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The Girls of Room 28: Friendship, Hope, and Survival in Theresienstadt
From 1942 to 1944, twelve thousand children passed through the Theresienstadt internment camp, near Prague, on their way to Auschwitz. Only a few hundred of them survived the war. In The Girls of Room 28 , ten of these children — mothers and grandmothers today in their seventies — tell us how they did it.
The Jews deported to Theresienstadt from countries all over Europe were aware of the fate that awaited them, and they decided that it was the young people who had the best chance to survive. Keeping these adolescents alive, keeping them whole in body, mind, and spirit, became the priority. They were housed separately, in dormitory-like barracks, where they had a greater chance of staying healthy and better access to food, and where counselors (young men and women who had been teachers and youth workers) created a disciplined environment despite the surrounding horrors. The counselors also made available to the young people the talents of an amazing array of world-class artists, musicians, and playwrights–European Jews who were also on their way to Auschwitz. Under their instruction, the children produced art, poetry, and music, and they performed in theatrical productions, most notably Brundibar , the legendary “children’s opera” that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
In the mid-1990s, German journalist Hannelore Brenner met ten of these child survivors—women in their late-seventies today, who reunite every year at a resort in the Czech Republic. Weaving her interviews with the women together with excerpts from diaries that were kept secretly during the war and samples of the art, music, and poetry created at Theresienstadt, Brenner gives us an unprecedented picture of daily life there, and of the extraordinary strength, sacrifice, and indomitable will that combined—in the girls and in their caretakers—to make survival possible.
The Jews deported to Theresienstadt from countries all over Europe were aware of the fate that awaited them, and they decided that it was the young people who had the best chance to survive. Keeping these adolescents alive, keeping them whole in body, mind, and spirit, became the priority. They were housed separately, in dormitory-like barracks, where they had a greater chance of staying healthy and better access to food, and where counselors (young men and women who had been teachers and youth workers) created a disciplined environment despite the surrounding horrors. The counselors also made available to the young people the talents of an amazing array of world-class artists, musicians, and playwrights–European Jews who were also on their way to Auschwitz. Under their instruction, the children produced art, poetry, and music, and they performed in theatrical productions, most notably Brundibar , the legendary “children’s opera” that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
In the mid-1990s, German journalist Hannelore Brenner met ten of these child survivors—women in their late-seventies today, who reunite every year at a resort in the Czech Republic. Weaving her interviews with the women together with excerpts from diaries that were kept secretly during the war and samples of the art, music, and poetry created at Theresienstadt, Brenner gives us an unprecedented picture of daily life there, and of the extraordinary strength, sacrifice, and indomitable will that combined—in the girls and in their caretakers—to make survival possible.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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3637 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 31, 2013
I felt the title of this book deceptive. I was expecting more stories from the girls themselves, but outside of little interview snippets and diary passages that were a quite interesting look into the arts that still flourished in the horror that was the concentration camps (very few survived Theresienstadt, as it was ravaged by several epidemics, and those who did survive were oft shipped to Auschwitz), the book read more like a historical textbook than anything. Horribly dry for a leisure read, but full of really good information for a research project, this one was hard to slog through. I was a little disappointed, because usually I have a sort of morbid interest in what humanity is capable of in war, and real accounts from people who have lived through it if for no other reason than humanity burns brighter in adversity, but, sadly, the best word I have for this book is dry.
September 26, 2009
Another book I couldn't finish reading in September... It's basically what the title says it is, but there were a LOT of girls in Room 28, very few of whom were there the whole time, so lots of coming and going, and all the characters started to sort of run together... And kind of drily written, so just couldn't get excited about continuing...
May 11, 2012
The concept of the story was quite good, as this was a side of the holocaust that I didn't know much about. The book, however, I found a bit hard to get into. The characters seems to blend together, and by the halfway point I was losing interest fast. Although I don't regret reading this one, I can't recommend it.
June 1, 2010
Not many girls survived both Theresienstadt and Auschwitz, but ten of the 11-14 year girls who lived in this room were interviewed by Brenner. Unfortunately, even with these girls’ diaries, pictures and “Brundibar” the play that they acted out, it’s still not a well-told story, skipping from girl to girl to girl without really letting us get to know anyone of them.
March 4, 2012
The story is remarkable, but it took me forever to get through this book. I don't know what it was (not exactly chronological, unfamiliar names, lots of detail...something), but I had trouble staying with this book. It was worth the effort, though, simply because I learned about a whole different aspect of WWII and the sacrifice Jewish adults made for their children.
October 10, 2014
Orphaned girls, some as young as 11, who lived in the barracks at Theresienstadt and suffered the brutality of World War II, survived to find each other after the Iron Curtain was thrown open. They managed to hold yearly reunions, feeling the camaraderie of sisters whenever they got together. This is their story.
