A survivor's tale for young fans of The Diary of Anne Frank and Zlata's Diary relates the actual experiences of Isabella Leitner, a young Jewish-Hungarian woman, in March of 1944. Reprint. AB.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Isabella Leitner has already made a valuable contribution to Holocaust literature with her Fragments of Isabella , an especially graceful memoir for adults that describes her wartime experiences. These included a traumatic deportation from her native Hungary, incarceration in Auschwitz and a death march from which she and two of her sisters escaped. Presenting this difficult material to children, Leitner focuses on the personal, saving a historical overview for an afterword (the afterword explains the title: Hitler's tactic of blaming the Jews for the catastrophic depression of 1933 was known as the "Method of the Big Lie"). Her approach allows readers to appreciate the young Isabella's incomprehension of the Final Solution even as she generates a coherent and compelling narrative. The inescapable horrors of Auschwitz are neither spared nor sensationalized. What is missing, however, are many of the telling details that make Leitner's adult work so affecting--and some other important details as well, such as the ages of Leitner and her siblings. If not quite as fully realized as Ruth Minsky Sender's The Cage and To Life , Leitner's book nonetheless conveys its message powerfully and responsibly. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-11.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-- Leitner's family's relative security in their small Hungarian town is shattered in 1944 with the beginning of anti-Semitic pronouncements and the restrictions on Jewish activities. They are first relocated to Auschwitz, where her mother and youngest sister are ``selected'' for death. The narrative covers a one-year period and includes information about time spent in Auschwitz and Birnbaumel; it concludes with liberation by the Russians and eventual reunification of the three surviving sisters with their father in America. Despite the fact that there are descriptions of daily horror and atrocities, this account is not involving. The simple sentence structure results in prose that is stilted; it lacks rich, descriptive language. The fact that the story covers only one year leaves readers with a spare, fragmented impression. Since there is no ``normal'' time with which to compare the period described, the potential impact of loss and devastation is not realized. This is a Holocaust survival story written for a young audience or for readers for whom English is a second language. However, the information presented and the quality of storytelling are minimally effective. --Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVED THIS BOOK,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Big Lie: A True Story (Paperback)
To tell you the truth this was my favorite book i have ever read. Being a jew myself i could relate to some of the book
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Remember the victims, and honor the survivors.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Big Lie: A True Story (Library Binding)
I was in the third grade and my teacher had a copy of the book. Every one seemed to want to read it. I thought "Hey! This must be a great book." So, I picked it up and read it. I will never regret it. It was probably my first encounter with the Holocaust. I am now an avid Holocaust researcher and I live by the prophecy, "We are condemned to repeat what we do not remember." I suggest you read this book, so you can truly tell the victims you remeber.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful True Story,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Big Lie: A True Story (Library Binding)
I read this when I was in second grade, and my parents read it with me. I was surprised at how awful the conditions were, but I did not have nightmares, and was very interested. I learned a lot too. This is appropiete for third graders because they will learn things. It isn't that scary, it's just the truth. It's great for all ages.
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