Seventy years later, we still must not forget: Auschwitz and the other Nazi Concentration Camps. The young artists and poets of Terezin, Kristy Cambron, Eva Kor with Lisa Rojany Buccieri, and Joel C. Rosenberg help us remember.

On this anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and in memory of the 6,000,000+ Jewish people who lost their lives in the Nazi concentration camps, may I recommend:

Historical Fiction

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron...An intriguing title, an intriguing story.

I was captured by this story immediately.  A missing original photograph of a beautiful girl with shaved head and Nazi concentration camp numbers tattooed on her arm provides the backdrop of this story. Why are two people searching for this intriguing painting? One, a wealthy business man from California and the other, an art gallery owner in New York. They both have copies, but they both feel compelled to find the original for very different reasons.

As the story unfolds we learn the identity and story or the international beauty in the photo. She is a non-Jewish Austrian who, like many others, ended up in the Nazi concentration camps. Why is she, once the "Sweetheart of Austria" imprisoned, shorn of her hair, and tattooed? Who painted the photo that was obviously painted years ago. In a camp? Did she survive, or was she a casualty of the camp's gas chambers or firing squad?

Written in alternating sequences between New York/California and Austria/Germany, the story unfolds quickly and beautifully. The descriptions are so well crafted that the reader sees the scenes as the characters did.

This is a love story, both modern and historic. The message comes through loud and clear but without preaching, our gifts are from God and not to be wasted.The drawings and poems by the children of Terezin are among the most poignant documents of the Holocaust. This expanded edition of the unforgettable collection I Never Saw Another Butterfly was occasioned by the loan of the children's art by the State Jewish Museum in Prague to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., for exhibition and for this book.

The ghetto of Terezin (Theresienstadt), located in the hills outside Prague, was an unusual concentration camp in that it was created to cover up the Nazi genocide of the Jews. Billed as the "Fuhrer's gift to the Jews," this "model ghetto" was the site of a Red Cross inspection visit in 1944 and of a propaganda film produced by the Nazis. Some elderly Jews even paid to enter its protective ghetto walls. With its high proportion of artists and intellectuals, culture flourished in the ghetto -- alongside starvation, disease, and constant dread of the continuous transports to the death camps of the east. Every one of its inhabitants was condemned in advance to die.

A total of 15,000 children under the age of fifteen passed through the Terezin Concentration Camp between the years 1942 and 1944; less than 100 survived. In these poems and pictures drawn by the young inmates of Terezin, we see the daily misery of these uprooted children, as well as their courage and optimism, their hopes and fears.

The drawings and poems are all that is left of these children. About those who signed their names to their work, it has been possible to find out a few facts: the year and place of their birth, the date of their transport to Terezin and to Auschwitz, and the date of their death. For most of them that last date was 1944, a year before the end of the war.

These innocent and honest depictions allow us to see through the eyes of the children what life was like in the ghetto. Birds and butterflies flutter with the looming red roofs of Terezin in the background; a luminous moonlit room betrays the stark interior of the barracks. Pencil line drawings depict the threatening guards, work brigades, and deportations they witnessed. Side by side with the realities are images of hope -- a sailboat guided by a candle, a lighted menorah, children playing in a garden that resembles Eden, figures scaling mountain peaks to liberation.

The children's poems and drawings, revealing a maturity beyond their years, are haunting reminders of what no child should ever have to see. Each piece of art gives the overwhelming tragedy of genocide a human and individual face.

This new, expanded edition of I Never Saw Another Butterfly includes many additional drawings and poems chosen from the archives of the State Jewish Museum in Prague by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

I highly recommend this book.

Non-fiction

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

If you know nothing of the Terezin Camp, this book is a great beginning. The courage and strength of the children and the adults who, even in the most horrendous of times, found a way to survive through the arts is amazing. This book is a collection of some of the drawings and poems by the children of Terezin. They are poignant documents of the Holocaust. This expanded edition of the unforgettable collection I Never Saw Another Butterfly was occasioned by the loan of the children's art by the State Jewish Museum in Prague to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., for exhibition and for this book.

