In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer

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When World War II began, Irene Gutowna was a 17-year-old Polish nursing student. Six years later, she writes in this inspiring memoir, "I felt a million years old." In the intervening time she was separated from her family, raped by Russian soldiers, and forced to work in a hotel serving German officers. Sickened by the suffering inflicted on the local Jews, Irene began leaving food under the walls of the ghetto. Soon she was scheming to protect the Jewish workers she supervised at the hotel, and then hiding them in the lavish villa where she served as housekeeper to a German major. When he discovered them in the house, Gutowna became his mistress to protect her friends--later escaping him to join the Polish partisans during the Germans' retreat. The author presents her extraordinary heroism as the inevitable result of small steps taken over time, but her readers will not agree as they consume this thrilling adventure story, which also happens to be a drama of moral choice and courage. Although adults will find Irene's tale moving, it is appropriately published as a young adult book. Her experiences while still in her teens remind adolescents everywhere that their actions count, that the power to make a difference is in their hands. --Wendy Smith

Book Description

IRENE GUT WAS just 17 in 1939, when the Germans and Russians devoured her native Poland. Just a girl, really. But a girl who saw evil and chose to defy it.

“No matter how many Holocaust stories one has read, this one is a must, for its impact is so powerful.”—School Library Journal, Starred

A Book Sense Top Ten Pick

A Publisher’s Weekly Choice of the Year’s Best Books

A Booklist Editors Choice

Customer Reviews:

Interesting right through the very end........2007-08-13

Unlike most characters featured in such books, Irene Opdyke had no vested interest in helping the Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland. She began her work in small, timid steps, gradually growing more bold and forceful as she matured. The story is told in an entirely credible and sympathetic way, without forcing young readers to wade though long narratives of graphic atrocities. I found the afterward to be the most moving and memorable part of the entire book.

A wonderfully written memoir.......2007-08-10

In my hands is a wonderfully written account of the difference "only one girl" can make. Irene Opdyke lived 7 years through the war and was subjected to many wrong doings herself, but she continued to put herself in mortal danger without thought to herself for the sake of saving the lives of a group of Jews.
A very important book in helping to teach the next generation of the horror of the second world war, but also in teaching us that one person can make a great deal of difference to the lives of others.

Amazing Polish Perspective.......2007-07-15

I've read a good number of books on World War II, but this one had tons of new information and thoughts to consider. We often look at the issues from the perspective of Germans, Jews, or Americans, but rarely do we ponder how the war must have been for the Polish. If you're interested in World War II, this is a must-read.

Extraordinary biography and memior .......2007-07-15

of what Poland went through during the occupation of the Germans and Russians. I checked this book out at the library for our WWII unit study to read to my family. It is not for the faint of heart. There are many situations in this book that I did have to leave out because Irene tells the whole truth. It is a great book and needs to be read by all. Courage always takes the hard road but thank God there are those in our midst willing to stand up for those that can't.

Irena is my hero.......2007-07-10

This is my favorite book about the Holocaust because even though it Irena is honest about the horrors of what the Nazis and the rest of the civilians did, her story ends with strong hope. The way she gambled her life over and over again and took such amazing risks is a brilliant inspiration to us all. Irena really is one of the righteous among the nations for what she did to save her Jewish friends. She stuck to her faith and her convictions in the face of death. This is greater than any work of fiction; no author could have dreamed up the adventures and horrors she endured, from her rape and incarceration to her involvement in the Polish resistance, she is a fighter and a survivor. She has led such an astounding life! If every person who saw what the Nazis were doing had stood up and made the kind of sacrifices she did, the holocaust would have been stopped. Out of all the literature I have read regarding the shoah, this is the one I hold most dear; Irena is my hero.

Wicked Problems, Righteous Solutions: A Catolog of Modern Engineering Paradigms

Average customer rating:

Drowning in "Waterfall"
Wicked Problems, Righteous Solutions - Now I understand!
Antiqued
Not just for software
An excellent overview of software development methods

Wicked Problems, Righteous Solutions: A Catolog of Modern Engineering Paradigms
Peter DeGrace , and Leslie Hulet Stahl
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 013590126X

Book Description

M->CREATED

Customer Reviews:

Drowning in "Waterfall".......2005-11-05

A detailed and well-supported essay on the the "waterfall" method of software development. The author defines a wicked problem and then explains the various leaks in the waterfall method for most software projects. Documented variations are then explained in detail and how they attempt to plug the leaks. Most of these include either spiral, prototyping, iterative, or incremental techniques to enhance one or several of the "classical" steps in the waterfall approach.

Finally several other methods of software development are discussed such as: "video / hollywood", "clean room", "scrum", and "sashimi". Overall the writing style was fluid and very easy to read however the content is somewhat dated when compared to the newer texts on agile methodologies. If you are committed to using the waterfall method or a variant then this book provides sound advice and good references.

Wicked Problems, Righteous Solutions - Now I understand!.......2005-09-24

As a software engineer, our profession is often faced with tackling business problems that are unique and do not fit with a particular way to solve the problem. This book points out that very point and explores the solution domain for these problems. Supposedly in software development, we can take any problem, apply the waterfall lifecycle and live happily ever after. Well, as we all know, the waterfall often gives us problems in particular application domains. Great book.

Antiqued.......2002-04-01

I think this book has a point that another book doesn't have. But, simply put, I feel difficult to understand the point.

Unfortunately, this book is too old. The examples that the authors show seems rather unfamiliar for me. I don't know about COBOL or Fortran. As well, I don't know theories or situations at that time when the book was published. Hence, I don't understand those and those problems.

Not just for software.......2000-11-29

The idea that many situations have overlapping problem & solution domains is immensely valuable. Using some of the ideas in other situations, especially with young people, has generated better solutions than I ever imagined possible.

Give a copy to your favorite school teacher or city government official -- with the obvious caveat of course.

