Daniel's Story [Paperback]

Carol Matas (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Daniel, a composite character fashioned to reflect the experiences of millions of children during the Holocaust, describes his family's lives in pre-Nazi Frankfurt, their deportation to a ghetto, and their experiences in concentration camps. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-- Daniel, 14 in 1941, describes first his family's sense of belonging in Germany and their refusal to flee their country despite the initial instances of anti-Semitism they experience. By the time the family is ready to acknowledge the seriousness of their situation, no country is willing to accept them. They are first deported from Frankfurt to the Lodz ghetto in Poland; from Lodz they are sent to Auschwitz, and finally, Daniel and his father are marched to Buchenwald. They are the only two members of the family who survive, and are liberated by the Americans. Daniel tells his story through the "pictures" he has; at first real photographs, and then the images in his head. He is a courageous, sensitive, heroic individual who personalizes the events of the Holocaust. His voice rings true; he is portrayed as an extraordinary youth, but these were times that demanded an exceptional response to increase the likelihood of survival. --Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

After witnessing the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, Daniel is suddenly transported, at age 14, from his comfortable life in Frankfurt to a Polish ghetto, then to Auschwitz and Buchenwald--losing most of his family along the way, seeing Nazi brutality of both the casual and the calculated kind, and recording atrocities with a smuggled camera (``What has happened to me?...Who am I? Where am I going?''). Matas, explicating an exhibit of photos and other materials at the new United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, creates a convincing composite youth and experience--fictional but carefully based on survivors' accounts. It's a savage story with no attempt to soften the culpability of the German people; Daniel's profound anger is easier to understand than is his father's compassion or his sister's plea to ``chose love. Always choose love.'' Daniel survives to be reunited, after the war, with his wife-to-be, but his dying friend's last word echoes beyond the happy ending: ``Remember...'' An unusual undertaking, effectively carried out. Chronology; glossary. (Fiction. 11-14) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590465880
• ISBN-13: 978-0590465885
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Holocaust
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Holocaust
  • #21 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Military & Wars

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everybody in the worls should read this book, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daniel's Story (Paperback)

I am Jewish, and when I read this book, I found out the realistic happening of what could have been me in the Holocaust if my ancestors had not moved to America before this all started. Books like "The Devils Arithmatic" are very well written books but do not give the 411 on what really happned. For example, "The Devil's Arithmatic" skiped parts about Jews ging into a ghetto and they made the Jews not know who the Nazis were in 1942. By that date, everyone that was Jewish knew what was going on and would have probably been sent to a ghetto long before. This book, however, gives the true happening of the Holocaust, and shows what people lost that were so dear to them. I was almost in tears when I finished this book. My teacher at my middle school had a historical book report project she assigned. She reccomended "Daniel's Story" as her favorite book. My friend who sits next to me, is Hindu and read the book when she knew nothing about the Holocaust. She loved it and couldn't put it down. In conclusion, this book is one of my favorites and it was a great learning experience- even though I knew much about the Holocaust already. Please read it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unforgettable Story..., April 28, 2001

By 

Henry Enrique Marin (Brooklyn, NY, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daniel's Story (Paperback)

This is a truly unforgettable story about a 14-yr old boy named Daniel who lived through the Holocaust. Daniel, the main character, narrates this emotional story about his experience during World War II. From the time when he was taken away from his home in Frankfurt to the ghetto of Lodz in Poland, then to Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Through his journey he learns to fight for his life and never give up. ... This is a touching and memorable story that, as someone else said, it also encouraged me to learn more about the Holocaust. I highly recommend this book to anyone, any age. You will never forget it !

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Daniel's Story, January 19, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Daniel's Story (Paperback)

I highly recommend Daniel's Story to other 6th graders because it is really interesting . Daniel's Story is about a boys life as a Jew in Germany and what he has to do to get his freedom back and leave concentration camp . Daniel is treated bad because he is a Jewish. For example the paragraph below .
Daniel's Story has a sad introduction also when they were starting to be treated bad was because the Germans were looking for someone to blame for all of Germanys disasters so they picked the Jews and that's why everything happened and why they where treated so bad .
Daniel's Story has a suspensful rasing action was when Daniel and his family where on the train it was really suspensfulbecause the author didn't revil where they were going it made me have to keep on turning the pages and reading to find out .
The other one was that it had a revealing climax cause it said the truth about how they were being treated and also how they were being killed for no reason or just because they were Jewish . And also because it was saying how they were living and all they had to go through and that it was not fair but only that they had to do .
So if you are looking for a good book that keeps you turning the pages you should read Daniel's Story . I also predict that you will love this book after you read it .