Kanada

by Eva Wiseman

Kanada. The name meant untold riches and promise to Jutka, a young Hungarian girl who was captivated by stories of a vast, majestic country where people were able to breathe free of hatred and prejudice. Freedom was in short supply, but hatred was everywhere in Hungary as hundreds of thousands of Jews were deported to concentration camps during the last year of WWII. Jutka, her friends, and her family are sent to Auschwitz.

In that hellish place, there was another Kanada. It was the ironic name given to the storehouse at Auschwitz where the possessions, clothing and jewelry stripped from the victims were deposited, and where Jutka was put to work.

The war may have ended, but it did not end the suffering of many of the inmates of concentration camps. Many had no homes to go to, and if they did, they were not welcome. Hundreds went back to Poland and were murdered. Famished, diseased, and homeless, they lived in the hopelessness of camps, wondering if they could ever find a home in the world. Some went to Israel, but for Jutka there was only one dream left her: the dream of a country full of hope, where she would no longer have to live in fear.

Eva Wiseman's powerful novel describes the war and its long, difficult aftermath with compassion and tenderness.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Historical, Young Adult, War, Jewish, World War II

247 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2006

About the author

Young adult fiction writer Eva Wiseman was born in Hungary and currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Eva possesses a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Arts degree, and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Manitoba. She has worked as a journalist for the Winnipeg Free Press and the former Winnipeg Tribune, and has taught English Second Language and GED courses to immigrant women.

Reviews

[Sensitivemuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is very sad to see the world through Jutka's eyes, especially when she gets separated from her friends and has to stay home as she's banned from attending school. The hatred from some of the characters just makes you want to seethe in anger at how horribly they've treated Jutka and her family. It almost wants you to jump in and throttle these people. It's very well written in the first person point of view, and Jutka is portrayed as just a normal teenage girl with friends and family she loves with the world turning upside down in a matter of months. The book is somewhat divided into several parts so you go through various stages of her life. It is tragic to read, naturally, yet the chapters are short and detail and the narration is clear and concise. Reading this book won't take long as it is very interesting, and you want to know the outcomes of some of the people she knew and the fate of Jutka herself.

What I thought was interesting to see is the sudden maturity and development of Jutka the moment she enters the camp and the sudden losses she encounters. I admired her for her struggle to survive, and her ability to speak up when others stayed silent. Throughout the book she constantly dreams, especially dreams of Canada and living there. I believe those dreams were the key to her survival, and they kept her hope alive among the pain and suffering of those around her and the constant threat of death over her shoulder.

I was afraid of what she was planning to do with the rest of her life, but when she came right down to her choice, I was happy for her and agreed with it. I suppose the only problem I have with this book is the outcome of Tamas. He was horrible to Jutka and thought he should have been left to rot. However, that's just my opinion. I enjoyed the ending. Unlike some of the Holocaust fiction I have read in the past, this one leaves a glimmer of hope for her, albeit bittersweet. The reader can only hope for the best for Jutka.

Overall, it was a good read. It shows a great deal of strength in the face of hopelessness and suffering. We can definitely learn a lot from Jutka and what she's been through.

[Lyle Appleyard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book from a pile of books that someone was giving away a few years ago. I just got around to reading it.

This book takes place from mid 1944 to mid 1946. It follows a young Jewish girl from Hungary to Auschwitz to freedom. During this time she faces many hardship and tragedies. She never gives up on her dream of going to Canada.

I was not the target audience of this book. I believe that this book was written for readers age 10-14, as that is the age of the main character. That is why I had some difficulty getting into the book. The book deals with a very hard subject and the writer dealt with it in a way a younger reader would be able to follow. The chapters are short for a young reader. The character develop is just enough to keep the story going.

This book was not for me, but I would recommend it for a younger reader who has some interest in World War Two beyond who won.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Book was really sad, yet moving because of the horrible things that happened in the Holocaust.

[Andria Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ rounded up. This was very good, although super sad as it's another Auschwitz story. I hadn't realized that in going in so allow me to inform you that you definitely should have a box of tissues prepared. Jutka is a believable character and the story is powerful, emotional, and full of historical references. From Hungary to Canada, this was a really good read. I can definitely see why it was the winner of the Geoffrey Bilson award back in 2007. Jutka, a young Hungarian girl, is just trying to survive and not get killed all because she was born a Jew. The story is told before, during and after World War 2. It's beautifully written, and vivid with descriptions of the time and place of what it was like living as a Jew during that era. It was quite sad, and yet Jutka pressed on and survived. Very recommended for those who like historical fiction!