Fifteen female survivors of Room 28, tell the story of how their little community was created in this supposed, model prison camp. It became a “home” which enabled them to mature and make lasting friendships. Yes, conditions in Theresienstadt were better than in most concentration camps, but they were all prisoners, nevertheless, victims of barbarians, awaiting death in horrible ways. They did have the benefit of being allowed to keep their luggage and belongings, few as they were, but they all eventually became hardened to the deprivation and began to appreciate the simplest of things as they watched their numbers dwindle.
In the “home”, there was the usual rivalry of “siblings” living in close quarters, but it was quickly conquered as the situation inspired loyalty, and in most cases they swore allegiance to each other vowing never to do anything that would betray any of them. They witnessed horrific scenes, were always hungry, had no creature comforts, but it was better than the situation in the “death” camps. The numbers of children that were lost during this time is unimaginable. It is really hard to understand the inhumanity of these people who perpetrated this travesty of justice upon an innocent population.
The adults in Theresienstadt were determined to educate the young children and to give them as much of a normal life as they could, although it became more and more difficult. Counselors welcomed new inmates; classes were held, volunteers taught religious education; holidays were celebrated, and on some occasions, gifts were exchanged; food was shared and plays and operas were put on and performed by the children. The counselors seemed to be quasi-guardians for these orphans, some of whom came to this “model prison” alone, without friend or family member.
Although there were too many unrecognizable names to remember and too many excessive descriptions to keep track of, the amazing resilience and courage of all the “inmates” comes through in each of the stories relating their memories. The diaries and notebooks recovered provide an inside look into the horrors of that era and are invaluable. They tell of suicides, escape attempts, and the tragedy of watching loved ones murdered without being able to do anything. It speaks to the courage of those who joined their friends and family who were condemned, rather than go on with their lives without them. They speak of the tender awakening of the girls as some suddenly became aware of, and began to take an interest in, the opposite sex, even in such a place. The romances were often painful because the young lovers were quickly separated and never heard from again. Some took their own lives in the face of the hopelessness.
The children and adults in Theresienstadt were kept largely ignorant of the outside world. They had little idea of what was happening except for whispered rumors. They were all united in the hope that the Germans would be defeated so they could be free to pursue normal lives with dreams of homes, an education, good jobs and families of their own. Though they tried hard to keep up their spirits, they often wondered how such a thing could be happening to them; they could not understand what they had done to deserve such treatment. They didn’t understand how The Red Cross and other representatives turned a blind eye to what they would have seen if only they had looked closer when they came to inspect the camp.
As the war progressed, conditions worsened. It was harder to keep everything clean; bed bugs and fleas, lice and filth were often problems. These were children who were forced to deal with problems adults might find insurmountable, and yet, they rose to the task. There were constant transports and the fear of losing friends and family was always present. When friends and family were forced to board trains, they were never heard from again. They were shipped to places like Treblinka, Auschwitz, Bergen Belson and, ultimately, the gas showers and the crematoria. They were subjected to inhuman conditions, sadistic human beings, torture and cold blooded murder.
When the war finally ended, some survivors were then trapped behind the Iron Curtain, once again prisoners. Some survivors were mere shadows of their former selves, barely able to stand, their bodies broken and their minds lost. Few returned to normal life, few found survivors to reunite with, and few remained in, or were welcomed back to, their own home towns. It is really sad that the world and politics forced some of these miraculous survivors to go from one situation of captivity to another where their freedom was stolen once again.
Eventually, some survivors emigrated to Israel, some to America, some to other countries that welcomed them. They were resilient and strong after having survived the nightmare they were forced to live. Their stories tell of miraculous escapes from death, lucky moments of occasional kindness from a German or a soldier that kept them alive. These moments were all too rare. The victims were blamed for the way they were being treated, as if they had brought it on themselves with their “troubling” behavior. Their enemies were cruel and unforgiving and they robbed the world of some of the most talented and brilliant minds.
This book is a brief primer about the rise and fall of the Third Reich, the people who brought it about and the people who suffered through it. As the stories are told, the history is brought to life. It is a necessary read. The horror of the Holocaust must never be allowed to disappear from memory, even though years pass and those who experienced it die off. We must learn from the lessons of the past.
The children’s opera Brundibar, plays a large role in the book. It was written by Hans Krása who was also a prisoner in Theresienstadt. The opera performances and the plays, inspired the children and adults and gave them all a sense of hope and a few moments when they could forget their despair. Often, storylines held hidden messages for them, which were secret codes of defiance. The book is filled with quotes from operas and plays they performed and from entries in the diaries and notebooks that were preserved. They tell of forced marches, sometimes to nowhere and back, of never knowing from day to day if they would be called for a transport, of not knowing, but soon suspecting, what awaited those called away. Thousands were moved at once, packed like sardines without hygiene or food or fresh air or light. Thousands died from the deprivation and torture. They were starved and died in huge numbers without proper care or nutrition, without the medicine or comfort of loved ones around them.
