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Destined To Live: A True Story Of A Child In The Holocaust
What would you do if your whole life was shattered, and you were forced into hiding? This gripping, poignant memoir about coming of age during The Holocaust explores that question.
Pretty, carefree Aurelia Gamser (known today as Ruth Gruener) had an idyllic life in 1930s Poland -- until violent acts of anti-Semitism and the deportation of Jewish families to concentration camps changed everything in her world. Hiding out with a gentile family, her very life at risk every day, Ruth struggled to remain strong and sane. And though she was destined to live, her struggle continued after the war, when she began a new life in America, as a teenager who had been through horrors. This memoir will inspire countless readers and bestow important lessons about life, hope, and memory.
Pretty, carefree Aurelia Gamser (known today as Ruth Gruener) had an idyllic life in 1930s Poland -- until violent acts of anti-Semitism and the deportation of Jewish families to concentration camps changed everything in her world. Hiding out with a gentile family, her very life at risk every day, Ruth struggled to remain strong and sane. And though she was destined to live, her struggle continued after the war, when she began a new life in America, as a teenager who had been through horrors. This memoir will inspire countless readers and bestow important lessons about life, hope, and memory.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
21 people are currently reading
1152 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Gruener
5 books45 followersRuth Gruener is a Holocaust survivor. She married Holocaust survivor Jack Gruener and they both currently live in New York, America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
December 17, 2018
Easy to read. Reading level grade 6. I was drawn to the story. Picked the book up and finished it in a few hours. Worth your time to read. My heart goes out to all who suffered; perished or survived, in the Holocaust.
January 6, 2019
Poignant account of the author’s experience as a young Jewish girl who was successfully hidden in Poland during World War II. The odd lack of chapter breaks will make this more challenging than necessary for the intended audience.
November 25, 2019
I enjoyed this book because it told me so much about what happened to the jews and what happened during the holocaust. It talks about a little girl and her family in a concentration camp. Until her and her family found away out. I liked this book because I have read a lot about the holocaust. After you read about it you feel bad what the kids and adult went through. I enjoy just learning about what happened back then.
January 29, 2019
This book is about the Holocaust and the troubles that one girl and her family had to face during it. This is a very good book and I'd definitely suggest it.
January 10, 2024
A book that has been on my shelf for a long time. Ruth Gruener's Memoir about her childhood hiding from the Nazi's during WW2. Very good young adult book.
January 22, 2016
Cooper Hutfless
Mrs.Plate
English
21 January 2016
Destined to Live by Ruth Gruener
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have to hide in small, tight spaces? Then have to sneak around the streets just to get a small piece of bread? In the book Destined to Live by Ruth Gruener it tells the story of how a young girl named Luncia survived the Holocaust. I read this book because I had never learned about the holocaust, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.
In the beginning of the story Luncia is living a normal life as a child. Then Nazi soldiers come into their home taking items such as pots, and pans. Telling Luncia’s parents the items are needed for the war. Eventually the Nazis took almost all of the family possessions except for the walnut furniture they gave to the Christian family downstairs. They had to wear a white armband with the star of David all the time. Eventually all the Jewish people were forced to go live in the “ghetto.” Which was a place separated from the rest of the city. It was dirty, dull, and very tight. Every so often the Nazis would do “akzias,” which were sweeps where they captured Jewish people and loaded them into trailers to be sent to concentration camps. “Akzias” could last up to several days. After surviving many “akzias” Luncia needed to leave before she was sent with the rest of her family to a concentration camp. The only people allowed to leave the ghetto were store owners. Since Luncia’s father owned a candy shop, one night her father snuck her out to live with a Christian family. She lived with the Szczygiels for a little over eight months. After nearly being discovered several times she feared the Szczygiels were going to throw her onto the streets. Learning that her parents had escaped the ghetto the Szczygiels took her to go live with her parents at the Oyaks. The setting is in Lviv, Poland. I felt the plot could have been a little better at the climax and leading up to the climax. The conflict in this story is between the Nazis and The Jewish people. Luncia is the protagonist. The Nazis are the antagonists.
The ending of the story seems brief to me but overall I think it was a decent. It was courageous of her to move to America and go to college to start a new life. My favorite part was when her and her mother were hiding and she had to go to the restroom. She asked her mother if she could get out to use the restroom. But her mother replied by saying, “ Why do you think I put all these rags in here ?”
Overall I thought this book was very good . Also very well written. It was a very inspiring story of how she made it through the Holocaust. Since I have never learned about the Holocaust, As I said previously, I can’t connect this book with any other books about the Holocaust. I think this book would be great for kids third grade or older. Or anyone wanting to learn more about the Holocaust.
