• Age: 11 to 18
• Grade: 6 to 12

This vivid historical novel follows the life of young Peter Gruber — ten years old at the outbreak of World War Two in 1939 — and explores how an intelligent, sensitive youth responds to the propaganda and posturing of the Nazis. It also provides insights into the realities of living in a country at war, a country that suffers increasing waves of devastation, as the tide turns against the Nazis.

The story is told through the eyes of Peter as he is drawn into the Hitler Youth and at the same time comes to doubt what he is being told about his country and its destiny.

Amanda West Lewis' profile page

"This historical novel is perfectly relevant in this period of international instability. Amanda West Lewis's The Pact is intriguing historical fiction. . . The Pact is particularly relevant in this period of international instability, especially as it depicts a bloodthirsty dictator seizing power while a nation struggles."
A five heart rating (out of five)
— Foreword Reviews

"Lewis' detailed setting descriptions will provide readers with an accurate portrait of war-torn Germany, Hungary, and Denmark."
— Kirkus Reviews

"How Nazi propaganda affected the children of the German homeland becomes evident and concise, for we are sympathetic to an individual who literally grows into a Nazi, and cannot deconstruct the illusion that overwhelms his young mind. Lewis has managed to develop a truly brave piece of work."
— Resource Links

"After becoming aware of the horrors his country was a part of, Peter can only find solace in reading Russian classics, such as War and Peace and The Brothers Karamazov. This connection to great literature brings exceptional depth and insight into Peter's story about being on the wrong side of World War II, highlighting the universal nature of sorrow and regret through the eyes of a boy growing into a man." .
Highly Recommended."
— National Reading Campaign

"Gripping, gritty, and tremendously poignant. In The Pact, Amanda West Lewis powerfully reveals the flipside of war through a unique perspective. With great empathy, Lewis depicts the inner and outer battles fought by young Peter Gruber — loving son, loyal friend, and Hitler Youth recruit. Her masterful telling takes us from simply knowing history to truly feeling his story. A riveting historical read for both the head and the heart."
— Caroline Pignat, two time winner of the Governor Generals' Literary Award

"How does an entire country sleepwalk into intolerance, dictatorship, insanity, war? The Pact unfolds with the smell, the sound and feel of utter reality, in the form of the life of one simple boy being pushed, inescapably, into the uniform of the SS. Essential reading from a new, bright light in historical fiction, Amanda West Lewis.
— Alan Cumyn, author of The Secret Life of Owen Skye and Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend

"A compelling novel about the generation of Germans who refused to talk about the Second World War when it was over, The Pact speaks to a new generation of readers who want to understand how wars happen, and fills that immeasurable silence with compassion and understanding. By showing how rhetoric and propaganda affect young lives on both sides of the conflict, Lewis provides an important lesson for our time."
— Wayne Grady

"The publisher has recommended the novel for grades 5-9, but this novel would also be a valuable resource in all grades from middle school through high school. With themes including social justice, genocide, the Holocaust, and the effects of propaganda and dictatorship, The Pact would be an asset in social studies courses of all types (i.e. history, global studies). It also would be an excellent read for people who enjoy historical fiction from this time period. The Pact is a very thought-provoking and satisfying read for young adult and adult readers alike.
Highly Recommended."
— CM Magazine