Parents had abandoned their children in orphanages for Jewish children, assuming escape was too dangerous for them, assuming they would reunite with them, send for them, once they were safe. There were special laws for children for awhile, but then, the laws were changed and parents and children were cut off from each other without being able to reunite. In spite of the horrors and hardships, they dreamt of a future and prayed for the war’s end.
Because of the excessive detail as the story is told from more than a dozen points of view, it often became repetitive. However, it is a story that must be read so no one will forget the diabolical nature of the perpetrators, so no one forgets how cruelty can exist and grow if unchecked by good people everywhere, if greed and envy flourish rather than kindness and appreciation for the accomplishment of others.
The mixing of emotional anecdotal stories with historic facts sometimes became overwhelming. The book would be suitable for a classroom, for middle graders or high school students, too. With the guidance of a trained teacher, this could prove to be an invaluable teaching tool and learning experience.
Fifteen female survivors of Room 28, tell the story of how their little community was created in this supposed, model prison camp. It became a “home” which enabled them to mature and make lasting friendships. Yes, conditions in Theresienstadt were better than in most concentration camps, but they were all prisoners, nevertheless, victims of barbarians, awaiting death in horrible ways. They did have the benefit of being allowed to keep their luggage and belongings, few as they were, but they all eventually became hardened to the deprivation and began to appreciate the simplest of things as they watched their numbers dwindle.
In the “home”, there was the usual rivalry of “siblings” living in close quarters, but it was quickly conquered as the situation inspired loyalty, and in most cases they swore allegiance to each other vowing never to do anything that would betray any of them. They witnessed horrific scenes, were always hungry, had no creature comforts, but it was better than the situation in the “death” camps. The numbers of children that were lost during this time is unimaginable. It is really hard to understand the inhumanity of these people who perpetrated this travesty of justice upon an innocent population.
The adults in Theresienstadt were determined to educate the young children and to give them as much of a normal life as they could, although it became more and more difficult. Counselors welcomed new inmates; classes were held, volunteers taught religious education; holidays were celebrated, and on some occasions, gifts were exchanged; food was shared and plays and operas were put on and performed by the children. The counselors seemed to be quasi-guardians for these orphans, some of whom came to this “model prison” alone, without friend or family member.
Although there were too many unrecognizable names to remember and too many excessive descriptions to keep track of, the amazing resilience and courage of all the “inmates” comes through in each of the stories relating their memories. The diaries and notebooks recovered provide an inside look into the horrors of that era and are invaluable. They tell of suicides, escape attempts, and the tragedy of watching loved ones murdered without being able to do anything. It speaks to the courage of those who joined their friends and family who were condemned, rather than go on with their lives without them. They speak of the tender awakening of the girls as some suddenly became aware of, and began to take an interest in, the opposite sex, even in such a place. The romances were often painful because the young lovers were quickly separated and never heard from again. Some took their own lives in the face of the hopelessness.
The children and adults in Theresienstadt were kept largely ignorant of the outside world. They had little idea of what was happening except for whispered rumors. They were all united in the hope that the Germans would be defeated so they could be free to pursue normal lives with dreams of homes, an education, good jobs and families of their own. Though they tried hard to keep up their spirits, they often wondered how such a thing could be happening to them; they could not understand what they had done to deserve such treatment. They didn’t understand how The Red Cross and other representatives turned a blind eye to what they would have seen if only they had looked closer when they came to inspect the camp.
As the war progressed, conditions worsened. It was harder to keep everything clean; bed bugs and fleas, lice and filth were often problems. These were children who were forced to deal with problems adults might find insurmountable, and yet, they rose to the task. There were constant transports and the fear of losing friends and family was always present. When friends and family were forced to board trains, they were never heard from again. They were shipped to places like Treblinka, Auschwitz, Bergen Belson and, ultimately, the gas showers and the crematoria. They were subjected to inhuman conditions, sadistic human beings, torture and cold blooded murder.
When the war finally ended, some survivors were then trapped behind the Iron Curtain, once again prisoners. Some survivors were mere shadows of their former selves, barely able to stand, their bodies broken and their minds lost. Few returned to normal life, few found survivors to reunite with, and few remained in, or were welcomed back to, their own home towns. It is really sad that the world and politics forced some of these miraculous survivors to go from one situation of captivity to another where their freedom was stolen once again.
