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Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books
Jars of Hope
Amid the horrors of World War II, Irena Sendler was an unlikely and unsung hero. While many people lived in fear of the Nazis, Irena defied them, even though it could have meant her life. She kept records of the children she helped smuggle away from the Nazis grasp, and when she feared her work might be discovered, she buried her lists in jars, hoping to someday recover them and reunite children with their parents. This gripping true story of a woman who took it upon herself to help save 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust is not only inspirational; it's unforgettable.
33 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2015
120 people are currently reading
864 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Roy
27 books96 followersJennifer Roy (see also Jennifer Rozines Roy) is an American children's writer. She is best known for fiction including Yellow Star, which won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award (2006), Sydney Taylor Honor Award, The William Allen White Children's Book Award (2009), a New York Public L Book, an ALA Notable Book, National Jewish Book Honor Award, and received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, VOYA and Booklist. She has written 35 educational books for children ages 5–16, including the "You Can Write" series.
Her latest book is Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein (February 2018), inspired by the true story of a young boy growing up in Iraq under the first Gulf war. Her Co-author Ali Fadhil was that boy and he grew up to be a translator in the trial of Saddam Hussein.
Her first illustrated book is "Jars of Hope", (August 2015). She is also the coauthor of the Trading Faces series (Simon and Schuster), a series co-written with her twin sister, Julia DeVillers. The second book in the series is Take Two, the third book is Times Squared, and the fourth is "Double Feature". The fifth book in the series is "Triple Trouble". Her book MindBlind, about a boy who is profoundly gifted and has Asperger syndrome, was published in October 2010 and received a YALSA award.
Her latest book is Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein (February 2018), inspired by the true story of a young boy growing up in Iraq under the first Gulf war. Her Co-author Ali Fadhil was that boy and he grew up to be a translator in the trial of Saddam Hussein.
Her first illustrated book is "Jars of Hope", (August 2015). She is also the coauthor of the Trading Faces series (Simon and Schuster), a series co-written with her twin sister, Julia DeVillers. The second book in the series is Take Two, the third book is Times Squared, and the fourth is "Double Feature". The fifth book in the series is "Triple Trouble". Her book MindBlind, about a boy who is profoundly gifted and has Asperger syndrome, was published in October 2010 and received a YALSA award.
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October 3, 2018
JARS OF HOPE: HOW ONE WOMAN HELPED 2,500 CHILDREN DURING THE HOLOCAUST
Written by Jennifer Roy and Illustrated by Meg Owenson
2015; Capstone Young Readers (33 Pages)
Genre: picture book, middle school, history, war, holocaust
RATING: 4 STARS
In Jars of Hope We meet a real life hero, Irene Sendler. During World War II she risked her life and freedom to help anyone the Nazis were persecuting. One way to help the Jewish children survive was to smuggle them out of the Ghettos. To ensure that the Nazis never figured out where they went but also to help reunite the children to their parents later she put her lists in jars and buried them. This is a great book to read to young children about the Holocaust as it give you the sense of despair and heroism without being too much for kids to handle. The pictures in this book are amazing and add to the wonderful true story about a true hero and those that helped her.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
Written by Jennifer Roy and Illustrated by Meg Owenson
2015; Capstone Young Readers (33 Pages)
Genre: picture book, middle school, history, war, holocaust
RATING: 4 STARS
In Jars of Hope We meet a real life hero, Irene Sendler. During World War II she risked her life and freedom to help anyone the Nazis were persecuting. One way to help the Jewish children survive was to smuggle them out of the Ghettos. To ensure that the Nazis never figured out where they went but also to help reunite the children to their parents later she put her lists in jars and buried them. This is a great book to read to young children about the Holocaust as it give you the sense of despair and heroism without being too much for kids to handle. The pictures in this book are amazing and add to the wonderful true story about a true hero and those that helped her.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
December 30, 2021
Here is another lovely tribute to Irena Sendler, a quiet heroine of the Holocaust. She's been a favorite of mine to read about. So brave, so kind. Her story always makes my throat ache with holding back tears.
August 12, 2015
In her book, Jars of Hope, Jennifer Roy takes the reader back to the childhood of Irena Sendler to understand why she would be willing to risk her own life years later to help the Jewish children in the Warsaw Ghetto after the Nazis so many people into such a small, unsanitary living space.
As a child, in her hometown of Otwock, Poland, Irena saw how the Jewish people were avoided, but her father taught her that nothing else matters about people except whether they are good or bad.
Irena grew up to become a social worker/nurse and as she watched events unfold in Warsaw after the Nazis took over, she was compelled to do something - but what could one person do, she asked herself.
The answer was to try and bring food and medicine to the people in the ghetto, but more importantly, Irena began to sneak the children out and to find safe homes for them until the Holocaust ended and they could be reunited with their families. Irena began to organize friends and other trustworthy people in the Polish underground who could help her carry out her frequent trips to get babies and children. Babies were taken out in carpenter's boxes, trash or coffins after being given a few drops of medicine to make them sleep. Older children were smuggled out different ways, sometimes through sewer tunnels and other times right under the noses of the Nazi guards.
Teaching the children what they needed to know in order to pass as Catholics, Irena would write down each child's original name, new name and where each was sent. Then she would put the names into jars and bury the jars under a tree. Irena and her helpers would continue to make sure each rescued child was cared for, and the families or convents were given food and money in return for the risk they were taking.
In 1943, Irena was arrested, taken to prison and tortured, but never revealed the names of rescued children, where they were hidden or who had helped her. A few months later, her freedom was bought with a large bribe and Irena continued her work with Zegota, the secret organization formed to help Jews in Poland.
