Synergy: Exploring World War II

WORLD WAR II was a global conflict between two military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. From 1939-1945, many of the world’s countries fought on land, sea, and air killing an estimated 70-80 million people. Civilian populations were particularly hard hit. Many people were held in prison camps around the world.

To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for young people:

SEEN AND UNSEEN: WHAT DOROTHEA LANGE, TOYO MIYATAKE, AND ANSEL ADAM’S PHOTOGRAPHS REVEAL ABOUT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION by Elizabeth Partridge and illustrated by Lauren Tamaki is an award-winning work of nonfiction sharing the power of photography. Told through a mixture of original drawings and historical photos, readers explore the heartbreaking stories of Japanese Americans living in incarceration camps during World War II. The visually rich book concludes with eighteen pages of additional information and resources. ARC country of Chronicle Books.

RACE AGAINST DEATH: THE GREATEST POW RESCUE OF WORLD WAR II by Deborah Hopkinson is a middle grade nonfiction narrative telling the story of an American POW rescue mission. Part of the “True Stories in Focus” collection, this fast-paced story follows US Army Rangers and Filipino guerrillas who conduct the “Great Raid” to rescue American and Filipino prisoners. ARC courtesy of Scholastic Focus, an imprint of Scholastic.

IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE: A TRUE STORY OF SURVIVAL AND HEROISM IN NAZI EUROPE by Steve Sheinkin shares the parallel stories of two Jewish friends trying to survive the Holocaust. While Rudi is attempting to escape from Auschwitz, Gerta is in hiding and risks capture in Hungary. This engaging nonfiction narrative brings two difference Holocaust experiences to life for teens readers. ARC courtesy of Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan.

WE ALSO SERVED by Erin McGill shares true stories of brave animals in the military along with other heroic tales. Designed for children, the brightly colored illustrations and short blocks of engaging text highlight the efforts of dogs and other animals who served on the front lines of World War II along with other eras. Each story concludes with a key word related to their service. ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks Explore, an imprint of Sourcebooks.

Lesser-known Stories from the World War II Era

Timely Take-aways for Life-long Learners:
Lesser-known Stories from the World War II Era

Several new books explore the lesser-known stories of prisoners, survivors, resistance fighters, scientists, and other amazing individuals of the World War II era.

The Island of Extraordinary Captives
Simon Parkin, 2022, Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Themes: History, Modern, Holocaust, 20th Century
At the beginning of WWII, a British internment camp was established to detain asylum seekers the government feared might be spies. Prisoners included intellectuals, artists, musicians, and others considered possible enemy aliens.
Take-aways: Teachers will find this lesser-known true story to be an interesting example to be taught alongside a discussion of the Japanese Internment in the United States.

The Last Survivor
Frank Krake, 2022, Lyons Press Themes: History, World War II, Biography, 20th Century
This translated edition tells the story of Wim Aloserij who survived three concentration camps and a maritime disaster.
Take-aways: Individual stories bring history alive for students. Use Aloserij’s experiences to help young people understand the ongoing challenges of life during wartime. Ask them to learn about a less-known individual’s experiences in war.

The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line
Mari Eder, 2021, Sourcebooks Themes: History, World War II, Women, 20th Century
Meet fifteen women who challenged traditional expectations to become pilots, scientists and ultimately heroes and role models.
Take-aways: Use this stories to inspire young women and demonstrate the challenges faced by women during this time period.

Lethal Tides
Catherine Musemeche, 2022, William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Themes: History, Biography, Women
Explore the life and achievements of Mary Sears, the first oceanographer of the Navy. Her efforts in gathering and analyzing ocean data averted disasters in the WWII Pacific theater.
Take-aways: The essential role of women scientists during wartime is often overlooked. Use this engaging biography to show the importance of this woman’s scientific contributions.

Resistance
Halik Kochanski, 2022, Liveright, an imprint of W.W. Norton Themes: History, War & Conflict, World War II
This comprehensive examination of resistance movements during World War II shares little-known stories from the many occupied nations.
Take-aways: Use this book to share examples of the impact of resistance movements in their many forms during World War II.