An excellent overview of software development methods.......2000-08-09

This is an excellent overview of what software development processes folks are using, and how they are similar to or different from each other. It has pointers to additional information on each method. Now I can easily recognize what method or partial methods a project is using, and better predict what its weak points are going to be. I only wish I had read this book first.

Authors, please publish an updated version including more recent methods like extreme programming!

Customer Reviews:

Classic(review by Jakob).......2006-05-22

When reading this booki was amazed that so few would do so much for so many,Ive never heard of a story like it. What suprised me even more was that the man who saved all those Jews was a Japanese, if i remember correctly where an axis power during WW2 and allied with the Germans. This man must have really followed his heart if he was to defy his own country, and for that i really admire him

Classic(review by Jakob).......2006-05-22

Sharing a positive side of the Holocaust with young readers.......2005-05-06

I used this book as an introduction to the Holocaust for my 7-year-old. Rather than starting him off on the atrocities, I used this well-written and beautiful book to start him off with learning that we Jews were once in grave danger, and there were some people who took care of us when they could, even though it was a difficult choice.

3/4 of the way through reading the book out loud to my son, I started to cry a little. The story is poignant, of course, but more than that, the writing captures the meaning in such a simple and straight-forward way.

I would recommend this book to anybody, Jewish or not Jewish. It is an excellent introduction to the concept that life can be dangerous, along with the idea that good people exist, AND that any one of us can choose to be a person who makes a difference.

The writing makes it clear that Sugihara was risking his and his family's lives to do the right thing. And, the writing makes it clear that being the child of someone who is willing to do the right thing can be difficult, but well worth it.

A beautiful book.

Heroic tale.......2005-05-02

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania in 1940. As the Germans invaded Poland, thousands of refugees flooded into Lithuania begging for visas that would allow them to travel to safety. Despite repeated orders from his government, Sugihara signed travel visas around the clock and saved thousands of Jewish lives. He followed his conscience knowing full well the social and professional consequences that would follow. The drama of the events and the courage of Sugihara and his family make this true story unforgettable. Dom Lee's sepia tone illustrations complement the story and convey the desperation and fear of the refugees and the bravery of the Sugihara family.

Each of us can make a difference.......2004-05-25

This is such a powerful little book. I used it with my sixth grade class as part of a unit on Japanese internment camps with the books Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and Under the Blood Red Sun by Graham Salisbury. While these books are excellent at helping students to understand what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II, it wasn't until I read them Passage to Freedom that the students began to more fully understand that they could take a stand as individuals to stop prejudice. Each of us, if we are brave enough, has the power to make a difference. Chiune Sugihara was brave, and he was determined to do what he knew in his heart was right. Because of him, thousands of Jews escaped from certain death. This book is priceless.

A Special Fate: Chiune Sugihara : Hero of the Holocaust (Special Fate: Chiune Sugihara: a Hero of the Holocaust)

Average customer rating:

An engaging and informative book
Chiune Sugihara--Righteous Among the Nations
A great and exciting story!
This book should be required reading for all of humankind!
The ripple effect of an act of kindness

A Special Fate: Chiune Sugihara : Hero of the Holocaust (Special Fate: Chiune Sugihara: a Hero of the Holocaust)
Alison Leslie Gold
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0590395254

Book Description

Award-winning author Alison Gold presents the little-know story of Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), a Japanese diplomat who risked everything to save the lives of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Sugihara chose to issure visas to Jews escaping Lithuania, despite the fact that his superiors strictly forbade him to do so. For the first time ever, his unforgettable story, as well as the stories of those he saved, are made accessible to adolescent readers.

Customer Reviews:

An engaging and informative book.......2006-06-12

A Special Fate is the story of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese consulate to Lithuania who, against the wishes of his superiors, hand wrote about six thousand transit visas to Jews fleeing the invading Nazi forces. His bravery saved many lives, but cost him not only his political career but also his youngest son's life. The author also weaves the story of two Jewish children who received visas from Sugihara into the main narrative.

The book is very engaging, not at all like the dry lists of dates that typically pass for history. I usually don't find history books enjoyable, but I enjoyed this one and learned a lot, not only about how Sugihara's visas saved so many people, but also a bit about Japanese culture.

The story moves quickly enough to keep younger readers from getting bored, but not so fast that the details are lost. Most older children will be able to read the book and understand what is going on as long as they have a basic knowledge of W.W.II history.

I would recommend this book to anyone learning about W.W.II, and even though it is supposedly a children's book, I would recommend it to adults too.

Chiune Sugihara--Righteous Among the Nations.......2004-05-14

Chiune Sugihara's story needed to be told. In a dark period of Japanese history, one man listened to his conscience, discussed the consequences with his wife and children, and chose to do the right thing. In the early days of WWII, Sugihara, a diplomat to Lithuania, issued thousands of life-saving visas to the Jews of Europe against the direct orders of his superiors. After the Russians took over Lithuania, Sugihara was forced to close the Japanese Embassy, but he continued writing visas until the last possible moment.

The rest of Sugihara's story is anti-climactic, dealing with his diplomatic career throughout the war. After the war, the Soviets sent the Sugihara family to a Siberian detention camp. When they were finally repatriated, Sugihara was immediately dismissed from government service for disobeying orders. He spent many years in obscurity before finally being found by some of the grateful Jews that he had saved. Near the end of his life, he received some well-deserved acknowledgement by both the Japanese and Israeli government including being recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations."

Alison Leslie Gold, who has written several other non-fiction books of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust, tells the story of three families. Besides Sugihara's story, Gold describes the experience of a Jewish family from Poland and another from Lithuania who received Sugihara visas. Gold focuses on Solly and Masha, children from those families. She interviewed them as well as Sugihara's widow, Yukiko, for first hand accounts of the heroic and tragic events described in this book. Masha's family used their visa to travel to Japan and survived the war. Tragically, Solly's family repeatedly delayed using their visa until it was too late to use it resulting in many family members' deaths at the hands of the Nazis. Solly found it quite ironic that a Japanese man tried to offer his family assistance at the beginning of the war and the first American face that he saw when he was liberated at the end of the war was a Japanese American soldier.

