Hedy's Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust

Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books

by Michelle Bisson, El Primo Ramon (Illustrator)

It is 1941. Hedy and her family are Jewish, and the Jew-hating Nazi party is rising. Hedy's family is no longer safe in their home in Hungary. They decide to flee to America, but because of their circumstances, sixteen-year-old Hedy must make her way through Europe alone. Will luck be with her? Will she be brave? Join Hedy on her journey-where she encounters good fortune and misfortune, a kind helper and cruel soldiers, a reunion and a tragedy-and discover how Hedy is both lucky and brave. Hedy's Journey adds an important voice to the canon of Holocaust stories, and her courage will make a lasting impact on young readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, History, Holocaust, World War II, Biography, Childrens

40 pages, Library Binding

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedy's inner strength and courage were put to the test. She had no choice but to travel alone through Europe during World War II.

Hedy lived in Budapest, Hungary with her parents and younger brother Robert. In 1941, the family decided to leave Hungary after her father was imprisoned then subsequently released from a labor camp. A Nazi newspaper had recently run an article calling him "king of Jewish diamond jewelers". The story implied that Jewish people were responsible for controlling the world's wealth.

Having secured immigration visas to America, the family needed to board a ship sailing from Lisbon, Portugal. Trains were full. Flights were full. The family was able to book three seats on a train passing through Germany. Hedy would have to travel alone on a future train. Her scary journey was as follows: train through Nazi territory to Vienna--->plane to Barcelona--->plane to Lisbon---> meet-up and reunion with family. Hedy had to focus on tomorrow,on a new life filled with opportunity rather than yesterday, the life being left behind.

The next leg of the harrowing journey to safety and freedom in America was just a continuation of setbacks and challenges. Author Michelle Bisson has done a remarkable job describing the journey undertaken by Hedy. The picture book, recommended for children ages nine to twelve, contains a biography and photos of Hedy, bringing authenticity to the memoirs of a family fleeing the Holocaust. The illustrator, El primo Ramon, uses subtlety of color and facial expressions to convey the essence of the family's feelings. "Hedy's Journey: The true Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust" by Michelle Bisson is both a tribute to her mother as well as a window into the hardships incurred by refugees seeking religious or political asylum.

Thank you Capstone Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Hedy's Journey".

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please visit my blog www.readrantrockandroll.com for reviews on children's books like this regarding the Holocaust and WWII

Hedy's Journey by Michelle Bisson is a horrific, true story about a Hungarian Jewish girl named Hedy who had to travel through Germany during the Holocaust in search of safety. She takes a portion of the journey to America alone, as she is required to separate from her parents.

She and her family suffered through trials and tribulations on the unpredictable journey. Plans often changed, and she had no choice but to be brave. Follow along in the story to learn their destination and future.

The author, Michelle Bisson, is Hedy's daughter. I truly appreciate that she has taken the story about her mother's experience and offered it to others so that they can retain this piece of history that is so essential to children's education. In addition, I appreciated the author mentioning that it wasn't just Jews who were persecuted.

Six million Jews were killed by the Nazis in Europe all together. Eleven million were exterminated overall, including gay people, disabled people, political opponents, and others the Nazis considered less than human.

The book also contains tons of photographs of Hedy and her family as well as a timeline of events.

This book is one I believe should be integral to children's curriculums and should be in every library.

5*****

Thanks to Netgalley for sharing a copy with me.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book focused on a Holocaust survivor, Hedy, written by her daughter, Michelle Bisson. Hedy is now gone, but her story is preserved for a new (young) generation to pass on. As everyone must be aware, Holocaust survivors are dying out, and there is a desperate goal to get as many of these stories recorded as possible. The book is also timely in that it is a refugee story, an immigrant story. What do we who are now relatively safe owe to those who are being killed, or are in various other forms of crisis? What is the price we have to pay for living on this planet?

In Hedy’s Journey, Bisson tells the story of her mother’s flight from the Nazis and her home in Hungary in 1941. Nazi Germany turned on Hungary in 1944, deposing its Prime Minister and occupying the country; it began sending people to concentrations camps, but the threat was already there in the early forties. In the summer of 1941, Hedy’s father, a successful jeweler, was sent to a labor camp. He was released after three months, but the family knew they must leave Hungary, and they chose to go to the U.S.

