Despite this audiobook's dark historical setting, Carlotta Brentan delivers a glowing performance. Author Lia Levi recounts her childhood in Italy during WWII. Brentan captures a child's gradual understanding of why she can't go to her hometown school anymore, why her family must move to find work, and why she must drop her Jewish identity. The more Lia learns about Mussolini and the war brewing around her, the more her eyes are opened to injustice and racism. Brentan elicits further empathy from listeners as Lia's family members put on a brave face for her safety and comfort. Scenes of rare happy moments, brightly performed, give listeners hope for Lia's future. G.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Lia Levi adds her girlhood voice—so spunky, outspoken, and innocent—to the great children’s choir of Holocaust narratives. These voices, fewer each year, remind us of what was lost and what was learned.” –Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars  —

"Lia’s young voice is perceptive and heartbreakingly vulnerable as she recounts her steadfast, even cheerful, acceptance of the changes in her life amid the insanity around her. A remarkable, powerful young readers’ adaptation of an award-winning World War II memoir." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A quiet Jewish Italian child uprooted by war proves resilient in this endearing illustrated memoir...This account is neither rose colored nor naive, but it also doesn't focus unduly on the pain of Lia's Holocaust experience. [An] excellent step beyond Peter Sís’ Nicky and Vera (2021) for sensitive readers and gives voice to an underrepresented nationality among Holocaust survivor stories." — Booklist (starred review)

“The quick, deft storytelling is that of a gifted, experienced narrator...Lia’s impressions of her different schools, new friendships, and the conditions war brings about speak to children’s interests." — Horn Book Magazine

“Heartbreaking and sweet… Levi’s story is perfect for young children who want to learn more about the Holocaust, but aren’t ready for the more horrific details. An excellent addition to elementary memoir and World War II collections.” — School Library Journal

“Though this story will sound common to many readers who have familiarity with World War II, Levi makes her memoir easily comprehensible to a younger age group, handling topics such as financial troubles and hunger with particular accessibility.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"A quiet Jewish Italian child uprooted by war proves resilient in this endearing illustrated memoir...This account is neither rose colored nor naive, but it also doesn't focus unduly on the pain of Lia's Holocaust experience. [An] excellent step beyond Peter Sís’ Nicky and Vera (2021) for sensitive readers and gives voice to an underrepresented nationality among Holocaust survivor stories."

The quick, deft storytelling is that of a gifted, experienced narrator...Lia’s impressions of her different schools, new friendships, and the conditions war brings about speak to children’s interests."

05/01/2022

Gr 3–7—Lia Levi tells the story of her childhood as a young Jewish girl living in Italy and Rome during World War II. Lia's life begins to change when her mother tells her she can no longer attend her Italian school. Because of Mussolini's new laws, Lia must now attend a Jewish school. While this change doesn't affect Lia much, it is the first of many changes that worry her and cause her family to be separated. Lia's father loses his job, and their family must move multiple times for him to find work that will support their family. When the war gets too close to home, Lia's parents send her and her sisters to live at a convent in hopes of disguising them as Christian children. This unique story is both heartbreaking and sweet. Lia goes through many difficult situations, but, as a young girl would, she finds ways to be positive and have fun through this terrible time. The illustrations included add context for readers, along with interjections from Lia's adult self that usually refers to the readers as "dear readers." Levi's story is perfect for young children who want to learn more about the Holocaust, but aren't ready for the more horrific details. VERDICT An excellent addition to elementary memoir and World War II collections.—Lisa Buffi

Despite this audiobook's dark historical setting, Carlotta Brentan delivers a glowing performance. Author Lia Levi recounts her childhood in Italy during WWII. Brentan captures a child's gradual understanding of why she can't go to her hometown school anymore, why her family must move to find work, and why she must drop her Jewish identity. The more Lia learns about Mussolini and the war brewing around her, the more her eyes are opened to injustice and racism. Brentan elicits further empathy from listeners as Lia's family members put on a brave face for her safety and comfort. Scenes of rare happy moments, brightly performed, give listeners hope for Lia's future. G.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

★ 2022-01-25
An autobiographical account of one Jewish girl’s childhood in Fascist Italy during World War II.

Barred from her Italian school, 6-year-old Lia now goes to a Judaic school. After more antisemitic laws cost her Papa his job, the family moves to Milan and then to Rome, where Lia’s father is forced to work clandestine jobs. Things grow steadily worse as occupying Nazi troops hunt and deport Jews. Lia, her sisters, and their Mama spend the rest of the war hiding out at a convent while Papa is on the run. But there are also moments of laughter and joy, and Lia finds comfort in her parents’ love. Levi narrates using dual perspectives—as the young girl experiencing the war and as an older woman remembering her past. The age-appropriate text is beautifully translated by Notini from the Italian. Lia’s young voice is perceptive and heartbreakingly vulnerable as she recounts her steadfast, even cheerful, acceptance of the changes in her life amid the insanity around her. Levi always makes it known when her older self is at the helm, directly addressing her “dear readers” and interjecting helpful supplementary information. Mason’s black-and-white sketches provide immediacy and added clarity. In a closing letter that gives more insight into Levi’s memories, she requests a moment of silence for the 6 million Jews the Nazis murdered, urges readers to always stand against racism, and expresses eternal gratitude to the American soldiers who “came as saviors” during the war. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A remarkable, powerful young readers’ adaptation of an award-winning World War II memoir. (Memoir/history. 9-14)