Eventually, some survivors emigrated to Israel, some to America, some to other countries that welcomed them. They were resilient and strong after having survived the nightmare they were forced to live. Their stories tell of miraculous escapes from death, lucky moments of occasional kindness from a German or a soldier that kept them alive. These moments were all too rare. The victims were blamed for the way they were being treated, as if they had brought it on themselves with their “troubling” behavior. Their enemies were cruel and unforgiving and they robbed the world of some of the most talented and brilliant minds.
This book is a brief primer about the rise and fall of the Third Reich, the people who brought it about and the people who suffered through it. As the stories are told, the history is brought to life. It is a necessary read. The horror of the Holocaust must never be allowed to disappear from memory, even though years pass and those who experienced it die off. We must learn from the lessons of the past.
The children’s opera Brundibar, plays a large role in the book. It was written by Hans Krása who was also a prisoner in Theresienstadt. The opera performances and the plays, inspired the children and adults and gave them all a sense of hope and a few moments when they could forget their despair. Often, storylines held hidden messages for them, which were secret codes of defiance. The book is filled with quotes from operas and plays they performed and from entries in the diaries and notebooks that were preserved. They tell of forced marches, sometimes to nowhere and back, of never knowing from day to day if they would be called for a transport, of not knowing, but soon suspecting, what awaited those called away. Thousands were moved at once, packed like sardines without hygiene or food or fresh air or light. Thousands died from the deprivation and torture. They were starved and died in huge numbers without proper care or nutrition, without the medicine or comfort of loved ones around them.
Parents had abandoned their children in orphanages for Jewish children, assuming escape was too dangerous for them, assuming they would reunite with them, send for them, once they were safe. There were special laws for children for awhile, but then, the laws were changed and parents and children were cut off from each other without being able to reunite. In spite of the horrors and hardships, they dreamt of a future and prayed for the war’s end.
Because of the excessive detail as the story is told from more than a dozen points of view, it often became repetitive. However, it is a story that must be read so no one will forget the diabolical nature of the perpetrators, so no one forgets how cruelty can exist and grow if unchecked by good people everywhere, if greed and envy flourish rather than kindness and appreciation for the accomplishment of others.
The mixing of emotional anecdotal stories with historic facts sometimes became overwhelming. The book would be suitable for a classroom, for middle graders or high school students, too. With the guidance of a trained teacher, this could prove to be an invaluable teaching tool and learning experience.
October 22, 2022
Nie wiem co mogłabym napisać o tej książce, bo mam wrażenie, że nie dotarła do mnie tak jak powinna. Owszem jest to spojrzenie na II wojnę światową i to jak w getcie żyli Żydzi. Historia przedstawiona przez dziewczęta, przez dzieci, które pewne rzeczy inaczej widzą, inaczej odbierają. Ale muszę przyznać, że trochę to wszystko było dla mnie zbyt chaotyczne.
Kilka razy zdarzało mi się, że gubiłam wątek, albo nie wiedziałam o którą dokładnie dziewczynkę czy osobę chodzi, bo za dużo ich było. Może gdyby to było przedstawione jako dziennik z pamiętników dziewcząt inaczej na to bym może zwracała uwagę, a tu dodatkowo wplatane są komentarze autorki, które nie psują odbiór, ale właśnie wprowadzają według mnie ten chaos i odbiera temu jakąś część istotną, która trafiłaby bardziej wydaje mi się do czytelnika.
Nie jest to źle przedstawiona historia, ale mam wrażenie po zakończeniu jej nadal, że czegoś brakuje. Bardzo podobają mi się dodane rysunki, obrazy, prace dziewcząt, które szczerze powiedziawszy bardziej mnie poruszyły niż treść w książce. Może też przez to, że jesteśmy przyzwyczajeni do wielkiej brutalności opisywanej w książkach o tamtych czasach, a tu aż tak dużo tego nie ma. Uważam, że każdy powinien zapoznać się z książką i wyrobić sobie własne zdanie na jej temat.
Kilka razy zdarzało mi się, że gubiłam wątek, albo nie wiedziałam o którą dokładnie dziewczynkę czy osobę chodzi, bo za dużo ich było. Może gdyby to było przedstawione jako dziennik z pamiętników dziewcząt inaczej na to bym może zwracała uwagę, a tu dodatkowo wplatane są komentarze autorki, które nie psują odbiór, ale właśnie wprowadzają według mnie ten chaos i odbiera temu jakąś część istotną, która trafiłaby bardziej wydaje mi się do czytelnika.
Nie jest to źle przedstawiona historia, ale mam wrażenie po zakończeniu jej nadal, że czegoś brakuje. Bardzo podobają mi się dodane rysunki, obrazy, prace dziewcząt, które szczerze powiedziawszy bardziej mnie poruszyły niż treść w książce. Może też przez to, że jesteśmy przyzwyczajeni do wielkiej brutalności opisywanej w książkach o tamtych czasach, a tu aż tak dużo tego nie ma. Uważam, że każdy powinien zapoznać się z książką i wyrobić sobie własne zdanie na jej temat.
