Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust [Library Binding]

Barbara Rogasky (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up

Examines the causes, events, and legacies of the Holocaust which resulted in the extermination of six million Jews.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Aimed at the same age group as Miriam Chaikin's recent A Nightmare in History, this book also examines Hitler's rise to power in the context of long-standing anti-Semitism, and the devastation and horror wrought by his policies of imprisoning and exterminating the Jews. Whereas Chaikin moved readers by fleshing out stories of individuals, Rogasky elicits considerable power from an unexpected sourcestatistics and lists, and the cold-blooded notations of officers carrying out their duties: "3208 people had to be transported three miles before they could be liquidated. . . . " She compares the numbers and aspects of other holocauststhose suffered by American Indians, Armenians, etc.to implore readers to understand what made this Holocaust unique. Other areas of focus include the late, inadequate response of the United States and United Kingdom, and the rise of anti-Semitism in the '80s. Most compelling is the attention given to rebellion and resistance by Jews; it stuns the imagination to read of the man who leaped from a body-filled pit to tear out the throat of an SS commander with his teeth. Perhaps the saddest statistic is the one revealing that many were too weak to live even when liberated. "In the areas freed by the Americans, French and British, 60,000 Jews were found alive. Within one week, 20,000 had died." Black-and-white photos from archival collections, documents and maps give this volume accessibility, and add to the tragic mood that pervades each set of sobering numbers. Ages 11-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up Rogasky's graphic and moving chronicle of 20th-Century genocide in the western world tackles enormous questions of ethics, values, and history. She begins with an analysis of the roots of anti-Semitism, and sketches in how Hitler came to power. Then Rogasky details the dark horror of Nazismfrom the beginning pogroms the Nazis organized against German Jews to the setting up of concentration camps and death factories. She utilizes many primary sourcespersonal narratives of victims and survivors and the records left by the Nazisto tell the story of mass murder. In clear and simple prose, she relates how the Jews lived and died in the camps, how they fought and prayed, how a few escaped, and how a small number of non-Jews helped them in their struggle. She concludes with an account of the Nuremburg Trials and the many instances of contemporary anti-Semitism that have outlived Hitler. Black-and-white photosmany of them vivid reminders of the genocideunderscore the dark events described. Milton Meltzer's Never to Forget (Harper, 1976) remains the best narrative account of the Holocaust for older children and teenagers, but because of the pictures here and the accessibility of Rogasky's text, Smoke and Ashes is highly recommended. One Holocaust survivor stated, ``There is only one thing worse than Auschwitz itself, and that is if the world forgets there was such a place.'' Young readers of this book won't forget. Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Library Binding: 187 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823406970
• ISBN-13: 978-0823406975
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,734,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent choice, January 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust (Paperback)

This book was wonderful. By the time I finished reading it, I was crying. The story of the holocaust is well expressed in the pages of this book. I felt that when I was reading it I was actually in a concentration camp witnessing the events. I never knew that all that happened to Jews. They were baked in ovens, put in gas chambers, shot on spot, or attacked by dogs. They had to endure long periods of time without health care or food. This book had pictures, maps and great writing. I think that this book is great but I don't reccomend it for children under 12 because of pictures, and describtions on treatment of Jews. Great job Baraba!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smoke and Ashes, May 17, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust (Paperback)

If you are really into learning more about the holocaust then you need to read Smoke and Ashes by Barbara Rogasky. This book is an emotional book. It goes into detail on what the SS soilders did to the jewish people , and to the gypsies, homosexuals, the elderly ,and the mentaly ill. The Nazis would put them in gas chambers. They used zyclon B. They would burn them in ovens. If you really want to know more then I highly reccomend this book

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommened this book., April 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Smoke and Ashes: The Story of the Holocaust (Library Binding)

Barbara Rogasky writes wounderfully. Though Smoke and Ashes is written for juvenilles, it is good enough for an adult to read. It captures the horror of the holocaust, and emphisizes "Never Again."