The Diary Keepers
Nina Siegal, 2023, Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Themes: History, War & Conflict, World War II, Holocaust
Based on more than two thousand Dutch diaries, Siegal shares the untold story of ordinary citizens during World War II revealing struggles often overlooked.
Take-aways: Use the new perspectives and first-person accounts to help students better understand the complexities of World War II and the Holocaust in the Netherlands.

In the Garden of the Righteous
Richard Hurowitz, 2022, Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Themes: History, World War II, Holocaust
Exploring the stories of ten courageous individuals who risked their lives to save others, this engaging work celebrates lesser-known heroes. In addition, the book stresses the importance of altruistic behavior in today’s society as well.
Take-aways: Teachers can use the book’s examples to discuss parallels to moral responsibilities today.

Jews in the Garden
Judy Rakowsky, 2023, Sourcebooks Themes: History, World War II, Holocaust
This real-life detective story follows two cousins seeking to uncover the truth behind the loss of family members during the Holocaust. This work of investigative journalism reveals the previously untold role of the Polish government in a Holocaust coverup.
Take-aways: Teachers will find this fast-paced nonfiction narrative to be an engaging way to learn how World War II history is still being uncovered today.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb

Synergy: The Holocaust

The Holocaust was the systematic murder of millions of Jews during World War II. This genocide occurred between 1941 and 1945 across German-occupied Europe. Although primarily focused on the Jewish population, mass-killings of other relatively small, targeted populations also occurred during the Holocaust era.

Read the three recently published books for youth, then learn more at the websites:

THE BOY WHO FOLLOWED HIS FATHER INTO AUSCHWITZ by Jeremy Dronfield is a work of nonfiction narrative adapted for young readers. Based on primary resources including a diary and interviews, readers learn about the challenges faced by two brothers who experienced the Holocaust very differently. ARC courtesy of Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.

HARBORING HOPE by Susan Hood tells the true story of Henny Sinding who saved Danish Jews during the Holocaust. Written for middle grade and young adult readers, the nonfiction novel-in-verse shares the essential role of resistance fighters during Germany’s occupation of Denmark. The book includes primary sources, photographs, and additional information to extend the experience. ARC courtesy of HarperCollins.

QUESTIONS I AM ASKED ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST by Hedi Fried is a young reader’s edition of an autobiographical text for adults. The book is organized around dozens of questions that provide young people with unique insights into the challenges this Auschwtiz survivor faced during and after the Holocaust. The book concludes with background information and context. ARC courtesy of Scribble US, an imprint of Ingram Publisher Services.

The HOLOCAUST ENCYCLOPEDIA is a reference database from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This searchable resource provides access to thousands of articles and primary source documents.

To search the database, go to https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/.

YAD VASHEM: The World Holocaust Remembrance Center is a website sharing information about the Holocaust, digital collections, and a database of victims.

To explore the website, go to https://www.yadvashem.org/.

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learning: Auschwitz

 

The Sisters of Auschwitz: The True Story of Two Jewish Sisters’ Resistance in the Heart of Nazi Territory

Roxane van Iperen, August 2021, HarperCollins

Themes: history, Jewish, World War II, Holocaust

The Auschwitz Photographer: The Forgotten Story of the WWII Prisoner Who Documented Thousands of Lost Souls

Luca Crippa, Maurizio Onnis, Jennifer Higgins (translated by)

September 2021, Sourcebooks

Themes: history, biography, survival, World War II, Holocaust

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive

Lucy Adlington, September 2021, HarperCollins

Themes: history, Jewish, World War II, Holocaust

Since the end of World War II, many nonfiction works have shared the horrific atrocities of Auschwitz. However, three recent titles explore the Holocaust from unusual perspectives including a photographer, dressmakers, and sisters. These powerful stories chronicle the variety of ways prisoners were able to survive.

THE SISTERS OF AUSCHWITZ shares the story of two sisters who joined the Dutch Resistance. From publishing an underground newspaper to hiding refugees, they were working at a resistance center when betrayed and sent to Auschwitz.

THE DRESSMAKERS OF AUSCHWITZ examines the experiences of seamstresses who survived the gas chambers by creating high fashion dresses for elite Nazi women. At the same time, these brave women played a role in camp resistance.

THE AUSCHWITZ PHOTOGRAPHER tells the true story of Wilhelm Brasse who recorded the horrors of the deadliest concentration camp in WWII. He was first assigned to the photographic identification unit and later to Josef Mengele’s horrific laboratory. He survived by taking 50,000 photographs over a five year period.