The photographs in the book help readers understand that this is a true story that happened to real people. There are photographs of all three families and additional photos from the time period. The photos are separated from the narrative in two clumps. Though this distracts from their impact, they are still powerful.

This is an easy to read introductory book on the incidents in Lithuania. However, I found information on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum web site that was not included in the book. In the web site's section on Sugihara, I learned about the interesting larger story involving the Dutch council, Jan Zwartendijk and his involvement in helping the Lithuanian Jews. I also learned that Yukiko was Sugihara's second wife.

Gold is non-judgmental towards Japan's involvement in WWII and of Sugihara's father's involvement in occupied Korea. However, she seems to lose some of that impartiality when she adds comments on Sugihara's conversion to Russian Orthadoxism. She adds the comment that he did not forget his Buddhism and Shinto religions from his youth (10). I wonder how she knows that detail of his conversion.

The research that went into A Special Fate could have been better documented. Gold's sources are summed up in an author's note at the beginning of the book and an author's acknowledgement at the end. The book does not include a bibliography for further reading or works consulted.

It is estimated that Sugihara wrote 6,000 visas. Now there is a group numbering over 40,000 descendants known as "Sugihara Survivors." Even in later life, Sugihara remained a humble man and once said, "I didn't do anything special....I made my own decisions....I followed my own conscience and listened to it" (175). Yukiko also should be commended, because had she dissuaded her husband, he might not have written the visas that saved so many lives. Karen Woodworth-Roman, MS Library Science

A great and exciting story!.......2003-06-09

Chiune "Sempo" Sugihara is one of the little known heroes of the Holocaust. This is rather unfortunate, as Mr. Sugihara was probably responsible for the saving of more Jews than any other individual! While serving as Japanese Vice Consul in Lithuania in 1940, Mr. Sugihara, against the express orders of his government, issued some 6,000 visas to people (individuals and families) desperately seeking to avoid the Nazi death machine. This book is the story of Chiune Sugihara, from youth to honored old age, and also the story of two young Jews, one whose parent took the visa and ran, and one whose parent waited too long.

This is a great and exciting story! I got this book for my twelve-year-old daughter, but found that I liked it just as much as she did. I really enjoyed this story of one man standing up and doing what was right, in spite of the costs. If you are looking for an uplifting story, one that teaches an invaluable lesson, then I highly recommend that you get this book!

This book should be required reading for all of humankind!.......2000-05-18

Alison Gold has documented with elegance the selfless humanity of Sempo Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat of the World War II era. Against the orders of his superiors, Mr. Sugihara wrote 6,000 visas in an effort to spare the lives of Polish and Lithuanian Jews. Through Alison Gold's brilliantly crafted accounts, we learn of the horrors and atrocities of the Holocaust, of the mixed fates of several families who were granted visas, and of the injustices to which the Sugihara family was subjected as a result of Sempo's courageous response to human torment. In several places throughout this magnificent book, Ms. Gold introduces Japanese phrases that do much to enrich our understanding of cultural concepts at the core of the Sugihara's way of thinking and living. We learn of the considerable influence that Mrs. Sugihara had on her husband's decisions. While this book was written for a young adult audience, most adults would find its content engrossing.

The ripple effect of an act of kindness.......2000-05-07

This is a beautiful book. I had to check the total number of pages after the first 10 pages, because I knew I would want to read the whole book in one sitting. "Hands reaching... for visas for life." Some people had never seen a Japanese person before. We hear the ice on rivers breaking up with loud cracking, we taste the Lithuanian pancakes with cheese filling and jam, we experience the shock of watching an American movie to then walk out into the light and see Russian tanks rolling down the street. The writer carries us gently through a lot of history, pain and beauty. I thought this would be a depressing book about the Holocaust, I was very wrong.

Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death

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Fight for life
A great story that lost something in this telling..
Should be on Everyones Must Read List
History that is more exciting than the best-selling fiction
If I could rate this higher than 5 stars I would!

Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death
Sharon Linnea
Manufacturer: Jewish Publication Society of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0827604483

Customer Reviews:

Fight for life.......2007-06-25

Raoul Wallenberg had a mission for his life from his youngest days. He was impressed with the story of the Scarlet Pimpernel, and wanted to save people in a similar manner. During World War II, Raoul worked at the Swedish embassy in Poland, giving Swedish citizenship to thousands of Jews. These "new" Swedes were protected by Sweden, since the Nazis were not at war with Sweden, and had no wish to be. Raoul helped them out of the country, and gave others work there in his department. He provided ration cards to the starving Jews. Secretly employed by the United States government, he hired a photographer to document the activities in which he lived. Some of those photographs are in this book. Raoul fought with Adolph Eichmann with everything he had: money, wits, subtlety, threats and power, and he had plenty to work with. He escaped several attempts on his life, but in the end, fell into the hands of the Russians, who he had supposed would be friendly to him. No one really knows, or has made public, what happened to him after that. The Russian government claimed that he died, but many people reported sharing a cell with him after that.

This book was very easy to read. Linnea pulls her readers into the world of Raoul Wallenberg, and makes them care about his life. Certainly not a dry biography, it reads like a novel following an undercover agent. Even young children would be interested in his story. Read this biography, and learn of a daring and courageous man who defied the powers and authorities to save life.

A great story that lost something in this telling.........2006-08-01

The writing is clear and manages to convey many of the important details of Wallenberg's life, yet it was written for a typical young-adult audience. To a sopisticated reader this text can come across as a bit hollow and wooden. These amazing human beings and the incredible times they lived in appear somewhat simplified and one-dimensional in this book. It was lacking a bit too much in feeling and deeper exploration of human nature for this adult reader. Still Wallenberg's life is a great story and worthy of being told many times over. It's just that this one alone fails to do it complete justice.

