Publisher:
Dundurn
Pages: 160
Source: Won
an advanced reading copy form LibraryThing
Genre: Young
Adult, Historical Fiction
Jews have long been blamed for everything from plague to
anything bad that happened. They have
been persecuted for centuries. We
know from our recent history how Hitler made a point of trying to wipe them
out. But, did you know that in the
early 1700’s they were just as persecuted and looked down on? I didn’t. Anne Dublin has crafted a story set during this time, in
Hamburg, Germany. It is here we
meet a young girl by the name of Johanna Eisen. She had seen a sign advertising for girls to work in an orphanage. She lies about her name to get a job to
help her mother. She lied about her name because she was sure that with a
Jewish name she would not be hired.
Although her mother is against it, she lets Johanna go. It is immediately clear that there is something
wrong in this orphanage. They are
not allowed to speak to the babies and they are not allowed to hold them beyond
changing their diaper or tending to their physical needs. Soon the babies begin to die.
Johanna overhears a conversation between the concerned
doctor and one of those in charge.
It is shortly thereafter she decides she must rescue one of the babies
she has fallen in love with. She
makes the arrangements to escape and is caught by one of the other girls who
wants to go with her. From this
point on the tension is taken up a notch.
Will she succeed in escaping?
What about her mother? What
about her friend Cecile? What will
happen when Cecile finds out Johanna is a Jew?
Read the book to find out answers to all of these questions
and more. I would gladly recommend
this book to my students and anyone who loves historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by this
author.
About the Author:
Anne Dublin is an award winning author of historical fiction
and biographies for young people.
Her books include Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do
Everything, winner of the IODE Violet
Downey Book Award and the Canadian Jewish Book Award and The Orphan
Rescue, finalist for the U.S. National
Jewish Book Award. She lives in
Toronto.
Visit her website to see her other books: http://www.annedublin.ca/
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