The story is both common and sensational, as survivor stories most often are. What makes this story special is the sweet and lovely illustrations of El Primo Ramon! Emotionally resonant, light and open, when it needs to be, with lots of space and pastel to help us connect with the goodness of this family and its hopeful approach to the crisis. Then, too, there’s enough darkness in places to capture the inevitable sadness and the occasional despair. The art makes the story more elegant and stronger.

The book concludes with “The Rest of Hedy’s Story” and includes pictures of the immigrants and notes about the author and illustrator. Do we need another Holocaust story for kids? Yes, and this is a good one; my family is reading it and enjoying it and asking questions.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still another excellent children's book I've been fortunate to find through NetGalley. This book, based on events in the life of the author's mother and family during WWII, is designed for readers aged 8 to 12, grades 4 through 6. Hedy was a 16 year old Hungarian girl, aware of the events happening around her. She and her family worked on plans to avoid/evade the inevitable: transport to the concentration camps and almost certain death. This nicely illustrated book outlines their predicament, what was happening around them and plans they made and attempted to carry out. Their goal was to reach New York as they were among the lucky ones who had family in the United States.

I do want to speak about the illustrations for this book. They seem (to me) to have a distinctly continental flair which I found worked very well with the story. The pictures of Hedy and her family looked like they were of another time and place. The artist is, I believe, Spanish, and for me he has found the right ways to pick up time, tones, the era, the war, etc. The story and pictures play off each other well.

There is an excellent avenue into history in this book, through Hedy's story, the added Nazi-era time-line after the story, and the author's brief completion of the family's history at the end of the book. This could be a jumping off point for further discussion in school or at home. This is a thoughtful book, filled with hope for the future and sadness of what-might-have-been for others left behind. I definitely recommend it.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Mar at BOOKIVERSE · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 27 is “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”. and this is one of "Must Read" books I recommend about the Holocaust Experience, a beautiful #OwnVoices tale of sacrifice and survival!

I’m a big fan of books about the holocaust because... we cannot forget!

Kids need to learn what happened during WWII and why, so we, humankind, don’t repeat the same mistakes.

This book resonated with me at another level too because it is also a story about immigration and the hardships and sacrifices of having to leave your country, family and friends behind. I still get very emotional when I remember my family’s stories about surviving the Spanish Civil War and fleeing to America so I can only imagine what it was for Michelle Bisson to write this story.

I especially liked “The Rest of Hedy’s Story” at the end of the book with the pictures of the immigrants and the notes about the author and illustrator.

Kudos to El Primo Ramon! His illustrations are, besides beautiful, spot on! They facial expressions and muted colors very accurately portrait the emotions of the story. The sadness and the despair. So elegantly and tastefully done!

I recommend this book to everyone! So we never forget!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedy's Journey by Michelle Bisson is another true story about the holocause. This story is about a Hungarian Jewish girl named Hedy and her family, who had to travel through Germany during the Holocaust to try and get to safety. They have visas to go to the United States, but they need to get to Portugal to take a ship there. There are many trials and tribulations in this journey. She takes a portion of the journey alone, as she is required to separate from her parents due to the availability of tickets. There is some mention of family members that were caught up by the Nazis, but that is not the focus of the story, that is to establish the reason they had to leave. Hedy was a brave young lady, who did what she needed to do to connect with her family and get them all to safety.

The author, Michelle Bisson, is Hedy's daughter. She used stories and memories from her mother to tell this story. She expressed that she knew nothing about the holocaust until she was in grade six. She went home and asked her mother if it was true and that was when her mother told her, her story. There is an afterward to the story where there are many pictures of Hedy and her family. There is a timeline of WWII, along with information about the settling of Hedy's family once they arrived in New York. I have read many books about the holocaust and I liked the fact that even though this story was about a Hungarian Jewish family, Michelle Bisson gave other information about those killed in this horrific event.

The book was well written in easy language for children to understand. The illustrations are drawings in very muted colours that show the emotions and the dangers very well. This is an excellent book to teach children about this time in history and should be in all public and school libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Yibbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the Holocaust to use with young children. It conveys the fear and heartbreak that this family went through, but will not overwhelm a young audience. It is very well written. For such a short book, the historical details and the biographical details are very well balanced. Neither overwhelms the other.
The illustrations are perfect for the story. They caught the terror of Hedy’s journey, but also the simple joys and love of any family. I really appreciated the inclusion of the maps. It helped give more perspective to just how brave Hedy was.
I received this as a free ARC from NetGalley and Capstone Press.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently illustrated throughout, this lively and moving tale follows a girl and her family who are forced to leave their shop in Hungary and flee from Europe as the Nazis come to power.