The ghetto of Terezin (Theresienstadt), located in the hills outside Prague, was an unusual concentration camp in that it was created to cover up the Nazi genocide of the Jews. Billed as the "Fuhrer's gift to the Jews," this "model ghetto" was the site of a Red Cross inspection visit in 1944 and of a propaganda film produced by the Nazis. Some elderly Jews even paid to enter its protective ghetto walls. With its high proportion of artists and intellectuals, culture flourished in the ghetto -- alongside starvation, disease, and constant dread of the continuous transports to the death camps of the east. Every one of its inhabitants was condemned in advance to die.

A total of 15,000 children under the age of fifteen passed through the Terezin Concentration Camp between the years 1942 and 1944; less than 100 survived. In these poems and pictures drawn by the young inmates of Terezin, we see the daily misery of these uprooted children, as well as their courage and optimism, their hopes and fears.

The drawings and poems are all that is left of these children. About those who signed their names to their work, it has been possible to find out a few facts: the year and place of their birth, the date of their transport to Terezin and to Auschwitz, and the date of their death. For most of them that last date was 1944, a year before the end of the war.

These innocent and honest depictions allow us to see through the eyes of the children what life was like in the ghetto. Birds and butterflies flutter with the looming red roofs of Terezin in the background; a luminous moonlit room betrays the stark interior of the barracks. Pencil line drawings depict the threatening guards, work brigades, and deportations they witnessed. Side by side with the realities are images of hope -- a sailboat guided by a candle, a lighted menorah, children playing in a garden that resembles Eden, figures scaling mountain peaks to liberation.

The children's poems and drawings, revealing a maturity beyond their years, are haunting reminders of what no child should ever have to see. Each piece of art gives the overwhelming tragedy of genocide a human and individual face.

This new, expanded edition of I Never Saw Another Butterfly includes many additional drawings and poems chosen from the archives of the State Jewish Museum in Prague by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

SURVIVING     The Angel of Death

A Young Adult story of twins who, after their family was killed in the camp, survived "The Angel of Death', Josef Mengele.

The Auschwitz Escape

A recent book for upper elementary and middle school readers, this book has received much critical acclaim.

Twilight of Memory: Coming Soon

Check out my Pinterest board for photos related to the book.    

                http://www.pinterest.com/juliafsmith7/twilight-of-memory/

The Sea Witch has bewitched me. I'm in love with a Pirate!. Thanks for introducing us Helen Hollick.

Real men laugh, cry, swear, love unconditionally and sometimes behave badly. I know because that's how Jesamiah Acorne behaves and he is a real man. It is truly refreshing to read the story of such a strong yet tender character. Yes, he is a pirate. Yes, he loots and shoots. And yes, he hurts and bleeds like everyone else. Hollick has written a complete character, with all his likes, dislikes, failures and accomplishments rounding him out so that he is believable and even lovable.

Sea Witch by Helen Hollick is not your typical bodice ripper of old. This is a complete, beautifully written tale of life upon the sea for a singular group of men during a particularly rugged time in our history. As such, the sea is as much a character as is Jesamiah and Tiola, the lady who becomes his love. The ships, both pirate and merchant, are characters in themselves. Seas and ships are artfully described so that even land lovers can picture the action.

The setting is during the golden age of piracy, 1716, upon sea and land in the pirate grounds from Africa to the Caribbean.  Jesamiah Acorne has escaped the bullying of his elder half brother by becoming a pirate. At the beginning of the story he has only two loves---the sea and his freedom. Ah, but the Sea Witch changes that.

The Sea Witch. A beautiful ship? Or the beautiful woman with supernatural powers who steals Jesamiah's heart?

The author sent me a copy of this book when I agreed to 'try' it. I will admit that I was not sure I would like this book. Pirates and their environment do not usually attract my attention. Nevertheless, recently on a sunny winter's day sitting by one Gulf, I opened the book and began reading. Soon I was transported to another time and another Gulf. And I was lost in a wonderful historical action, love story. Thank you Helen Hollick for Jesamiah, Tolia, and the other characters. I will read the second book on my next trip to the Gulf. Hope it's soon!

Sea Witch is available from Amazon as a Kindle or paperback book. The author lives in the UK, so it is surely available on UK and US Amazon as well others.

Middle Grades/YA early British History Made Interesting. In two languages!! Check out Laurel Rockefeller's, Boudicca

Boudicca, Britain's Queen of the Iceni:  
A biography of one of ancient Britain's most legendary female leaders for you and your children. Help them learn to love history and true stories. Read about Britain's Queen of the Iceni, Boudicca.