Mrs.Plate
English
21 January 2016
Destined to Live by Ruth Gruener
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have to hide in small, tight spaces? Then have to sneak around the streets just to get a small piece of bread? In the book Destined to Live by Ruth Gruener it tells the story of how a young girl named Luncia survived the Holocaust. I read this book because I had never learned about the holocaust, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.
In the beginning of the story Luncia is living a normal life as a child. Then Nazi soldiers come into their home taking items such as pots, and pans. Telling Luncia’s parents the items are needed for the war. Eventually the Nazis took almost all of the family possessions except for the walnut furniture they gave to the Christian family downstairs. They had to wear a white armband with the star of David all the time. Eventually all the Jewish people were forced to go live in the “ghetto.” Which was a place separated from the rest of the city. It was dirty, dull, and very tight. Every so often the Nazis would do “akzias,” which were sweeps where they captured Jewish people and loaded them into trailers to be sent to concentration camps. “Akzias” could last up to several days. After surviving many “akzias” Luncia needed to leave before she was sent with the rest of her family to a concentration camp. The only people allowed to leave the ghetto were store owners. Since Luncia’s father owned a candy shop, one night her father snuck her out to live with a Christian family. She lived with the Szczygiels for a little over eight months. After nearly being discovered several times she feared the Szczygiels were going to throw her onto the streets. Learning that her parents had escaped the ghetto the Szczygiels took her to go live with her parents at the Oyaks. The setting is in Lviv, Poland. I felt the plot could have been a little better at the climax and leading up to the climax. The conflict in this story is between the Nazis and The Jewish people. Luncia is the protagonist. The Nazis are the antagonists.
The ending of the story seems brief to me but overall I think it was a decent. It was courageous of her to move to America and go to college to start a new life. My favorite part was when her and her mother were hiding and she had to go to the restroom. She asked her mother if she could get out to use the restroom. But her mother replied by saying, “ Why do you think I put all these rags in here ?”
Overall I thought this book was very good . Also very well written. It was a very inspiring story of how she made it through the Holocaust. Since I have never learned about the Holocaust, As I said previously, I can’t connect this book with any other books about the Holocaust. I think this book would be great for kids third grade or older. Or anyone wanting to learn more about the Holocaust.
February 27, 2012
A young girl Luncia, now known as Ruth tells her tales of hiding to survive the Holocaust. Destined to Live is a true story of a young girl who survived the Holocaust with her family. She starts her story by telling about her early life and how she was well off and very blessed. However as the war progresses, she tells of how she has to give her bedroom to another family, how her fathers candy shop must close, how she loses her toys, dolls and beautiful dresses and the loss of her home. She is snuck out of the ghetto to be taken to work mate of her dads. When she is seen in their house, she must be moved but to where? She must hide in a trunk all day long until she is found by one of the daughters. She is then taken to a friend of her family where she has a happy reunion with her parents. It then goes on to tell of their adventures and travels as they start their journey to America. It is a heartwarming story that is filled with emotion and intensity. It shows and proves how hard it really was to live through and survive the Holocaust if you were a Jew.
February 27, 2012
Destined to Live is a story of a young girl Luncia or now known as Ruth, and her life as a young Jewish girl in the Holocaust. Written by herself she tells of how she grew up having everything she needed, beautiful dolls, fancy dresses, piano lessons, and treats at her parents candy shop. But, as the war starts her life takes a turn for the worst. She is forced to move out of her room so others can come live in it. She then goes through akzia's or deportations and hides in uncomfortable situations. After seeing many horrors that the Holocaust brought, Luncia is taken in by the Szczygiel family into hiding. Thankfully another family, the Oyak's take her so she can be with her parents who are also in hiding. It goes on to tell about hiding and how there town Lvov was liberated. She then makes a trek to America were she meets her American family and marries Jack Gruener. This inspiring true story about Luncia is heart warming and a most read for nonfiction book lovers. The young Jewish girl who you get to know really was destined to live.
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September 21, 2012Destined to Live, written by Ruth Gruener, has a well constructed plot of the life of a child during the Holocaust. The Holocaust is an authentic setting in this book and is very identifiable because of all the horror that happened during the Holocaust. The Characters are believable and consistent because they are real people and this is their experience of how they were destined to live. The engaging writing style describes near death experiences with imaginative words. This book is first person point of view. The appropriate photographs show the protagonist as she grows up during the time of the Holocaust. This book is well-designed for its life story and tragic events. I recommend this book to people seeking miracles in really hard times or someone who just wants to read a book about a survivor in the Holocaust.
