Daniel's Story

by Carol Matas Narrated by Daniel Carpenter-Gold

Overview

Daniel barely remembers leading a normal life before the Nazis came to power in 1933. He can still picture once being happy and safe, but memories of those days are fading as he and his family face the dangers threatening Jews in Hitler's Germany in the late 1930s. No longer able to practice their religion, vote, own property, or even work, Daniel's family is forced from their home in Frankfurt and sent on a long and dangerous journey, first to the Lodz ghetto in Poland and then to Auschwitz-the Nazi death camp.

Though many around him lose hope in the face of such terror, Daniel, supported by his courageous family, struggles for survival. He finds hope, life, and even love in the midst of despair. Although Daniel is a fictitious character, his story was inspired by the real experiences of many of the more than one million children who died in the Holocaust.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-- Daniel, 14 in 1941, describes first his family's sense of belonging in Germany and their refusal to flee their country despite the initial instances of anti-Semitism they experience. By the time the family is ready to acknowledge the seriousness of their situation, no country is willing to accept them. They are first deported from Frankfurt to the Lodz ghetto in Poland; from Lodz they are sent to Auschwitz, and finally, Daniel and his father are marched to Buchenwald. They are the only two members of the family who survive, and are liberated by the Americans. Daniel tells his story through the ``pictures'' he has; at first real photographs, and then the images in his head. He is a courageous, sensitive, heroic individual who personalizes the events of the Holocaust. His voice rings true; he is portrayed as an extraordinary youth, but these were times that demanded an exceptional response to increase the likelihood of survival. --Susan Kaminow, Arlington County Public Library, VA

From the Publisher

We are alive. We are human, with good and bad in us. That's all we know for sure. We can't create a new species or a new world. That's been done. Now we have to live within those boundaries . What are our choices? We can despair and curse, and change nothing. We can choose evil like our enemies have done and create a world based on hate. Or we can try to make things better.”― Carol Matas, Daniel's Story

JULY 2008 - AudioFile

A fictional account of a Jewish boy in Germany in the late 1930s, DANIEL’S STORY was first published as part of an exhibit at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Its origin lends authenticity to this compelling, chilling story. Although narrator Daniel Carpenter-Gold's pitch is right for the voice of a teenage boy, his delivery is mediocre. The level of drama is uneven; at times it’s too forceful for a younger listening audience. Further, the excess drama somewhat distracts from the important story told in the voice of young Daniel. Regardless, these shortfalls should not prevent listeners from taking advantage of this opportunity to learn more about a difficult time in history, especially one that is shared from such a unique point of view. B.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169906875
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	998,602
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

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