It can't be easy to write a book about the Holocaust for young readers, especially for some who are just beginning to learn about it. But Jennifer Roy has taken a real hero and used her to remind us that even in the darkest of times there are people who understand what the right thing to do is, who care and are willing to help others. Yet, Roy doesn't sugar-coat her story - when Irena tells parents the only guarantee she can give them about their children is that if they remain in the Warsaw Ghetto, they will die, or when people are forced to get into cattle cars, trains that are taking them to concentration camps and their death, young readers will easily grasp the magnitude and gravity of the Holocaust.
While Roy's words tell about those dark times, Meg Owenson's realistic dark, foreboding mixed media illustrations support and extend the text, expressing the wide variety of emotions that must have been felt by everyone at that time. Be sure to read the Afterword and Author's Note at the back of the book. In addition, there is a glossary, an Index and Source Notes for further exploration.
Jars of Hope is an inspiring picture book for older readers about one very brave woman and reminds us all that one person can make a big difference in the world.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was a ARC received from the publisher, Capstone Press at BEA2015
This reviewed was originally posted on Alex's Bookshelves
As a child, in her hometown of Otwock, Poland, Irena saw how the Jewish people were avoided, but her father taught her that nothing else matters about people except whether they are good or bad.
Irena grew up to become a social worker/nurse and as she watched events unfold in Warsaw after the Nazis took over, she was compelled to do something - but what could one person do, she asked herself.
The answer was to try and bring food and medicine to the people in the ghetto, but more importantly, Irena began to sneak the children out and to find safe homes for them until the Holocaust ended and they could be reunited with their families. Irena began to organize friends and other trustworthy people in the Polish underground who could help her carry out her frequent trips to get babies and children. Babies were taken out in carpenter's boxes, trash or coffins after being given a few drops of medicine to make them sleep. Older children were smuggled out different ways, sometimes through sewer tunnels and other times right under the noses of the Nazi guards.
Teaching the children what they needed to know in order to pass as Catholics, Irena would write down each child's original name, new name and where each was sent. Then she would put the names into jars and bury the jars under a tree. Irena and her helpers would continue to make sure each rescued child was cared for, and the families or convents were given food and money in return for the risk they were taking.
In 1943, Irena was arrested, taken to prison and tortured, but never revealed the names of rescued children, where they were hidden or who had helped her. A few months later, her freedom was bought with a large bribe and Irena continued her work with Zegota, the secret organization formed to help Jews in Poland.
It can't be easy to write a book about the Holocaust for young readers, especially for some who are just beginning to learn about it. But Jennifer Roy has taken a real hero and used her to remind us that even in the darkest of times there are people who understand what the right thing to do is, who care and are willing to help others. Yet, Roy doesn't sugar-coat her story - when Irena tells parents the only guarantee she can give them about their children is that if they remain in the Warsaw Ghetto, they will die, or when people are forced to get into cattle cars, trains that are taking them to concentration camps and their death, young readers will easily grasp the magnitude and gravity of the Holocaust.
While Roy's words tell about those dark times, Meg Owenson's realistic dark, foreboding mixed media illustrations support and extend the text, expressing the wide variety of emotions that must have been felt by everyone at that time. Be sure to read the Afterword and Author's Note at the back of the book. In addition, there is a glossary, an Index and Source Notes for further exploration.
Jars of Hope is an inspiring picture book for older readers about one very brave woman and reminds us all that one person can make a big difference in the world.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was a ARC received from the publisher, Capstone Press at BEA2015
This reviewed was originally posted on Alex's Bookshelves
February 13, 2016
Received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I have always been interested in WWII and what happened during that time, often it is truly heartbreaking, but also often it is filled with a sense of hope. Even when everything around them collapses, even when stuff seem to end in death, people tend to keep hope, hope for various things. Like hope to survive, to know that your children are safe, to hope that everything will end.. You will also see that in this book.
Irena, I am not sure if I ever heard of her, I probably did considering I read quite a few WWII books, was a great person. Instead of running away, instead of shying away from all that happened in the ghetto, she stuck close, helping out kids and family. Smuggling and taking them out of the ghetto, bringing them to safety and making sure that their new foster families would get money and food to take care of that extra mouth (because it is still the war, and one extra mouth can make a big difference in how much food there is for everyone).
Irena was an amazing person, even when she was caught she stayed silent, no matter how gruesome the torture (though since this is a children's book it is mostly toned down, but I am guessing that the nazis won't just have whipped her and do not much else.
I also loved that she kept in contact with the kids that she rescued, or at least a few. Amazing!
The story brought some tears to my eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have read this book so soon after I read another heartbreaking book, but I just couldn't wait to read this one.
The way the timeline jumps around was truly the only thing that I didn't like that much. I know this is a short book and they have to get the important stuff in it, but it just felt odd that we hopped around the years like that. At times it was confusing as things suddenly felt accelerated, I had to remind myself that a year did go past and so a lot of events will have happened that led to this one special event.
The illustrations are gorgeous and beautiful, mostly done in gloomy and dark colours to capture the war, the hopelessness that was happening in that time. It was great to see how Irena was drawn, at most times she seemed to be a beacon that lit up the place, the one to bring happiness and light around her. Showing people that there is still hope, that she will help.