August 17, 2015
This Scholastic book was written for younger readers but it is an excellent story for any age. Of course, the events are not detailed in this book as they would be if written for adult readers, but enough of Ruth Gruener's story was told to be interesting and informative. I am so glad that those who survived are now telling their stories. Whether people went to camps or survived by hiding, the courage these people exhibited was amazing. Read this book and discuss it with your 5th grade and above children or simply read it yourself. As you read, you will be grateful for your situation in life and be encouraged to remain strong in the worst of situations. Once you are finished with this book, read Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz, the story of Ruth's husband, Jack Gruener.
January 9, 2020
No matter how sad your life is always look for happy things.
November 8, 2018
Not as well written as Prisoner B-3087, but surely powerful. This is the true story, no novelization, of Luncia, who one day goes on to marry the hero of the companion book. She does a good job of detailing the mixed emotions of those committed to helping the Jews escape the Holocaust. So much so, that I found myself struggling to like the people who were helping her.
December 12, 2008
Easy, quick read, but interesting story on survival.
July 4, 2009
A great book for anyone, but is age appropriate for a 3rd to 4th grader.
April 30, 2021
Not my favorite book about WW2, but still really inspiring. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a quick inspirational read.
November 28, 2020
Hoe twee verhalen samenkomen…..en tot iets moois kunnen leiden.
Luncia groeit op in het vooroorlogse Polen als de Tweede wereldoorlog uitbreekt, ze is dan vijf jaar oud en we volgen haar en haar ouders in hun strijd om deze gruwelijke periode te overleven. Ze wonen in de Getto en duiken onder. Een leven in angst. Als dan de bevrijding komt voelen ze zich opgelucht dat de oorlog voorbij is en willen met name haar ouders verder, het liefst zo ver mogelijk van hun oude woonplaats waar het nog niet veilig is.
Ze zwerven Europa door van kamp naar kamp en komen uiteindelijk in Amerika uit. Daar wonen de enige familieleden die ze na de oorlog nog hebben. De volwassenen nemen beslissingen voor Luncia en vergeten dat ze door alle ervaringen geen kind meer is. Haar naam wordt veranderd en hun verleden uitgewist. Hier mag ze niets vertellen over wat ze mee heeft gemaakt en ondanks dat herinneringen en trauma’s regelmatig terugkomen probeert Ruth haar leven weer op te pakken. Ze kan er alleen niet echt van genieten.
“misschien houdt iets je tegen om hiervan te genieten, misschien denk je dat dit weer van je wordt afgepakt.”
Tijdens de oorlog heeft ze een bijzondere jongen ontmoet en nu schrijft ze brieven naar hem terwijl hij in een volgende oorlog vecht. Zij begrijpen elkaar en delen dat ook met de wereld om hun heen. Hun verhaal moet verteld worden.
Dit verhaal is heel bijzonder, ik heb heel veel boeken gelezen over de Tweede Wereldoorlog maar kon steeds weinig vinden over de periode erna. Hoe verging het de Joden nadat ze uit hun schuilkelders waren gekropen, hoe gingen ze om met het niet terug kunnen naar hun huizen, niet terugvinden van dierbaren en wanneer verdween hun angst? Door het lezen van dit boek krijg je een veel beter beeld over deze tijd na de oorlog.
Ruth haalt de grote wereld naar binnen door dit boek, ze maakt het klein en persoonlijk en aangrijpend.
Het is echt verteld vanuit de belevingswereld van een kind van ongeveer 11 jaar. En soms zo nuchter en beschrijvend alsof Ruth echt haar verhaal verteld heeft zonder zich te verliezen in emoties.
Iedereen wil verder en alles vergeten maar de zwerftocht door Europa en de reis naar Amerika maakt duidelijk dat het niet zo werkt. Heel mooi hoe het verhaal van Jack, die de hoofdpersoon was in het waargebeurde verhaal “De jongen die 10 concentratiekampen overleefde.” In dit verhaal gevlochten wordt. Het boek wordt afgesloten met enkele foto’s waardoor dit verhaal nog meer binnenkomt.
