Carol Matas

EducatingParents.org rating: Caution - Read With Care
Historical Fiction: 1940

Caitlyn Unruh rating on Goodreads.com -
Read for school library. It contains some quite mature subject matter so did not pass it due to younger readers, but still an incredible read. A lovely book that shows true love in the face of great evil. I would say grade 9-11, depending on how sensitive you are. The main character escapes some men intent on raping her, though they do not succeed or use the word. Some violence you find in concentration camps, and doubt in God you can expect from people suffering in unimaginable ways, but as a person of faith, I would be hesitant to give it to too young of readers with faith because they may struggle with it before they are ready for it. That's why I say grade 9-11 ish… (més)

After leaving a displaced persons camp, 15-year-old Ruth returns to Poland to search for any surviving members of her family. Believing herself to be the only survivor in her family, Ruth agrees to join the Brichah to help lead a group of Jewish children to Palestine. Palestine is still under the British Mandate, and the British were not allowing Jewish refugees to immigrate legally. Ruth and her travel companions must risk their lives to reach their dream of Eretz Israel.

While all the characters and events are fictional, the author modeled them on real characters and events. I’ve read a fair amount about the Holocaust, but I was less familiar with the continued post-war violence against Jews who returned to Poland and against Jews who attempted to enter Palestine illegally since the British severely limited the number of legal immigrants. I learned something from this inspirational story of a teenager’s transition from captivity and fear to freedom and joy.… (més)