The Hidden Children [Hardcover]

Howard Greenfeld (Author), Terry Seng (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Over a million Jewish children were killed during the Holocaust. From ten thousand to 100 thousand Jewish children were hidden with strangers and survived. In this powerful and compelling work, 25 people share their experiences as hidden children. Black-and-white photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Greenfeld ( Marc Chagall ) has a rare ability to focus on a very emotional topic and to convey that emotion to readers. Here he presents the stories of Jews who, as children, survived the Holocaust in hiding. Some posed as children of non-Jewish families, others were sheltered in religious institutions or orphanages, still others spent years in airless bunkers or attics. Some lived in constant fear, moving from place to place; others did not realize they were in danger and spent the war in relative peace. A few were resented and even betrayed by those who hid them; luckier children were welcomed as part of the family. Incorporating his subjects' testimonies into succinct accounts of individual survival, Greenfeld produces a well-rounded and varied picture of their collective experiences, from the first stirrings of war through their liberation and beyond. The volume's design intensifies the impact of the stories: contemporaneous photos of the subjects, distributed throughout the text, put faces with the words. This moving, thoughtful approach to the study of the Holocaust will help young readers grasp the horrors endured in those years by people their own age. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-The experiences of 15 children who survived the Holocaust in hiding are presented here within the historical context of the Nazi rise to power and World War II. These youngsters were sheltered in a variety of private homes and institutions by "righteous Gentiles," family friends, and those simply looking for additional money; some were resented, some treated compassionately, and others mistreated and abused physically. Greenfeld has interviewed these survivors, who are now living in the U.S., and has recorded their memories. Both the mundane and the unusual are remembered; the most commonly described feelings are the fear that family members would perish and the sense of guilt at having survived while others did not. There are reminiscences of narrow escapes and poignant remembered pleasures of edible treats. While the chronological arrangement of the book makes it difficult to follow a specific child's story (it is possible by using the excellent index), it succeeds admirably in allowing readers to place the experiences described within the framework of the Holocaust. An excellent selection of black-and-white photographs and an open design contribute to making this an important and accessible resource.
Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1St Edition edition (October 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395660742
• ISBN-13: 978-0395660744
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #572,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Children's Books > History > Holocaust

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Moving Account, October 22, 2007

By 

Barb Mechalke (in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hidden Children (Paperback)

I just finished another book about the Holocaust that mentioned children being smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto in backpacks and I wanted to hear more stories about how children survived the Holocaust.

This book is considered juvenile non-fiction but the information is the same regardless of the reader's age. Howard Greenfeld does a very good job organizing the stories of children who were hidden during the Holocaust. He includes their stories in their own words as well as photographs of the survivors.

A moving collection regardless of the reader's age.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read book., December 27, 2002

By 

karen blanks (Lanett, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hidden Children (Paperback)

I bought this book for my son, Jefferson, who is 9 years old. When I looked through it, I started reading it, and just couldn't put it down. It is a wonderful book, of hardships like we have never known before, and survival of a wonderful religion and people. We are not Jewish, but I enjoyed this book immensely, and will be reading other books by this author. This book is great for adults, really makes one appreciate all that we have in this country; freedom first and foremost. For children, it is a great book to teach about hardships and compassion for others, as well as understanding history and the second world war. A DEFINITE 5 stars from me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars must read, August 7, 2008

By 

Shirley Riche - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hidden Children (Paperback)

This is a must read for anyone who likes history and stories of the holocaust. Plan not to put it down until you are finished.