Katarina [School & Library Binding]

Kathryn Winter (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up

During World War II in Slovakia, a young Jewish girl in hiding becomes a devout Catholic and is sustained by her belief that she will return home to her family as soon as the war ends.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Astonishing for its uncanny grace and dexterity in handling harrowing subject matter, Winter's semi-autobiographical debut novel describes the ordeals of a Jewish girl in WWII Slovakia. When the state police begin singling out the Jews in 1942, seven-year-old Katar!na, an orphan, is especially unsettled because her guardian, Aunt Lena, has raised her without religion. Lena protects them from roundups through various ruses and strategic decisions; Katar!na also relies on the saints the new maid has secretly taught her about. Then one of Lena's schemes misfires and Katar!na, hidden among superstitious and fearful peasants in a remote hamlet, is turned out of her shelter and forced to make her own way. A sophisticated structure purposefully incorporates flashbacks and occasional shifts in narration, all of which underscore Katar!na's vulnerability. At the same time Katar!na herself is an unusually strong character, and Winter evokes her reactions with a robust verisimilitude that will directly engage the target audience. Whether recreating Lena's progressive household, a forest ritual prescribed by a witch, or Katar!na's thoughts as she spends months alone in hiding, the prose reverberates with authenticity. First-rate fiction, it marks the author as someone to watch. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-This book bears testament to the pernicious influences of insularity and superstition and to the courage of people who, in the face of danger, are willing to defend the helpless. Katar!na has been raised by her aunt, a free-thinking woman who has always scorned the constrictions of organized religion. She knows nothing of her Jewish heritage beyond the fact that she is Jewish. In fact, Katar!na is secretly being taught the Catechism by the family's maid and considers herself a devout Catholic. As the Nazis tighten their grip on the Jewish population, Aunt Lena finds a peasant family whom she pays to take in the girl. She is hidden for a time but, as the danger to the family increases, she is sent out on her own. After several near escapes, Katar!na makes her way to her former maid's family and is placed in a Protestant orphanage for the duration of the war. This is a difficult book, not only because of its subject matter, but also because it moves backward and forward in time and because the voice sometimes shifts from that of Katar!na to that of a person observing her. Then, too, an eight-year-old child must, necessarily, have had a confused understanding of the calamity that had befallen her. In spite of the challenges of its style, however, Katar!na is worth reading and begs for discussion. Winter has told her story with admirable evenness. Even the people unsympathetic to Katar!na's plight are given motivation. Readers are also aware of numerous characters who risked their own lives to help her. Many teachers, librarians, and parents should find ample use for this powerful book.
Miriam Lang Budin, Mt. Kisco Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 257 pages
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613218450
• ISBN-13: 978-0613218450
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,534,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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 Book to Stay Up Late For., July 23, 2001

By 

Tammy (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Katarina (Paperback)

This is a wonderfully masterful account of a young Jewish girl and her life growing up in Slovakia during World War II. I stayed up late waiting to find out where she would hide next and when Aunt Lena and Uncle Teo would come back to bring her home. Much of the story, Katarina is unaware why she is considered Jewish because her family has never observed the religion and she has been learning Catholic ways on the side. Aunt Lena is a wonderful mother figure that takes the place of Katarina's real mother and father when they die. Uncle Teo is Aunt Lena's husband and not quite used to children being around, but an effective provider for the family before he goes into hiding. There was one part of the story that may need to be read together with a fifth grade level child. While Katarina is staying at the peasant house of Mariska, she is witness to Mariska and a male friend named Kubo that make noises and touch each other in the storage room while Katarina is hiding out in there. This would probably warrant a discussion for any curious minds. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book is when she is in the orphanage being taken care of by the Protestant nuns and brother. It is certainly where Katarina feels the love of Sister Mara and Brother Martin. Brother Martin begins to share stories with Katarina about the war and it is obvious that he is on the side of the Partisans in Slovakia. After some exciting events at the orphanage the war finally comes to an end and Katarina heads back to her village to see if Aunt Lena and Uncle Teo are there waiting for her. This is a great book that I may include in a unit on World War II especially if studying the war from different countries and their perspectives.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Katarina, February 28, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Katarina (Paperback)

"I'm sorry,Miss Lena. It's nothing personal, Katarina is a well-behaved little girl. But you know, my husband works for the government, we can't have a Jewish child coming to our home or skating on our property..." Katarina is a young girl living in Slovakia in 1942. Just because she is Jewish, Katarina is asked not to go play or skate at her best friend's house. This quote from the beginning of the book is an example of how Jewish people were treated at the start of World War II. They were asked to go away and were not trusted by Slovaks or Germans. Even though Katarina's family has never been very religious, she is considered Jewish by the government. Because of her religion, she is no longer safe. As the book goes on, Katarina is forced to live in one hiding place after another. She is scared, but has hope that one day everything will be back to normal again. This book is historical fiction. I think Katarina is worth reading and is good for discussion. I rate this book four out of five. I think girls will enjoy this book more than boys, and I recommend it for girls ages 10 to 15.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Katarina - a moving story, December 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Katarina (Paperback)

I really liked Katarina. It let me share what it was like during WWII. In some parts I felt like I was really there with Katarina and experiencing all that she was. I would recommend this book to any young girl.