Excellent input, Sara, on the subject of Holocaust books for
children. You listed one of my absolute favorites in this category,
THE DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC. It meets all the criteria you suggested, and
the reason I've recommended this book for years and years is the
remove/safety aspect. Since
There are so many better books to teach the lessons of the Holocaust
than those listed. My personal favorite story and one that I think
really touches a child is Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levin. It
brings the story of the Holocaust, so huge a concept to grasp when
first introduced, to a more
I agree. The Book Thief is not appropriate for middle school and
definitely not a way to teach about the Holocaust! I consider it for
9th or 10th grade and up; the more mature, the more they will get out
of it! Perhaps this teacher needs to learn how to enhance her Anne
Frank curriculum.
One title that would be an excellent introduction for middle school
students to the Holocaust is Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy. It is
based on the grandmother of the author and her experiences as a young
girl hiding in the Lodz Ghetto. The book is not graphic and written
in free verse that
I wonder if anyone else out there sees the positive side of having
students read the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Please enlighten those
of us who find it is a horrible and maybe damaging item for people to
read or see.
X-Original-To: Hasafran@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
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I'm pretty appalled by this. As much as I loved reading The Book Thief,
for example, this is not a book to introduce the Holocaust to students.
It's a very complicated concept to feel sympathy for the Germans while
knowing what was going on. I think the analogy to Gone with the Wind is
apt. I
Yes, I've noticed that; I think it's true in adult literature too
these days (e.g., Sarah's Key). I imagine people think that if they
make the Holocaust more mainstream, it'll appeal to more
non-Jews. Nice thought but. . . .
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Dear Safranim,
I have replied to Marcia offline, but I wanted to share this piece with
the listserv.
I think it is important to underscore that The Boy in the Striped
Pajamas must be DELETED from the reading list entirely. It is FICTION
beyond the possibility of reality. People could not slip
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