March 15, 2019
A little lengthy. It was a great book overall being that they incorporated Auschwitz as well! Mostly told by Helga but shows everyone's feelings. It wasn't boring at the beginning. though which is a plus.
March 2, 2020
What a treasure! So important that these stories are learned and remembered. This book includes a lot of girls in it, and I had a hard time keeping up with who was who. Really liked it though, and so glad I know this story, of the girls in Room 28. Horrific, hard to believe, still, and yet someone said to her, agh, it wasn't that bad. Don't Forget!!!
October 2, 2024
A lot of the reviews for this mention that the narrative is difficult to follow, as the book moves chronologically and the girls' stories are interspersed throughout, but I'm not sure there would be a better way to go about it. Diary entries and interviews in modern day are interspersed with historical background, and it can be confusing, but I imagine it was even more confusing for young girls to see the world completely upending around them, their friends and family taken from the ghetto and deported to where, they didn't know. I don't know if I can fault the author for the book's confusion, but be aware that this is going to read more like a research book than a book of stories.
December 28, 2021
Several years ago (2013 I think) I happened to come across an article telling about the wonderful town in Czechoslavakia during World War 2, where the Jews were all happy, and healthy and the children were all in good health, and eating good food. This was the report of the International Red Cross who had insisted on seeing a Jewish ghetto or camp for themselves.
The Jews were forced by the Germans to clean up the Theresienstadt ghetto, allowed the children to perform their opera, provided extra special food and clean clothes, and generally put on a fake show for the red cross. The red cross went back to America telling everyone that the rumours of poor health and jews dying in the camps was false.
I have been interested in the Theresienstadt ghetto ever since. the article mentioned that many of the Jewish Intelligentsia of Prague were in that camp and that the children were allowed to sing, dance, make crafts and they held lessons in secret.
So totally different from the other camps such as Auschwitz, Ravensbruck, Chelmno and Sobibor.
So when I found this book about life in Theresienstadt at kobo, I grabbed it, but then never bothered to read it - until now.
This book was very very enjoyable to read. A little repetitive in places when the same events were being repeated from different perpectives, but otherwise most enjoyable.
Many of the Jewish intelligentsia of Prague, Brno and elsewhere in Czechoslovakia, had brought their books and musical instruments with them. These were confiscated and now became communal instruments and books - sort of an instruments and books library so to speak.
The Germans allowed the Jews to dance, sing, perform plays and operas, and be creative, but school lessons such as history, geography, languages, science, and maths were strictly forbidden, These had to be taught in secret.
There was a musical orchestra, and a library and several composers even wrote and arranged operas. The most popular opera was a childrens opera called Brundibar. It was about a organ grinder competing against the animals singing (in a choir) while begging for money.
As to the red cross visit in the summer of 1944, this was very meticulously described.
I wont got into details because it would take far too long, but you have to read this book for yourself to discover just how far the Germans were willing to go to deceive the western world!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gave it 5 stars.
The Jews were forced by the Germans to clean up the Theresienstadt ghetto, allowed the children to perform their opera, provided extra special food and clean clothes, and generally put on a fake show for the red cross. The red cross went back to America telling everyone that the rumours of poor health and jews dying in the camps was false.
I have been interested in the Theresienstadt ghetto ever since. the article mentioned that many of the Jewish Intelligentsia of Prague were in that camp and that the children were allowed to sing, dance, make crafts and they held lessons in secret.
So totally different from the other camps such as Auschwitz, Ravensbruck, Chelmno and Sobibor.
So when I found this book about life in Theresienstadt at kobo, I grabbed it, but then never bothered to read it - until now.
This book was very very enjoyable to read. A little repetitive in places when the same events were being repeated from different perpectives, but otherwise most enjoyable.
Many of the Jewish intelligentsia of Prague, Brno and elsewhere in Czechoslovakia, had brought their books and musical instruments with them. These were confiscated and now became communal instruments and books - sort of an instruments and books library so to speak.
The Germans allowed the Jews to dance, sing, perform plays and operas, and be creative, but school lessons such as history, geography, languages, science, and maths were strictly forbidden, These had to be taught in secret.
There was a musical orchestra, and a library and several composers even wrote and arranged operas. The most popular opera was a childrens opera called Brundibar. It was about a organ grinder competing against the animals singing (in a choir) while begging for money.
As to the red cross visit in the summer of 1944, this was very meticulously described.
I wont got into details because it would take far too long, but you have to read this book for yourself to discover just how far the Germans were willing to go to deceive the western world!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gave it 5 stars.
