Fourteen-year-old Karl Stern has never been in a synagogue or practiced religion, but to everyone around him he is a Jew. Longing to prove his worth, he starts taking boxing lessons from champion boxer and German national hero Max Schmeling. As a skilled cartoonist, he's never before had an interest in boxing, but as Max's apprentice, Karl finds both his boxing skills and art flourishing. When Nazi violence against the Jews heightens, he must balance his dream of becoming a great boxer with his obligation to protect his family.
