"Cilka's Journey" by Heather Morris

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris is based on the true story of Cilka Klein.  What a story it is!  She was only 16 when she was taken to a concentration camp.  After that she was sent to a Siberian prison camp--the charge was sleeping with the enemy.  She will have to be strong to endure this.  

Good stuff!  Cilka was so brave and determined to stay alive in the face of death every day.  Be sure to read the additional information and the afterword as well.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

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"The Tattooist of Auschwitz" by Heather Morris

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is based on a true story and what a story it is! Lale is forced to surrender to the Germans and is taken to a concentration camp. Vowing to someday be a free man again, he does as he is told. One day he is picked to number on their arms all the prisoners in the camp. This is some story! You really get the feeling of being in the camp. The writing is that good! Lale was a great character to be sure as well as the other people he made friends with. If you like historical non-fiction, this is the book for you! Do not miss this one!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 27:  Lale has witnessed an unimaginable act.  He staggers to his feet, standing on the threshold of hell, an inferno of feelings raging inside him.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Storyteller" by Jodi Picoult

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult is so good! Wow, oh wow, where to start? It is about an old man who was a German S.S. guard at a Nazi war camp. Now he wants a favor from a woman, one she is not sure she can do. There are several good story lines in this book. You get the Nazi guard story, a fantastic story from the young girl’s Jewish grandmother who was in the death camp, and the story that she was writing, which is sort of what the book is based on. I just loved it! As usual for Jodi Picoult’s books, the ending is shocking!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Boy In The Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne

Don't Miss This One!  (100 stars)
I could have The Boy In The Striped Pajamas in just one day!  This book is about a 9-yr-old boy named Bruno whose father becomes the commandant of a Nazi death camp for Jews.  Bruno becomes friends with one of the Jewish boys there named Shmuel.  What a powerful story this is!!  The ending really shook me to the core.  It was also made into a move.  Here is the link to view clips: 

(Gerard's review 3/20/09)

This is a sad story about two lonely boys who befriend each other through a fence of a concentration camp. It is told from Bruno's (the Commandant's son) perspective which is very innocent in contrast to the awfulness of the Holocaust. Both boys are the same age but one lives very well and the other is in a death camp. It shows how unfair life is and has a shocking ending, yet Bruno's words that Shmuel is now his best friend for life came true. Bruno was an adventurous boy who was curious what life was like on the other side of the fence. He loved his father and knew that it couldn't be too bad if his father was in charge. I can't express all that this book encompasses. It's a great book that you will long remember.
(Karen's review 3/20/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Diary Of A Young Girl" by Anne Frank

The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank (the definitive edition) is unique because it is a real diary of the Jewish girl, Anne Frank, that she started at age 13 and stopped when she was 15 during the time she was in hiding with seven other people. This is a historical document from the Holocaust.

Reading this gave me a real sense of how the Jews lived in fear during that time and how unfair life was. Anne writes all about her feelings about the people she lives with and the day-to-day struggles and fears she lived with for two years. The ending was very sad. It was her father though, who took care of her most treasured possession--her diary and shared it with the world to carry out her wish.

I found this to be an amazing book and am glad I finally read it. Anne Frank had a strong desire to have good character and become a journalist. She shares her dreams and insights of human nature based on the group dynamics she observed during her two years of confinement.

(Karen's review 2/6/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a wonderful book!  There are only a handful of books you read that your are going to remember years later and this is one of them.  I LOVED this book!  It goes fast and is almost impossible to put down!  It tells the story of Liesel Meminger, who loved to read books, but that is just one part of the story.  There are so many story lines in The Book Thief that keep your interest.  Just read this book, enjoy the story.  It captures the human spirit that I hope is in all of us!  I give it 5+ stars.
(Gerard's review 1/20/10)

I read this too but found it very slow and felt I had to force myself to keep plowing through it.  I know a lot of people think it is great, but it did not appeal to me.  I finally gave up on about about halfway through.
(Karen's thoughts 1/27/10)

Read if for yourself and see who you agree with, Gerard or me.

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?