Refugee Child: My Memories of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution

by Bobbie Kalman, Barbara Bedell (Illustrator)

October 23, 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, an important event for millions of North Americans of Hungarian descent. Refugee Child is the compelling story of children's author Bobbie Kalman's experiences as a young girl during the Hungarian Revolution. A touching roller-coaster ride of emotions, Kalman writes her story from the perspective of a nine-year-old. She relives both her frightening experiences, as well as some warm and funny memories of her family, her flight to freedom, and her life-changing adventures as a refugee.

Library Binding

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Bobbie Kalman is the award-winning author of more than 400 non-fiction books. She established herself as a leading author in children’s non-fiction in the 1980’s and 90’s with two acclaimed series about pioneer life, The Early Settler Life Series (15 titles) and The Historic Communities Series (31 titles), both published by Crabtree Publishing. She has created many of Crabtree’s most popular series, which also include The Native Nations of North America Series (19 titles), The Lands, Peoples, and Cultures Series (93 titles), and The Science of Living Things Series (32 titles), among others.

Born in Hungary in 1947, Bobbie and her family escaped to Austria during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. The family spent several weeks there as refugees before immigrating to North America. A former teacher, Bobbie Kalman taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. She also spent several years working as an educational consultant for several publishing companies. Bobbie holds degrees in English, Psychology, and Education. She is married and has four children and three grandchildren.

Although best known for her non-fiction, Bobbie’s newest book is autobiographical. Released in September, 2006, Refugee Child is the account of Bobbie and her family’s escape from Hungary when she was just nine years old. Written to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution in October of 2006, the book is told from the perspective of a young girl.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came across this book in the children’s non-fiction section of our library. Agree with B’s review, although written for a younger audience I enjoyed it immensely. Would have been great to have read before our visit to Hungary.

[Arlene Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refugee Child, My memories of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
Taken from the book cover, “Part memoir, part history, this book looks at the Hungarian Revolution through a child's eyes. It includes a history of the 1848 and 1956 Hungarian revolutions and describes what life was like under oppressive Communist rule.”
The author writes this book after she had grown up. She graduated from university with degrees in English, Psychology and Education, and was certified to teach both high school and elementary school. The author acknowledges help from many people in many areas of expertise including her own experiences, which makes the book valuable in it's portrayal of life in Hungary during the 1956 Hungary Revolution, and her account of what it was like to live under Communist rule. As a child she witness the uprising of the Hungary citizens of her town in protest of denied rights and of demands for change. She talks about how she and her family along with many others had to flee the country and became refugees in neighboring countries. She talks about their experiences in Vienna, Austria as refugees and how well they were treated. After much struggle and the fall of the Iron Curtain, Hungary became the first nation under Soviet control to gain a democratic government.
This book is written for older children, and is directed to them with explanation of some terminology.
Actual pictures are included of the times and places of certain events.
It's a short book and easy to read. Gives new light to understanding the variety of experiences involved in fleeing a country, not only the tragic and nightmarish experiences, but kind and caring experiences shown by people receiving refugees into their country. Quote from book, “We must never forget that some people had to fight for these human rights.”

[B Wojcik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is written for a younger audience, I enjoyed it immensely. Succinctly and with childhood wonder it paints a vivid picture of a girl and her family who had to flee Hungary to escape the clutches of the Soviet regime. I identify with her memory of the event because in so many ways it mirrors my own, as my family had to refugee it in Austria over the Christmas holidays, only we did it 25 years later.
I recommend it to all my refugee compatriots from Polish school in Chicago.