Der Pfad – Book Review and Storyline

Der Pfad is a book in German meant for children above 12 years of age. It is the story of a 12-year-old boy Rolf who escapes Germany during the 2nd world war with his father and his pet dog Adi. Their destination is New York, where Rolfs’s mother lives. The young boy and his dad get stuck in Marseille in, France, where they wait for permission to exit the country. Like them, many other germans are in the same situation, away from their homes, in a foreign land and always under the eyes of Hitler’s army.

Rolfs’s father makes an escape plan with the help of a shepherd boy named Manuel, who agrees to take them across the Pyrenees mountains to Spain. The plan is to reach Spain, travel to Portugal and from there, head out to New York. But the plan doesn’t include taking the pet dog, Adi. Rolf is distraught. He doesn’t want to leave Adi behind and secretly takes him along on the perilous journey that the father-son due undertake with the help of Manuel.

The story is about this dangerous and tedious journey and the experiences that they go through. It is a story of separation and reunion, desperation and hope, courage and weakness and human bonds. The book is a page-turner, and till the end, the reader is left curious to know how the journey ends and, eventually, whether it is a happy or sad end.

The author has efficiently and sensitively touched upon topics keeping in mind the maturity level of kids, and also inserted many light moments in the book, making it a comfortable and easy read for younger readers.

I would highly recommend reading this book and introducing it to your child.