The danger is resonant through the adventure but the book is suitable for older primary school readers or young post-primary. I recommend this as a family or class discussion point.

I read the book from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Hedy’s Journey, Michelle Bisson tells the true life story of her mother’s flight from the Nazis and her home in Hungary in 1941.

Although Hungary was allied with the Axis powers, Germany and Italy, during the 1930s and early 1940s, Hungarian Jews were not rounded up and deported to concentrations camps until 1944, when Nazi Germany finally deposed the Prime Minister and occupied the country.

But that didn’t mean Hungary was a safe haven for Europe’s Jews. Far from it, as Hedy Engle learned when her cousin Marika, a Polish Jew who was visiting with Hedy’s family in Budapest, was ordered to report to the deportation office there in 1941. Sent to a concentration camp, Marika and her family were never heard from again. Hedy’s family knew that if the Nazi’s were going to round up Polish Jews in Hungary, it wouldn’t be long before they came for Hungarian Jews.

As if to emphasize their precarious position, in the summer of 1941, Hedy’s father, a successful jeweler, was sent to a labor camp. Luckily, he was released in three months. And that was when the family decided it was definitely time to leave Hungary. But even with visas to enter the United States in hand, only three train tickets could be found to take them to Lisbon, Portugal, and a ship across the Atlantic Ocean. It was decided that Hedy’s parents and younger brother Robert would be the first to leave Hungary, and Hedy would follow a week and a half later. Then, when they would reunited in Lisbon, they all would board a ship to America and freedom.

Imagine being a 16 year-old Jewish girl traveling alone through Nazi-occupied Austria. Hedy’s trip to Portugal was fraught with fear and caution. Although she didn’t look Jewish and most people treated her as though she weren’t, the sight of German soldiers in Vienna was still a frightening experience for the teenaged Hedy. When she finally arrived in Lisbon, her family breathed a sigh of relief. But then, Pearl Harbor was bombed, and the US entered World War II.

As if they hadn’t already dealt with enough challenges and setbacks, the Engle family now found themselves stranded in Portugal with worthless tickets for a ship that was not longer available. Eventually, the family does secure passage on a ship that comes with its own setbacks and challenges, but ultimately, the family arrived in New York harbor and freedom.

Hedy’s Journey is a true story about courage and daring in the face of fear. It is based on the memories that Hedy shared with her daughter, author Michelle Bisson. There are photographs of the family at the end of the book, along with information about what happen to the family after arriving in the U.S. Readers will also find a map of the journey the Engle family undertook, as well as a timeline of events.

Hedy’s Journey is an ideal book for introducing young readers to the Holocaust. It is done as an illustrated book. It is really in part graphic form, and in part a picture book for older readers. The story is told in narrative, though, rather than text bubbles. The illustrations are done in subtle sepia tones, giving it an old fashioned quality, with shades of gray, but Hedy’s clothes are highlighted in dusty pink.

The journey of Hedy and her family may not sound like a terribly dangerous or distressing flight from the Nazis if compared to other similar accounts, but it is wise to remember that for Jews every moment that they lived under this regime was dangerous. Fleeing held it own dangers, but for many like Hedy and her family, they thought it was worth the risk.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley

[Victoria Spicer-Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* 'Hedy's Journey' is a beautiful, delicate picture book that would be suitable for students in upper primary to lower secondary. I am looking forward to this booking being published so that I can share it with some of my Middle School History classes. The book tells the true story of a young Jewish Hungarian girl, Hedy, who must make her way across Europe to flee the Holocaust. It is written by the protagonist's daughter, which really adds to the weight of the book. My favourite part of the book is the illustrations - they are just so beautiful and poignant and really add so much to the story. As a large part of the story is about Hedy's journey, the pages of the book are also spotted with maps showing where she travelled by train or boat. A sad story, but a delightful story and one that needs to be told.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great way to tell the holocaust and Jewish escape story to a young audience. It puts younger readers in the shoes of Hedy, a young Jewish woman as she flees the Nazis in Hungary. This is not for the very young children, maybe upper primary school.

It's a biographical piece written by Hedy's daughter, Michelle. The main illustrated body ends when Hedy arrives in the US. But it does continue with a bit of what happened for the rest of her life. There is also a very basic timeline.

While I'm not a huge fan of the illustrator choice, Borja Ramón López Cotelo, a Spanish illustrator. I won't deny that the illustrations, the style from an architectural eye, are perfect. They are coloured with a perfect palette and Hedy does look like the real Hedy.