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

In Kanada, winner of the 2007 Geoffrey Bilson Award, Eva Wiseman returns to familiar territory—the history of Hungarian Jews—but this book is a darker journey. As the novel begins, 14-year-old Jutka enjoys an innocent afternoon sledding with friends on a snowy slope in her hometown. But it is 1944, her father and brother have already been conscripted to a forced labour regiment, and nothing is innocent. Soon Jutka is on another, more sinister slope—a descent into a hell beyond imagining. First banned from attending school, then forced to wear a yellow star, she and her mother and grandmother are herded into a ghetto and shipped in a boxcar to Auschwitz. Drawing on her parents’ experience, Wiseman describes in vivid, almost unbearable detail, the casual brutality and great cruelties to which the Jews are subjected. But she also captures the fierce desire for life, the bonds of friendship and the small kindnesses of the prisoners. One of the most moving scenes is a birthday celebrated by young women with nothing to give. Wiseman also illuminates the countless deceptions and strategies that ensure survival, the powerful sparks of rebellion and opportunities for revenge. While this book makes a valuable contribution to literature of the Holocaust, it also has much to say about survival and what makes us human. In the camp, Kanada represents the storehouse of prisoners’ possessions — and a protected life for the prisoners who work there. Offered a chance at this life, Jutka returns to the barracks, loyal to her friends. Kanada is also the country of Jutka’s recurring dreams, featured in the book sent to Jutka’s family by her father’s cousin in Ottawa. With its snowy fields, clean streets and smiling faces, Kanada represents a refuge and a new start. As Jutka emerges from the camp, like a caged bird, she is unsure what to do with her newfound freedom. Eretz Israel offers a beacon for her friends and the man who loves her, but she must choose whether to follow her own dream to a colder country.

Reviewed by Brenda Halliday in Canadian Children's Book News
Winter 2008 VOL.31 NO.1

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure how to write this review. First of all, the title was a bit misleading. From the synopsis and the title, I understood that the book would be mostly about the “Kanada” work detail in Auschwitz when in reality the entire Kanada section takes up only a couple of pages. The second thing is, the number of historical inaccuracies actually surprised me given that the author wrote the book based on her parents’ experiences; however, when in summer of 1945 the main character drinks espresso in an outdoor café when both Germany and Austria were basically starving and nearly obliterated, it made me say a really long inward “whaaaat?” as I re-read the scene twice and double-checked the date. Nope, still summer 1945. Similar things appeared from time to time and spoiled the reading experience for me a little, if I’m being completely honest.
The plot itself is interesting and Jutka, the main heroine, is certainly very sweet and relatable and easy to root for. A Hungarian Jew with her family caught up in the war, she witnesses the slow dismantling of the Jews’ rights and faces discrimination on a daily basis from the people who she used to think were her friends and close acquaintances.
After being deported to Auschwitz, she tries to survive the best she can and applies her all to help her friends as well. However, here’s where another strange thing happens: after spending the day in the Kanada section and seeing firsthand how much easier the work is and how it would be possible to secure the food items and valuables for herself and her friends which would certainly ensure their survival, she refuses the Kapo’s offer to be assigned to his work detail permanently, which… doesn’t make sense at all? Inmates were fighting to get into Kanada, and Jutka’s reluctance caused another “whaaaat?” from me after reading this.
The book is well-written, with relatable, sympathetic characters and an inspiring message; however, I wouldn’t recommend it as a reliable research source. Read it as historical fiction - I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

[Booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW2 story of a Hungarian Jewish girl and her hardship being sent to a concentration camp. Hope abounds in her determination to survive, new-made friends, strenth of religion, and inner character. While a bit too simplistic for me, the general knowledge gained about the holocaust for most YAs will make this a popular book.

[Lauren Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strong look at Jews on the later Hungarian transports to concentration camps, centered on a teenage girl who loses her entire family in the Holocaust but manages to survive. I like that it also focused on the immediate aftermath of the war and the transition back into civilian life from the DP camps to figuring out how to move on from there, with our protagonist hoping to end up in Canada, the idea of which served as her motivation to make it through the war. I thought everything worked well for the purposes of the story, and it was a very realistic portrayal with no sugarcoating or unnecessary drama.

[Karel Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how brave the protagonist is and how relatable the friendship, and family moments are. I love the characters' names: Jutka (Yutka), Sandor (Shandor), Deszo (Dedju), etc. I love how they enjoyed the snow, how they describe their favorite food, I love the piano lessons, the writing contest, the Canada book, but I hate the Holocaust. I hate the Holocaust, I wish it didn't have to happen. This book is good. : )

[Glory · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very sad and also very graphic. It had a lot of information and it made want to know more about the holocaust.It was a very sad time in history. I didn't like the ending however, it wasn't what I expected. In total it was a good book.

