First the Germans imposed anti-Jewish laws, singling them out for humiliation and making it impossible to earn a living.Then they herded the Jews into a 70 street section of Warsaw which they surrounded with a wall topped by barbed wire. They denied the residents of this ghetto adequate food, fuel and clothing. Starvation, abuse and death ensued. With time, the Nazis removed the Jews. Froim and his brothers were sent to a concentration camp where he narrowly escaped the gas chamber.
Back at the Jewish Ghetto, a secret group of Jews fought against the Germans for several weeks but were eventually overcome.
Froim was eventually freed by the Allied Armies. He shared his story with David Adler who wrote this book. The book is magnificently illustrated with muted pencil sketches by Karen Ritz. The pictures are appropriately somber but contain just enough color to appeal to younger readers.
This book is similar to THE WAR WITHIN THESE WALLS in that it tells the Warsaw Ghetto experience. But it differs in intensity. In THE WAR WITHIN THESE WALLS we see the story up close and personal – focusing in on specific horrors. CHILD OF THE WARSAW GHETTO gives us a broader view and is not as graphic as books for older readers.
If you wish to read books with similar stories, I can't say enough good things about MILKWEED by Jerry Spinelli which also takes place in the Warsaw Ghetto and.Jennifer Roy's YELLOW STAR, a free verse novel about the Jewish Ghetto in Lodz, Poland.
Also on this topic, a few books I have yet to read: IRENA SENDLER AND THE CHILDREN OF THE WARSAW GHETTO by Susan Goldman Rubin and JANUSZ KORCZAK'S CHILDREN by Gloria Spielman. There are more, of course. So many heartbreaking but also inspiring stories...
Joyce,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review of another great book and resource. Makes me miss my public school days. I'd find a way to work it in. Maybe I'll share it with my grandkids instead.
Hi Linda, It's a tough topic but the author and illustrator handle it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this. Fortunately my local library has all the books you mentioned here. I've ordered Child of the Warsaw Ghetto and added the rest to my TBR list. Thanks for telling me about these.
ReplyDeleteRosi, you are one committed reader!
DeleteIt's great to have books on a difficult topic like this for various ages.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Vijaya. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteI love Milkweed so if this book is in the same vein, I'm sure it is equally powerful. Hard to read--but oh yes, great books.
ReplyDeleteNice review, Joyce, I always like David Adler's books, but the ones on the Holocaust are especially well done. Milkweed is also a favorite, as are the other books you list. All so difficult to read though important books for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI know that a lot of authors shy away from anything too serious for a child to read, but I think it's wonderful that there are books out there for kids that discuss serious topics, but in a way that kids can relate to and appreciate. Kids need to be exposed to different kinds of books, both the fun and the serious! Cool post Mrs. Joyce! Thanks for doing all the digging for great books for the rest of us. :) - Anna G.
ReplyDeleteYes, heartbreaking but inspiring. These are stories that need to be told.
ReplyDeleteThis is reminding me of a Cover to Cover episode from the early 80s, where the guy drew pastel drawings while reading a book to you to get you interested. Loved that show. There was one featuring a book about this ghetto or a similar one (were there others?). Wish I could remember the title.
ReplyDeleteFigured it out! It was The Island on Bird Street, and was about the Warsaw Ghetto. It was driving me nuts. Oh how I loved that show. I wish I could get a DVD of it now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily for letting me know about this. I wonder if we can find episodes on Youtube?
DeleteYes you can find at least snippets on YouTube but I don't know if there are snippets of that particular episode.
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