The Broken Mirror

by Kirk Douglas

A timeless tale of loss and faith recovered by actor/author Kirk Douglas. After World War II ends a Jewish boy whose family has been killed by the Nazis lies to his American liberators, telling them that he is a Gypsy rather than a Jew. Sent to a Catholic orphanage, Moishe runs away after his best friend there is adopted. When all seems utterly hopeless, Moishe finds solace in the light of the Sabbath candles and in his abandoned Judaism.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens

Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch, ) was an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past (1947), Champion (1949), Ace in the Hole (1951), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), The Vikings (1958), Spartacus (1960), Lonely Are the Brave (1962),The Fury (1978) and Tough Guys (1986)

He is No.17 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time. In 1996, he received the Academy Honorary Award "for 50 years as a creative and moral force in the motion picture community."

He was one of the last surviving actors from Hollywood's "golden age". He passed away on February 05, 2020 at the age of 103.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An autographed copy of this small book was left in my Little Library, where I’ll place it for someone else to enjoy!

[Devon Tarantino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out in the late 90s. I was a child, and this story helped me understand the Holocaust and the very real human element that was behind all the atrocities that have been turned into statistics in our history books. I am now in my 30s and, throughout my life, this book has always stuck with me. I finally found it again (with help from a research librarian at The Library of Congress) and, though the story is meant for young readers, I found it to be just as heartbreaking and beautiful as I did back then. Right now, it’s December of 2022, and antisemitism is horrifyingly on the rise. It is more important than ever to remember what happens when we let hate dictate our actions and when we focus more on how different we are than on how similar we can be. This book does a beautiful job of reminding us about what is truly important- family, love, giving with no expectations in return, and the power of a story.

[Ryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a touching little story about Moishe, a Jew who experienced the horrors of the Holocaust. I got a huge meaning and a touching story out of so few pages.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little tale of a boy's survival after losing everyone he loves.

[Emilie Gauthier La Valliere · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Michelle Hayworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The year was 1938, the main character was on his way to celebrate Sabbath when he witnesses what appears to be a parade coming. This parade is definitely unlike any he has ever seen before. So many German soliders, so many guns, big Nazi signs, even only being five, he knew this couldn't be good. Surviving these attacks would to be more trouble then it was worth. Initially, they go into hiding on their farm, away from the Nazi terrorists. Eventually, they are captured and sent to a concentration camp in Pakistan. The novel is based on the journey led by this boy for the years spent during the Holocaust and his journey to deal with the aftermath subsided from it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I would definitely fit this book into any lesson about the Holocaust and the various situations it made. There is no offensive language, grusome language, or vivid accounts. While there is death related to the Holocaust, the narrator of the story didn't focus on the gory details, making it age appropriate for grade 5-12.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Broken Mirror" by Kirk Douglas, is the short story of a boy's inner struggle as he deals with the consequences of being a Jew. Moishe, a survivor of the war, must rebuild his life step-by-step, but without an identity. Having decided to give up his identity as a Jew, Moishe feels more alone then ever and can't seem to put his puzzle back together. Will the principals that Moishe has been raised on help guide him through this difficult time and help him find his identity once more? Or will he be another of the millions of people who's lives couldn't be repaired? This extremely quick-read will have you reading from the first page onward without stopping. Although it is meant for a younger audience, "The Broken Mirror" still includes themes and motifs that a higher level reader would be in pursuit of.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Broken Mirror is a quick but powerful story about a Jewish boy growing up and enduring the horrors of the Holocaust. The words and writting are almost elementary school simple with no elaboration at all which drives me crazy. The content is more middle school because Moishe does end up losing everything and everyone, but the story ultimately has a happy ending which I liked. I also loved the tie in to the Hans Christian Anderson story. Not a bad supplementary story to a WWII unit, but there are better out there like The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, the Boy Who Dared, or The Book Theif. However, for a fast book with an emotional punch, it's a good read.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moishe is a Jew that was taken to a consentration camp. He surived when the Americans came to help. His sister and brother were killed right in front of him. Later he changes his name to Danny because of what happened to him in Germany. When the American soldiers take him to America, they leave him at a Catholic Orphanage. Then when his best friend is adopted Danny tries to run away. You will have to read this book to find out the end. It is one of the best books that I have ever read! Its great and shows you what the Holocaust was really like.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella written by the actor, Kirk Douglas. It is the story of a young German-Jewish boy during WWII. The story is told through the young man's eyes, as he tries to figure out who the Nazis are, his family's hiding, their concentration camp days, and his life afterwards. The book is told in two parts, after young Moishe decides he wants to hide his Jewish identity, he assumes the name Danny, and calls himself a gypsy. A sweet story about returning to love. The story is simple, and seems to be geared towards children/young teens, but adult readers will be able to enjoy the book just as much.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading the summary is more interesting than reading the book. The characters weren't fleshed out very well, and that was really disappointing. It has potential, but I think this story needs rewriting.

[Children's Literature Project · Rating 4 out of 5]

No reading level information available.

Moishe, a Jewish boy grows up near Germany during the Holocaust. He witnesses the deaths of his loved ones and decides that he does not want to be Jewish anymore. He attempts to take on a new identity in America.

This book is recommended for grades 4-7.

[P.A. Pursley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book simply because it was written by actor Kirk Douglas, and I was not disappointed. It is a short story about Moishe, a Jewish boy during WWII. It is short but touching and well-written. A very good read.

[Alyson Allgood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short read!

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Nazis destroy his family, 12-year-old Moishe gives up his Jewish faith, calls himself Danny, and is taken to New York where he tries to make the best of his life in a Catholic orphanage.

[Tanya Windham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching story of the holocaust. Not a classic but a clear picture of a horrible time in history.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far my favorite book of all time.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story of the holocaust with the fairy tale of The Broken Mirror tied in to the story. Love being the common denominator to breaking the spell.