extreme nationalism suppresses not only the “outsiders” but everyday Germans, too. As Helmuth laments, the Nazis “tell us to denounce our neighbors and we call it patriotism” (112). Helmuth resents that the Nazis force Germans to sacrifice their individual liberties for the sake of an imagined greater good. The Gestapo’s rampant use of torture proves the Nazis’ disregard for individual people’s lives. The Nazis are hypocritical; they tout the so-called improvements they are making in Germany, while making it a scary and dangerous place for anyone who disagrees with them.

Helmuth understands that what a person can say and do is more important than abstract ideals like flag and Fatherland. He believes it is better to “[let] go of the flag [...] to fight another day for your country” (44). Human life is more valuable than a flag, and moreover, humans are worth more alive than dead. While Helmuth does ultimately die, he does not sacrifice himself for Germany, but for his friends and the truth. Helmuth “knows that he has lived a life that stood for something” (154).

Helmuth’s pamphlet campaign also highlights the value of the individual; it shows the power every individual has. While the impact of his campaign is not clear, Helmuth and his friends widely distribute his pamphlets and presumably many people see them. Helmuth is one person but brings the truth to his friends and neighbors. His value as an individual is demonstrated by his execution; the Nazis consider him, one teenage boy, dangerous and powerful enough that he needs to be put to death. This shows that one person can make a difference, that they can be a viable threat to totalitarian leadership.

The Danger of Silence

The novel shows how silence, both forced and consensual, is harmful. Hitler turns Germany into a place where it is dangerous to speak out against him or his party. Helmuth and other Germans are not allowed to criticize the Nazis, which means that the government holds absolute power. The Gestapo, and stories about the Gestapo killing or torturing dissenters like Brother Worbs, scare people into silence. Consequentially, Germans lose their freedom of speech and Hitler can continue his reign of terror unchecked. No one can stop him if they cannot talk about him without getting tortured or killed. Helmuth tries to find a way around this by writing in anonymity, but even this is fatal.

Helmuth’s story shows that Hitler is not the only one at fault. Mutti is like many other Germans at the time; she is aware of bad things that are happening but says nothing. The novel repeatedly mentions Mutti’s silence in response to Hugo’s behavior. She even states that “(s)ilence is how people get on sometimes” (72). Rather than talk to Hugo about cruel things he says and does, she keeps quiet, wanting to live without conflict. The fact that many other Germans live this way bothers Helmuth, who feels like no one is willing to leave their comfort zone. Mutti and those like her become complicit in the Nazis’ violent behavior when they choose to stay silent and not intervene. They may not personally harm others, but their silence allows others to be harmed.

Beyond passive silence, citizens who engage in actively silencing their neighbors increase the danger of speaking out. In the novel, we see the duty to report others who threaten the government. When the Gestapo come for Helmuth, he sees “Herr Mohns [...] looking gleeful. Helmuth understands the look. Herr Mohns is a man who has done his duty” (140). Herr Mohns is pleased that he was given the chance to turn Helmuth in, believing that he is doing something great for his country. By recruiting the everyday person to participate in silencing anyone with a threatening opinion, Hitler increases his own power.

Whenever a citizen turns another citizen in, they silence the argument or facts that person could have spread and scare others into silence. This ripple effect makes it nearly impossible for anyone to go against the Nazis and allows Hitler’s genocide and oppression to continue. While this novel focuses on WWII and Hitler, its portrayal of the danger of silence offers a warning that history could repeat itself if people are unwilling to speak up for others.

The Power of Media and Propaganda

The Boy Who Dared focuses on how media can either reveal or distort the truth. Hitler uses the media and propaganda to control the German people. In the aftermath of Germany’s defeat in WWI, Hitler’s speeches proclaiming the greatness of Germany inspire the German people. Initially, Helmuth believes Hitler’s propaganda and “it charges [him]” (21). When Hitler’s speeches become more hateful over time, he is able to influence those already under his spell. The Nazi propaganda machine builds over time until people like Hugo believe everything it says. Hitler’s absolute control over the media allows him to spread falsehoods to the point that people are not even aware their news reports are false. By telling only the version of events he wants Germans to hear, Hitler can keep the people’s support. Hitler’s tactics show how media can be used as a powerful tool in politics.

Radios in particular are very important in Helmuth’s world. Hitler creates the People’s Receiver radio and uses the RRG station to both falsely inform Germans and prevent access to outside media. The Radio Law and book burning further cement Hitler’s control by making it illegal to listen to or read outside media. Helmuth becomes convinced of Hitler’s censorship when he first listens to the BBC and discovers that “the British disclose actual losses, whereas the RRG never does” (103). Helmuth, unlike other Germans, is able to compare the two radio stations, and this allows him to recognize that the RRG is full of propaganda and lies. This shows the importance of having access to more than one form of news media. The novel demonstrates that people are unable to be informed if they lack the ability to factcheck what they’ve been fed, and this can have harsh consequences.

The apparent truthfulness of the BBC is what inspires Helmuth to start his pamphlet campaign. He only accesses the BBC through Gerhard’s banned foreign radio, and he feels the responsibility to share the information he hears. Helmuth tries to recreate the power of the BBC broadcast in his pamphlets. Media can be powerful in a positive way, and Helmuth uses the written word to push back against the lies on German radios and in newspapers. The media is a tool that Hitler uses to control his country and hide the truth, but it is also a tool that Helmuth uses to uncover and share the truth. Ultimately, the media is critical in Nazi Germany and Helmuth’s life: it dictates what is true or false, real or fabricated.