I will say the formatting/ design needed to be looked at. Ashlee Suker's work may look fantastic on a physical page but it doesn’t translate well to a screen.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedy's Journey by Michelle Bisson is a horrific, true story about a Hungarian Jewish girl named Hedy who had to travel through Germany during the Holocaust in search of safety. She takes a portion of the journey to America alone, as she is required to separate from her parents.

She and her family suffered through trials and tribulations on the unpredictable journey. Plans often changed, and she had no choice but to be brave. Follow along in the story to learn there destination and future.


The author, Michelle Bisson, is Hedy's daughter. She tells the story of Hedy's (Hungarian Jewish) journey to safety, from the Nazis to the US. The story is sort of passing of the baton. Someone has to continue to tell their stories, history in its worst manifestation, and I appreciated the effort of this daughter. The story is told with extreme delicacy and the designs convey this emotion. I truly appreciate that she has taken the story about her mother's experience and offered it to others so that they can retain this piece of history that is so essential to children's education. In addition, I appreciated the author mentioning that it wasn't just Jews who were persecuted.

The book also contains lots of photographs of Hedy and her family as well as a timeline of events. This book is one I believe should be integral to children's curriculums and should be in every library.

I received this ARC book from Capstone and Capstone Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

HEDY'S JOURNEY is a middle grade novel in which the title character was a real person who is approximately the same age as those reading this book.
Because of this, readers will be able to relate to Hedy and will be invested in seeing her succeed in her journey to escape the Nazi regime.

It is well written and interesting. I rate it as 4 out of 5 Stars

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courageous and inspiring story filled with wonderful illustrations. An interesting glimpse into a families journey and their struggle to escape Nazi held Hungary. Would be a great addition to collection or curriculum for Holocaust studies as well as the American immigrant experience. The personal stories and photos of the author and mother add to the compelling storytelling of the story and add to the personal nature and connections for reader.

Thank you Capstone Press and Netgalley for a preview copy to review.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am only sorry I didn't get more out of life while I could. She understood that she was going to die. If the Nazis were coming for one Jew, it was only a matter of time before them for us all.


What a lovely account of the author's family in their escape from the Hungary. The illustrations will pierce your heart and their story will open your eyes to reality of the importance of equality for all. Equality meaning the pursuit of justice and the freedom of life and liberty. This book is geared for children 4th grade and up, however, as mom and a grandmother now, I would treasure this account with my own to instill in their own hearts the value of people.

The illustrations show maps of the escape and the difficulties making a simple journey. Their fears and their gratitude in their successful escape. I highly recommend.

A Special Thank You to Capstone Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully shared story about a young girl's journey from Nazi occupied Europe to America. And the illustrations couldn't have been any better - I just love the style.

Ages: 6 - 11

Cleanliness: Mentions beer. A girl thinks a guy is handsome.

Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with horrible things, such as the holocaust, is that it is so big, so horrid, that it is hard to wrap one's head around it, even as an adult. Imagine how it would be for little kids. But, if you can relate to one person, tell one person's journey, that is sometimes enough of a connection.

This is the story of the author's mother's escape from Hungry. It is sad, but not too sad. It is scary, but not too scary. It is honest, and to the point.

When I was in high school I interview my French teacher as party of a oral history project. I did not know that like the girl in this story, that she had fled the Nazi's during WWII as well. Like Hedy in this story, she faced setbacks, and near misses as well. This was very striking to me, at the time, because up until that point, I had not met anyone who had escaped from the Nazi's, or rather I didn't know that I knew anyone who had.

It is important for kids to hear the every day stories of what happened. We often try to hid the horrid things, but there are ways, such as this book, that make it easy to explain it, and in the notes at the end of the book, the author explains that is what happened to her, when she first heard about the Holocaust in school, that she couldn't believe it had happened, and didn't understand, and her mother told her her own story.

