The Berlin Boxing Club Essay

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The novel The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow is a story depicting the exploits of Karl Stern, a fourteen-year-old German boy who’s jewish ancestry has branded him as an outcast in a developing Natzi Germany. Karl, along with his sister and parents, live in an art studio in an unspecified town in Germany where he attends school, and aspires to be a cartoon artist. Karl begins experiencing shortcomings in the year of 1934 when he experiences strong animosity from his fellow classmates as word of his jewish lineage becomes public. Despite never setting foot in a synagogue, Karl gets expelled from school, his property vandalized, and beaten by self proclaimed Hitler youth. Karl begins to spiral into a spout of depression and self-hatred …show more content…

One thing the author did well was put illustrations in the book. These illustrations were inferred that they were drawn by the protagonist (see page 14 for example)1. This fits well with the lore of the book and gives it a unique fourth wall break. Another thing the author did well was to incorporating fiction into historical nonfiction. According to the author's home page, he interviewed several people who grew up in Natzi germany that inspired the character of Karl, and he has studied Max Schmeling’s career in order to accurately depict his whereabouts to fit the story2. My only complaint about the book were the several seemingly pointless subplots that surface off the main plot. For example, Karl develops a love interest that consisted of less than half a chapter and smoldered into nothing; It accomplished nothing and added nothing to the story (48)1. Another thing I disliked about the Novel was its inept
The novel The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow is a great read, it's the perfect blend of fiction seasoned with a non-fictional element. It’s the textbook definition of a hero’s journey to greatness in a world that's out to stop him. Although it lacks a strong plot at points, it reflects the struggles of the jewish people, and the given measure one would take to protect their family and to prove their

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