Monday, February 19, 2018

Bibliophile's Corner

The Librarian of Auschwitz
by Antonio Iturbe

Flap Copy Description:
Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.
Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the TerezĂ­n ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz.

My Thoughts:
This recently released novel was written by Antonio Iturbe and translated by Lilit Thwaites. It is not only a well-written historical fiction, but a must-read for those interested in the Holocaust. The poignant plot and detailed character development draw you in to this riveting story. I found myself thinking of Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel as I learned about the life of Dita Kraus in The Librarian of Auschwitz. I highly recommend this YA novel to readers aged twelve and up.

Click here to learn about the author Antonio Iturbe.
Click here to read an article about Holocaust survivor, Dita Kraus.