Racers, The: How an Outcast Driver, An American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Challenged Hitler’s Best, written by Neal Bascomb, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary:  The Racers is an exciting piece of narrative nonfiction that builds to the culminating event of the 1937 European Grand Prix. But before readers get to that momentous race, we meet the drivers, teams and cars that participated. Hitler was reveling in his power and trying to prove the prowess of the Third Reich in motor sports. The Nazi German driver, Rudi Caracciola, and his line of vehicles drive one piece of the narrative. We also follow Rene Dreyfus, a French driver of Jewish heritage who is barred from racing for most teams despite having much success in racing. He finds a spot with Ecurie Bleue, a team run by Lucy Shell, an heiress and racer in her own right, who wanted to make her mark on the sport. As the Grand Prix approaches, the book becomes more and more exciting as readers wonder if the underdog team of Dreyfus and Shell stands a chance against the powerhouse force of Nazi Germany.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This book is incredibly detailed in its description of the cars and races in which each of the drivers competed. This reader, who is not a car or racing enthusiast, occasionally felt mired by the profuse details, but fully recognizes that the many middle school and high school readers who are fans of cars and racing will be delighted by the level of detail included. The historical context of the story is incredibly interesting, focusing on the power dynamics in Europe during the late 30s and the many ways in which the Nazi power overwhelmed nearly anyone or anything that crossed its path. There is plenty of room for curricular connections to world history, and the inclusion of an exciting tale of racing and power dynamics may be just the thing students need to add excitement to their curriculum. The connections between many still existing car companies and the Nazi regime were also fascinating to learn, and are rarely discussed, even in suburban Detroit, the Motor City, where this reviewer lives. Ultimately, this book is an underdog story, following scrappy Rene Dreyfus and determined Lucy Shell as they pursue their dreams in the face of immense power, fear and hatred. If students are interested in the first half of the story, they will certainly stick around for the heart-pounding finish. Recommended for libraries where car and racing books are popular and for collections in need of additional perspectives on World War II.