 Published:March 20, 2014 

Age Level: 4 - 18  Grade Level: 2 - 12

From the books description:

Why is The Morrígan's raven crying? Only Britons with hearts for true liberty know!

In 43 CE Roman conquest of Britannia seems all but certain -- until a chance meeting between King Prasutagus of the Iceni and a runaway slave of royal decent from the Aedui tribe in Gaul changes the fate of the British islands forever.

Rise up for liberty with the true story of Boudicca: Britain's Queen of the Iceni and discover one of the most inspiring stories in history!

Based on the accounts of Roman historian Tacitus and supplemented with archaeology presented by the BBC. Told through the eyes of a 5th century mother and daughter facing the Saxon invasions.
***************

Now in Chinese also. What a positive event for author Laurel Rockefeller.  Check out the two covers. Both available through Amazon.

Happy Belated Birthday, Mr. President.

December 28, 1856- A President is born. Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Read about his childhood in Tommy: The Civil War Childhood of a President.

Tommy: The Civil War Childhood of a President is being used in schools and libraries for biography projects for upper elementary, MG readers. It is also finding favor with older readers who know more of the history of this president. Get to know Tommy, Thomas Woodrow Wilson.

The little boy who became President Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born December 28, 1856. In honor of his birthday, I am repeating my earlier blog about my childhood biography of him. Known to his family as Tommy, I think you will like the little boy that lives through one horrific war only to be called upon to lead us into another.

In Tommy: The Civil War Childhood of a President, readers will get to know Tommy through his family and friends, through his leisure moments, and even through his stubbornness and his caring for others. Each chapter provides insight into the youngster who became 28th president of the United States. The reader will see Tommy learn from his faith and family, and from the history lived. These lessons learned were later evident as President Thomas Woodrow Wilson guided his country through another war, World War I. 

In "Tommy" we get a glimpse of everyday life in a southern town not directly in the line of fire in a bloody civil war. An important strand in the book is found in the many parades, all verified, that took place in Augusta during that time. At the beginning of the war the parades were glorious. By the middle and end of the war the tempo of the parades was changing. The following except describes one memorable parade.

  An excerpt from Tommy: The Civil War Childhood of a President.

     The future President of the United States stood on the edge of the field fascinated by the parade passing in front of him.  He had seen many parades since the war started two years ago, but this one was different.  There were no brass bands playing, no freshly uniformed infantry units stepping high and no prancing cavalry horses.  No one was marching, and no one was cheering.

     This was not a parade of clean, smartly dressed military men.  This was a parade of ragged men in tattered uniforms.  Their sabers and sashes were replaced by blood and bandages. And dirt. 

     There was no one to watch this parade by the railroad track in Augusta, Georgia, but seven-year-old Tommy and his young friends.  Playing in the fields near the tracks, they had heard the solemn ringing of the troop-train's bell and watched as it shuddered to stop beside the field.  Curious, the boys ran to the train and watched as slowly it emptied its cargo of Civil War wounded.
 

          A few of the injured limped unaided, but many more shuffled, supported on one or both sides by others who were themselves wounded.  Others hobbled on crutches.  One man, with a foot missing kept his head down and his eyes on the bandage at the end of his leg.  He seemed to be looking at the foot that wasn't there.                               

     After the walking wounded came men on litters.  Their bodies, their heads, their limbs wrapped in bloody, dirty bandages.  Some of the blood was old and caked; some new and oozing. 

    One man alone seemed to see the boys.  His large body was covered with a blood-soaked blanket on which several medals and many flies competed for space.  His head and face were covered with bloody, dirty bandages.

     A foul, wretched smell filled the air through which the litters moved.  It was not a smell like the barnyard or the cow pen.  It was not even a smell like hogs being slaughtered.  This smell was worse, much worse.  As it grew stronger, Tommy and his friends covered their mouths and noses as to protect themselves from this smell which instinctively they knew to be the smell of death.

     Finally, from the car nearest the engine came a different sight.  Men under guard.  Men whose arms and legs were bound together, making it hard for them to walk.  So they too shuffled.  And they too were covered with dirt and blood and bandages.

     One of Tommy's friends  finally broke their silence.  "Come on," he said.  "Let's get back to our game."

     Everyone turned to go but Tommy.  Tommy stood still, only his head moving to follow the hundreds of wounded and dying soldiers who were passing by.

