A Parents Choice Magazine Gold Award Winner
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
An NCTE Notable Verse Novel
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
An ALA Notable Book for Young Readers
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year
"Moishe's daughter provides the story, as told to her by her father, and entrusts Smith to pen poems that strike at the heart of each moment, each fear, each horror and make it personal for readers even as time erases witnesses. A deeply moving, beautifully written portrayal of an evil that cannot be allowed to be forgotten."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"First person spare, eloquent verse . . . Occasional watercolor wash sketches complement the poems, adding a memorable visual dimension. An author’s note by Moskowitz-Sweet tells more about her late father Moishe, on whose memories this novel is based."—Horn Book
"Smith’s spare verse propels readers swiftly through the story . . . Readers intimidated by denser prose may appreciate the understatement in this poetic account. Small black and white vignettes add visual impact . . . a moving prose note from Moskowitz-Sweet concludes the book."—The Bulletin
"Smith's short, evocative poems highlight significant incidents from Moishe's perspective as he survives against nearly impossible odds. Lyon's sepia-toned art depicts the story's many emotions, especially the fear and loneliness that are Moishe's constant companions."—Booklist
★ 2019-04-28
Moishe Moskowitz's painful experiences in the Holocaust are expressed in brief, gut-wrenching poems.
Moishe knows fear; he must avoid the Polish boys who will beat him for being Jewish. When the Nazis come in 1939, the danger grows exponentially, but they "could not have imagined such evil" would engulf them. Moishe views the Nazis as prowling, voracious wolves, and that metaphor is used throughout the poems. Changes come quickly: yellow stars, disappearances, and forced labor. They are driven from their home and pushed into a ghetto, followed by liquidation, murders, and deportation to the concentration camps. His family is torn from him, as "the Nazis peel us like onions," his mother and sister, father, brother. He endures unending deprivation and starvation. Kindness is rare and punishable by death, but a Christian friend hides the family in the early days, a political prisoner gives him a bit of extra food, and, near the end, a group of Czech women throw warm, fresh bread into the cattle cars. Gray-toned thumbnail sketches can only hint at the devastating emotions. Moishe's daughter provides the story, as told to her by her father, and entrusts Smith to pen poems that strike at the heart of each moment, each fear, each horror and make it personal for readers even as time erases witnesses.
A deeply moving, beautifully written portrayal of an evil that cannot be allowed to be forgotten. (author's note) (Historical verse fiction. 10-adult)