Een ontroerend verhaal voor de tiener en hun ouders die meer willen weten over wat er na de Tweede Wereldoorlog gebeurde
December 7, 2019
Have you ever questioned how holocaust survivors described the terrible events that happened just 70 years ago? Have you ever seen a survivor and wanted to question them about what their survival story was but be to shy to ask them? If you are ever are surrounded by a bubble with questions like these then this book will tell you a true story of a girl who survived the Holocaust called Ruth, and specific details about her survival story. This book is an autobiography since it is written by Ruth who survived the events listed in the book. In this book the main character is Ruth Gruener. Ruth Gruener is in fact not the name the author carried along with her on her survival journey but, Aurelia Gamser or Luncia as a nickname. She was born in the early 1930's in a city in Poland called Lvov, which is where the story starts off in. The girl refers to her father as, "Tatu" which is polish for dad. However she doesn't refer to her mother with a polish name but with the American and English version, "mom." In the story the girl and her family are always hiding from the Nazis and unlike other families her parents and her survive the war. The girl at the end marries a mad called Jack Gruener. In the setting the girl has a wonderful life full of excitement in the city of Lvov in Poland in the mid 1930's when she is less than 10 years old. Everyday after school she grabs candy from her parents candy shop. Then one day the Nazis enter the city and her whole life is destroyed. She is always being persecuted because she is a Jew and she has to wear the Star of David or she will be killed on the spot. Bit by bit the Nazis get worse and she has to go into hiding. People who might like this book are people who like to read books full of action. You might also want to read this book if you are interested in the Holocaust and if you like a book full of adventure. Finally an interesting part of this book is in the ghetto where the girl and her family must hide for their lives because of a azkia which is when they round up the Jews and kill them. It really shows you how smart the family is and how brave they are in times of trouble. It also makes the reader very nervous about what will happen to them and their family and it will keep you stuck to the book like a magnet hopping the main character and family will survive.
January 26, 2019
I had read the Prisoner B-3087 by the same author and liked it — the story of Jack Greuner who survived 10 camps!
The copy I read is a Scholastic edition so I don’t know if there are differences in the editions. This one did read very simply. As much as I keep reading historical memoirs and historical fiction, I’m always surprised to get immersed in new situations — this one not of concentration camps or escape, but hiding. Unlike Anne Frank, Aurelia Gamser knew about what was going on around her.
The main character of this book is Aurelia Gamser (known by several names throughout the book — Lucia, Luncia, Lucinda, .... She tells her story from age 5. Through a child’s eyes, we see the Kristelnicht, sharing Lvov living quarters, being moved to the ghetto, multiple roundups (called aura?....), Pg. 76-77 one woman went to see a psychic and was told that she had a Jewish girl living in her home who would one day be famous.” Although her parents were hidden by others, it surprised me when they risked going on the streets or talking about shopping. It’s so easy to forget that the life of many Germans went on almost normally. Pg. 86 hiding in a trunk/ having to learn to walk and talk again.... At page 91, there are suddenly several pages of photographs - one poignantly of her and her 5th grade class; she was the only one not killed in the Holocaust! Pg. 109-110 amazing the things that were considered as possible! Pg. 116+. When survivors met and started telling stories...
I guess I can’t fathom the horrendous numbers of atrocities committed by the Nazis. The book starts with the stats — 7 m. Jews in Central and Eastern Europe, by war’s end 6 m. Killed/3 m. Polish, plus 222,000 others like gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and physically disabled. Pg. 1
The copy I read is a Scholastic edition so I don’t know if there are differences in the editions. This one did read very simply. As much as I keep reading historical memoirs and historical fiction, I’m always surprised to get immersed in new situations — this one not of concentration camps or escape, but hiding. Unlike Anne Frank, Aurelia Gamser knew about what was going on around her.
The main character of this book is Aurelia Gamser (known by several names throughout the book — Lucia, Luncia, Lucinda, .... She tells her story from age 5. Through a child’s eyes, we see the Kristelnicht, sharing Lvov living quarters, being moved to the ghetto, multiple roundups (called aura?....), Pg. 76-77 one woman went to see a psychic and was told that she had a Jewish girl living in her home who would one day be famous.” Although her parents were hidden by others, it surprised me when they risked going on the streets or talking about shopping. It’s so easy to forget that the life of many Germans went on almost normally. Pg. 86 hiding in a trunk/ having to learn to walk and talk again.... At page 91, there are suddenly several pages of photographs - one poignantly of her and her 5th grade class; she was the only one not killed in the Holocaust! Pg. 109-110 amazing the things that were considered as possible! Pg. 116+. When survivors met and started telling stories...
