This book took me by surprise. I honestly did not know what I was getting myself into when I first started to read it. It gave plenty of information on Isaac’s life of being Jewish. It even had pages reserved for just pictures and little captions that recapped what was going on at that time. Hidden child is about Issac and his family who lived in Paris. Isaac was seven years old when the Germans invaded France. The story first begins with Isaac’s whole family having to register as Jews and being limited as to what they could do around town. Isaac’s father was soon taken away to a concentration camp. Isaac and his mother were able to visit, but not for very long. Two years later Isaac and his mother were found and arrested. Mrs. Sztrymfman, Isaac’s mother, wanted to try and save her sons life by bribing one of the jailer’s to take him to safety at a local hospital. There was a nearby hospital where many other children pretended to be sick, with the help from the nurses and doctors. Isaac was brought back to Paris after several days and was moved around from one family to the next. He ended up with a woman named Madame Devolder who took very good care of him. After some time Isaac became Jean Devolder. Although he never forgot where he came from and hoped that one-day he would be reunited with his parents. Hidden Child was a great read and really was an emotional experience reading it. ( )

This is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. Isaac Millman, who was once Issac Sztrymfman, tells his own story about how he survived the Holocaust as a "hidden child." Isaac loved his family and friends, and he loved where he lived in France. In 1940, when Isaac was seven, Germany invaded France. This led to the Jewish people having to register themselves as Jews. Isaac soon found himself with a father imprisoned, a mother too afraid to leave her home, and a very hungry stomach. At first, Isaac was able to visit his father, but soon that ended. He and his mother were caught and taken to a concentration camp. His mother paid for Isaac to be taken to a home and hidden--she wanted no one to know he was Jewish. Isaac lived the next few years of his life with different families. His last foster mother he loved the most, and she loved him. Isaac went to school with other hidden children, and he made friends. After America came and ended the war, Isaac was placed in an orphanage for hidden Jewish children, and he watched for years as his orphan friends were reunited with his parents. It was years later when he found out that both of his parents were taken to Auschwitz and killed. He was adopted by a Jewish family in America, and he changed his name to Isaac Millman. This is a very heart-touching story. This is a great read for someone wanting a new perspective of the Holocaust. ( )

I liked this book because it shows courage even though bad things happen. I also, liked fact that it has history in the book so, that the students are not only listening to a story but, they are also learning history. This book, reminded me of when I went to Anne Frank's House in Holland which, I found interesting.

I thought this would be a great picture book for my Holocaust unit (supplement to Anne Frank, or to use for their WWII research papers), but the writing was nothing remarkable, and I wasn't even moved as much as the story should have moved me. It seemed incomplete, rough, and a little fragmented. It left me with many questions and utterly unsatisfied. I did learn about aspects of the Holocaust that I hadn't known before (minimal), but not enough to suggest that my students read the whole thing when there are better books that cover the same topics.

I feel really bad, as always, criticizing a memoir that expresses pain or recounts a traumatic experience, but I just wasn't brought into the character's feelings and experiences in a way that was transformative. Sorry. :( ( )

This is an autobiography by Isaac Millman about his life during the Nazi occupation of France and also after the war. While his family is shipped off to concentration camps, he is put into hiding through a network similar to the Underground Railroad. I think this book would be suitable for 4th grade and up. He has included photographs of himself and there are also many colorful illustrations which would help students to actually visualize his story. ( )