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A review by _askthebookbug
Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
5.0
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
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"In 1939, the Germans invaded the town of Lodz, Poland. They forced all of the Jewish people to live in a small part of the city called a ghetto. They built a barbed-wire fence around it and posted Nazi guards to keep everyone inside it. Two hundred and seventy thousand people lived in the Lodz ghetto. “In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children. “I was one of the twelve.” - Sylvia Perlmutter.
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During the Second World War, the Nazis set up ghettos for Jews, marking the beginnings of their persecution. The author, Jennifer's aunt was one of the twelve children who survived the ghetto and this is her story. Although this book is written by Jennifer, the book is narrated through the eyes of Syvia who was barely four and a half years old at the time of the War. Written in verse, this book was nothing short of a masterpiece. What makes it gut-wrenching is the confusion and innocence of the children who struggled to comprehend the idea behind the hate that the Nazis spewed. I have read my fair share of books about Holocaust but this one has taken the top spot.
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In 1940, the Perlmutters' were evicted from their homes like the thousands of other Jews and were forced to move into a ghetto in Lodz. Syvia with her parents and a twelve year old sister, Dora makes way into the ghetto, clueless about their release. Their stay in the ghetto lasted five years, beating death against all odds. Syvia's father was undoubtedly the hero of the story, without whom the family would have perished. The conditions of the ghetto were hideous, with no hot water and no warm clothes. During the winters, many families drew their last breath, unable to tolerate the cold. Food was a luxury, inviting starvation to the ghetto. If people weren't killed because of the cold, lack of food eventually did the job. Syvia managed to make friends with the other kids but most of them were taken away in cattle cars to be gassed.
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While more Jews entered the ghetto, the Nazis ran out of food and space. Old people and children were rounded up and sent away to be executed. Because of Syvia's father's quick thinking, she survives time and again. His determination and leadership qualities came in handy as he managed to keep his family safe throughout their imprisonment. But many families weren't as lucky as them. Syvia tells us what it felt like to live in the ghetto where people were killed for no reason. A boy she knew yesterday wasn't alive the next day. Her only solace was her doll which was later sold to procure food. The food that they received contained ground glass, dirt and other particles but they couldn't afford to complain. As the War progressed, Syvia remembers how thousands of Jews were taken away, leaving the ghetto almost empty. Few of the lucky ones who were left behind protected the children from the Nazis by creating a secret safe place. It is here that Syvia realises that she's not the only child left behind in the ghetto.
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When the Russians liberated the ghetto in 1945, the Perlmutters were amongst the 800 Jews that survived. Syvia who was ten at that time had grown beyond her age. This book is painful to read, the War seen from a kid's perspective making it all the more gut-wrenching. Wars have the capability of wiping away all the goodness but Syvia tells us about the sacrifices made by the parents and others to keep their children safe. The kindness of the Russian who found them happened to be a Jew and upon witnessing the plight of his fellow brothers, his heart is wounded too. Yellow Star broke my heart with every atrocity that the Jews had to face but their survival helped apply a balm to ease the pain. I highly recommend this.
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Rating : 5/5.
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"In 1939, the Germans invaded the town of Lodz, Poland. They forced all of the Jewish people to live in a small part of the city called a ghetto. They built a barbed-wire fence around it and posted Nazi guards to keep everyone inside it. Two hundred and seventy thousand people lived in the Lodz ghetto. “In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children. “I was one of the twelve.” - Sylvia Perlmutter.
.
During the Second World War, the Nazis set up ghettos for Jews, marking the beginnings of their persecution. The author, Jennifer's aunt was one of the twelve children who survived the ghetto and this is her story. Although this book is written by Jennifer, the book is narrated through the eyes of Syvia who was barely four and a half years old at the time of the War. Written in verse, this book was nothing short of a masterpiece. What makes it gut-wrenching is the confusion and innocence of the children who struggled to comprehend the idea behind the hate that the Nazis spewed. I have read my fair share of books about Holocaust but this one has taken the top spot.
.
In 1940, the Perlmutters' were evicted from their homes like the thousands of other Jews and were forced to move into a ghetto in Lodz. Syvia with her parents and a twelve year old sister, Dora makes way into the ghetto, clueless about their release. Their stay in the ghetto lasted five years, beating death against all odds. Syvia's father was undoubtedly the hero of the story, without whom the family would have perished. The conditions of the ghetto were hideous, with no hot water and no warm clothes. During the winters, many families drew their last breath, unable to tolerate the cold. Food was a luxury, inviting starvation to the ghetto. If people weren't killed because of the cold, lack of food eventually did the job. Syvia managed to make friends with the other kids but most of them were taken away in cattle cars to be gassed.
.
While more Jews entered the ghetto, the Nazis ran out of food and space. Old people and children were rounded up and sent away to be executed. Because of Syvia's father's quick thinking, she survives time and again. His determination and leadership qualities came in handy as he managed to keep his family safe throughout their imprisonment. But many families weren't as lucky as them. Syvia tells us what it felt like to live in the ghetto where people were killed for no reason. A boy she knew yesterday wasn't alive the next day. Her only solace was her doll which was later sold to procure food. The food that they received contained ground glass, dirt and other particles but they couldn't afford to complain. As the War progressed, Syvia remembers how thousands of Jews were taken away, leaving the ghetto almost empty. Few of the lucky ones who were left behind protected the children from the Nazis by creating a secret safe place. It is here that Syvia realises that she's not the only child left behind in the ghetto.
.
When the Russians liberated the ghetto in 1945, the Perlmutters were amongst the 800 Jews that survived. Syvia who was ten at that time had grown beyond her age. This book is painful to read, the War seen from a kid's perspective making it all the more gut-wrenching. Wars have the capability of wiping away all the goodness but Syvia tells us about the sacrifices made by the parents and others to keep their children safe. The kindness of the Russian who found them happened to be a Jew and upon witnessing the plight of his fellow brothers, his heart is wounded too. Yellow Star broke my heart with every atrocity that the Jews had to face but their survival helped apply a balm to ease the pain. I highly recommend this.
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Rating : 5/5.