[Joanne Pinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

What sets this apart from other holocaust stories is that it tells the reader what happened to the Jewish people who were liberated from the death camps. It explores the months after, when they faced the realities of having lost everyone and everything.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is honestly one of my favorite books of all time

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Holocaust novel, with some new-to-me information about the DP camps, but mostly the young voice was annoying. I guess I just wasn't the right demographic.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since reading Number the Stars, I've been fascinated by the Holocaust. The idea that humans could turn on each other like that has always been a disturbing idea, and the Salem Witch Trials, Japanese-American Internment Camps, Slavery and other similar topics have also attracted me for the same reason. This was in some ways yet another novel about a Jewish girl's journey from persecution to Concentration Camp to a new life after the war, but I think in a way that having this same story repeated by many different authors about many different countries really makes the facts that much more heartbreaking. Even though the story is essentially the same as many others, with similar suffering and tragedy, each story is still yet different, and there are so many lost stories that each one we have is precious.
This is probably better for older middle school kids, or readers who are ready for the tragic story. Jutka is a likeable heroine and as you follow her story you realize how much luck plays into our daily survival. Those experiencing modern day prejudice might be inspired by Jutka's strength, or they might be further depressed by the topic, so I think care is required in recommending this book, but it is a valuable addition to the literature on WWII.
Swearing. Violence. Deprivation. Prejudice and Persecution. Death.

[James20 · Rating 5 out of 5]

CANADA or KANADA?
Air sirens howling, bombs and gun are exploding! Guns are getting fired, people in the distance are crying. World War two is in the mist. The book “Kanada” is a story about a young girl named Jukta from Hungary. The character is easy to relate to. She always heard stories about the real Canada and how nice it was. People told her about the beauty and peacefulness of it there. She imagined snow and Mounties. Jukta has a picture of her aunt in Ottawa and that’s how she knows about Canada. The story takes place in world war two, when all of the Jewish people are getting deported to concentration camps. Jukta gets sent to Auschwitz. Before they were taken away, her mom lined her fur coat with something special. In the book Jukta finds what is inside the coat. There is a place inside Auschwitz called Kanada. It’s an ironic name because of what the people inside wish it was, Canada. It’s where all the all the valuables and the clothing are stored from all the Jews. The young Jukta gets put to work in Kanada. She was imaging the real Canada, but all that was there was a dreadful place filled with clothes. She makes a friend the book is really good, the author, Eva Wiseman does a good job of getting the readers into the book. This book is good for readers who like to read about World War two and the Holocaust.

[Janice Forman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Jutka Weltner is a fictional character, her story is very real. Author, Eva Wiseman, based most of the events in the book on the experiences her mother and father endured before the war, in Auschwitz and in the DP camps following the war.

Although the story takes place in a relatively short time frame, February 1944 to August 1946, 14 year-old Jutka is witness to more horror and inhumanity than most people will ever experience in a lifetime. Just as the horror can bring out the worst in people, it can also bring out the best in people. Selfless acts of courage and sharing might mean the difference between living and dying. Throughout the story, there is despair and there is hope, and for Jutka, hope is Canada, a vast land free from hatred.

Kanada provides an excellent opportunity for young readers to learn about the Hollocaust. Wiseman has written with sufficient detail so that the horror comes alive, but at the same time, she has written with compassion and empathy. This is a horror story, no doubt, but it is still a good book for young readers.

[Ania Bula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a young Jewish-Hungarian girl during the Holocaust. We follow Jutka from the day of the invasion through her stay in a Ghetto as well as Auschwitz. The book uses the idea of Canada - both the country and the nickname prisoners gave to the building in Auschwitz that held all the items the Nazis had stolen from the prisoners.

It's hard to say that I enjoyed the story given the nature of the subject-matter, but I found it compelling. Jutka is a believable character and her description of the events is devastating even as it is simple. Given the current Political climate in most of the world, it is a good reminder of the depravity that people are capable of.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

For being a young adult novel, I thought it was pretty graphic. However, it's about the Holocaust. Can't really gloss over that.

The book traces a Jewish girl from when things began to change for Jews in Hungary through life in the ghetto through life in Auschwitz to a DP Camp, and then to the beginning of her journey for a new life. I liked that the reader could see glimpses of all these ways of life, as it is rare to read about the ghettos, and even rarer to read about life after emancipation from death camps.

[Ava · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book and it wasn't the best. This was my novel study project for school. I did like the story plot and how it was going, but the author never went in depth about the main character, Jutka's, feelings. It was a story that I could've written. While reading this book I even thought of better ways of reconstructing sentences in the book. Also, the ending was terrible. It ended with Jutka's last motion(TINY SPOILER: I wiped away my tears) which is bad. The last sentence or two should relate to the book but instead it ended with a bad "reader's ending" sentence.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy with Jutka's final decision, but I really wanted to read more about Kanada. I had read about it a little bit in another book, so I was looking forward to learning more about it, only to be disappointed. However, I did enjoy the whole Canada angle.

[Shelby]

How do u start reading a book?

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.
It really gets it's message across.
I'm going to read it again...

[Brenda B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read about the Holocaust. Not quite as engaging as some others. Good female protagonist.

[Annabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sublime novel!

[Janel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing story, i usually dont read these types of books but this one is really good it really made me think of what happend during that time!

[Ryan Dyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book read back in 2006. Signed by Eva herself does anyone know how I can get a hold of her would be a great help in tracking down a quilt that my mom made for her!!

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sad book. 3.5 stars.

[Abhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book