All in all, this book is highly recommended. There is also a handy glossary near the end, so if there are words that kids don't know, they can just go to the end and check them out. I also loved that the author told us how things continued after the war (the story ends when Irena hides the lists). It gave a sense of closure and I am happy they did that. I would have rated the book lower if they had stopped at the hiding and didn't disclose any more information on how Irena was doing and what happened to the lists.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have always been interested in WWII and what happened during that time, often it is truly heartbreaking, but also often it is filled with a sense of hope. Even when everything around them collapses, even when stuff seem to end in death, people tend to keep hope, hope for various things. Like hope to survive, to know that your children are safe, to hope that everything will end.. You will also see that in this book.
Irena, I am not sure if I ever heard of her, I probably did considering I read quite a few WWII books, was a great person. Instead of running away, instead of shying away from all that happened in the ghetto, she stuck close, helping out kids and family. Smuggling and taking them out of the ghetto, bringing them to safety and making sure that their new foster families would get money and food to take care of that extra mouth (because it is still the war, and one extra mouth can make a big difference in how much food there is for everyone).
Irena was an amazing person, even when she was caught she stayed silent, no matter how gruesome the torture (though since this is a children's book it is mostly toned down, but I am guessing that the nazis won't just have whipped her and do not much else.
I also loved that she kept in contact with the kids that she rescued, or at least a few. Amazing!
The story brought some tears to my eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have read this book so soon after I read another heartbreaking book, but I just couldn't wait to read this one.
The way the timeline jumps around was truly the only thing that I didn't like that much. I know this is a short book and they have to get the important stuff in it, but it just felt odd that we hopped around the years like that. At times it was confusing as things suddenly felt accelerated, I had to remind myself that a year did go past and so a lot of events will have happened that led to this one special event.
The illustrations are gorgeous and beautiful, mostly done in gloomy and dark colours to capture the war, the hopelessness that was happening in that time. It was great to see how Irena was drawn, at most times she seemed to be a beacon that lit up the place, the one to bring happiness and light around her. Showing people that there is still hope, that she will help.
All in all, this book is highly recommended. There is also a handy glossary near the end, so if there are words that kids don't know, they can just go to the end and check them out. I also loved that the author told us how things continued after the war (the story ends when Irena hides the lists). It gave a sense of closure and I am happy they did that. I would have rated the book lower if they had stopped at the hiding and didn't disclose any more information on how Irena was doing and what happened to the lists.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
October 15, 2016
This is an inspiring story that deserves to be more well-known, but there are better versions of it out there. This one is not well-written. It feels choppy and incomplete. Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto tells the story of this relatively unknown heroine of the Holocaust in a much more satisfying way. I did like the illustrations by Meg Owenson in this version, however.
January 20, 2016
Yet another amazing story from the Holocaust. Irena Sendler managed to save 2500 Jewish children from the Warsaw getto. How is it that I've never heard of her until now?
January 12, 2021
This is an intense true story about a Polish woman who helped numerous Jewish children escape the clutches of the Holocaust. Irena Sendler kept records of these children so that they could later be reunited with their parents. The bravery, hope, and compassion of the real-life characters shine through, as people risked their lives to resist horrific political and societal forces of the time.
September 14, 2018
This really would be a 4.5 review for me. There was concise description throughout the book without lessening the importance of certain facts. However, I worry it may be a bit of a vocabulary reach for the younger, picture-book aged audience. I like that there was clarification on a network of people involved in saving the children rather than a feat Irena completed on her own.
April 5, 2024
It was based on a true story to show the kindness and one of the heroes of WWll. My 4th graders loved it and were able to connect it easily to other events and heroes from the war.
June 2, 2025
KCA summer reading
January 3, 2019
An easy to read story of a woman whose strength, courage and kindness overcame the evil of the times to save thousands of children who would have been sent to their death. A wonderful introduction for readers to learn about the Holocaust and the heroes that emerged from this point in history.
August 16, 2015
I have read a lot of books about the atrocities that occurred during WWII, but most of these books are filled with the strength and compassion of the people who fought against the evil that happened. This book is no exception to that. I had never heard of the main character in this book, Irena Sendler, so it is great that this book was written about her so that her story is not forgotten.
Irena was a Polish citizen who refused to turn a blind eye to what was happening in Poland. Instead of running away from all that happened in the ghetto, she stuck by to help the children. She convinced parents that she could keep their children safe by smuggling them out of the ghetto, bringing them to safety and making sure that their new foster families would get money and food to take care of that extra mouth. She did all that under cover of trying to keep disease and illness from spreading with medicine and vaccines. The guards were so afraid of getting sick, they did not check her bags for a long time. She kept meticulous lists of the names of the children, their parents and who the foster families were so they could be reunited after the war. She was eventually caught but was able to save the lists in jars buried in the ground (Jars of Hope). Irena was an amazing person, even when she was caught she stayed silent, no matter how gruesome the torture (though since this is a children's book it is mostly toned down, but I am guessing that the nazis won't just have whipped her and do not much else). After the war some of the children were reunited with their parents. The other wonderful thing is that Irena kept in contact with the children she had rescued. This was an amazing story.
The illustrations were black and white drawings, showing the darkness of war. As another reviewer said, It was great to see how Irena was drawn, at most times she seemed to be a beacon that lit up the place, the one to bring happiness and light around her. Showing people that there is still hope, that she will help. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Irena was a Polish citizen who refused to turn a blind eye to what was happening in Poland. Instead of running away from all that happened in the ghetto, she stuck by to help the children. She convinced parents that she could keep their children safe by smuggling them out of the ghetto, bringing them to safety and making sure that their new foster families would get money and food to take care of that extra mouth. She did all that under cover of trying to keep disease and illness from spreading with medicine and vaccines. The guards were so afraid of getting sick, they did not check her bags for a long time. She kept meticulous lists of the names of the children, their parents and who the foster families were so they could be reunited after the war. She was eventually caught but was able to save the lists in jars buried in the ground (Jars of Hope). Irena was an amazing person, even when she was caught she stayed silent, no matter how gruesome the torture (though since this is a children's book it is mostly toned down, but I am guessing that the nazis won't just have whipped her and do not much else). After the war some of the children were reunited with their parents. The other wonderful thing is that Irena kept in contact with the children she had rescued. This was an amazing story.
