American Wolf

In the summer of 1941, 11-year-old Wolf is growing up amidst the rubble and antisemitism of war-torn Nazi Berlin. Destitute and facing deportation, he must leave behind his sister and travel with his family across a continent entrenched in war. With nothing in hand but expired visas to the US, Wolf and his family must figure out how to sneak aboard the Spanish freighter the Navemar, a ship that would gain its reputation as the "Hell Ship of Death." But this is only the beginning of Wolf's saga.

American Wolf is a heart-stopping true story full of last-minute rescues, near-death encounters, and survival against untold odds. It is also a story about coming of age, family dysfunction and national identity, and is a resounding testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

Using the notes compiled by her father, Audrey Birnbaum vividly retells a poignant account of Wolf's childhood in Berlin, his riveting escape from Nazi Germany, and the continued challenges he faced even as he reached freedom.

Winner of the 2024 Book Excellence AwardsWinner of the 2024 Readers' Favorite Award Silver Medal in Non-fiction Biography73rd National Jewish Book Awards Finalist in the category of Holocaust Memoir