I guess I can’t fathom the horrendous numbers of atrocities committed by the Nazis. The book starts with the stats — 7 m. Jews in Central and Eastern Europe, by war’s end 6 m. Killed/3 m. Polish, plus 222,000 others like gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and physically disabled. Pg. 1
November 25, 2023
Κριτική στα Ελληνικά πιο κάτω...
A small book that can be read in a few hours. A true story where the Jewish author describes what happened when WWII arrived in the city of Lviv, then part of Poland and today part of Ukraine, how she and her family managed to survive and how finally after the war, changing often places of residence, she finally arrived some years later in the USA to settle and build a life.
The book is also suitable for teenage/young readers and largely retains the perspective of the child and teenager that the author was during those years. It is touching in many places, but not overly emotional as a read. One of those books that make you reflect on how many human stories and lives are hidden behind statistics and historical events that we now see somewhat distantly and how hard it was for those who are considered much more fortunate than others in those tragic times...
No literary masterpiece, but important book non the less.
Μικρό βιβλιαράκι που διαβάζεται μέσα σε ελάχιστες ώρες. Μία πραγματική ιστορία όπου η Εβραία συγγραφέας περιγράφει τι πέρασε όταν ο Β'ΠΠ έφτασε στην πόλη του Λβιβ, τότε μέρος την Πολωνίας και σήμερα μέρος της Ουκρανίας, πως αυτή και η οικογένειά της κατάφεραν να επιβιώσουν και πως τελικά μετά τον πόλεμο αλλάζοντας μέρη κατοικίας έφτασε τελικά κάποια χρόνια μετά στις ΗΠΑ.
Το βιβλίο είναι κατάλληλο και για έφηβους/νεαρούς αναγνώστες και σε μεγάλο βαθμό διατηρεί την οπτική του παιδιού και της έφηβης που ήταν η συγγραφέας εκείνα τα χρόνια. Είναι μεν συγκινητικό σε πολλά σημεία, αλλά όχι υπερβολικά συναισθηματικό σαν ανάγνωσμα. Από τα βιβλία που σε κάνουν να αναλογιστείς πόσες ανθρώπινες ιστορίες και ζωές κρύβονται πίσω από στατιστικά και γεγονότα που πλέον τα βλέπουμε κάπως αποστασιοποιημένα και πόσο δύσκολα πέρασαν αυτοί που θεωρούνται πολύ πιο τυχεροί από άλλους σε εκείνες τις τραγικές εποχές...
A small book that can be read in a few hours. A true story where the Jewish author describes what happened when WWII arrived in the city of Lviv, then part of Poland and today part of Ukraine, how she and her family managed to survive and how finally after the war, changing often places of residence, she finally arrived some years later in the USA to settle and build a life.
The book is also suitable for teenage/young readers and largely retains the perspective of the child and teenager that the author was during those years. It is touching in many places, but not overly emotional as a read. One of those books that make you reflect on how many human stories and lives are hidden behind statistics and historical events that we now see somewhat distantly and how hard it was for those who are considered much more fortunate than others in those tragic times...
No literary masterpiece, but important book non the less.
Μικρό βιβλιαράκι που διαβάζεται μέσα σε ελάχιστες ώρες. Μία πραγματική ιστορία όπου η Εβραία συγγραφέας περιγράφει τι πέρασε όταν ο Β'ΠΠ έφτασε στην πόλη του Λβιβ, τότε μέρος την Πολωνίας και σήμερα μέρος της Ουκρανίας, πως αυτή και η οικογένειά της κατάφεραν να επιβιώσουν και πως τελικά μετά τον πόλεμο αλλάζοντας μέρη κατοικίας έφτασε τελικά κάποια χρόνια μετά στις ΗΠΑ.
Το βιβλίο είναι κατάλληλο και για έφηβους/νεαρούς αναγνώστες και σε μεγάλο βαθμό διατηρεί την οπτική του παιδιού και της έφηβης που ήταν η συγγραφέας εκείνα τα χρόνια. Είναι μεν συγκινητικό σε πολλά σημεία, αλλά όχι υπερβολικά συναισθηματικό σαν ανάγνωσμα. Από τα βιβλία που σε κάνουν να αναλογιστείς πόσες ανθρώπινες ιστορίες και ζωές κρύβονται πίσω από στατιστικά και γεγονότα που πλέον τα βλέπουμε κάπως αποστασιοποιημένα και πόσο δύσκολα πέρασαν αυτοί που θεωρούνται πολύ πιο τυχεροί από άλλους σε εκείνες τις τραγικές εποχές...
