Bearing Witness: Stories of the Holocaust [Library Binding]

Hazel Rochman (Author), Darlene Z. McCampbell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

Compiling twenty-four stories that reveal the human experience during the Holocaust, a wide-ranging anthology includes excerpts from Art Spiegelman's Maus, Cynthia Ozick's The Shawl, and Carl Friedman's Nightfather.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From the vast body of literature associated with the Holocaust, Rochman and McCampbell (Who Do You Think You Are? Stories of Friends and Enemies) have selected 24 excerpts or short works that powerfully confront aspects of the war against the Jews. Most of the entries are from what might be considered a canonical roster (e.g., Elie Wiesel's Night; Claude Lanzmann's epic film, Shoah; Art Spiegelman's Maus; and Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz). The less familiar authors, however, are no less forceful. An American soldier pens a letter to his wife, feverishly recording his horrified observations after helping liberate the inmates of an Austrian concentration camp; the Dutch writer Carl Friedman describes her own and her brother's reactions to their father's stories of surviving the death camps. An excellent introduction to a dire period of history. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?An excellent compilation of memoirs, poems, and stories that puts a human face on a vast tragedy. An opening selection by Elie Wiesel sets the tone by stating why we should remember the Holocaust; an excerpt from Wiesel's Night describing his liberation from Buchenwald at the war's end closes the book. In between are stories of bewilderment, shock, horror, and courage by Ida Vos, Erika Mumford, Hans P. Richter, Isabella Leitner, Art Spiegelman, Primo Levi, and others. This collection provides a wonderful introduction to these authors' works, inspiration for readers to delve more deeply into Holocaust literature, and an example of what happens when hate prevails. An ample bibliography plus acknowledgements and sources for quotes make this volume a fine source for further studies. An invaluable choice for book talks, too.?Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY) (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531087883
• ISBN-13: 978-0531087886
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,525,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and touching, December 10, 2001

By 

"bo_pi" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bearing Witness: Stories of the Holocaust (Paperback)

I recently read this book for my Honors Junior class. I find that it, like Night by Elie Wiesel, is an easy read. Yet I would not recommend either of the two for anything younger than mature pre-teens. It's not terribly graphic, but it can be understood at a much deeper level by older teens. All in all it was a great book which helped me to better understand what took place during the Holocaust and how it affective people who lived during it.

3.0 out of 5 stars The holocost project, December 5, 2001

By 

Eric Leonard (madison, OH USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bearing Witness: Stories of the Holocaust (Paperback)

My name is Eric leonard and am in the eighth grade and chose this book for a holocost report. this book is full of holocost poems and stories. I found many of the holocost stories touching. I would recomend this book to young adults that need to be informed about this terible time in history. I enjoyed this this book and would read it again.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teaching today's children about the Holocaust, July 6, 2000

By 

Angela Payne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bearing Witness: Stories of the Holocaust (Paperback)

I purchased this book in order to prepare my 7 year old son for a visit to the Holocaust Museum in D.C.

In the book you will find poignant poems and stories written by survivors of the Holocaust written in a way that can be beneficial to both children and adults.

I recommend the book, but I would not agree with the age bracket of 4-7. I think some of the material can be presented to a child of 6 or 7 by a parent who can help explain it, but in my opinion, this book would be better suited for a child of at least 11 or 12 years old.