The illustrations were black and white drawings, showing the darkness of war. As another reviewer said, It was great to see how Irena was drawn, at most times she seemed to be a beacon that lit up the place, the one to bring happiness and light around her. Showing people that there is still hope, that she will help. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2024
Everyone should read this book and hear this story. Bring it to the classrooms when students are learning about World War II because it is amazing story about an amazing person that history doesn't mention.
This was a beautiful and heartwarming story about a person I never heard of and more people should know about her. Irena Sendler, a wonderfully brave Polish woman, helped save more than 2,500 children from the Nazis during World War II. She was very organized and clever. She had lists of all the children's real names (they had to have a different name after being sneaked out so it would be harder for the Nazis to track them) and locations of where the children went and made sure the lists were kept secret so the Nazis wouldn't find it. Everyone that participated in hiding the children, helping them escape, were so brave. She helped children escape in the most clever ways. One child was sneaked out in a toolbox, another in a cart or the back of a truck with the help of a man who drove the truck. It was amazing and I'm so happy they succeeded. This book made me tear eyed and if I didn't read the book at work I would have most likely cried. This story was amazing and I am so happy Irena's story was told.
SPOILER ALERT:
Irena was captured and tortured, but she still kept her secret and was eventually released with the help of her friends bribe toward one of the guards. Her bravery astonishes me and I was so glad to read that some of the children were reunited with their families and those whose parents died, they at least found out their new real name and who their parents were. All of this was possible because of Irena and her brave friends who helped.
This was a beautiful and heartwarming story about a person I never heard of and more people should know about her. Irena Sendler, a wonderfully brave Polish woman, helped save more than 2,500 children from the Nazis during World War II. She was very organized and clever. She had lists of all the children's real names (they had to have a different name after being sneaked out so it would be harder for the Nazis to track them) and locations of where the children went and made sure the lists were kept secret so the Nazis wouldn't find it. Everyone that participated in hiding the children, helping them escape, were so brave. She helped children escape in the most clever ways. One child was sneaked out in a toolbox, another in a cart or the back of a truck with the help of a man who drove the truck. It was amazing and I'm so happy they succeeded. This book made me tear eyed and if I didn't read the book at work I would have most likely cried. This story was amazing and I am so happy Irena's story was told.
SPOILER ALERT:
Irena was captured and tortured, but she still kept her secret and was eventually released with the help of her friends bribe toward one of the guards. Her bravery astonishes me and I was so glad to read that some of the children were reunited with their families and those whose parents died, they at least found out their new real name and who their parents were. All of this was possible because of Irena and her brave friends who helped.
April 21, 2016
t's about Irena Sendler, a young woman from Warsaw. During the second world war, she worked as a social worker, and with a resistance party working against the Nazis. She and her group managed to smuggle hundreds* of Jewish children out of the Warsaw ghettos to safety, placing them with various orphanages, and adoptive families.
Not as impressed by this one - I like the story of Irena Sendler, but there's not really any new info in this one that I didn't learn in "Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto" by Susan Rubin a couple of years ago. The only new info is about the PBS production, which sounds interesting.
I also wasn't impressed by the artwork in this one. It's not bad, and I don't mind it overall, but... For the most part, aside from the main focus of a scene the 'paintings' are quite blurry-seeming. There were also a few scenes that threw me off, like the one used on the back cover of her leading the young boy past the soldiers... The proportions/posture used is just odd, and seems unnatural. There's a few of those in the book that seemed distracting to me.
Not a bad resource in itself, but out of the two I'd go with Rubin's book, I think.
Not as impressed by this one - I like the story of Irena Sendler, but there's not really any new info in this one that I didn't learn in "Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto" by Susan Rubin a couple of years ago. The only new info is about the PBS production, which sounds interesting.
I also wasn't impressed by the artwork in this one. It's not bad, and I don't mind it overall, but... For the most part, aside from the main focus of a scene the 'paintings' are quite blurry-seeming. There were also a few scenes that threw me off, like the one used on the back cover of her leading the young boy past the soldiers... The proportions/posture used is just odd, and seems unnatural. There's a few of those in the book that seemed distracting to me.
Not a bad resource in itself, but out of the two I'd go with Rubin's book, I think.
April 23, 2022
Wonderful WWII non-fiction fiction book describing the heroic actions of Irene Sendler and the Zegota resistance group. Sendler was the primary force behind a group of brave Polish non-Jews who rescued 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto and certain death at Treblinka Prison. The retelling of their actions is simple, factual, and while it does not shy away from the fact that Hitler and his Nazi Party were killing Jewish simply because of their race and religion, it is told in a way that makes this book appropriate for grades 4 and up. Meg Owenson’s illustrations are beautiful and cover nearly the whole page allowing this to be great for group read alouds and not requiring a projection device to view the panels. Would pair nicely with Peter Sis’ Nicky & Vera for a compare/contrast study that could go deeper into feelings and personality making it effective in older grades as well. A must have for libraries with interest in WWII.
