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
It just depends on what kind of Holocaust book for youth you are looking for. Here 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. 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. 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/ Good luck! Jeff Corbett __________ Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:26:50 -0400 From: Wendie Sittenfield <[email protected]> To: ha-Safran <[email protected]> Subject: [ha-Safran] Seeking Holocaust book for grades 6-7 as a class read Message-ID: <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
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