Let’s explore seven timely take-aways for life-long learners:

1. Jewish sisters Janny and Lien Brilleslijper were active in the Dutch resistance. They were with Anne Frank and her family on the train to Auschwitz.
2. The High Nest is an example of a secret refuge near Amsterdam that served as an important safe house during World War II.
3. The Upper Tailoring Studio was a fashion workshop housed at Auschwitz and created to cater to the wives of SS officers and Berlin’s wealthy Nazis.
4. Two dozen women prisoners sewed elegant gowns from fabrics and clothing plundered from across Europe.
5. Wilhelm Brasse was able to save thousands of photographs that provided evidence of Nazi atrocities including human experiments.
6. Upon entering Auschwitz, identity portrait photographs were taken of each prisoner including from the front and each side.
7. From nurses and dressmakers to photographers, those who were selected to work at Auschwitz were more likely to survive than other prisoners.

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learning

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb, Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals

Synergy: The Children of World War II

World War II had a deep and lasting impact on children. While some young people lived and died in concentration camps, others were able to escape to England as refugees.

Read two recently published children’s books, then learn more at the websites:

THE MISSING: THE TRUE STORY OF MY FAMILY IN WORLD WAR II by Michael Rosen shares the experiences of the author’s family members along with his own stories of growing up with a legacy of lost family connections. Woven throughout the narrative are works of poetry and references to today’s issues of racism and refugees. This short book concludes with resources to help readers dig deeper into history.

HISTORYWORKS has posted audio files of Michael Rosen’s poetry. The project features over two dozen entries.

To listen to the poems, go to https://audioboom.com/playlists/4613930-michael-rosen-poems.

WE HAD TO BE BRAVE: ESCAPING THE NAZIS ON THE KINDERTRANSPORT by Deborah Hopkinson tells the heartbreaking story of children and teens who survived the Holocaust by escaping to England. Using dozens of true accounts, the author weaves together stories of survival and hope at a time of war. Organized into four parts, the book explores pre-war events, the tipping point, the flight, and the aftermath. The postscripts shares a timeline, glossary, resources, and other useful materials to extend the reading experience.

WHAT WAS KINDERTRANSPORT is a BBC Newsround article focusing on the mission that took thousands of children to safety during World War II. The article features text, historical photographs and interviews.

To read the BBC article, go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46877532.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick and Scholastic.

Synergy: Holocaust Survivors

Holocaust survivors are people of Jewish descent who survived persecution and attempted genocide by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. The term is also used to describe others who were targeted for annihilation because of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or political views. Survivors include people who survived concentration camps, stayed in hiding, or escaped to safe territories.

Read the recently published work of graphic nonfiction, then learn more through the websites:

SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST: TRUE STORIES OF SIX EXTRAORDINARY CHILDREN edited by Kath Shackleton and illustrated by Zane Whittingham recounts the true experiences of six young people who survived the Holocaust. Each chapter tells a powerful story through sparse text and compelling illustrations. The book concludes with photos and “what happened next stories”, a glossary, a timeline, and suggested resources.

The BBC Newsround contains a page titled “What was the Holocaust/“ with easy-to-read information and a short video based on the book. Go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16690175

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at https://www.ushmm.org/ contains learning and teaching sections useful for students and teachers.

ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks eXplore.

Website Review: I Witness

I WITNESS from the USC Shoah Foundation is a website containing over 1,500 video testimonies, multimedia activities, and digital resources focusing the Holocaust and other genocides.

The Watch section provides users with video clips, activities, terms, graphic organizers, and related topics. Students can select from 50 different topics such as Anti-Jewish Laws, Civil Rights in America, and Labor/Concentration Camps. Or, conduct a name or subject search to find resources.

The Activities section provides tools youth can use to build videos, word clouds, and other projects based on the program’s themes. Each activity includes standards, grade level focus, and time to complete the activity. Users can identify mini-quests, info-quests, and video activities in a variety of subject areas.

The Share section contains project news and announcements. It also provides an area where students can view projects created by other youth. Students can share their projects with others.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent resource for both students and teachers working on history and social studies projects. Consider participating in the Witness Video Challenge that inspires positive change in communities.

To visit the website, go to http://iwitness.usc.edu/