November 11, 2009
The girls of the title all resided at one time or another in room 28 of one of the girl's homes at the concentration camp Theresienstadt. As a concentration camp Theresienstadt is famous for a number of things. First of all, it was known as Hitler's "showcase" camp, where he fooled the International Red Cross into believing that the Jews were being well-treated. Secondly, and in relation to this, the camp had a lively cultural life, with famous musicians, composers, artists, and others passing through on their way East to Auschwitz. Many musical compositions survived from the camp, and are still performed today. The children's opera, "Brundibar," brought to this generation by Maurice Sendak, had its first performances there. Also well-known are the thousands of pieces of artwork created by the children in the camps. Some of these can be found published in the volume: "I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children's Drawings and Poems from Theresienstadt Concentration Camp."
While it can be argued that those who participated in these creative endeavors, sometimes at the command of the Germans, were cooperating with their captors, the creativity expressed under these despicable circumstances has lived on to enrich the lives of generations to come.
The population of the camp had an irregular turnover. Sometimes months could go by without transports to the East, and at other times they happened frequently. The turnover in Room 28 is reflective of that, but this book focuses on a group of ten girls who lived in Room 28 for a period of time, and who survived to tell their stories. Separated at the end of the war by all kinds of circumstances, these girls, now women, began to meet once a year to celebrate the special bond they formed.
Brenner uses diary excerpts and photographs, maps and drawings, to reveal the experiences of this group of girls, and of life in the camp in general.
Highly recommended.
While it can be argued that those who participated in these creative endeavors, sometimes at the command of the Germans, were cooperating with their captors, the creativity expressed under these despicable circumstances has lived on to enrich the lives of generations to come.
The population of the camp had an irregular turnover. Sometimes months could go by without transports to the East, and at other times they happened frequently. The turnover in Room 28 is reflective of that, but this book focuses on a group of ten girls who lived in Room 28 for a period of time, and who survived to tell their stories. Separated at the end of the war by all kinds of circumstances, these girls, now women, began to meet once a year to celebrate the special bond they formed.
Brenner uses diary excerpts and photographs, maps and drawings, to reveal the experiences of this group of girls, and of life in the camp in general.
Highly recommended.
October 3, 2016
This is the memoir of 10 girls who passed through the Theresienstadt interment camp, near Prague. They were some of the twelve thousand children who passed through the Theresienstadt on their way to Auschwitz from 1942-1944. Only a few hundred of those children survived the war and these 10 girls share their story and how they did it.
The Jews deported to Theresienstadt were from countries all over Europe. Among those that passed through this interment camp were some of the the most amazing world class artists, musicians, and writers of Europe. They decided that they would protect the children as much as possible from the horrors of the war and so created a disciplined environment where the girls were given instruction from these amazing talents. They preformed the legendary children's opera, Brundibar as Hitler used Theresienstadt as his "Ptomekin" village...fooling the International Red Cross into thinking that his concentration camps for Jews were more like resorts, where Jews had good food and lived privileged lives. It worked...the Red Cross believed what they saw on the one street of the camp that they were allowed on...no questions were asked and they didn't even look past the street that was made to look like a resort.
In 1990, journalist Hannelore Brenner, met 10 of these women and decided that their story must not be forgotten. She recorded their stories and those of other girls from room 28 who weren't as fortunate as these survivors. This was an interesting book with lots of journal entries from the girls along with art work and poetry they had done. This wasn't a page turner but another good reminder of what can happen when people turn their backs on evil.
The Jews deported to Theresienstadt were from countries all over Europe. Among those that passed through this interment camp were some of the the most amazing world class artists, musicians, and writers of Europe. They decided that they would protect the children as much as possible from the horrors of the war and so created a disciplined environment where the girls were given instruction from these amazing talents. They preformed the legendary children's opera, Brundibar as Hitler used Theresienstadt as his "Ptomekin" village...fooling the International Red Cross into thinking that his concentration camps for Jews were more like resorts, where Jews had good food and lived privileged lives. It worked...the Red Cross believed what they saw on the one street of the camp that they were allowed on...no questions were asked and they didn't even look past the street that was made to look like a resort.
In 1990, journalist Hannelore Brenner, met 10 of these women and decided that their story must not be forgotten. She recorded their stories and those of other girls from room 28 who weren't as fortunate as these survivors. This was an interesting book with lots of journal entries from the girls along with art work and poetry they had done. This wasn't a page turner but another good reminder of what can happen when people turn their backs on evil.