August 28, 2022
I am a World War II history major, so I generally pick up any book on that topic that I can find. I grabbed this book for that reason alone, but I also love a personal account of a historical event. Personal accounts are so very important to the historical record, especially when there are still obtuse people out there that deny the atrocities committed during the Holocaust took place. So many people lost their lives that we owe it to the ones who didn't to listen because they are telling the stories for everyone. This girl went through so much. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I was carrying on my merry business and then was attacked because of my religion, ethnicity, or anything else. Living through war in general must be a traumatic, horrible experience, but most especially if you are one of the targeted demographics. I think this book is very important and encourage you to give it a chance.
October 24, 2019
I am reading this to my young children to continue our conversation of human rights that we began by visiting civil war sites, MLK jr. Memorial, Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Museum.
Dachau, Anne Frank's House, and bombed shells in Berlin left a chill in my bones after I visited. It was a feeling I want my children to understand and act oppositely, with complete compassion, for their entire lives. I want them to always question authority respectfully. I want them to be brave like those that we read in stories like these.
This story is suited for a 3rd or 4th grader. It is easy to read but the content will require adult participation. My kids have a lot of questions about what they are hearing. I highly recommend this book.
Dachau, Anne Frank's House, and bombed shells in Berlin left a chill in my bones after I visited. It was a feeling I want my children to understand and act oppositely, with complete compassion, for their entire lives. I want them to always question authority respectfully. I want them to be brave like those that we read in stories like these.
This story is suited for a 3rd or 4th grader. It is easy to read but the content will require adult participation. My kids have a lot of questions about what they are hearing. I highly recommend this book.
September 2, 2018
Destined to Live is a really good book to learn about the holocaust that took place in World War II. The writing was very effective and powerful which is what made me get me more interested into the book. The book was really adventurous because she kept moving from place to place. I would recommend this book to anybody that wants to lean about the holocaust and what people had to go through. The strengths of this book is the way things were exaggerated which gave alot of detail and emotion. Overall the writing was very powerfull, intresting, and moving.
December 16, 2019
I thought the book was very interesting with mixed emotions. Ruth lived a very happy life and had no worries at the time. That was until the deportation and the camps of Jewish families started happening by the Nazis. The Nazis would take everything from them such as valuable items. Everyday the family faced new things and would hide from the Nazis. Ruth struggled in her early life, but then she later starts a new life in America and still somewhat had struggles after the war. The story is very interesting and shows Hope, and struggles.
September 24, 2019
This book makes me really sad and wish I was there to help out. This book has inspired me in different ways and told me no matter what or who you are you can always survive anything your going through at the moment. I am so glad that I picked this book out and got to read it. I recommend this book to all ages and grades. You'll never regret reading it and this is a kind of book you'll read over and over again and never get bored of.
January 2, 2020
I read this book for a school project and it was a good option for that. If you would like to learn how a Holocaust survivor made it through this horrible tragedy this is a simple read and informational. If you would like to read her husbands story I would recommend it. It is called “Prison B-3087” by Alan Gratz (Yanek or Jack doesn’t come into Destined to Live until closer to the end). Hope you enjoy!
December 30, 2018
My 11 year old son bought me this book for Christmas.
It is a great book for reading level 10-13!
My only real problem is a lack of timeline updates. It felt like years got glosses over and I couldn’t keep track of how old she was.
Otherwise a fantastic age appropriate introduction to this terrible time in history to young readers.
It is a great book for reading level 10-13!
My only real problem is a lack of timeline updates. It felt like years got glosses over and I couldn’t keep track of how old she was.
Otherwise a fantastic age appropriate introduction to this terrible time in history to young readers.
June 28, 2019
A memorable book about the holocaust better for the comprehension of 5th/6th grade. Some of the content may not be suitable for younger kids. This story helps a younger reader empathize with the plight of a girl of similar age who lived through a terrible time in history. Overall a good read to include excerpts in a study of the Holocaust.
January 10, 2019
This was a true story of a girl who survived the Holocaust by being hidden by her neighbors. I felt so bad for young Ruth, or Luncia, as she was known then. What I find even more interesting is that there is a second book, featuring the boy who would grow up to become Ruth's husband.
April 8, 2019
This was a great read. It's short enough for younger readers to learn about what went on during the Holocaust. Not too many overpowering details but just enough to keep it interesting for readers. Thank you for sharing your story!
April 21, 2019
This is an excellent book for young people to read. A good way to remind themselves that they have it lots better than the author did as a child. Her simple statement about her kindergarten class is powerful and haunting. Let us never forget so that things like this never happen again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews