Klaus by Michael Hagen

The setting is Munich, Germany, November 8, 1923, Hitler’s failed putsch. Fourteen-year-old Klaus is celebrating the occasion of his birthday quietly with his father in their simple apartment. His father had been a captain in the German Army during World War I and his heartfelt gift to his son is the pocket watch that had saved his own life in battle.

Now Germany is in a time of economic disaster and political turmoil, a time when a pound of bread cost billions of marks and revolution is more probable than not. Although adolescent Klaus is aware of the political instability and feels danger for his father, who works for the head of the Social Democratic Party, which is hated by the members of the Nazi Party, he naively hopes that his father’s past military service and record, his affirmation of nationalism, might be a buffer to danger.

For young Klaus, Germany’s problems are still external. His good friend, Fritz, knows everything, especially about cars, and has a sister, Anna. Klaus is learning English from watching Tom Mix movies and wants to go to America to become an actor.

Wondrously, he has just watched a stage rehearsal of “Hedda Gabler.” But on the way home from the rehearsal his life changes abruptly. Klaus is caught in a wild cross-fire and wounded during Hitler’s attempted putsch. Later, Hitler’s brown-shirted Storm Troopers break into the apartment looking for his father. With his own life threatened, he knows that he must lie to save his father, but he is afraid to open his mouth for fear of bungling the job. Innocence was left behind in yesterday’s youth.

Michael Hagen writes with a fluidity and beauty that makes Klaus an unforgettable story for teenagers. Mr. Hagen resides in California. He has also authored the historical novels Sail to Caribee and The African Term