The Secret Buttons

by Ellen M. Shapiro

Anni Blum is twelve years old when she and her little sister Rosie travel alone to rural England from Nazi-occupied Vienna, Austria. Their father is in a work camp and their mother cannot get the right papers to enter another country. The borders are closed to Jews, so the girls depart to live with cousins with their dark, curly hair pulled back tightly, wearing silk dresses their mother remade to disguise them as ‘Aryan’ holiday travelers. On the train, they knit and practice English, worried about what lies ahead. They arrive in a country that’s deep in preparations for war. Because the girls speak German, the local children accuse them of being Nazi spies. And that’s just the beginning of the challenges they face. During the next two years of blackouts and bombings, they use their talents to solve a very grown-up problem. THE SECRET BUTTONS, inspired by a memory shared by the author’s mother, presents resourceful girls in hero roles — girls who solve big problems while dealing with the dangers, fears, and difficulties all immigrants face when adjusting to a new culture and learning a new language. Each of the 16 chapters opens with a full-color painting by noted Italian illustrator Caterina Baldi, who also made 45 spot illustrations to illuminate the text. Praise for THE SECRET “This moving, timely story challenges gender stereotypes of timid, needy girls. THE SECRET BUTTONS will inspire our children — and all of us — to be brave and resilient in the face of evil.” – Professor of Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies “Brava! The world needs more books like this with girls in hero roles.” – Middle school teacher “Marvelous! I couldn’t put it down. – Mom of two young teens “As a member of an immigrant family, I was touched to see how much Anni and Rosie’s experiences in a new country mirrored my own.” – Technology consultant “I love how integral knitting is to this book as Anni and Rosie make their way from Austria to England to America. Every knitter, crocheter, and quilter knows that these crafts help us stay calm in tense situations — and we end up with something beautiful.” – Rabbi “My 12-year-old and I read THE SECRET BUTTONS together. We both learned so much about important corners of Jewish and European history — and about each other.” – Consultant “Graphic designer and writer Ellen M. Shapiro has created a warm, beautiful, and uplifting book for kids and adults.” – Journalist and author “A fascinating journey through the hardships of life during WWII through the eyes of two courageous young girls from Vienna. Their determination to thrive teaches all of us lessons that remain invaluable to this day.” – Holocaust historian “I love this book. My older brother lived this story in wartime England.” – Illustrator and author “A gentle, superbly illustrated way for young people to learn about what others may have experienced during a not-so-long-ago period of history.”– Learning support teacher for teens, England “Having taught history, I appreciate the authenticity of the the settings, the clothing, the postage stamps, the food, even the birds outside the windows. Ellen began by telling a family story and made it so much more.” – High school history teacher "The marriage of word and image is an intelligent and movingly engaging totalty— from cover to cover." – Former art director, NYTimes Book Review

216 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2024