By Johanna Reiss
PRMS paperback 179 pages
genre: autobiographical, WWII
The
author wrote down her story for her children to understand and ended up
publishing a Newbery Honor book. Johanna "Annie" is only ten ("almost
eleven!") when the Nazis are rounding up Jews. Her father wants to leave
for America, but her mother suffers from headaches and wants to stay.
Thinking they are safe in Denmark, it is too late to truly escape when
the dangers grow. The family goes into hiding in three different places -
the mother dies in the hospital.
I hadn't read this
before giving it to my sixth grade book club and was concerned when a
student said they had to stop reading because of all the swear words.
The family that Annie and her older sister Sini stay with for over two
years are simple farm folks. Johan has a penchant for rough language,
Dientje is afraid of her own shadow, and Opoe (grandma) has a soft spot
for the girls.
Good story. Much less disturbing than most Holocaust fiction. Discussion today. It will be interesting to see what the kids say.
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