Should be on Everyones Must Read List.......2003-04-09

This book should be read by everyone. It is informative, well written, and provides information one one of the true heros in the history of mankind. If you read "Shindlers Ark" (or saw the movie) you'll really enjoy this book.

History that is more exciting than the best-selling fiction.......2001-03-19

As a parent, I know how hard it is to find excellent, high-quality nonfiction books for older children who are at an in-between stage - not quite ready for adult books but too old for "juvenile" books. This true account of Raoul Wallenberg, a man who saved more than 100,000 Jewish men, women and children from extinction during the Holocaust, is gripping and well-written. My kids could NOT put it down and one of them is a reluctant reader, so that says a lot right there. Watching my reluctant reader with his eyes glued to the page compelled me to pick up the book myself and I was glad I did. The author has used actual archival materals and even interviewed Wallenberg's family and friends. There are also photographs included, a special touch that brings a sense of immediacy to the past. Perhaps most importantly, the author has not "talked down" to the older children who are most likely to read this book (although it could be read aloud to younger ones). Adults, too, would find this one fascinating to read. A strong recommendation for this one!

If I could rate this higher than 5 stars I would!.......1999-05-27

Raoul Wallenberg was just one Swede, and that one Swede saved over 100,000 Jewish people from certain death at the merciless hands of Adolf Eichmann. To this day no one knows what the fate of Wallenberg is. This book was wonderfully written and didn't even seem as though it was non-fiction! I loved this book and I recommend this book to anyone.

Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved Jews in the Holocaust

Average customer rating:

Heros of the Holocaust
HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST
A must read about the Holocaust
The Rescue
Wonderful!

Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved Jews in the Holocaust
Milton Meltzer
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064461173

Book Description

Between the years 1933 and 1945, Adolf Hitler organized the Murder of six million Jews while the world looked on silently. But not all people stood back in fear. In every Nazioccupied Country, at every level of society, there were non-Jews who had the courage to resist. From the king of Denmark, refusing to force Jewish Danes to wear yellow stars, to the Dutch student, registering Jewish babies as Gentiles and hiding children in her home, a small number of people had the strength to reject the inhumanity they were ordered to support.

Here are their stories: thrilling, terrifying, and most of all, inspiring. For in the horror that was the Holocaust, some human decency could still shine through.

"There are no Rambo-style heroics here, just short accounts of quiet bravery. It is an inspiring testimonial."

--The San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle

`A companion to Never to Forget, this is the story of those gentiles who sought to rescue their Jewish neighbors from annihilation during World War II. Succeeding chapters describe the efforts of Germans, Poles, Danes, and others to save Jewish friends and strangers from the Nazis. A story that needs telling." 'SLJ.

Notable Children's Books of 1988 (ALA)
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Customer Reviews:

Heros of the Holocaust.......2002-01-04

A gentile is defined as one who helped many innocent Jewish people during the time period when Nazi power took over during the Holocaust. Rescue the novel written by Milton Meltzer is a touching story of how many brave gentiles tried to save the lives of those who were looked down apon, such as the Jews during the Holocaust. Many of the gentiles took the Jews into their homes, at risk they may too be caught. These gentiles spent much money and time on hiding these Jews. These gentiles exceeded the meaning of a hero. Through the book I got a personal understanding of how heroic these people were, and at how much they put themselves at risk. The book was extraordinary and helped the reader understand much of what was going on in the lives of the people who weren't Jewish, and how much they really did try to do to help their Jewish friends and neighbors. I feel this book was worth while reading, and I really enjoyed this piece of literature. The theme of a hero is seen throughout the novel in various ways.
The story takes its position at the beginning of the book explaining to the reader the start of the Holocaust and how it came to be. As the reader reads further on the author starts to discuss the significance of the many people who helped save lives during this harrowing time. The first hero that is introduced to us in the book is Maria von Maltzen. Maria took in Hans Hirschel. Hirschel was a forty year old Jew who went into hiding in 1942. Hans called Maria, Marushka. Marushka was a countess whom loved Germany but despised the Nazis. Soon to prove she greatly opposed what the Nazi's were doing she met up with Hans and took him into her flat. Marushka and Hans suffered many times through out the book, but Marushka kept her head high during all the tragic events. This act of courage demonstrated that these gentiles were indeed heroes and that they put themselves at risk.
Another section in the story that an act of courage is demonstrated is in the story of Carola Sapetowa, a Christian villager. Carola worked for a Jewish family by the name of the Hochheiser's. When the Nazi's invaded Poland Mr. Hochheiser was shot, his wife and children were placed in a ghetto. When the day came and that ghetto was being emptied and its prisoners were being taken to the concentration camps, Carola waited outside of the ghetto gate and took the two Jewish children, whom she had earlier on worked for home with her. There she fed them and gave them a place to stay. This act of courage once again portrays the kindness of these gentiles and the heart they had to move on in life and help those around them.
One of the most successful families of all was the Dane family. The Danes all in all transferred 8,000 Jews across to Sweden to safety. The Dane's successfully accomplished this by out smarting the Nazi's at their expense. If a gentile were ever caught he would be killed in the public or just shot right when the Gestapo men had found Jews in hiding. The Dane family put much at risk to save these Jew's but never once lost hope. They were determined they could over come the evil and help save innocent people. This act will forever be remembered. The tragedy that this novel showed to us must never happen again and these many gentiles were here to prove that they didn't accept what was going on, and that they would do anything to stop it.
I feel that this novel was very persuasive. It used many literary techniques to help the reader comprehend what was going on. The novel gave back round information and used first hand documents to describe one of the worlds most unforgettable time periods. This book adequately prepared the reader in the beginning about what this book was going to be about and didn't allow the reader to enter the book blindly. This book was excellent I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a touching story. The book is open to all audiences and the language is used in an appropriate manner to express its point. The book was marvelous and really got one to understand the true meaning of the gentiles.

HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST.......2002-01-04

When you think of the word "Holocaust", a horrific image of Hitlers Nazis persecuting Jews for their faith comes to mind. This, of course, was the case in Nazi-controlled Europe during the forties, however, Milton Meltzers Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved the Jews in the Holocaust offers a new light to such a dark topic. The Nazi attempt to "eliminate", or murder, all of Europes "impure" citizens killed six million Jews. While, yes, many groups worked to eliminate those of the Jewish faith, others found this destruction morally wrong and put their efforts towards saving the persecuted. These wonderful humans, many of them unknown, sacrificed their comfort, safety, and even their own lives to rescue those stricken by the Nazi hand. The book takes you on a journey through Europe, showing the rescue efforts of Poland, Germany, Italy, Holland, France, Denmark, Russia, and other nations gentiles. Excellently written yet understandable this book is, for the most part, interesting.   This touching book is a wonderful reading experience for everyone.
From risky and daring rescues to merely sharing a piece of bread, the heroes of the Holocaust got the Jews through the tragic time. Meltzers down-to-earth and comprehensive story-telling technique makes the many tales featured in this book engrossing and very realistic. The stories give a rescue perspective for nations throughout Europe. In Poland, aiding the Jews was an extremely difficult and dangerous endeavor. As the book points out, "in scarcely three weeks.the Nazis had Poland in an iron grip". In addition, the Jews really stuck out from the Christians, were different from them in many aspects. These harsh circumstances didnt keep some Polish Christians from sheltering and hiding Jews, taking them in as their own. The "sin" of hiding a Jew was punishable by torture and death, and not just for the offender, but for the heros entire community. Even in Germany itself, all was not lost for the Jews. One of the German saviors, Oskar Schindler, saved many Jews by concealing them in a factory he pretended to run. He even saved Jews already located in Auschwitz, one of the worst death camps. Danish gentiles managed to rescue Jews from execution by guiding them on a dangerous sea voyage to neutral Sweden. If you Want to hear of more heroic acts from these and other nations, read the book!
The stories in Meltzers book not only penetrate the brain with factual information, they also reach the reader on a deep emotional level. The tales include one of two lovers of different religions sacrificing a safe and comfortable life to conceal themselves and their baby, a young girl brought up to despise Jews who risked her life to safe a Jewish woman tangled in wires and then moved her family around the country to conceal the woman, and catholic priests and nuns who hid dozens of Jews in their churches. Most of the gentile heroes who saved the Jews went without fame and fortune, they were true heroes who did their deeds purely out of the goodness of their hearts. They were able to put aside the differences they had with the Jews and recognize only the fact that the Jewish were human being who were suffering and needed a rescue.
To tell the true Holocaust story, Meltzer spares none of the tragic details of this horrific time, so if you are looking for a fun, light read, this is not the book for you. However, this book is an excellent learning tool for people of any age to truly understand both the pain and the heroics of the Holocaust. When the book is closed, the reader is left with a strong sense of pride for the heroes of our world and a hopeful message that there is always light in the darkness, and human goodness will always survive.

A must read about the Holocaust.......2002-01-04

The biography, Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved Jews in the Holocaust by Milton Meltzer, reflects on the people and events that are not usually thought of with the topic of the Holocaust. In the book, the Gentiles prove to be convincing heroes because they go out of their way and risk their lives to help others, which they are taught to hate. This book is a worthwhile read because the heroic deeds of the Gentiles are well explained, and the author sparks the interest of the reader to learn more about each Gentile's story.
The Gentiles are heroes because they go above and beyond what is expected in everyday life. They protected the Jews because they believe it is the right thing to do, regardless of what they are taught by the anti-Semitists. For example, a student, Marion Pritchard, witnesses the brutality by the Germans to Jewish children, while she is riding her bike down the road. This disturbing incident shocks her into wanting to do as much as she could to help them and stop this cruelty. "Crying with rage, she just sat there on her bicycle and at that moment decided she would do anything she could to stop such atrocities." (p.140). By choosing to do this, she puts herself in danger and alters the course of her life.
The author says that the Gentiles even help strangers; this is not an unusual characteristic of heroes since they tend to be selfless, and do not distinguish between the people they help. In Poland, a woman, Elizabeth Przewlocka, grabs a Jewish boy before he is about to be deported. She hid him until she could find an orphanage for him. "Elizabeth Przewlocka, snatched a Jewish child she didn't know while the Nazi guard wasn't looking." (p.32). The author gives several examples of this throughout the book. Milton Meltzer successfully paints a vivid picture of the activities taking place. This makes the reader feel like they are physically seeing the story unfold.
The author, Milton Meltzer, writes the story of the Gentiles in an intriguing way. He gives the reader informative stories about many different Gentiles who assisted the Jews during the Holocaust. He also makes connections between different places and periods of time when the Holocaust was taking place. For example, Adolf Eichman, a German Nazi bureaucrat, is described in a few places throughout the book. First, his background is explained, and then later in the book, some of the horrible things he planned for the Jews. These include in Budapest with his goals of destroying every Jew possible, and the deportation of families in Holland, like Anne Frank's. "Adolf Eichmann prepared a plan to round up the Jews in Budapest, the capital." (p.106), "Anne was sent to Auschwitz in the last deportation of Dutch Jews organized by Eichmann." (p. 134). Also, the book and its events are connected, even from chapter to chapter, so that all the stories flow smoothly. For example, chapter six is about Le Chambon and Andre Trocme, "That `dangerous, difficult Trocme,' as he had been called by his national church, had made goodness happen in Le Chambon." (p.87), and leads into the next chapter, which is about Denmark and Sweden, "In the village of Le Chambon all the people came together to save the lives of thousands of Jews. In the country of Denmark another spectacular act of human solidarity took place." (p.89). This makes the book easy to follow and understand. To get an even fuller understanding of where each of the rescues is taken place, there are maps at the beginning of each chapter. There is also an index in the back of the book to find specific events or people, which are mentioned throughout the biography. Milton Meltzer leaves readers with questions to think about, "Would I, could I, we wonder, stand up for the persecuted and the helpless? Would I risk so much? Would I care that much?". (p.156).
This book is a must read because it gives a different view of the Holocaust, from the heroic people who help rather than the ruthless ones who kill. The book is particularly suitable for people with little knowledge of the Holocaust. It is written for people with interest in the Holocaust, but without emphasize on the gruesome details. This biography shows that there are many ways in which people show their heroism.

