Behind the Secret Window

by Nelly S. Toll

The autobiographical account of an eight-year-old Jewish girl as she hides from the Nazis in a small bedroom in Lwo+a7w, Poland, in 1943 contains twenty-nine examples of her many paintings during that period.

Genres: Holocaust, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Memoir, World War II, War

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jennifer (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking and at the same time uplifting. I can’t imagine going through what this young girl did. Yet, she was still able to see the world as a beautiful place through her paintings.

[Sarah Fogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say this book left me speechless. Im not the type of person who gets emotional towards a piece of literature but since i could relate to this with my ancestors it got me thinking what if something of this caliber happened again and what if i was on the other end of it. Through the twist and turns of this non-fiction story i became more intact with what actually happened in WW2. Don't get me wrong i have learned about this is school, read other books about the ghettos, and even talked to a lady who survived it, but never once has it struck me so hard what the whole truth was behind it. The way Nelly S. Toll describes the conditions that she had to go through with her family, with her mom, and even alone truly scared me. This book was such an amazing representation i would recommend it to everyone!

[Brianne Durrant · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read this book, I thought it was going to be like every other Holocaust book. Where they get caught, go into a camp and survive somehow. It's not. This book is about how Nelly went into hiding and the risky adventures her and her family had. I love this book because instead of being sad all the time, she was thankful someone was kind enough to risk their lives to hide Nelly and her mom. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into the holocaust because it's easy to understand.

[Teddy712 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative Response- This is a dictionary of all the italicized vocabulary words or phrases that appear in the book, that are given definitions. They are ordered in appearance. Language is in mostly Polish. A little in German.

Babcia- Grandma.

Groszy- Pennies.

Dorozki- Horse drawn carriages.

Ciocia- Aunt.

Pani- Mrs. (used for educated, well-spoken people)

Pan- Mr. (Used for educated, well-spoken people)

Parszywe Zydlaki- Dirty Jews.

Kochanie- Sweetheart.

Zydowska swinia- Jewish Swine.

Matka Boska Czestochowska- Our Lady of Czestochowa.

Cudy- Miracles.

Matka Boska- Mother of God.

Smietana- Sour Cream.

Judenfrei- Jew-free.

Volksdeutche- Polish Citizens who had, or claimed to have, a German background.

Emeritus- Retired

Poziomki- Tiny wild strawberries.

Pierogi- Dumplings.

Nie Normalny- Not normal.

Gotabki- Stuffed cabbage.

Psiakrew- Damn it!

Boze Moj- My God!

Wir Werden Zuruckkommen- We will return.

Zdravstvuite- Hello.

Spasibo- Thank you.

Do Svidania- Good-bye.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading book such as this is a good way to learn and understand history. I do wish some of her original writings had been a part of this book. It is written by and for young readers.

[Mekdelawit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behind the Secret Window By: Nelly S. Toll


The memoir Behind the Secret Window by Nelly S. Toll is about Nelly herself during the holocaust. In the memoir the holocaust has hit Poland and her family and her are forced to go into hiding. Nelly's father sent Nelly to go live with a Christian family because they did not want her to get taken away by the Gestapo ( the German Police. ) After a few weeks of living with the Christian family, a new person comes to live with them. The woman is not buying that Nelly is the lady's niece and was taken back home by her father. After about two weeks, her and her mother were sent to live at another Christian lady's house.

This book was written in narrative form because it is a memoir. By using this form the author connected with her audience and shared her experiences from that harsh and sad period of her life.

I would recommend this book to other people because it is a deep book and it helps understand what people went through at that time. I would also recommend this book to people who like books about the struggles of Jewish people during the Holocaust and people who like reading memoirs.

[Amna · Rating 4 out of 5]

هذه قصة عائلة يهودية خلال الاحتلال الألماني لبولندا أثناء الحرب العالمية الثانية، حتى هزيمة الألمان على يد السوفييت.

تسرد المؤلفة التي كانت في الثامنة من عمرها عندما تعرضت وعائلتها للأحداث الواردة في هذه المذكرات في الفترة من يونيو 1941 حتى سبتمبر 1944.

