Hello, all, and g'mar chatimah tovim, I've poured over the lists of Holocaust books suitable for grades 6 and 7 that have been sent around recently and am disappointed to see that my book is not on the list. SHANGHAI SHADOWS offers a unique perspective as it's a novel about a family uprooted from their Austrian home and propelled across the world to China. The main character, Ilse, is a spunky girl who ages from 9 to 15 through the war. She makes the most of life in a grim Shanghai ghetto by going underground as a spy. So, it's a family story, a spy story, even a heart-tugging romance, and it's available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook. Please add it to your lists! Thanks, LOIS RUBY www.loisruby.com Author of ... The Red Menace (Lerner, February 2020) The Secret Grave The Doll Graveyard (Oklahoma Sequoyah winner!) Steal Away Home , Shanghai Shadows, The Stowaway Kid ... and more
> On 09/21/2020 12:49 PM Petite Safranit via Hasafran > <hasafran@lists.osu.edu> wrote: > > > I used to read when Hitler stole pink rabbit or The upstairs room to my > middle schoolers. Good intros > Ilene > > > > > On 9/21/20 10:46 AM, Sonia Kozlovsky via Hasafran wrote: > > > > Hi, Shanah Tovah to everyone! > > > > This list is extensive. I would just caution that if it's the > > grades first exposure to the Shoah, care should be taken about which book > > to read. As mentioned there are so many choices, some better than others as > > read-alouds. > > > > Daniel's Story, by Carol Matas,( Daniel, whose family suffers as > > the Nazis rise to power in Germany, describes his imprisonment in a > > concentration camp and his eventual liberation) is quite stirring. There > > is an exhibit in the United States Holocuast Memorial Museum in Washington > > from this book. > > > > I would like to add books by Kathy Kacer to this list. She is a > > Canadian author who has written a number of quality historic fiction and > > nonfiction books about different experiences during the Shoah, such as: > > Gabi's Dresser ( Gabi's world is turned upside down when the > > Nazis invade her country of Czechoslovakia. Inspired by the experiences of > > the author's mother), > > The Underground Reporters (The true story of the response of a > > group of Jewish children and young adults in a small town in Czechoslovakia > > during World War II -- their refusal to be silenced and deprived of a > > chance for self-expression) > > Saving Edith ( he true story of Edith Schwalb, a young Jewish girl > > who was forced into hiding during World War II.) > > > > Be well, > > Sonia > > > > > > Sonia Kozlovsky > > Librarian > > Krieger Schechter Day School > > Chizuk Amuno Congregation > > 8100 Stevenson Road > > Baltimore, Maryland 21208 > > 410-486-8640 > > skozlov...@ksds.edu mailto:skozlov...@ksds.edu > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thu, Sep 17, 2020 at 3:54 PM Jeff Corbett via Hasafran < > > hasafran@lists.osu.edu mailto:hasafran@lists.osu.edu > wrote: > > > > > > > Shana Tova too! > > > > > > May I refer you to an excellent New Yorker magazine article > > > on this topic? > > > https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/23/how-should-childrens-books-deal-with-the-holocaust > > > > > > https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/23/how-should-childrens-books-deal-with-the-holocaust > > > > > > It just depends on what kind of Holocaust book for youth you > > > are looking for. H ere is the list that I am presently working my way > > > through: > > > > > > 1947 - The Diary of Anne Frank. First published in the Dutch > > > language in 1947. Nonfiction. Appeared in English in 1952. Subject is > > > hiding. Book does not cover author's time in concentration camp and death. > > > 1970 - The Cigarette Sellers of Three Crosses Square - Ziemian > > > 1970 - Journey to America (and further two others in series) > > > - Levitin [Similar to Kerr's books]. Subject deals with escape. > > > 1971 - When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (and further two others > > > in series) - Kerr [Similar to Levitin's books]. Subject deals with escape. > > > 1971 - Friedrich - Richter. Originally published in German in > > > 1961. Narrator is a Gentile German boy. Jewish protagonist dies at the > > > end. Deals with living in Germany under increasing restrictions. > > > 1971 - Code: Polonaise - Wuorio > > > 1972 - I am Rosemarie - Moskin > > > 1972 - The Upstairs Room - Reiss > > > 1973 - To Fight In Silence - Wuorio > > > 1973 - A Pocket full of Seeds - Sachs > > > 1973 - Uncle Misha's Partisans - Suhl > > > 1974 - Bright Candles - Benchley > > > 1975 - On the Other Side of the Gate - Suhl > > > 1976 - Never to Forget: The Jews of the Holocaust - Meltzer > > > 1988 - Devil's Arithmetic - Yolen - Deals with concentration > > > camps and extermination. > > > 1989 - Number the Stars - Lowry > > > 1992 - Briar Rose - Yolen > > > 1996 - Behind the Bedroom Wall - Williams > > > 1999 - Otto - Ungerer > > > 2006 - Boy in the Stripped Pajamas - Boyne > > > 2007 - The Book Thief - Zasuk > > > 2015 - Stone Angel - Yolen > > > 2016 - Girl in the Blue Coat - Hess > > > 2018 - Mapping the Bones - Yolen > > > > > > I just started working through this list, so I'll share with > > > you my impressions, limited as they may be. You probably already know > > > "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1947 - Frank). I had some difficulty finding a > > > copy of "Cigarette Sellers" (1970 - Ziemain), so I skipped that one for a > > > while. A copy just landed in my lap, so I'm making it my next read. The > > > next two, "Journey to America" (1970 - Levitin) and "When Hitler Stole > > > Pink Rabbit" (1971 - Kerr) are similar in nature. They both deal with the > > > topic of escape/refugees, (a topic that is à propos these days,) and each > > > has two follow-up books. If you are looking to get books into students' > > > hands, either might be good since there are "Read Alikes" available, in > > > that if they liked the characters, there are two more in each series. If > > > they liked the setting and action, there is the other author's one to > > > read. I recently finished "Friedrich" (1971 - Richter). This one took me > > > by surprise because it's unlike the others that I have read so far, > > > namely the story is being told from a Gentile