It is 1943, and to Annemarie Johansen, life in Copenhagen is a complicated mix of ordinary home and school life, food shortages, and the constant presence of Nazi soldiers. Bravery seems a vague virtue, one possessed by dragon-slaying knights in the bedtime stories she tells her younger sister, Kirsti. Too soon, she herself is called upon for courage.
As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, the Johansens take in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and pretend she is part of the family. Ellen and Annemarie must think quickly when three Nazi officers arrive late one night and question why Ellen is not blond, like her sisters.
Through Annemarie's eyes, we see the Danish Resistance as they manage to smuggle almost the entire Jewish population, nearly 7000 people, across the sea to Sweden. In this tale of an entire nation's heroism, Lois Lowry reminds us that there is pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.
This book won the 1990 Newberry Medal and has been a favorite since the first time I read it along with my daughter when she was in 3rd grade. This time I choose to listen and Blair Brown did a great job. This books does a good job explaining to young readers what countless brave people attempted (many succeeding) to do for the Jews during WWII.
8 comments:
That sounds like a powerful story. Thanks for a lovely review.
I had heard that the Danes took care of their Jewish population. I this it was the only country where no one sold anyone out.
Impressive!
I loved this book too!! Very powerful and straightforward!
This has been on my list a long time... glad to know the audio version is well done, too.
I liked this book a lot also-I admit I did not know of Denmark's efforts to save their Jewish people-very good post on this wonderful book
This is one I've been wanting to pick up. Thanks for reminding me!
I LOVE this book. I must have been 12 or 13 the first time I read it and after that I had it out of the local library at least once a month. It is such a powerful story. And I agree with you that it does such a good job of showing that people have capacity for good.
I think this is a great book to introduce kids to the events of WWII. I only wish my daughter had been interested in it at the time I was reading it.
I've linked to your review on the Book Reviews: WWII page on War Through the Generations.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Post a Comment