August 7, 2015
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
very interesting sory, i have read it with my 10 years old daughter, and we found out to be very incredible, sweet and tender considering that was a true story....
i knew before about Irena Sendler...... so i could explain a little bit of the story to Laura before reading the book together......
i hope to find this book soon in bookstore, maybe here in Italy ,too.
very interesting sory, i have read it with my 10 years old daughter, and we found out to be very incredible, sweet and tender considering that was a true story....
i knew before about Irena Sendler...... so i could explain a little bit of the story to Laura before reading the book together......
i hope to find this book soon in bookstore, maybe here in Italy ,too.
March 27, 2016
Read the synopsis of this book online and requested it from the library. I didn't know it was a kids book. Read it anyway. Great story of a woman that helped over 2500 children flee the Nazis from Poland during WWII. Nice way to explain some of these complex issues to a child. Plus its a great story of courage and defiance in the face of evil.
July 6, 2016
I had vaguely heard of Irene Sendler but I don't think her story is particularly well known. I really enjoyed this beautifully illustrated sophisticated picture book that simply tells the inspiring story of an amazing woman who helped save approx 2500 Jewish children during World War Two.
December 6, 2025
Jars of Hope is a true story about a girl named Irena Sendler. Irena is a Polish social worker who, in the end, was able to help thousands of Jewish children in World War II. When the Nazis forced Jewish families into the Warsaw Ghetto (one of the largest ghettos in Nazi Germany), Irena bravely snuck in as a health worker to help. Once Irena was in, she began secretly sneaking children out when she could. She hid them in ambulances, suitcases, and even bundles of clothing. To help the children when they were outside, she found new homes for them with people outside the ghetto. To help them reunite the children with their families and remember who they are, Irena wrote each child's name and family information on small pieces of paper and put them in jars to be hidden and buried underneath a tree. When she was caught, she refused to reveal where the children were, even when she was punished for that. In the end, after the war was over, the jars were dug up, and all the information was used to help the children reconnect with their families. The major themes in the book were courage and hope, which were prevalent throughout the story. Courage in the face of danger was one of the strong themes in the book. Irena risks her life multiple times throughout the book to save Jewish children from danger. An example of this is when she snuck into the ghetto multiple times as a health worker and smuggled kids out, even though being caught could mean death. The other major theme in the book was hope. Irena knew the children not only needed safety but also hope in remembering who they are. An example of this is the jars she used to help store the children's information in the hope of bringing them back to their families. The jars are a symbol of hope for the future for these kids and the belief that one day, the children will be reunited with their families. The main genre of this book is Nonfiction biography. Throughout reading this book, I learned that just one person can change the lives of thousands, and the importance of hope for the future. This book was a WOW book for me, from learning how incredible Irena Sendler was in one of the darkest times in history. It is amazing how Irena risked her life multiple times for children she did not know. She did it because it was what was right. Jars of Hope also received a Magnolia Book Award and is one of Jennifer Roy's winning books.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this
book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this
The writing craft from this book is when the author describes the conditions of the Warsaw Ghetto. The author describes the conditions as inhumane and overpopulated. The author also used imagery to describe the fear in the children. This helped me understand the danger that Irena was in. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by allowing the readers to help visualize the scenes that the author was trying to describe. Leading to a connection with the readers and the scenes. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of repetition and symbolism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author kept repeating about the jars and making emphasis on why the jars were important. The jars are a symbol of hope throughout the story. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by showing the importance of identity and hope during the time of fear and loss. Also, helping the readers understand how important the jars were and why the title was called Jars of Hope. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it teaches a lesson to the readers to stand up for what is right. The story shows the discrimination towards Jewish people and how horribly they were treated throughout the war. Highlighting how Irena put everything on the line for the children. The book teaches readers to treat people with kindness regardless of their background. Reminding the reader that courage can go against discrimination and hate.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this
book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this
The writing craft from this book is when the author describes the conditions of the Warsaw Ghetto. The author describes the conditions as inhumane and overpopulated. The author also used imagery to describe the fear in the children. This helped me understand the danger that Irena was in. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by allowing the readers to help visualize the scenes that the author was trying to describe. Leading to a connection with the readers and the scenes. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of repetition and symbolism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author kept repeating about the jars and making emphasis on why the jars were important. The jars are a symbol of hope throughout the story. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by showing the importance of identity and hope during the time of fear and loss. Also, helping the readers understand how important the jars were and why the title was called Jars of Hope. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it teaches a lesson to the readers to stand up for what is right. The story shows the discrimination towards Jewish people and how horribly they were treated throughout the war. Highlighting how Irena put everything on the line for the children. The book teaches readers to treat people with kindness regardless of their background. Reminding the reader that courage can go against discrimination and hate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
Jars of Hope
The story of Irena Sendler, the Polish resistance fighter who saved Jewish children during the Holocaust. This book is for older readers. It's not quite a chapter book but it does deal with the Holocaust and violence stemming from the Nazi occupation of Poland and those who resisted them. It's honest in an age appropriate manner but does use the word death. As in the Nazis would put Jews to death, the Nazis would kill the children, their families and the resistance fighters.
This story is fabulous. I knew the basic outline of who she was and what she did but not all the details of how she did it and how hard she fought. Irena was inspired by her father who was also a Righteous Gentile in his own right, even if unofficially. He was a caring man who taught his daughter not to judge people by their religion. He cared for Jews during the 1917 Typhus epidemic and lost his own life to the disease. Irena never forgot the lessons he taught her. She played with Jewish children and heard the mean things people said about them.