September 6, 2013
I'm going to give my talk again on Art as a means of Survival, and have become very well acquainted with Terezin Concentration Camp and the remarkable people who were incarcerated there. In my talk on Friedl Dicker Brandeis, I especially learned about Room 28 and the girls who lived there in the girls barracks. After the Wall came down it was found that 15 of them survived and were in their 70s. Ten of them met at a resort in Czechoslovakia and renewed friendships forged in impossible circumstances all those years ago. The author was interested especially in the production of the children's opera "Brundibar" and found Ela, who had played the Black Cat all 55 performances. She was invited to meet the others at their annual meeting. From that she decided to write a book about these girls, both the ones who survived and the many who were killed. Most of the women desperately wanted the memory of those who died was kept aide. As Ela said in an intervies - that the book "I Never Saw another Butterfly" with the poems and paintings of the children of Terezin, and the memories of these few survivors are all that remain of those children. The last part of the book, following some to Auschwitz, etc. became a bit confusing to me as she jumped locations back and forth. Also so many children you get mixed up. Hanka Handa, Ela, Eva, two Helgas, and so on. I should have made a list in the beginning as a guide. However, I found the book gave me a picture of the everyday life of these girls which I hadn't found anywhere else, except perhaps Helga's diary. It's an important book for the above reasons.
August 30, 2016
4.5? The story of the 15 girls (of hundreds) who survived the Czech interment camp Theresienstadt, some of whom even spent time in various concentration camps. I was, honestly, completely riveted throughout. I couldn't put this down--it was utterly fascinating and heartbreaking and wondrous by turns. It opens with the autograph albums the girls made while in the camp, and seeing their handwriting and drawings puts this into sharp perspective from the start; you recognize these kids, 11, 12 years old, from how similar they are to tweens now.
This camp was nominally organized like a city, and many families had their children living together in dorms like room 28, with counselors who created as much a sense of normalcy with chores, classes and camaraderie as they could. While it was a terrible experience for some, most credited it with saving their lives and sanity. One thing the camp is noted for is their performances of Brundibar, and I would so love to see it. One of the survivors travels the US talking about it, and I'd love to hear her.
I appreciated the ending, with photos of the women now and information on their lives since. Many ended up in the same kibbutz in Israel. One, once arrived there, had her aunt ask her what had happened during the war--and then accuse her of lying, that things couldn't have been that bad. Most never spoke of it after, to the best of their ability.
This camp was nominally organized like a city, and many families had their children living together in dorms like room 28, with counselors who created as much a sense of normalcy with chores, classes and camaraderie as they could. While it was a terrible experience for some, most credited it with saving their lives and sanity. One thing the camp is noted for is their performances of Brundibar, and I would so love to see it. One of the survivors travels the US talking about it, and I'd love to hear her.
I appreciated the ending, with photos of the women now and information on their lives since. Many ended up in the same kibbutz in Israel. One, once arrived there, had her aunt ask her what had happened during the war--and then accuse her of lying, that things couldn't have been that bad. Most never spoke of it after, to the best of their ability.
March 23, 2013
About 1/4 of the way through, I called it quits. I was hoping for a more engaging read, but because the writing style doesn't really allow you to connect with the characters, it felt more to me like I was reading a chapter in a history book.
November 16, 2019
The Girls Of Room 28 was a powerful story that merged the recollections and diary entries of several teens who ended up in Room 28 of the concentration camp Theresienstadt. The Jews in Theresienstadt were allowed to manage themselves to a certain point. The elders recognized how important it was for the children to be cared for so that they could live through the horrific war. The elders gave larger food rations to the kids and set them up in separate live in quarters with more heat, and better shelter. One such room for girls 12-15 years old was Room 28.
The survivors met several years after the war and became acquainted with the author, who took on the immense task of telling their story. The author explained so much about the war, the Nazis, and the emotional journey of the children in a way that created a powerful story. The story really followed Helga Pollack, who was the main focus of the novel. Helga kept a journal which miraculously survived as did she.
She was one her own very early in as a result of the war, and ended up making friends with the other girls once she arrived at room 28. The other girls became a focus throughout the novel as they interacted with Helga, and each was given a small biography. This was the best way to honor each girl without making the story too cluttered with every single person’s experience.
It was simply amazing what the girls endured. Despite the increased rations, they barely ate, had threadbare clothes, and bathed infrequently. Their counselors attempted to have a normal routine for them, which included sending them to school, with revolving teachers giving instruction in the various subjects they taught until the teacher was sent out of the camp on a transport to Auschwitz. A composer in the camp rewrote his opera specifically to be performed easily by children, and this weekly production was a source of joy to all prisoners as well as launched several children to celebrity status in the camp. The propaganda films of the joyous and plentiful camps were filmed here, and many of the children who were the focus of the book were forced to be a part of the film.
This was an amazing story of survival and was made even more heart wrenching given that the focus were young girls who exhibited such bravery.
The survivors met several years after the war and became acquainted with the author, who took on the immense task of telling their story. The author explained so much about the war, the Nazis, and the emotional journey of the children in a way that created a powerful story. The story really followed Helga Pollack, who was the main focus of the novel. Helga kept a journal which miraculously survived as did she.
She was one her own very early in as a result of the war, and ended up making friends with the other girls once she arrived at room 28. The other girls became a focus throughout the novel as they interacted with Helga, and each was given a small biography. This was the best way to honor each girl without making the story too cluttered with every single person’s experience.
It was simply amazing what the girls endured. Despite the increased rations, they barely ate, had threadbare clothes, and bathed infrequently. Their counselors attempted to have a normal routine for them, which included sending them to school, with revolving teachers giving instruction in the various subjects they taught until the teacher was sent out of the camp on a transport to Auschwitz. A composer in the camp rewrote his opera specifically to be performed easily by children, and this weekly production was a source of joy to all prisoners as well as launched several children to celebrity status in the camp. The propaganda films of the joyous and plentiful camps were filmed here, and many of the children who were the focus of the book were forced to be a part of the film.
This was an amazing story of survival and was made even more heart wrenching given that the focus were young girls who exhibited such bravery.
January 18, 2025
Sometimes the horror of the Holocaust simply renders one mute. This, however, would be a betrayal of the power of witness by Hannelore Brenner and of music. Brundibár is a children's opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, made most famous by performances by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp (Terezín) in occupied Czechoslovakia. The name comes from a Czech colloquialism for a bumblebee. The performances by the children transported them outside the concentration camp and into hope, however realistic. I was introduced, as were many of my generation, to the Holocaust by reading the "Diary of Anne Frank". I was 14. It was 62 years ago. I will never forget until I am no longer here. Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady
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January 10, 2026This was disappointing.
While it was about an interesting aspect of life in what is now the Czech Republic during World War II, it was a very dry read. There were so many people, places, dates, etc. to keep track of that following any sort of narrative, dry as it was, was practically impossible.
There were a lot of images throughout; while the pictures of people were nice, the photos of documents were not in English, so those had to be translated, anyway. That seemed like a waste of space.
The chapters were very long, even taking into account all the images.
There was some minor profanity, including God's name misused.
I'm glad I got to see this side of the Holocaust, but I can't recommend the book, sadly.
While it was about an interesting aspect of life in what is now the Czech Republic during World War II, it was a very dry read. There were so many people, places, dates, etc. to keep track of that following any sort of narrative, dry as it was, was practically impossible.
There were a lot of images throughout; while the pictures of people were nice, the photos of documents were not in English, so those had to be translated, anyway. That seemed like a waste of space.
The chapters were very long, even taking into account all the images.
There was some minor profanity, including God's name misused.
I'm glad I got to see this side of the Holocaust, but I can't recommend the book, sadly.
January 29, 2024
This was a very dry read... read more as a textbook for research purposes. It was informative and well done but wouldn't be a recommended read for me. I liked the last chapter and epilogue the most. I haven't read a lot about the re integration after the concentration camps were shut down. It was interesting to read about the perspective of people living in the towns and how they were impacted mentally by the loads of people coming back to the villages who were impacted by concentration camps- seeing previous friends skinny to the bones and those peoples change in mentality.
October 10, 2025
This book was good on all sides. Beautifully written to share the facts of this place during the holocaust. Definitely had to look up lots of words if your not previously versed in holocaust literature. I originally believed the story would follow many different people experiences but quickly learned others story’s where told through the main characters.
August 15, 2017
I found this book hard to read until midway through because first there was to much detailed information mixed with a lot of different people's stories. The writing seemed to calm down and become more of a story which then made it easier to keep up with everything. God bless these survivors.
May 2, 2025
The structure of this one just did not work for me. It was choppy and bounced back and forth between characters. There were quick snippets of interviews from the girls but it was impossible to follow an overall story of the girls of Room 28. Not what I expected.
January 4, 2026
É muito bom o livro!
Mesmo ele sendo pesado (em temos de mortes), te faz querer saber ainda mais o que ocorreu com essas garotas.
É triste saber das mortes das vítimas do holocausto, mas também tendo esperança junto com as meninas que a guerra terminasse e encontrariam seus parentes.
Mesmo ele sendo pesado (em temos de mortes), te faz querer saber ainda mais o que ocorreu com essas garotas.
É triste saber das mortes das vítimas do holocausto, mas também tendo esperança junto com as meninas que a guerra terminasse e encontrariam seus parentes.
February 6, 2020
Heart breaking tales of heroism.
July 8, 2020
DNF. I was wating for an actual story but all the narrator talked about were plays and stating name after name after name. Too many characters to even begin to enjoy.
December 31, 2023
Too long. It was okay. Went into a lot (and I mean a lot) of detail on each of the individuals. Had to follow timeline as I got confused from time to time
May 1, 2024
ciezko mi oceniac takie ksiazki
July 1, 2025
Excellent Book
September 2, 2019
Fantastic
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