Highly recommend this book for schools and libraries, so that kids can get their hands on this book

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many stories of immigrants trying to get to America, and often they are about a flight to save lives, wanting to stay, but needing to go. Michelle Brisson tells Hedy's story with love, for Hedy is her mother! There is some sadness because Hedy had to say goodbye to a cousin, knowing that she will not survive. There is underlying tension caused by pieces that show Jews are being discriminated against, like Hedy's father, a jeweler, being named "the king of the Jewish diamond dealers." And there is the decision that has to be made for Hedy to travel alone after her parents and brother leave because of lack of a ticket. Other problems arise like the plans for the boat that was to take them to America was canceled because the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. They lost that money too. At the back, there are family photos showing Hedy young, then older with her family in America and a map of their long travels to escape. El primo Ramon's illustrations in muted grays and browns with a hint of color create the effect of a long-ago story. They're serious, but not alarming. This will be a good book to introduce the plight of those fleeing the Nazis.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biographical picture book that tells the story of how the author's mother became a refugee in WWII and eventually made her way from Hungary to the United States.

It's hard to convey the seriousness of the Holocaust, WWII, and the plight of refugees for kids. This would be a good intro to WWII for more sensitive young readers. One cousin is mentioned leaving on a train to likely death in a concentration camp and one little boy dies from a fall on a boat. Neither is shown on page. Neither death is described in any detail. But the sadness and heartache of both deaths, the fear of the Nazis, the hardship of being forced to leave home and facing many unknowns is conveyed well in little details in the words and illustrations. I really like the color palette and illustration style chosen for the book. It works quite well. In the back of the book are real photos of Hedy and her family and further information. Good read for little ones being introduced to WWII or sensitive readers learning about WWII or what it means to be a refugee.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hedy's Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust
by Michelle Bisson
Capstone
Capstone Press
Children's Nonfiction , Middle Grade
Pub Date 01 Aug 2017

I am reviewing Hedy's Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust through Capstone Press and Netgalley:

This story is geared towards Middle Grade reader's. We learn of a young Jewish Women having to travel through Europe on her own in the Middle of World War Two during the time of Holocaust. She was Jewish and had to flee the Nazi's.

She talks about her cousin Marika being killed by the Nazi's in that time. That Summer her Forty Nine year old Father was forced to spend three months in a labor camp as a "waterboy" by the Hungarian Nazi officers.

The family was granted passports for America but they had to travel separately for risk of being found out. Hedy did not look Jewish so it was easier for her to travel alone.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hedy was a Jewish girl living in Hungary in 1941. Her family was scared of the Nazi’s because her cousin was sent to a concentration camp. Her parents decided to take them to the United States. Hedy’s parents and brother made their way to Lisbon to get a ship to New York. Hedy had to wait for another train because there wasn’t enough room for her. Eventually they all made it onto the ship and began their long journey from Lisbon to New York City.

I really liked the illustrations in this book. The muted colours, in greys and browns, reflects the sad tone of the story.

This is a great story for young readers. I remember reading Hannah’s Suitcase when I was in elementary school, which taught me about the Holocaust. The World Wars aren’t taught very much to young kids these days, so this book would give them an idea of what happened then. Hedy’s family was one of the lucky ones, so the story is not as devastating as some stories set during that time.

[whatbooknext · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hedy is Hungarian and saying goodbye to her cousin Marika. The year is 1941 and they know they will never see each other again. Marika is Polish and has been ordered out of Hungary by the Nazis.

It is soon Hedy's family's time to leave, but they are fleeing on their own terms - headed for a new life in America. Until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. Their plans to escape are blocked again and again, until they finally reach safety. They had little money, and few belongings, but they were alive and together.

The author has written about her mother's experiences escaping Hitler. The illustrations are muted browns and greys with little colour - following the tones of the family photographs included in the back of the book.

A timeline is also included, showing Hitler's rise and reign across Europe. Hedy's journey gives young readers a window into Hungary at this time in history, bringing alive the fear and struggles families faced. Age - 7+

[Simona Dreca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview

In this graphic novel it is told the trip of a Hungarian Jewish girl to safety, from the Nazis to the US. The story is told by her daughter. A sort of passing of the baton. Someone has to continue to tell their stories, history in its worst manifestation, and I appreciated the effort of this daughter. The story is told with extreme delicacy and the designs convey this emotion.