The story skips to 1940 when Irena was working as a social worker in the Warsaw Ghetto. She helped bring IN medicine and children OUT. She continued rescuing children throughout the war, was imprisoned, beaten, and punished for not ratting out her colleagues. They're named which surprises me because I've read other stories where the resistance workers used false names or didn't know who the others were for safety reasons.
After her release from prison, in the summer of 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising, Irena Sendler and her friend Jaga hid the names of the Jewish children they rescued in jars in the ground. Together they preserved the true identities of thousands of Jewish born children, many of whom lost their families in the Holocaust and many were too young to remember their families and identities. Some were hidden in convents and probably converted. The story doesn't say but reading between the lines as an adult reader, I've heard some of their stories.
Backmatter contains an Afterward, Glossary, Index and Source Notes. The author, a Jewish woman, was stunned when she first heard about Irena Sendler. How did she not know this story? She learned her own Aunt Sylvia was a Polish Jewish child hidden not far from where Irena Sendler was. (
tells Sylvia's story).
You can learn more at https://irenasendler.org/
The illustrations are pretty realistic. This book doesn't hold back on SOME of the horror but it doesn't depict death camps or concentrations camps or Holocaust survivors. It's all appropriate for upper elementary age and above. Adults should read this too. Teachers should assign it to their students especially now as Anti-Semitism is on the rise and the Holocaust survivors are dying of old age. Irena Sendler died in 2018 in her late 90s.
And no, there is no other side to the story presented here nor should there be.
The story of Irena Sendler, the Polish resistance fighter who saved Jewish children during the Holocaust. This book is for older readers. It's not quite a chapter book but it does deal with the Holocaust and violence stemming from the Nazi occupation of Poland and those who resisted them. It's honest in an age appropriate manner but does use the word death. As in the Nazis would put Jews to death, the Nazis would kill the children, their families and the resistance fighters.
This story is fabulous. I knew the basic outline of who she was and what she did but not all the details of how she did it and how hard she fought. Irena was inspired by her father who was also a Righteous Gentile in his own right, even if unofficially. He was a caring man who taught his daughter not to judge people by their religion. He cared for Jews during the 1917 Typhus epidemic and lost his own life to the disease. Irena never forgot the lessons he taught her. She played with Jewish children and heard the mean things people said about them.
The story skips to 1940 when Irena was working as a social worker in the Warsaw Ghetto. She helped bring IN medicine and children OUT. She continued rescuing children throughout the war, was imprisoned, beaten, and punished for not ratting out her colleagues. They're named which surprises me because I've read other stories where the resistance workers used false names or didn't know who the others were for safety reasons.
After her release from prison, in the summer of 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising, Irena Sendler and her friend Jaga hid the names of the Jewish children they rescued in jars in the ground. Together they preserved the true identities of thousands of Jewish born children, many of whom lost their families in the Holocaust and many were too young to remember their families and identities. Some were hidden in convents and probably converted. The story doesn't say but reading between the lines as an adult reader, I've heard some of their stories.
Backmatter contains an Afterward, Glossary, Index and Source Notes. The author, a Jewish woman, was stunned when she first heard about Irena Sendler. How did she not know this story? She learned her own Aunt Sylvia was a Polish Jewish child hidden not far from where Irena Sendler was. (
tells Sylvia's story).You can learn more at https://irenasendler.org/
The illustrations are pretty realistic. This book doesn't hold back on SOME of the horror but it doesn't depict death camps or concentrations camps or Holocaust survivors. It's all appropriate for upper elementary age and above. Adults should read this too. Teachers should assign it to their students especially now as Anti-Semitism is on the rise and the Holocaust survivors are dying of old age. Irena Sendler died in 2018 in her late 90s.
And no, there is no other side to the story presented here nor should there be.
May 17, 2020
The book “Jars of Hope,” by Jennifer Roy is a truly touching nonfiction book about a young girl named Irena Sendler who lived during the horrors of World War II. Irena grew up listening to the racial slurs and stories told about the Jewish people whom she grew up around; however, she was fortunate enough to have a father who told her “There are two kinds of people in this world, good and bad. It doesn’t matter if they are rich or poor, what religion or race. What matters is if they are good or bad.” Although her father died young, his wisdom stayed with Irena her entire life and she grew into a silent hero among the Jewish religion.
Irena began her journey in life by becoming a social worker in Warsaw, Poland; this is where her journey into heroism began. Irena would work with other Polish people to smuggle food, medicine, and other aid into the Poland ghetto where the Jewish were being held captive. When the Nazis began moving the Jewish people to their deaths, Irena and her helpers began smuggling out small children and babies to help save their lives. From smuggling babies in coffins to teaching small children how to pretend to be catholic,, Irena helped save the lives of over 2,500 children before being caught and she also kept a list of each child she saved, where they were taken (foster families, orphanages, convents, etc.), and who their new identity was so they could be reunited with their families one day. Although captured, beaten, and tortured, Irena was freed from her prison and had to go into hiding to avoid being caught by the Nazis, who now thought she was dead.
However, more important than her own life, Irena and her companions decided to burry the lists of the saved children in three little jars under the soil. These three jars became their jars of hope; hope that one day the children they gave their lives to save would be reunited with their families. Although most of the children were never reunited with the parents due to death from WWII, Irena was hailed a hero by all. She died peacefully at the age of 98 as a symbol of hope for human kind. Irena was presented with a medal that had the following words inscribed one it, “Whosoever saves a single life, saves an entire universe.”
