The stories of seven Jewish children who rode the kindertransport train to England include photos of them as children and a snippet of their later lives. Historical context is provided throughout this informational book. Includes Timeline, Glossary, The Kindertransport Association, Read More, Internet Sites, Critical Thinking Using the Common Core, Bibliography, Source Notes, Index.

It is difficult to decide at what age and how children should have certain horrific subjects explained to them. Learning about horrible things that have happened centuries ago (and thus dulled by the passage of time and lack of first person accounts) is easier than learning about the recent past and present day cruelties committed by humans. It is difficult, but that education needs to be done. It is important that we understand from an early age what has happened before, and how people were affected.

This book is an excellent introduction to the events in the late 1930s Europe, specifically the Kindertransport and the beginning of the Holocaust. It does not describe the horror of the Holocaust graphically, yet it pulls few punches. Told from the points of view of Irene, Kurt, Ursula, Tom, Harry and Jack, all children who were evacuated to England on the Kindertransport in 1939. Each section describes life with their families before their escape, the trip itself, and a summary of their life afterwards. Read their honest, straightforward words describing the events. Everyone should.

While the accounts of the children involved are meant to cover their entire life, this book leaves questions unanswered, in a way that will likely encourage readers to seek out more information on their own.

Also, a timeline, excellent glossary, suggested further readings, and thorough bibliography are included. And notes on the Kindertransport association, which still operates today, that "unites these child Holocaust refugees and their descendants" and "shares their stories, honors those who made the Kindertransport possible, and supports charitable work that aids children in need."

Highly recommended.


**eARC Netgalley** ( )

This stand-alone nonfiction title not only offers a window into a piece of history but has relevance to today's current issues.

The story opens with sepia snapshots and a poem, written by one of the youngest travelers on the kindertransport. Readers are plunged directly into the narrative as the train travels across Europe, loaded with frightened children. After this dramatic introduction, Berne explains the context and history of the Nazi's persecution of Jews, beginning with discrimination and ending with arrests, attacks, and death. Then the stories of six children are told; Kurt Fuchel, Harry Ebert, Irene Schmied, Hans Schneider, Ursula Rosenfeld, and Jack Hellman. Each of them has a story of fear, desperation, and hope to tell, each of them remembers the traumatic parting from their families and familiar surroundings, as they were transported to Britain and a better chance at survival.

The narrative ends with a chapter talking about the children's lives as adults. Some were reunited with their families, but many lost most or all of their relatives in the Holocaust. They and their parents, if they survived, often continued to face discrimination and suspicion, but they never ceased to be grateful to the people who saved their lives as children. A section focuses on the organizers of the Kindertransport and the children they saved from the tragedy of the Holocaust.

Back matter includes a timeline, glossary, acknowledgments and sources, questions for critical thinking, bibliography, and index.

The obstacles faced by the Kindertransport, especially of governments refusing to accept refugees and setting multiple strictures on immigration and how and when children could be rescued, will draw immediate parallels to current controversies over refugees today. While it will take a mature reader to reflect and consider the many complex issues as well as the emotional impact of the Kindertransport - it was considered a temporary measure, most people assuming that the children would return to their parents after the war - this would be a powerful text to discuss in the classroom or at a book discussion as well as recommend to students interested in learning more about World War II, the Holocaust, and the human impact of world conflicts, prejudice, and genocide.

Verdict: A strong addition to resources on World War II and the Holocaust, this gripping narrative will make an excellent introduction for readers interested in exploring history as well as current events.

ISBN: 9781515745457; Published 2017 by Capstone; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport by Emma Carlson Berne is a book made for middle grade kids but adults will find this book wonderful also. There are pictures of the children, their stories in their own words, poems, pictures of them as adults, follow ups on those in the story, and a timeline in the back of the book. The writing reads so descriptively..
"Inside the train car, children leaned against each other in the seats, sleeping, mouths open, curled like shrimp in the laps of older brothers and sisters." The story is so touching and moving from the parents view, which you read through their letters, and from the children's. The book takes you through the history, the society, and events in a way that children can understand, how we all can understand, how this could happen and could happen again if we are not careful without hate.
Of Hitler the author writes,
"He had been legally voted in by the German people. But gradually, he had become a dictator."
"Adolf Hitler and the Nazis believed that some groups of people should not live in Germany: mainly, Jews but also gay people, people with disabilities, Jehovah's Witnesses, and people who disagreed with Hitler's policies, among others."
This book was truly amazing in showing the strength and fortitude these children had to go alone, no parents allowed, to not know if they would ever see their family again, and move forward, be brave, and fight on. The courage and heroism of those helping the children was amazing also, thank those souls that fought hard for those 10,000 kids! Loved this book and I think children will learn love, caring, kindness, and courage from this wonderfully written book. Thank you NetGalley for this suggesting! ( )