كانت عائلة ثرية تنعم بعيشة طيّبة إلى أن احتلت ألمانيا بولندا، وتفرق أفراد العائلة طلبا للأمان والحياة، مات من مات وفقد آخرون. تباينت مواقف البولنديون من اليهود، كان منهم الكاره لذلك الكيان فسعى للوشاية بهم والإبلاغ عن مكامن اختبائهم (ليتعرضوا بعدها للتعذيب والإبادة) وكان منهم من سعى لحمايتهم وتحمّل مسؤولية إبقائهم لديه سرا.

النافذة السرية كانت المكان الذي تختبىء الراوية ووالدتها فيه أثناء مداهمة الشرطة الألمانية للعائلة البولندية التي احتوتهما أو قدوم أحد للزيارة

[Emma Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this is a short book, I did not anticipate finishing it in less than twenty-four hours, yet I found that I could not set aside the book for long because of the wonder and worry it inspired.

The writing is simplistic, almost childlike, which reflects the innocence of the author at the time the events transpired and leaves room for stirrings of empathy as she conveys her confusion and pain. Though the widespread terror and atrocities that occurred during World War II are often studied to some degree, the chance to view a small portion of that dark time through the eyes of a young girl gave new meaning to all the stories I know.

Toll never became too gruesome in her phrasing, but the book is still not one to read for pleasure: it shows, in its own way, the darkness humanity can stoop to and the lasting scars hatred causes. Still, I would suggest the book to anyone, for historical interest or even for the chance to realize the dark they have not known.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

NF- Memoir (Holocaust)

[Lynnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully moving. Gorgeous paintings and a testamant to human strength and survival through the eyes of an extraordinary child.

[Carrie Stader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells a wonderful true story during a dark time in Europe.

[Deb Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives the reader an idea of what it was like to hide in plain sight from the Nazis. Similar to Anne Frank's diary, this book is from the viewpoint of a young girl. Nelly and her mother relied on the kindness of a Polish couple, spending their days locked in a bedroom, and when necessary, hiding on a windowsill behind a false wall. She spent her time creating watercolor paintings that depict life at that time and have since been on display, helping the world understand what she went through. One drawback of the book was the paintings were in black and white rather than color. It's understandable when considering the need to keep the cost of the book where a child at a bookfair could afford. I just wish there had been a way to show these paintings in color so the detail was apparent.

[Caitlin M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In, Behind the Secret Window, A girl young girl named Nelly goes into hiding twice from the Nazis when they invaded Lwów Poland. As she is in hiding she learns about herself, her religion, and the Nazis. But also starts to question who she really is, why are Jews always the ones that get hurt? Is a question she continuously asks herself throughout the entire book. Nelly S. Toll really shows you how scary it can be going through that experience. Behind the Secret, Window is a story about accepting who you truly are no matter how extreme your situation is.

[Cindi Leiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the true story of a young girl and the things her parents did to hide her from the Nazis. It is based upon the journals she kept during this trying time. I found these events to be quite different from others I have read. The way that the parents hid or tried to hide her was new to me and the ways that other Jewish people hid their heritage was something I hadn't considered.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Memories of hiding from the Nazis with a Polish family, Nelly & her mother survive air raids, bombings, Gestapo searches & curious neighbors. I would love to see her water color paintings in color.

[Taylor Stewart 1008 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing please read it I love it 5STARS

[Akshaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was ok. I do realize that this book is a biography, but I did not like how the book ended.

[Huguette Larochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

a stories about the world war 11, a memoir of a young girl hiding from the Nazi evil.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jan Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is told to the eyes of a child. It had to been a horrific experience that would never leave a person’s mind or heart.

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very good story about the life of a child who had experienced ww2 and faced Jewish discrimination according to the perspective of a child

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good memoir of a horrible time and my hear broke for her when her father and cousins didn't return.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my book, Behind The Secret Window, by Nelly S. Toll, the main character, Nelly is a Jewish girl during the holocaust. The germans invade her city, Lwów and put all of the jews into a ghetto. When the germans start "taking action" Nelly's family and her are forced to go into hiding. Nelly's little brother, is taken and most likely killed (it is not made clear in the book)and Nelly and her mother go and hide in somebody's house while her father hides somewhere else.

During the Holocaust many Jews were killed because of their religioun. It was as if their religioun defined who they were as a person. It was as if being a Jew automatically gave people the right to beat you up, take your stuff and kill you. The Holocaust was not the only time that people were prosecuted because of their religioun, even today things like this happen. Although usually on a smaller scale. Many people are teased and called names because of their skin color, what they look like, or their ideas. The people who tease others because of their appearance or what they believe in, are just like the Nazis, they hurt people for reasons that are not good reasons to hurt people.

