Holocaust Remembrance Week begins on Monday, April 24th, commemorating the survivors and victims of the Holocaust. The five books below remind readers to never forget this horrible time in history.
1. "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank.
The Diary of a Young Girl is more commonly known as the diary of Anne Frank. Frank began writing the diary in 1942, as her family hid from the Gestapo in a hidden annex. A chilling, yet remarkable tale, Anne awes readers with her maturity and human spirit while living through one of the most horrific time periods.
2. "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse.
It’s 1943 Amsterdam, and Hanneke spends her time selling black market goods to customers, feeling a sense of pride as she rebels against the Nazi regime. Hanneke not only helps support her family through this dangerous work, but she also distracts herself from the death of her boyfriend, who was killed on the front lines when the Germans invaded. Her work becomes even more dangerous when she agrees to help one of her customers, Mrs. Janssen, find a Jewish teenager that the Janssen family had been hiding.
3. "Daniel’s Story" by Carol Matas.
Set in the 1930s, fourteen year old Daniel and his family are forced to leave their home and live in the Lodz ghetto in Poland. They are then sent to Auschwitz and Buchenwald death camps. Embodying the collective voice of the children of the Holocaust, Daniel fears for his and his family’s lives as they’re persecuted for their religious beliefs. Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story is a featured exhibit at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where visitors can see the book come to life.
4. "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys.
As the Axis powers invade their homelands, Salt to the Sea is told from the perspective of four teenagers who all seek passage on the Wilhem Gustloff. On board, they'll find safety and freedom. Or so they think. Ruta Sepetys sheds light on the greatest, yet least-discussed, maritime tragedy in history.
5. "Prisoner of Night and Fog" by Anne Blankman.
Set in 1930s Munich, Germany, Prisoner of Night and Fog follows the life of Gretchen Muller, the darling of the National Socialist Party and her Uncle Dolf. Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. Gretchen has always believed every word her uncle says, until she meets Daniel, a Jewish reporter who knows the truth behind the death of Gretchen’s father. Filled with action and suspense, Gretchen is forced to choose between the life she’s always known or a life accompanied by Daniel and the truth.
