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Tutti's Promise: A novel based on a family's true story of courage and hope during the Holocaust
A promise kept is like the twinkling stars in the night a constant reminder of something important that makes you who you are. Those who are moved by Lois Lowry's Number the Stars will also find Tutti's Promise a courageous and memorable story. Tutti's Promise is the true account of the Lichtenstern family's unwavering quest to stay alive during the Holocaust while protecting others in harm's way. Written by Tutti’s daughter and filled with historical photos and documents—including one very important Paraguayan passport—this multi-award-winning book draws the reader into the family's plight and reveals the precious legacy of a promise kept.As of September 8, 2022, our paperback edition has an additional section in the back matter entitled “The Now We Know,” which explains how a network of people—including Jewish leaders and Polish diplomats in Bern, Switzerland—worked together and risked their lives to get unauthorized passports into the hands of Jews in peril throughout Europe.• Designated a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young Readers by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council• IBPA Benjamin Franklin Two Silver Best New Children’s/YA~ Young Fiction (8-12 Years)• Moonbeam Children’s Book Medal Winner for Preteen Fiction—Historical/Cultural• Nautilus Book Middle Grades Fiction
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 3, 2020
Tutti’s Promise is by K. Heidi Fishman. Although this is classified as fiction, it is the true story about Heidi’s mother as told to her and other works she used for verification. She tells of their courage and their unrelenting hope for the future. She wrote this for middle and high school students and includes questions and other information for teachers as well as a video and video clips of her Mother’s Shoah testimony. I would definitely recommend it for use in middle schools
Tutti was born in Germany in July, 1935. Her Father, Heinz, was a mental trader for Oxyde which was owned by a Jew. Her Grandfather had worked for them as well. She had a little brother, Robbie who was born in 1938 in the Netherlands. Her life was wonderful until 1940 when the Nazis invaded, then it changed and she had to attend a different school, had a curfew, had restrictions, and finally wore the star. None of these did she understand. Her Father tried to keep them safe. His friend Egbert de Jong worked for the Nazis in the metals trade, the position he held before the takeover. He tried to convince Heinz to work for them too; but he refused. Another friend, Baron Fredrich Oppenheimer also presented him a chance to hide in the open as a German officer; but he refused. Both told him what was happening to the Jews all over Europe. He refused to work for the Germans; but gave Egbert all the money he had gathered to purchase South American passports for his family and others whose pictures and statistics he gave him.
Before they could get the passports, they were to report to be sent to Westerbork. Instead, they went into hiding. Being cooped up in a small room wasn’t easy for Tutti and Robbie; but they soon adapted. Meanwhile, the Passports from Paraguay arrived. Thinking they would excuse the family from deportation, Heinz went to report; but they didn’t look at the passport and sent the family to Westerbork in the prison area because the didn’t show up when told to. The good part was they were reunited with both their maternal and paternal grandparents. Heinz saw the Germans needed someone to sell the scrap metal they acquired. Heinz and two friends took on the job and their families moved back to Amsterdam while 2,000 Jews inside the camp were exempted from deportation. Heinz had found out that they were to sabotage the metal created and made it less pure and softer. In 1944, upon being returned to Westerbork, the family was allowed to stay together and were no longer considered criminals. Grandparents were sent to Theresienstadt.
Father purchased a doll for Tutti. In the doll’s head he had put all the money the family had. She promised to keep it a secret and to do whatever she had to do to keep her doll and her secret. When the men were called to report to duty to build a new camp in Poland, Heinz showed the passport to the officer. It worked and he was sent back home. Due to Father’s position, the commandant of the camp came to tell him to get his family ready for transport to Theresienstadt. Joined both sets of grandparents in Theresienstadt until maternal grandparents were sent to Poland. The others were liberated at Theresienstadt and returned to the Netherlands. Heinz went back to Oxyde and became director. The things they had given a neighbor to keep were lost forever while the photographs of their family which had been given to the nanny to keep, were returned.
Heidi Lichtenstern Fishman wrote this book specifically for middle school students, although it appeals to adults too. She includes a section that tells what happened not only to the family but also her friends and her parents’ friends. It contains a glossary and a section of historical notes as well as a bibliography. Tutti’s video testimony is at www.kheidifishman.com. There is a section for educators which has questions as well as film clips of specific things she talks about. Her Grandfather kept a diary in the camps; but it was lost. He did recreate it after the war and it is included with a translation.
Tutti was born in Germany in July, 1935. Her Father, Heinz, was a mental trader for Oxyde which was owned by a Jew. Her Grandfather had worked for them as well. She had a little brother, Robbie who was born in 1938 in the Netherlands. Her life was wonderful until 1940 when the Nazis invaded, then it changed and she had to attend a different school, had a curfew, had restrictions, and finally wore the star. None of these did she understand. Her Father tried to keep them safe. His friend Egbert de Jong worked for the Nazis in the metals trade, the position he held before the takeover. He tried to convince Heinz to work for them too; but he refused. Another friend, Baron Fredrich Oppenheimer also presented him a chance to hide in the open as a German officer; but he refused. Both told him what was happening to the Jews all over Europe. He refused to work for the Germans; but gave Egbert all the money he had gathered to purchase South American passports for his family and others whose pictures and statistics he gave him.