When Nelly and her mother are cooped up in a small room, for more than a year, Nelly has a hard time keeping her sanity. One day a trustworthy neighbor that knows that Nelly is in hiding suggests to Pani Krysia (the person hiding them) that they get Nelly art supplies. From that point on Nelly begins living in her imagination, painting pictures of happiness, to help her cope with her pain. Without those art supplies, who knows whether Nelly would have gone insane or not.

I think that Nelly's paintings symbolize bullying and the pain that the victims go through. I think that her paintings also symbolize the things that victims of bullying do to cope with it. Many people in our world are bullied in different ways. It can be as extreme as the Holocaust, or as simple as a school yard kid picking on another kid. Bullying can ruin peoples lives, or atleast huge segments of their lives, as the Holocaust did to Nelly's life. People who bully have no idea of the pain they are putting others in, and the people who are being hurt have a lot of trouble coping with it. I know that the Holocaust and bullying are pretty different. But the reasons behind them are similar. People need someone to take their anger out on, they pick a kid, and ruin his life.

[Abby W 6 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the secret window by Nelly S Toll is a full of emotion. It is a very well written, informational, and heart touching book. Nelly tells her story as a young child. She lived in Lwow, Poland with her family which consisted of her Mom, Dad, her brother named Janek, her cousins, and her aunt Elsa. Nelly thought she had a happy life, until she realizes that her life would soon come to an end. The Russian Army left, and the German Army, ran by Adolf Hitler took over Lwow Poland. Nelly and her family are forced to move to a ghetto, which was a place where Jews were isolated by the Germans. Nelly and her family try to make a hiding place, for other Jewish children to hide from the German and Ukrainian policemen. Nelly was sent to a Christian family to hide from the Nazis, because it was no longer safe for her family to stay in the ghetto. She had to stay as far away from the ghetto as she possibly could. Nelly lived with this couple for a couple of months until some christian neighbors found out what was going on. Nelly's family continued to look for safe places to hide. Nelly and her mother are sent to live with a polish family who hides them in a bedroom. This bedroom has a window behind the walls that her mom and her hide in when people come to the door. You can imagine how hard this would have been for Nelly and her family. This book is very valuable, because it shows you the amount of courage it must have took to survive the Holocaust. From hiding in a dark room for months on end, to being separated from your family, not knowing where they are or it will be the last time you ever see them. It was especially hard on the children, not knowing what was going on. It would be hard to have to walk down the streets in fear of being captured by the policemen, being called very cruel names, or being physically hurt. It would be hard to have to hide in a dark, damp, smelly cellar while the German are searching through your belongings, and tearing your homes apart, or listening to the bombs overhead, not knowing when or where they would fall. This book was absolutely fascinating. I would defiantly recommend it to anyone who loves history.

[TulahF · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really got me thinking about fate and god, and if there is such a thing as fate/luck.

Nelly is such a lucky girl because numerous times she comes very close to being discovered by the gestapo, and yet every time she is safe and thanking god for her well being.

Is it really god who saves us? Is there really luck? Are people actually meant to be saved?

I just find it a bit odd that so many people around Nelly in similar situations get caught, and yet Nelly and her mom don’t. Nelly says its god, but is it?

Maybe some people are just meant to live. But if that’s true, are some people meant to die (for the good or bad)?

I don’t see a particular reason why Nelly was meant to live if that is the case in life. I mean, yes she is a great person and I don’t want her to die, but so many other people that could have made a difference in life died, in the holocaust or not.

Maybe there is a god, and he chooses only a few to live no matter in what condition for a certain time. I don’t think he actually chooses people to die, because people think of life and god as a good and positive thing. I mean, people devote their lives to worshiping god, so if he is real then I doubt he would want to make some people die.

Maybe people that want to share their hardships so people can learn from them are chosen to be saved. I’m serious! Nelly gets saved, and she writes a book about the holocaust, and so does Art Spiegelman’s dad who was also in the holocaust.

Some people maybe have a set path in god’s mind, and others may just be unknown and spontaneous, so their fate is in their own hands. 
 Nelly was mainly taken control of by her dad and mom who always decided where she would go and what she could/couldn’t do. But also Nelly took advantage of her parents absences and broke the rules.