The Rescue.......2002-01-04

This book proves a worthwhile read for anyone searching for a real-life hero. This book tells of people willing to risk their lives to save those of others. Rescue gives great insight into the lives of the heroes, and gives proof that people don't need to have super powers to change someone's life. Through this book, it's readers will come to realize (if they have not already) the importance of acceptance of diversity.

Although every person featured in this book is a hero, one group of people stands out the most, the people of a small village with a large university. The head of the (Christian) school had many of his Jewish villagers looking for protection from the Nazis. He protected every person that came to him. He set up schools for the Jewish children and taught them of their heritage. When word got around to other gentiles of what the schoolmaster was doing, they sent many refugees there. In the end, this village which secret had been kept throughout the war, ended up saving over a thousand lives.

Some people mentioned in this book did very small things, but even the smallest deed can change someone's life. The Nazis of Hitler could not help but feel for the suffering Jews. Many times during Rescue, they could be bribed or for no cost they would turn their heads. They would pretend they say nothing. The Nazis let hundreds of people travel from Denmark to free Sweden where they could live without torment.

Rescue is a collection of many stories about Christians helping Jews in Europe during World War II. In that time, helping Jews was cause enough for punishment. These Gentiles were risking a lot for others. One woman of great respect held hundreds of Jewish children in her home. She risked a punishment of being sent to a concentration camp. This brave soul fell in love with a Jew, secretly married him, and bore him a child. Although the son died, the couple still had a wonderful marriage. Without her willing to accept people of different beliefs, many more children could have lost their lives.

Some say that heroes have to be strong, manly, and dashing. Some say that heroes have to fly, see through walls, and be as fast as a speeding bullet. In this book, The Rescue, to be someone's hero, all you need is some compassion, bravery, and a willingness to help others in need. In other words, some humanity. This book helps to see that times have greatly changed from long ago, when the Greeks developed their own ideas of heroism. Now all you need to be a hero is to help or change someone's life for the better.

Wonderful!.......1999-02-06

Rescue: The Gentiles Who Saved Jews in the Holocaust, is a wonderful book. It tells in almost firsthand experince how the Gentiles saved some of the Jews and why.

Forging Freedom: A True Story of Heroism During The Holocaust

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Forging Freedom: A True Story of Heroism During The Holocaust
*To do 'mitzvahs ' for Freedom was his calling . . . *
A Great Book About History
Forging Freedom: a very well done book
Great Story of the Holocaust

Forging Freedom: A True Story of Heroism During The Holocaust

Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story

ASIN: 0399234349

Book Description

Jaap Penraat can't understand the Germans' hatred of his Jewish neighbors in his hometown of Amsterdam. As the restrictions multiply and the violence escalates, Jaap knows he must take action to help his friends. He begins by using his father's printing press to forge identification cards and papers for Jewish neighbors and refugees, but as the Nazi grasp tightens, he is forced to take a more drastic path--leading twenty Jews on the dangerous first leg of a journey to Paris, the start of the underground pipeline to safety.

This initial group of twenty men is only the beginning; the number eventually grows to over four hundred Jews saved from certain death by Jaap Penraat's heroic efforts, brought to life in this vivid retelling.

Praise for O'Sullivan Stew: "Story and pictures are bound to charm an audience just as they captivate the king." --Kirkus Reviews

"Visually and verbally inventive in its details and its broader storytelling, this one is a shiny shamrock." --Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Forging Freedom: A True Story of Heroism During The Holocaust.......2006-08-22

During World War 2, Jaap Penraat a non-Jew risked his life to save 406 Jewish people. He was a man of great courage and character and with his friend, author Hudson Talbott, they tell the story of the dangers he confronted in getting Jewish people out of Holland before the Nazis captured them.

This book introduces the Holocaust to children and offers every reader regardless of age some valuable lessons in taking compassionate action on behalf of those in desperate need.

*To do 'mitzvahs ' for Freedom was his calling . . . *.......2006-01-31

"Forging Freedom" impresses me with its factual account of Jewish people in the Netherlands suffering the terrifying power of Adolph Hitler in 1940. Here the impact of Hudson Talbott's art is significant; using somber tones, sometimes in the style of educational graphics, he makes his points dramatically.

Jaap Penraat grew to manhood having friends who were Jewish. His early neighborly task of lighting the Sabbath lights for Jewish families in his apartment block was considered to be a "mitzvah" - a kindness, a deed done from the heart. Not much later his heart responded to the terrible needs of hundreds of people in Amsterdam: for food, clothes, places to hide. There were few who understood the fate of those who were rounded up & taken away in boxcars.

But Jaap rushed ahead to devise a plan, falsifying passports & permits, and then brashly playing the role of transport leader so that a group of young men could be guided to "jobs of national importance" in the German defense industry - - when in reality they were being passed along an underground network from Holland through Belgium & France, to freedom in Spain & England.
At parting, Jaap and his childhood friend & refugee, Bram Dorland, gave each other the same message: "L'chaim" . . . "To Life".

There is a surprising immediacy in the way Talbott's message is conveyed. He could not be old enough to have a personal consciousness of that time. "Forging Freedom" published in 2000, tells its story hoping there is alsways another generation to teach the next the moral necessity of standing up for what is right. The fact that the bold courage of Jaap Penraat was recognized as a heroic by both the Dutch government and a Holocaust Commission backs up the authenticity to mcHAIKU's satisfaction. The important fact is that we must never forget.