I absolutely loved reading this short story. I’ve heard of Irena Sendler before, but I’ve never really read the details of how she (and so many others) managed to save all those children. I also never knew that she survived to an old age as I assumed she had been killed by the Nazis when she was caught. This book can be used in the classroom for so many lessons; however, what comes to mind first and foremost is human kindness and looking out for one another. School can be a scary place, maybe not as scary as Nazi Germany in WWII, but school has claimed the lives of many students from various sources (bullying, stress, shootings, etc.). Without each other we don’t survive, and I believe that is a lesson we all have to learn.
Irena began her journey in life by becoming a social worker in Warsaw, Poland; this is where her journey into heroism began. Irena would work with other Polish people to smuggle food, medicine, and other aid into the Poland ghetto where the Jewish were being held captive. When the Nazis began moving the Jewish people to their deaths, Irena and her helpers began smuggling out small children and babies to help save their lives. From smuggling babies in coffins to teaching small children how to pretend to be catholic,, Irena helped save the lives of over 2,500 children before being caught and she also kept a list of each child she saved, where they were taken (foster families, orphanages, convents, etc.), and who their new identity was so they could be reunited with their families one day. Although captured, beaten, and tortured, Irena was freed from her prison and had to go into hiding to avoid being caught by the Nazis, who now thought she was dead.
However, more important than her own life, Irena and her companions decided to burry the lists of the saved children in three little jars under the soil. These three jars became their jars of hope; hope that one day the children they gave their lives to save would be reunited with their families. Although most of the children were never reunited with the parents due to death from WWII, Irena was hailed a hero by all. She died peacefully at the age of 98 as a symbol of hope for human kind. Irena was presented with a medal that had the following words inscribed one it, “Whosoever saves a single life, saves an entire universe.”
I absolutely loved reading this short story. I’ve heard of Irena Sendler before, but I’ve never really read the details of how she (and so many others) managed to save all those children. I also never knew that she survived to an old age as I assumed she had been killed by the Nazis when she was caught. This book can be used in the classroom for so many lessons; however, what comes to mind first and foremost is human kindness and looking out for one another. School can be a scary place, maybe not as scary as Nazi Germany in WWII, but school has claimed the lives of many students from various sources (bullying, stress, shootings, etc.). Without each other we don’t survive, and I believe that is a lesson we all have to learn.
March 12, 2022
Jars of Hope- (Encounter- Narrative Non-fiction Picture Book) by Jennifer Roy, Illustrator – Meg Owenson- The book narrates the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish girl and her group who helped 2500 Jewish children get freed amidst the horrors of World War II. Irene was born in Otwock, Poland in 1917. Her father expired when she was 7-year old. In 1940, Germany had attacked and occupied Poland. Jews were kept in a two -mile area which was called Ghetto. Since 1942, 6000 Jews were being taken daily by train to be killed in Treblinka death camp. Irena Sendler was an unlikely and unsung hero. In 1942, Irene joined a group named Jagota to rescue Jewish children from ghettos. While many people lived in fear of the Nazis, Irena defied them, even though it could have meant her life. She maintained written records of the children who were smuggle from the Nazis ghettos. On 18 July, 1942 to 20 October, 1942 she worked. But on 20 October, 1942, Irene was arrested and kept in prison for 3- months. Group members paid a hefty sum of money to Nazis to set her free. She was afraid that the list of children, if discovered, would land them in trouble again. Therefore, she and her friend Jenina buried her lists in jars, hoping to someday recover them and reunite children with their parents. After the WW II was over, her group helped unite the parents and children. This book is a true story of a woman who took it upon herself to help save 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Message it is an inspirational book. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story. I have the Hindi language translation of this book.
July 14, 2017
This is a true account of Irena, who, as a child, was taught there were only two kinds of people- good and bad. "It doesn't matter if they are rich or poor, what religion or race. What matters is if they are good or bad." As a young adult she worked as a social worker to help poor families. In Poland she entered the Warsaw Ghetto to administer vaccines and saw the Jews there needed help. "The children are hurting the most...I have to give them a helping hand." She started by sneaking food and medicine into the ghetto.
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Two years later the Jews were being sent to concentration camps to die. With the help of others, Irena snuck babies out of the ghetto compound. In 1943 she was caught by the Gestapo and sent to prison for three months. Her life was spared and she went into hiding. She had kept records of all the children she saved and hid the lists in jars in a backyard. Later she was able to help the children learn of their true identities and parentage and a few were even able to be reunited with their parents.
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She died in the company of one of the children she saved, at the age of 98, in 2008.
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A fantastic and heart breaking story. I'm inspired by her selflessness and bravery.
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Two years later the Jews were being sent to concentration camps to die. With the help of others, Irena snuck babies out of the ghetto compound. In 1943 she was caught by the Gestapo and sent to prison for three months. Her life was spared and she went into hiding. She had kept records of all the children she saved and hid the lists in jars in a backyard. Later she was able to help the children learn of their true identities and parentage and a few were even able to be reunited with their parents.
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She died in the company of one of the children she saved, at the age of 98, in 2008.
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A fantastic and heart breaking story. I'm inspired by her selflessness and bravery.
June 5, 2017
This is a picture book written by Jennifer Roy and illustrated by Meg Owenson.
Main Character: Irina Sendler
Irina is a polish woman who took a job as a social worker to help the families in Warsaw Ghetto during WWII. The Germans had many Polish Jews living in that part of the city. Irina thought “The children are hurting the most,” so she decided to start sneaking medicine and food into the ghetto. In 1942, many Jews were taken to Treblinka to be put to death. Irina, with the help of many people, decided to save the children. Irina started smuggling out babies and children. She placed them with different families and with new names. She kept a list of their names and placement. One day, Irina was caught. The Gestapo came to her apartment.