German's eyes, (and not in > > > the eyes of the Jewish victims,) and that the death of the Jewish > > > protagonist happens "on screen." It must have been very daring back when > > > it was first published. I wonder if this book would be better if the > > > class is primarily non-Jewish. Perhaps reading a Holocaust book from the > > > Jewish perspective would give them a certain "detachment" as if it's just > > > another point in history to have to study. However, by reading a book in > > > the eyes of someone like them (non-Jew,) it may prompt deeper questions > > > such as "Would I have participated if I were I living then?" I also read > > > "Devil's Arithmetic" (1988 - Yolen) and "Number the Stars" (1989 - Lowry) > > > when they came out because I was a YA then. Yolen's might appeal to the > > > "science-fictiony" reader in the way she "transports" the modern reader > > > to the time of the Holocaust, instead of simply placing the story wholly > > > in that era. I am looking forward to rereading them. I saw the movie Boy > > > in the Striped Pajamas (2006) when it came out, and will look forward to > > > actually reading the book. It should be noted that the book is criticized > > > in some circles for being factually incorrect - > > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_in_the_Striped_Pyjamas > > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_in_the_Striped_Pyjamas . Also, the > > > author is not Jewish - > > > https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/03/john-boyne-novelist-catholic-church-abuse-priesthood-boy-in-striped-pyjamas > > > > > > https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/03/john-boyne-novelist-catholic-church-abuse-priesthood-boy-in-striped-pyjamas > > > . This fact may/may not matter to you. However, there is the issue of > > > "cultural approbation" which has been a hot issue in our profession > > > (librarianship) of late (see discussion on the recent (non-Holocaust) > > > bestseller "American Dirt.") It might be, depending on your audience and > > > the lesson, a topic worthy of discussion that you actually want to wade > > > into anyway! > > > > > > May I also suggest signing up for this free virtual > > > conference on this topic? > > > https://www.lvhresourcecenter.com/virtual-conference-on-childrens-and-young-adults-holocaust-literature/ > > > > > > https://www.lvhresourcecenter.com/virtual-conference-on-childrens-and-young-adults-holocaust-literature/ > > > > > > Good luck! > > > > > > Jeff Corbett > > > __________ > > > Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:26:50 -0400 > > > From: Wendie Sittenfield <wsittenfi...@jbha.org > > > mailto:wsittenfi...@jbha.org > > > > To: ha-Safran <hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > > > mailto:hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > > > > Subject: [ha-Safran] Seeking Holocaust book for grades 6-7 as > > > a class > > > read > > > Message-ID: > > > > > > <cakdpfshfhmpalxtrq656ieo9sfwsv_e0akmsawnneft0yc8...@mail.gmail.com > > > mailto:cakdpfshfhmpalxtrq656ieo9sfwsv_e0akmsawnneft0yc8...@mail.gmail.com > > > > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > > > > > Hello Safranim, > > > > > > Please send me your suggestions for a really engaging book > > > for a middle > > > school class to read prior to starting a Holocaust elective. > > > > > > Many thanks in advance. > > > > > > Shana tova. > > > > > > Wendie Sittenfield > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __ > > > Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the > > > individual author > > > and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish > > > Libraries (AJL) > > > ================================== > > > Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: > > > hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > > > mailto:hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > > > To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - > > > click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > > > Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: > > > galro...@osu.edu mailto:galro...@osu.edu > > > Ha-Safran Archives: > > > Current: > > > > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > > > Earlier Listserver: > > > > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > > > AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org > > > -- > > > Hasafran mailing list > > > Hasafran@lists.osu.edu mailto:Hasafran@lists.osu.edu > > > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > > > > > > > > > > > > __ > > Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the > > individual author > > and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish > > Libraries (AJL) > > ================================== > > Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: > > hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > > mailto:hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > > To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click > > here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > > Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: > > galro...@osu.edu mailto:galro...@osu.edu > > Ha-Safran Archives: > > Current: > > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > > Earlier Listserver: > > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > > AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org > > -- > > Hasafran mailing list > > Hasafran@lists.osu.edu mailto:Hasafran@lists.osu.edu > > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > > > > > > > __ > Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual > author > and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries > (AJL) > ================================== > Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: > hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: > https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu > Ha-Safran Archives: > Current: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > Earlier Listserver: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org > -- > Hasafran mailing list > Hasafran@lists.osu.edu > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran >
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list Hasafran@lists.osu.edu https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran