...another biography that is a truely memorable reading experience...


No Pretty Pictures : a child of war
by Anita Lobel

Published: New York : Collins, 2008.  239 pages.
Reading Appeal:  Young Adult

...this is a true story
                    Narrative non-fiction                                                       thought provoking
...this is the autobiography of Anita Lobel who, from the age of 5 to age 10, lived a terrifying existence hiding from the Nazis. Anita tried to protect herself and her younger brother but was eventually captured and force marched from concentration camp to concentration camp.

Anita's story is a haunting memoir and unbelievably moving when you know you are reading of actual events that happened to a very young child.  Anita shares her experiences.  She tells us there are no pretty pictures remaining from her childhood.
      Moving                                        Biographical                                  Character-driven
It is amazing that Anita and her brother survived the ordeal of the Jewish Holocaust...and it is even more amazing that we are given the privilege of sharing Anita's experiences during World War II in this unforgetable book...

Interesting titbit:  Anital Lobel is an illustrator of childrens' books.

...an unforgetable and compelling read of a true life experience...

Mandurah Libraries

Author: Anita Lobel

...another reading adventure introduces us to ...


Someone named Eva
by Joan Wolf


Published:  New York : Clarion, 2007.  272 pages.
Reading Appeal:  Young Adult

Eye-opening                          Heart-breaking 

This moving and haunting story is about an 11 year old girl called Milada, who grew up in a small village called Lidice, Czechoslovakia.  Milada's family is torn apart when the German Nazis attack her village in 1942.
 Milada is selected for the Lebensborn program by the Nazis because she has blonde hair and blue eyes, the much admired Aryan features that Hiltler promotes as the "proper German" features.  Milada is kidnapped and transported to a school in Poland.  Her named is changed to Eva, she is taught to speak German and groomed to be adopted by a German family.  However, Milada/Eva is a clever young girl and she despite her traumatic experiences she never forgets her true name and her family history.
   Masterfully written                       Fascinating                            Memorable


...I guarantee this fast paced novel will keep you glued to the pages from beginning to end...


Novelist