The book has detailed digital illustrations. It has many dark colors to keep the sense of war and poor conditions.
This book is recommended for children ages 9-12 years old. The teachers can use it as a book project and to discuss how Jews were treated during WWII as well as read heroes.
Sources: BarnesandNoble.com and Children and Youth literature class.
Main Character: Irina Sendler
Irina is a polish woman who took a job as a social worker to help the families in Warsaw Ghetto during WWII. The Germans had many Polish Jews living in that part of the city. Irina thought “The children are hurting the most,” so she decided to start sneaking medicine and food into the ghetto. In 1942, many Jews were taken to Treblinka to be put to death. Irina, with the help of many people, decided to save the children. Irina started smuggling out babies and children. She placed them with different families and with new names. She kept a list of their names and placement. One day, Irina was caught. The Gestapo came to her apartment.
The book has detailed digital illustrations. It has many dark colors to keep the sense of war and poor conditions.
This book is recommended for children ages 9-12 years old. The teachers can use it as a book project and to discuss how Jews were treated during WWII as well as read heroes.
Sources: BarnesandNoble.com and Children and Youth literature class.
February 16, 2022
Very well done picture style book about who Irene Sendler really was and what she did. Some of the children's novels I've read haven't done her or the history of the Holocaust as well as this compact story did. Highly recommend for classroom use, especially if you have struggling readers. This would give them access to the same information as a larger book, but in a more palpable way for them. This story doesn't hold back on some of the scary things that were happening, but it presents them in a clear, factual way without adding all the horror. The images aren't scary for a kid to look at, but do portray an idea of what was going on. I thought this book had a really good balance between "I'm not going to sugar coat this for you" and "It was scary, but hey, this happened. Here's how one person tried to make it better." For such a small book in terms of length, I was very happily impressed with this one. Really good information in here and lends itself to a discussion on "how did this happen" and "but where did this hatred start from?" Would get for a classroom for sure.
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October 13, 2020Summary: The story happened in 1917. There is a girl named Irena and her father passed when she was very young. But her father left her something that will live in her mind forever. In 1940, Irena was working as a social worker in the Warsaw ghetto in Poland. She knew she had to do something to help the people living here, so she started sneaking them food and medicine. She eventually starts sneaking children out, in an attempt to save their lives. She goes on to save many lives, and, because of her meticulously recorded lists, some of the children were able to be reunited with their parents.
Analysis: It’s a ture and interesting story. The illustrations convey the desperation and darkness of the time. I haven’t heard Irena’s story before this book so I think it’s interesting to read.
How I will use this: It is a great book for middle school students to read. The message that came through the book was inspiring.
Analysis: It’s a ture and interesting story. The illustrations convey the desperation and darkness of the time. I haven’t heard Irena’s story before this book so I think it’s interesting to read.
How I will use this: It is a great book for middle school students to read. The message that came through the book was inspiring.
April 20, 2019
Casey Godinez’s book Reviews > Jars of Hope by Jennifer Roy
This is a well written and illustrated historical fiction piece. I think using third person point of view was great because you are told Irena’s story while also being educated of events that were happening in Poland all around Irena. Jennifer Roy took an informal approach to this book and it fits. Some of the book covers graphic content, so be advised that this book may be more suitable for older elementary children. Jennifer Roy portrays the Holocaust in a factual, respectful way. Illustration along with words help paint a picture for the reading audience and what it was like to live in Poland during the early 1900’s. I would recommend this book.
This is a well written and illustrated historical fiction piece. I think using third person point of view was great because you are told Irena’s story while also being educated of events that were happening in Poland all around Irena. Jennifer Roy took an informal approach to this book and it fits. Some of the book covers graphic content, so be advised that this book may be more suitable for older elementary children. Jennifer Roy portrays the Holocaust in a factual, respectful way. Illustration along with words help paint a picture for the reading audience and what it was like to live in Poland during the early 1900’s. I would recommend this book.
July 26, 2017
This book was written on a child’s level. It is appropriate for people of all ages. The story tells how Irena Sendler saved thousands of Jewish children during the holocaust. Along with many others, she found ways to smuggle children out of the ghetto. In addition to saving their lives, she created lists of who the children really were and who was sheltering them. This allowed parents who had survived the concentration camps to locate and reunite with their children. The only thing I wished while reading this book is that it was longer to allow the reader to learn more about Irena and the work that she accomplished.
June 1, 2019
A touching telling of Irena Sendler's actions during World War II in Poland that same more than 2,500 children from the Nazis. Roy's telling focuses on the courage and humanity demonstrated by Irena and her friends. While Roy acknowledges the Jews were being murdered, and provides some examples of the violence Irena suffers at the hands of the Nazis, nothing is detailed or graphic.
The illustrations fit the story well. They look like drawings made to tell the story in haste and in secret. A danger to have--just as Irena's lists.
The illustrations fit the story well. They look like drawings made to tell the story in haste and in secret. A danger to have--just as Irena's lists.
October 20, 2023
Irena Sendler wanted to help people that were hated, for their religion. Irena took the babies of the Jews who were taken by the Nazi's, she took them to people to take care of them. Irena kept lists of the babies names and she hid it from the Nazi's. They put her in prison and beat her, but she wouldn't tell them where the lists were. Some people helped get out of prison. The Jews were very thankful for her help. This book explains to children Help them understand how badly the Jews were ttreated during World War II.
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