In questa graphic novel viene raccontato il viaggio di una ragazza ebrea ungherese verso la salvezza dal nazismo, verso gli USA. A raccontarlo è la figlia. Una sorta di passaggio del testimone. Qualcuno deve continuare a raccontare le loro storie, la Storia nella sua manifestazione peggiore, ed ho apprezzato lo sforzo di questa figlia. La storia è raccontata con estrema delicatezza e anche i disegni trasmettono questa emozione.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In simple language that never falters despite its subject matter, the author tells the story of her mother's journey from Budapest to freedom in 1941. As the Nazis drew closer, Hedy was forced to travel through unfriendly territory all alone. She describes how the tickets the family had purchased to sail to the United States became worthless after the attack on pearl Harbor, and how her father was forced to bribe officials in an attempt to flee the country. From this brief account, it is quite clear just how fortunate Hedy and her family were to get out of Hungary alive. Having family photographs included in the back of the book helps readers put faces to this event in history. The illustrations poignantly highlight different moments during Hedy's travels even while the horrors of the Holocaust made her family's departure increasingly urgent.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars There are so many person stories about the holocaust that need to be told. This is the first children's book I have read that talked about why Jew were targeted. Most kids books just say they were targeted and persecuted because they were Jewish (ethically and religiously) . This book actually says why " "Nazi's believed the Jews had stolen all the worlds' wealth" The Stereotype was that Jews were good in business and good an managing their money. So, if you need money, why not target those with money kill them and take their money!

This story is written by Hedy's daughter, Michelle. Michelle says in the authors notes that she didn't know about the Holocaust until 6th grade and went home to ask her mom about it. WOW! I can see why her mom didn't talk about it but, it just amazes me!

This might also make my short list!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hedy's Journey is a middle grade story based on the life of a 16-year-old from Hungry. It takes place at the onset of World War Two.

This is what you might called a short and sweet story, but given the subject matter it really isn’t that sweet. But rather a story of a strong young teen fleeing her homeland as persecution of the Jews begins to spread far and wide.

Her journey is a story of inner strength and courage as part of Hedy's journey sees her traveling alone through German occupied areas before finally being reunited with her family. The struggle doesn’t end there as there is prejudices in America where they begin life a new.

The illustrations for this 40 page story are wonderful as are the maps to show her journey. It would make a great addition to classrooms and home libraries.

[Sigourney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley for review.

‘We had all made it to a safe port in the storm of the Holocaust.’

Hedy’s Journey is the true story of a young Hungarian girl, Heddy, and her experience of trying to flee Hungary during World War II. This short yet effective picture book details Hedy and her family’s journey across Europe and into America during the early 1940’s, as they tried to escape Jewish persecution in Hungary. Although this would have been a terrifying experience no matter the circumstances, Hedy finds herself having to complete part of the journey alone, and experiencing setback after setback with her family – Bisson details the horrors of the war and trying to escape, alongside the hope of better times and goodness of those who helped Jews (amongst countless others) in a mere forty pages with skill.

This, I hope, will become a fantastic resource for young readers – the illustrations are simple yet evocative, easily transporting you into Hedy’s story, and the chunks of writing are ideal for emerging or reluctant readers as you are not overwhelmed with massive amounts of information. As well as telling a nail-biting tale, Hedy’s Journey is ultimately a factual account of the ordeals faced by European Jews, and the things they had to go through to survive – written, in this case, by Hedy’s daughter. I love that there is a timeline of the family’s journey, as well as pictures and the rest of Hedy’s story, at the end of the book, it somehow brings the whole story into perspective when you realise that Hedy and her family were travelling for nearly two years, and that so many other people were doing the same just to try and survive.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley and Capstone Press in exchange for my honest review.

This is a wonderful book in all ways. Hedy's journey is unlike those that I have heard and read about in the past. There is so much uncertainly but she finds hope and strength from the love she has for her family. Hedy is amazingly brave.

There is a timeline in the back of the book explaining what was happening in the world alongside Hedy's. It really bring an extra light to her story and shows how hard her journey was and how close she was to death.

AND let's not forget the illustrations!!! They captured the emotions so well. They were simplistic but in a beautiful and captivating way.

I would recommend this book to everyone.

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bisson's sensitive, honest story takes the reader along on her mother's flight from Hungary, alone as a teenager, to escape the Nazis during World War II. Her goal, to reach the relative safety of Portugal, where her parents and younger brother are waiting, is haunting. Young readers will be caught up in the drama of the family's escape to the United States and what they find here. The illustrations bring the story to life, but the family photos the author shares at the end of the story add poignancy to this courageous tale.

[Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about a girl named:Hedy,the Nazis were trying to kill the Jewish people.But there were only 3 tickets and Hedy’s brother:Robert was on her Mom’s passport so they had to go together and her dad had to go “too”,because he couldn’t go to a camp because maybe he wouldn’t come out alive.Hedy traveled alone,she traveled to:Budapest,Hungary,Vienna,Barcelona and Lisbon.Then finally she was with her family!