This gripping nonfiction account chronicles how one of history's greatest war criminals was found in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and brought to justice in 1960.
Adolf Eichmann was perhaps the most despised of Hitler's henchmen, and implicated in the deaths of millions of Jews. Yet he managed to escape Europe. After Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations--the Mossad--was tipped off that Eichmann might be in Argentina, the manhunt of the century began. It took 15 years to track down Eichmann, and readers learn of the bravery of those both known and unknown in the search for Eichmann, his capture and transportation to Israel. Many of the key participants' identities remain protected or were lost to history. The heart of the account stems from the search for justice and the healing of a people through the actions of the Mossad agents. "You were chosen by destiny to guarantee that one of the worst criminals of all time... would be made to stand trial in Jerusalem," says Mossad chief Isser Harel. "For the first time in history the Jews will judge their assassins."
The smooth transition of Bascomb's 2009 adult title Hunting Eichmann into a narrative appropriate for young adults speaks to the dexterity of his writing skill. He maintains the level of research and detail of a scholarly work while making the text riveting and accessible to a younger audience. This is ideal for classrooms as well as for teens with a passion for World War II history. --Jessica Bushore, former public librarian and freelance writer