A Great Book About History.......2005-02-28

Forging Freedom is a wonderful book. I have always hated reading about the Holocaust, but I loved reading Forging Freedom. This book is exciting, descriptive, and it really informs you about what it was like to be a Jew in Amsterdam during the 1940s. I think it is a great book for kids of all ages. I recommend this book to kids who want to read a nonfiction book that is easy to read, interesting, and concise.Forging Freedom is about a man named Jaap in Amsterdam during the 1940s. Even though he was not a Jew he risked his life to save his Jewish friends and neighbors. By the end of the War, he had saved over 400 lives.

Forging Freedom: a very well done book.......2002-02-12

I read forging freedom during the war unit in my eighth grade english class. i thought it was a great book, and a great amount of infomation of how the jews were treated during halocost. after reading it i was amazed of how brave Jaab was and how clever he was. when my teacher told me that Jaab and Hudson were coming to my school, I was amazed. they were great guys, and having jaab talk to us about it in person was amazing. i also found out that jaab lived in the same town as me, all those times i had a brave man in my backyard and had no idea. this book was great and should be read by all ages so they can learn that brave people do exist and that the halocost was a very dangerous time and also a cruel time.

Great Story of the Holocaust.......2001-03-10

I liked Forging Freedom even though it was sad at times. It was an easy to understand telling of the events of the the Holocaust. Our class was fortunate enough to meet the author and the man who the main character was based on. I was astonished to learn of the poor and terrible way that the Jews were treated. The main character was brave enough to aid his Jewish friends in gaining freedom. My favorite part of the story was when Jaap successfully snuck passed the guards. It was very suspenseful and I felt like cheering and was happy for him. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Holocaust stories. I have also read Number the Stars and Snow Treasure which were on the same topic. I enjoyed both of them as well. They helped me to understand the details of the Holocaust.

The Righteous Blade: Book Two of The Dreamtime

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intriguing sword and sorcery tale

The Righteous Blade: Book Two of The Dreamtime
Stan Nicholls
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060738928
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

Reeth Caldason's quest for vengeance—and for freedom from the twin plagues of rage and immortality—has brought the able swordsman to Bhealfa, where fear, magic, and brute force are weapons employed by the authorities to control the populace. The paladin clans—an order of mercenary knights—are determined to crush a growing revolution while Devlor Bastorran, sadistic heir apparent to the clan leadership, plots a gruesome retribution . . . against Reeth Caldason. But Reeth has more pressing concerns, for he has been entrusted with delivering much-needed gold that will help establish a rebel state on a remote island. And a powerful enemy stands in his way—one who could destroy not only the Covenant but Reeth's one chance for redemption as well.

Download Description

Cursed with immortality and fits of blind, deadly rage, swordsman Reeth Caldason has wandered the world seeking both revenge for his slain tribe and a cure for his affliction. His travels have brought him to Bhealfa, where the authorities use magic and brute force to control the entire population.

The paladin clans, an order of mercenary knights, are determined to crush the growing revolution, and Devlor Bastorran, the wildly cruel heir apparent to the clan leadership, plots a gruesome revenge against Reeth.

But Reeth has larger problems to contend with. The rebels have decided on the location of their new state -- a remote island -- and he has been given the dangerous task of delivering payment in gold. Soon Reeth discovers that a powerful new enemy threatens to destroy not only the Covenant, but also his chance for redemption.

Customer Reviews:

intriguing sword and sorcery tale .......2005-12-27

Immortal Qalochian swordsman Reeth Caldason of Bhealfa detests the paladin clans, enforcers of the rule of the tyrants that run the brutal rivals the Rintarah and Gath Tampoor Empires. All others are subject to their cruel sorcery or abuse from ground armies. Reeth knows that first hand as much of his tribe were killed by the Paladins. Almost as bad as his need for revenge of sending his people to near extinction, Reeth loathes the curse of immortality that haunts him and includes a by-product of out of control rage leading to violence and cruelty on a scale that even the Paladins fear.

As Reeth seeks the cure to his malady, he becomes entangled with a rebellious plot to eliminate the heir to the Bhealfa throne, Devlor Bastorran at a time when the Gath Tampoor Empire rules the island. Devlor the merciless learns of what he assumes is a betrayal and vows to kill those involved especially the immortal Reeth; if as rumor states that he cannot die, then Devlor will torture him for eternity while crushing the rebels that Reeth joined.

The second "Dreamtime" novel (see THE COVENANT RISING) is an intriguing sword and sorcery tale filled with plenty of action, but little of it of a magical variety. Instead the tale focuses more on Reeth's laments and Devlor's scheme to avenge those who plotted against him starting with the immortal swordsman. Thus the two prime antagonists share in common a gut need for revenge. THE RIGHTEOUS BLADE is a well written fantasy thriller even with no enchantments.

Harriet Klausner

Book of the Righteous (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying)

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A Must for Holy Warriors
Ignore the Nay-Sayer! Well worth the price!
(also published at www.ENWorld.org)
Excellent book!
An RPG pantheon that is Perfect

Book of the Righteous (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Aaron Loeb , and Brian Despain
Manufacturer: Green Ronin Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0971438064

Book Description

The Book of the Righteous presents the most comprehensive pantheon ever seen in the d20 System. This massive, 320-page hardback provides more than 20 pick-up-and-play churches corresponding to gods that feature in most fantasy campaigns (god of war, god of justice, etc.). Each church features lavish detail, including in-depth information on its clerics, holy orders, dogma, prayers, and rituals. These churches can be used in any campaign to bring a whole new level of detail to the religious characters. Plus, for those who don't have a complete cosmology in their game, The Book of the Righteous provides a comprehensive mythology that unifies all of the gods in the book. That mythology, and its corresponding cosmology, is not tied to an existing campaign setting, making it as portable and useful as Green Ronin's critically acclaimed Freeport series. The Book of the Righteous also features a new core class, the holy warrior, and new prestige classes, feats, spells, domains, magic items, and artifacts. Third in Green Ronin's Arcana series, The Book of the Righteous is a divine sourcebook like no other.