     Finally, he turned and headed, not toward his friends, but back to his home and the security of his family. He could play no more that day.  He wasn't sure he could ever play that game again.

      The boys had been playing war. 

Tommy: The Civil War Childhood of a President
A Childhood Biography of President Thomas Woodrow Wilson
By Julia Faye Dockery Smith

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478228881

An Old Woman swallowing dreidels, oil, latkes and other things, and great artwork. What a special way to start Chanukah.

Today is the beginning of Chanukah, so I decided to review a wonderful book that came my way a few weeks ago. I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Dreidel by Caryn Yacowitz and illustrated by David Slonim.

What a great book for all, but especially for our Jewish friends. The time-honored "There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly," is adapted to items found in Jewish life. The family has gathered for Chanukah when the story begins. We start with "I know an old lady who swallowed a dreidel, A Chanukah dreidel she thought was a bagel, Perhaps it's fatal." Then of course, she had to swallow other items trying to offset the expected effects of swallowing a dreidel. She swallows some gelt, a brisket, some sauce, the latkes, etc. Did she even try to swallow the menorah? Was swallowing the dreidel fatal? You must read the book to find out. You will love the journey.

The beautiful, in every sense of the word, surprise is the artwork that accompanies this tale. The illustrations are parodies of famous artworks from the world over. They are usually hilarious and always true to the original. Everything from the Mona Lisa to The Scream and Christina's World can be found. At least 14 different artists' works are wonderfully parodied by the illustrator, David Slonim. Not just one illustration per artist, but many. One of my favorites, and this was a hard decision, is Van Gogh's full page Starry Night complete with a menorah. For some reason, too, Christina's World also speaks to me. The artist states that he wanted the book to transcend Chanukah and speak to the universal human experience of family gatherings and celebrations. He has succeeded beautifully through great artworks.

I'm so glad I received this book through Goodreads. I've enjoyed it immensely, but tomorrow, the second day of Chanukah I will gift it to my dear Jewish friends to share with their grandchildren. I rather hate to let it go, but in the spirit of my season and their season, I will

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When I was growing up, there were always books for Christmas. It's still that way at our house.

When I was growing up, there were always books for Christmas. My parents taught me the value of reading very early in my life. From my first memories, I can recall being read to by one or the other of them. Books were always around the house, and Dad was a prolific reader.

When I entered first grade, no pre-k or kindergarten then, I quickly became an avid reader for myself. By fourth grade I had read every book in our elementary school library, mostly biographies of American heroes.  Thank goodness that after fourth grade the local library was on the bus route and even within walking distance when necessary.

But it was at Christmas that I received the seeds of a family tradition and added to my list of books read. I discovered early on that my Mom listened closely to my ramblings about books I wanted to read. She would then rush out and buy them for Christmas. They would quickly be hidden away, or so my folks thought.

I discovered the hiding places and would sneak the books out and read them. After putting them back I would casually say something to the fact that "Oh, Joanne's mother bought her such and such, and such and such, etc, and she let me read them." A little later I would mention other books I wanted to read, the list was as endless as it is now, and Mom would dispose of the read books and put more in their place. Some Christmases this pattern could be repeated 2,3 or even 4 times.

I was well into high school when it stopped and I never learned if she had a 'deal' with the local bookstore, or if those books went under someone else's tree through the church or work gift collections. I always felt that I had outsmarted my parents.

Years later, my Mother casually let it slip that she and Dad knew exactly what I was doing, and they helped perpetuate the myth. Perhaps that would explain why they started buying and hiding the books immediately after Thanksgiving.

They also helped start a family tradition, for everyone in my family knows they will have a book or books under the Christmas tree. When our daughter married, we were told that it wasn't necessary to buy our son-in-law a book because, well, you know. He received a book and has for the past 22 Christmases, and some birthdays! No complaints. The same story with our daughter-in-law. "Not that much of a reader," she said. Now, 13 years later, she feels free to give me lists of titles she wants to read. This year there is possibility that there will be a boyfriend of a granddaughter in attendance. If so, he will get a book. It's our family tradition.The secret is simply getting to know their interests.

In that vein, here are some books that would make great Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. Most of these are not from the best seller list, but great reads just the same. Let's also help other writers develop a fan base.
Happy Holidays to all.

   

 

             

   

  

  

    

More suggestions in a few days. Would love to hear YOUR suggestions.