Maybe fate and luck are like many other things. There is a faint outline of it, but mostly it is up to you. I mean, our lives are our lives, but our lives are in god’s world.

p.s. sorry to go all religious in this reading response

[Pam Kirst · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered a copy of Nelly Toll’s Behind the Secret Window on a sale table—it was $2.00, and it looked fascinating. Toll was eight years old when she and her mother, Jewish Ukrainians, went into hiding in the home of an older Christian couple. The apartment had been rebuilt, leaving a false wall hiding a crawl space. It was this cubby that Nelly and her mother crawled into when danger approached, and this book details their time in hiding.

This is a story of loss; Nelly’s brother and father and many other close family members disappeared into concentration camps or partisan groups and were never heard from again.

This is a story of danger. There were times when Nelly and her Mama were nearly discovered…when the Gestapo demanded their protectress open the locked bedroom, when a neighbor saw a thread of Mama’s yarn twitch; when visitors rushed into the bedroom where Nelly was sleeping to get a better view of the bombing. Each miss was narrow but successful

This is a story of hope redeemed; many people chose to hold their tongues and risk their lives to keep Nelly and her mother safely hidden. Despite their losses, Nelly and her mother rebuilt their lives after the war. Nelly’s early artistic promise (her watercolors from the years in hiding illustrate this book) blossomed; she became an art counselor who worked with young people, according to the dust jacket of her book.

And I can’t help but think this story is a tribute to an amazing mother, who was able to enrich a stifling incarceration, making her young daughter explore her talents and use her imagination to make the years in hiding not just tolerable, but rich in meaning.

(Nelly Toll has a website: http://nellytoll.com/)

[Sydney Freel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In, “Behind the Secret Window: A Memoir of a Hidden Childhood,” Nelly S. Toll tells the story of her own childhood as a young Jewish girl living in Poland, during World War II. The Nazis arrived in Poland when she was only six years old and by the time she turned eight, she had lost almost everyone she loved to the war. Nelly and her mother hid from the Nazis for thirteen months, in the small bedroom of a non-Jewish couple in Lwow, Poland. She began writing in a diary about the heartbreaking things that were happening in her life. She wrote about her grief over lost family members, and the daily fears she experienced while hiding. To cope with her traumatic realities, Nelly turned to art. She escaped to a normal childhood by painting vibrant pictures of happy families, school friends, and bright skies. Many of these pictures are featured within the book with makes the story come to life. This book could be used in the classroom to teach about the holocaust. It can also be used to discuss the different ways that people cope with adversity.

Toll, N. (1993). Behind the Secret Window. New York: Dial Books.

[Alexandra Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book has a lot of details on how Jewish people life's were during World War II, we can see Nelly's point of view on every chapter, it's a book that will make you feel all kind emotions, I loved the relationship Nelly had with her siblings and her family in general, the all kind of things her parents did to protect her from the truth living out her window, and much she says she misses her old life, and her family; while reading the book it kinda makes you feel in the shoes of Nelly, I think that's why is so heart touching, it might seem small and simple by the cover, but is one of the best books I've ever read, It tough me a lot of things about that time period such as how hard it was to escape from their own homes, when the soldiers came to her neighborhood everyone had to go inside their houses. I recommend it if you want to learn more about this time, how Jewish survive, the ways the hide from the Nazis and how they escaped from Germany

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a wonderful memorir that tells about an 8 year old jewish girl growing up in world war 2. nelly s toll tell about her dairy and asll the horrible things she went through. she hinds in an atic with her mother for over 1 year. they come very close to being caught many times. But besides her situation she is just like a normal 8 year old girl. she loves reading , spending time with her mother and especially painting. the book shows many images of of her water color paintings that relate to her situation and what she is witnessing at such a young age. even though she doesn't understand everything her mother is always there to comfort her. i would recommend this book to any one who loves a knowledgeable book about world war 2 and the jews experiences.

[Quenton Hua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt that this book was different than other holocast stories as it includes pictures to help to you visualize what is going on with the main character's life. It takes place in Europe around Germany, in one of the occupied areas. The main story is about a Jewish girl,her mom, and her father trying to hide from being captured by Nazis. One kind family takes them in and they live in a locked room with a window. Whenever the Nazis come by, they hide in the window which is blocked by bricks. It gives you an apololyptic feeling during the whole book which not many other book can do. The story and pictures are told and drawn by the girl in 1st person perspective. I would recomend this book to any WW2 fan or fans of Anne Frank's diary.