Before they could get the passports, they were to report to be sent to Westerbork. Instead, they went into hiding. Being cooped up in a small room wasn’t easy for Tutti and Robbie; but they soon adapted. Meanwhile, the Passports from Paraguay arrived. Thinking they would excuse the family from deportation, Heinz went to report; but they didn’t look at the passport and sent the family to Westerbork in the prison area because the didn’t show up when told to. The good part was they were reunited with both their maternal and paternal grandparents. Heinz saw the Germans needed someone to sell the scrap metal they acquired. Heinz and two friends took on the job and their families moved back to Amsterdam while 2,000 Jews inside the camp were exempted from deportation. Heinz had found out that they were to sabotage the metal created and made it less pure and softer. In 1944, upon being returned to Westerbork, the family was allowed to stay together and were no longer considered criminals. Grandparents were sent to Theresienstadt.
Father purchased a doll for Tutti. In the doll’s head he had put all the money the family had. She promised to keep it a secret and to do whatever she had to do to keep her doll and her secret. When the men were called to report to duty to build a new camp in Poland, Heinz showed the passport to the officer. It worked and he was sent back home. Due to Father’s position, the commandant of the camp came to tell him to get his family ready for transport to Theresienstadt. Joined both sets of grandparents in Theresienstadt until maternal grandparents were sent to Poland. The others were liberated at Theresienstadt and returned to the Netherlands. Heinz went back to Oxyde and became director. The things they had given a neighbor to keep were lost forever while the photographs of their family which had been given to the nanny to keep, were returned.
Heidi Lichtenstern Fishman wrote this book specifically for middle school students, although it appeals to adults too. She includes a section that tells what happened not only to the family but also her friends and her parents’ friends. It contains a glossary and a section of historical notes as well as a bibliography. Tutti’s video testimony is at www.kheidifishman.com. There is a section for educators which has questions as well as film clips of specific things she talks about. Her Grandfather kept a diary in the camps; but it was lost. He did recreate it after the war and it is included with a translation.
January 16, 2026
Tutti’s Promise is a deeply moving testament to courage, moral responsibility, and the enduring power of a promise kept under unimaginable circumstances. K. Heidi Fishman tells her family’s story with clarity and restraint, allowing the lived reality of the Holocaust to unfold through personal experience rather than abstraction. The narrative brings history close, grounding vast historical horror in the daily choices, fears, and acts of bravery that defined survival.
What sets this book apart is its balance between accessibility for young readers and emotional truth. The inclusion of historical photographs and documents, especially the Paraguayan passport, anchors the story in undeniable reality, reinforcing the extraordinary risks taken not only by the Lichtenstern family but by a wider network of people who chose humanity over safety. Tutti’s Promise is not only a story of survival, but of legacy: how courage, compassion, and integrity can echo across generations.
What sets this book apart is its balance between accessibility for young readers and emotional truth. The inclusion of historical photographs and documents, especially the Paraguayan passport, anchors the story in undeniable reality, reinforcing the extraordinary risks taken not only by the Lichtenstern family but by a wider network of people who chose humanity over safety. Tutti’s Promise is not only a story of survival, but of legacy: how courage, compassion, and integrity can echo across generations.
July 18, 2017
This was a excellent book. It was a very simple book but I felt transported into the moment of each chapter. I read this in an inner tube while sitting in a lake and still managed to put myself in the moment. I have never read a biographical tale of the Holocaust that included repatriation. I have also never read anything from a survivors point of view. It was Tutti's story and it is riveting. The thought that one human can do these atrocious things to another, regardless of color, creed or nationality is overwhelming to me. The thought that we are still acting like this terrifies me. Tutti's Promise gives just enough reality without overwhelming the reader but it does not trivialize the experience. Worth the read!
June 19, 2020
The primary goal when I got this book was to have my 11-year-old read it, which he did -- avidly. That in itself is cause for praise. But as the author encourages, families can and should read this together, and I too found "Tutti's Promise" briskly paced and informative. I was astounded that so many historical documents survived the Lichtenstern family's arduous journey. It's really a nice extra dimension for a fundamentally warm and moving story of humanity..
Another noteworthy point is that for such a deeply grim topic as the Holocaust, the scare factor is very well calibrated. The connection with young audiences is stronger as a result.
Another noteworthy point is that for such a deeply grim topic as the Holocaust, the scare factor is very well calibrated. The connection with young audiences is stronger as a result.
October 21, 2019
I think this is much more appropriate for middle school readers (not young adults like it was suggested first to me). Readers are following a young girl through her Holocaust experience, and I think the main character is just a bit too young to draw in teens. They're just not going to care. However, I think adults might enjoy this story.
I do think this bio/historical fiction story is a great way to teach on this subject in school. Students would benefit greatly from this type of learning in the classroom. Possibly listening to a few chapters together while studying WWII.
I do think this bio/historical fiction story is a great way to teach on this subject in school. Students would benefit greatly from this type of learning in the classroom. Possibly listening to a few chapters together while studying WWII.
April 2, 2023
"Tutti's Promise" by K. Heidi Fishman was an uplifting story of a dark time in history. A true story of a family that survived the holocaust, with much love, support and luck. Great book. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the copy for review. All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2020
Amazing story. What a sweet family. I can’t imagine living in this time period. I have read many holocaust survivor stories. This one is great even though it is in the fiction category.
August 24, 2020
Very well written story by the grand daughter of Tutti I believe. Similar to other stories about the holocaust yet personalized with specific details related to Tutti, her family and her husbands family. As well as their hopes to stay safe and keep from being taken away to the dreadful camps.
I loved this book written by a local author about her own family.
Jane Abbott Sweatt
I loved this book written by a local author about her own family.
Jane Abbott Sweatt
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews