Over six million European Jews were killed during the Holocaust at the hands of Adolf Hitler and his Nazis. Innocent people were starved, tortured, and brutally murdered because of antisemitism. Although many of the victims still haven’t gotten justice, their stories have been shared through the eyes of fictional characters in books.
The Boy in The Striped PAJAMAS, By John Boyne
The Boy in The Striped Pajamas is an Upper Middle Grade novel by John Boyne that takes place in Germany during the time of the Holocaust. 8-year-old Bruno and his family leave Berlin to reside near a concentration camp where his father his been assigned the role of commandant. Bruno, feeling lonely and depressed, ends meeting a Jewish boy named Shmuel, who lives at the camp. The Boy in The Striped Pajamas takes us through the journey of their forbidden friendship, while opening our eyes to the discrimination against jews during World War 2.
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The Boy at The Top of The Mountain
Like The Boy in The Striped Pajamas, The Boy at The Top of The Mountain is also by John Boyne and takes place during the Holocaust. It is YA novel about a boy named Pierrot who is forced to stay with his Aunt Beatrix after his parents die. But Aunt Beatrix doesn’t live alone. She’s a servant for Adolf Hitler. The novel shows us Pierrot’s journey as he falls under the Hilter’s influence and has to face the consequences for the actions that he takes while brainwashed.
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The Diary of A Young girl, BY ANNE FRANK
Unlike the previous books, The Diary of A Young Girl is a true story written by a Jewish teenager who died at the end of Holocaust. The book is about her real experience in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands from 1942-1944. The novel helps readers understand the fear and abuse that European Jews went through during World War through a victim’s eyes.
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Number The Stars, by lois lowry
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, is a middle grade that is based on a true story. Lowry got inspiration from her friend Annalise who lived in wartime Denmark as a child. The story is about a ten-year-old girl named Annemarie who helps Danish Resistance hide her Jewish friends from the Nazis. This novel will surely make you cry.
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Prisoner b-3087, by Alan gratz
Like Number the Stars, Prisoner B-3087 is a fictional novel based on a true story. The protagonist is a Jewish boy in 1930s Poland. He is taken away from everyone he loves and forced to move between several concentration camps, where his tortured and starved. The novel brings us through his journey as a prisoner who is just trying to survive his horrifying new life.
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The bottom line
Although the Holocaust is a tough subject to read about, it’s an extremely important one. What happened during Holocaust is appalling and never should have been allowed. The five books above will not only educate you, but also send chills down your spine. With the assistance of the information in these novels, you help can make sure that this part of History never repeats itself.