Customer Reviews:

A Must for Holy Warriors.......2003-05-22

This book is without a doubt one of the best game books to come out in some time. It has totaly changed the way my group has played the game in reguards to Clerics.

Ignore the Nay-Sayer! Well worth the price!.......2003-04-01

>>"If you own Defenders of the Faith, Deities and Demigods, and/or Faiths and Pantheons you are wasting your money on this. Way too generic to be useful. NOT the best money I've spent... "

On the contrary, this book renders all of those others completely redundant. What's more, this book is far, far more interesting to read, and far, far easier to incorporate piecemeal, or whole into any campaign. Of every RP book on my shelf--and I probably have a few hundred--this is by far the best money I have ever spent on an RP product as far as useability. Ignore the nay-sayer. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

Absolutely, and completely, well worth the price. See the lengthy review below for more info on the book.

(also published at www.ENWorld.org).......2003-01-08

_Why'd I buy it?_
I've been looking for material to spruce up the religious aspect of my campaign. Clerics and Paladins seems to be rife with role playing opportunity and adventure hooks, and yet the material I've seen so far was lacking (like WotC: Defenders of the Faith). I was especially interested in the "Holy Warrior" new core class and in how a "complete description of each god's church" would look like. I was not disappointed...in fact, I was very pleasantly surprised.

_Overview_
This book can be used in many different ways: it's a complete patheon and mythology of gods, it's a "pick-and-choose" box of common gods plus detailed churches, and it's a "do-it-yerself" tool-kit for making the gods of your campaign world relevant to your players. It succeeds at all of these things...and if you think about it, that's pretty amazing.

The book prose is tight and entertaining. Rule changes are clearly spelled out, and are repeated where relevant. The game mechanics seem simple and balanced (although I've not yet play-tested it myself). (And a further note to all of those crunch-lovers out there, like me: There are game mechanics in here where there needs to be.) Overall, a very well written and insightful book.

_The Complete Pantheon and Mythology_
I loved reading this section -- it reminded me of Greek, Norse, and Native American myth. It's good story, and it tempts me to include it, lock, stock, and barrel, into my home brew campaign. And it's probably pliable enough for me to tweak it here and there and then do just that.

_Plug n' Play gods and their churches_
What I'm more likely to do, however, is take the gods and their churches out and plug them in where they fit into my existing home-brew. The book gives quite a bit of help for this sort of thing. The churches are well laid out, and yet they can be self-contained; that is, the churches don't wholy depend on the mythology presented in the book. Useful, that.

Kudos, BTW, on the structure of the book with respect to churches, clerics, "paladins", and new PrC. It's all wrapped up in a seamless whole, so that the relationships between the clerics, "paladins" (holy warriors, a superior concept, IMO), and the secret orders (PrCs) is believable and very playable. Makes me (almost!) want to play a goody-two-shoes Holy Warrior.

_Cosmography Tool-kit (or "how the gods, the universe's creation, and the Planes of Existence fit together")_
The thing this book is best at, IMO, is how it opens up Myth and the Gods for you to tinker with. Paired with the excellent WotC offering, Manual of the Planes, I'm not sure there's anything else you need to come up with a compelling and logical cosmography. How the universe is created => how the gods act => how their churches are structured => how PC clerics et al. act. It's all there, so that if the PC asks....well, he'll get at least one answer....
******************************************
_Conclusion_

Production: 5 - Excellent. Fonts, headers, and spacing is very good. Layout and organization is excellent. I was very happy with both the table of Contents and the index. Note to publishers: this is how it should be done for all products!

Art: 4 - Good. The art work quality is good, most of the time, and the art work is very topical to the text on the page.

Game Mechanics: 5 - Excellent. The new core class (Holy Warrior) is expecially good.

"Cool" Factor: 5- Excellent. Even the name is good (shout "Book of the Righteous!" a couple o' times...you'll get what I mean). The mythology and churches are especially inspiring.

Overall: 5 - Excellent. If you are a DM with a home-brew world, you're a fool for not having this book. It's that good.

Excellent book!.......2002-12-29

This is a very nice book, containing everything a priest or holy warrior could want. I especially like the addition of the holy warrior as a base class, not limiting it to just paladins. Highly recommended!

An RPG pantheon that is Perfect.......2002-11-01

Wow, what a book. It gives you everything you need to put the affiars of your Celestial world in order. It had a great story of creation, it explains all you need to know for each god. The Great church what a great idea, put together properly. I got through about the 1st 20 pages and realized this is "The Pantheon" for the new D20 fantasy genre. It explains the how and why of things.. Why is this god the god of Valor, how did he become this. The best part of all, is all the stuff the PCs should know, but we don't take the time to create. How the church interacts with the world, and the other churches; it's holy days and why, The Gods' view of the church. With over 300 pages of information it is worth every penny. What a resource. I have been a DM for 20 +years and this book is a must have for every GM. The Bar has been raised and Green Ronin Publishing is the new standard. Great Job Guys.

Elsie's War: A Story of Courage in Nazi Germany

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Elsie's War: A Story of Courage in Nazi Germany
Frank Dabba Smith
Manufacturer: Frances Lincoln
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1845070062

Book Description

A follow-up to My Secret Camera, this photographic testimony for children is the inspiring story of Elsie Kuhn-Leitz, a member of the wealthy "Leica camera" family, who risked everything in order to help those who were being persecuted by the Nazis during World War II. The Gestapo found out about Elsie's activities, then she was torn from her children and imprisoned in dreadful conditions. The book tells a story of courage and self-sacrifice in a time of great adversity, illustrated with period documents and photographs from the Leica archives and from Elsie's own family collection. This remarkable photo-essay sensitively introduces the Holocaust to young readers.

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