We all seek approval. What lengths will we go to get it though? No one can deny that Adolph Hitler had a powerful personality. What would happen to a boy under his influence, a boy seeking a father's approval and recognition. When Pierrot is orphaned, his aunt who lives and works as housekeeper for a remote house in the German mountains brings him to live with her. She is housekeeper to none other than the legendary, Adolph Hitler. To keep Pierrot safe, she forces him to leave his French identity behind and become a good German boy; after all, his father was a German soldier who died from emotional trauma inflicted upon him in the last war, so Pierrot, now Pieter, is also German. However, his aunt's efforts and the Fuher's acceptance of Pieter will not bring about the results that his aunt so dearly hoped for.

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is a cautionary tale of the power of influence in shaping a person's life. Pierrot doesn't realize the mistakes that he's been making until it is too late. Because the book is an honest portrayal of what could happen, it is a sad book to read but worthwhile. For preteens and teens, this book should be read and discussed. As a teacher, I can just imagine the great conversations that this book could catalyze in a history or a literature classroom. The possibilities are abundant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Children's Publishing for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.