The tattooist of Auschwitz

The tattooist of Auschwitz / Heather Morris, read by Richard Armitage, 273 pgs.

A novelized memoir based on the experiences of Auschwitz survivor Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who spent almost three years in the camp. He tattooed numbers on the arms of fellow detainees including Gita, a woman who would become his wife.  the horrors of the camp are interspersed with stories of their love affair.  As with all Holocaust literature, there are uplifting moments but mostly a horrible realization that this really happened.  Richard Armitage does a great reading.

The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow 400 pages

Just when I think that I might have read all that could be written in juv literature about the Holocaust, there comes a new title from a completely different point of view. Fourteen year old Karl Stern doesn't "look" Jewish like his younger sister and so he has been able to "pass" as a non-Jew. Until the horrible day at his school, Nazi-loving bullies pull down his pants revealing the undeniable truth, beat him up and abuse him in the bathroom. His parents seem somewhat oblivious. His father is totally focused about the opening at his art gallery. His mother is withdrawn. The famous Max Schmeling, champion boxer stops by the opening and offers to barter his boxing lessons for Karl in exchange for a favorite painting. Karl had never had an interest in boxing, and Max gives him a training list that he must accomplish before he is even ready for lessons. Max grabs onto this opportunity like it is the life raft that might save him and hopes that his stronger physique might attract his attractive neighbor. Karl is also interested in cartooning, but his cartoons are much darker than Wimpy kid like doodles. His younger sister, Hildy worships him, but she also sees the changes in the world of their Berlin as violence against Jews escalates. The author draws characters never seen before in children's lit -- not just the Nazi hero, Max, but their father's cross-dressing patron, the Countess. Gritty, but believable.

Annexed by Sharon Dogar 339 pages

You may have read Anne Frank's diary a while ago. This flips her diary by showing the same story through Peter van Pels. It starts just before his family moves into the hidden annex with Anne's family; this is also in a journal format. Peter was not initially attracted to Anne. She is not quite so saintly in this story. According to this fictional account, he actually hated her and is haunted by memories of another girlfriend recently picked up by the Germans. As time goes by in their cramped living quarters his feelings change. While the reader knows what is coming for Anne, we are not certain if Peter will escape. Compelling and bittersweet.

The Year of Goodbyes: a true story of friendship, family, and farewells by Debbie Levy 136 pages

In 1938, Jutta Salzberg loses her happy childhood as Hitler's reign transforms life for Jewish Germans residing in Germany. Levy uses a unique primary source, her mother's poesiealbum (poetry album), her spare verses told through mother's 12 year-old voice and family photos to create a slim book with a powerful punch. This is a thoroughly original treatment that uses actual entries from the poesiealbum with comments that respond to and question some of the sentiments expressed by her mother's young friends. The author's forward that explains her mother's book and the afterward that reveals the author's extensive research chronicling the fates of friends and family members is essential reading. This is an important addition to Holocaust literature written for young people.