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Stolen Girl
Making Bombs for Hitler
Lida thought she was safe. Her neighbors wearing the yellow star were all taken away, but Lida is not Jewish. She will be fine, won't she?
But she cannot escape the horrors of World War II.
Lida's parents are ripped away from her and she is separated from her beloved sister, Larissa. The Nazis take Lida to a brutal work camp, where she and other Ukrainian children are forced into backbreaking labor. Starving and terrified, Lida bonds with her fellow prisoners, but none of them know if they'll live to see tomorrow.
When Lida and her friends are assigned to make bombs for the German army, Lida cannot stand the thought of helping the enemy. Then she has an idea. What if she sabotaged the bombs... and the Nazis? Can she do so without getting caught?
And if she's freed, will she ever find her sister again?
This pulse-pounding novel of survival, courage, and hope shows us a lesser-known piece of history -- and is sure to keep readers captivated until the last page.
But she cannot escape the horrors of World War II.
Lida's parents are ripped away from her and she is separated from her beloved sister, Larissa. The Nazis take Lida to a brutal work camp, where she and other Ukrainian children are forced into backbreaking labor. Starving and terrified, Lida bonds with her fellow prisoners, but none of them know if they'll live to see tomorrow.
When Lida and her friends are assigned to make bombs for the German army, Lida cannot stand the thought of helping the enemy. Then she has an idea. What if she sabotaged the bombs... and the Nazis? Can she do so without getting caught?
And if she's freed, will she ever find her sister again?
This pulse-pounding novel of survival, courage, and hope shows us a lesser-known piece of history -- and is sure to keep readers captivated until the last page.
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
809 people are currently reading
12281 people want to read
About the author
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
33 books888 followersMarsha Skrypuch is an internationally bestselling children’s author whose books span a century of wars from a kid’s view, concentrating on those stories that have been erased by oppressive regimes. Her best-known book is Making Bombs for Hitler. Her most recent is the Kidnapped from Ukraine trilogy. She has received death threats and honors for her writing. Marsha lives in Brantford, Ontario, Canada and you can visit her online at calla.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,323 reviews
May 20, 2012
"Making Bombs For Hitler" by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch will take you into a world that you could never imagine was real. How could such cruelty to fellow human beings exist? Although, "Making Bombs for Hitler" is a fictional account of young Lida's survival in the Nazi camps, it is based on historical facts and stories gleaned from those who actually survived those times.
As I read through the pages, I was numb. I could not even shed a tear, I was so angry at the inhumanity that was brought on by war.
We sit in a country that is peaceful, where no matter how poor we are, there is still something on our plate at mealtime that resembles actual food. The one thing that kept crossing my mind, though, as I read what Lida experienced, was, how many nine year olds today would even know how to survive such devastation. Let us pray they never have to. Let us pray that any person who picks up this book and reads it, will think twice about the glories of war, for in war, there is really no glory.
My tears finally did come, at the end, when Lida was reunited with her sister. A happy ending for a story that had to be told, but should never have happened. Well done, Marsha.
As I read through the pages, I was numb. I could not even shed a tear, I was so angry at the inhumanity that was brought on by war.
We sit in a country that is peaceful, where no matter how poor we are, there is still something on our plate at mealtime that resembles actual food. The one thing that kept crossing my mind, though, as I read what Lida experienced, was, how many nine year olds today would even know how to survive such devastation. Let us pray they never have to. Let us pray that any person who picks up this book and reads it, will think twice about the glories of war, for in war, there is really no glory.
My tears finally did come, at the end, when Lida was reunited with her sister. A happy ending for a story that had to be told, but should never have happened. Well done, Marsha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2012
This book tells the story of Lida, a fictional young Ukranian girl, who is captured by the Nazis to be used for slave labor shortly before her ninth birthday. Lida's father was killed by the Soviets, and her mother was shot by the Nazis for attempting to hide their Jewish neighbors. After that, Lida and her beloved younger sister, Larissa, went to live with their grandmother, where they were captured by the Nazis. The girls were separated, with Lida being sent to a work camp. Lida is devastated, as she doesn't know what happened to her sister, her only remaining family, and she fears she might have been harmed or killed because she is too young to work.
The conditions at the work camp are awful. Lida lies about her age, hoping she will be seen as more useful, and thus, be kept alive. There is never enough food and everyone is cold and hungry. Lida is lucky, because she is given a good position working in the laundry, which is clean and warm. However, after a few months, she is forced to go to work in a factory, making bombs for the Nazis. Lida hates having to help the Nazi war effort, because if they win, she will never be free again. However, she is able to find comfort from memories of her family, from her friendship with other children living at the camp, and from keeping alive her hope that one day she will find her sister again.
Before reading Making Bombs for Hitler, I didn't know that so many children and young adults from Eastern Europe had been used as slave labor by the Nazis during World War II. I wouldn't necessarily say I enjoyed reading this book, because it's a very sad and tragic story about the suffering of children in war. However, I think it is a very important story to tell, and the author tells it well. Lida was a very couragous character who survived living and working in conditions that were nearly unbearable, all the while keeping alive the hope that she would someday be reunited with her sister. This book is a companion novel to another book by the author, Stolen Child, which was about Lida's sister, Larissa. Making Bombs for Hitler can be read as a standalone, but you will want to read Stolen Child too, to find out how Larissa survived the war. I recommend this book to young readers studying World War II as well as to adults with an interest in the subject.
The conditions at the work camp are awful. Lida lies about her age, hoping she will be seen as more useful, and thus, be kept alive. There is never enough food and everyone is cold and hungry. Lida is lucky, because she is given a good position working in the laundry, which is clean and warm. However, after a few months, she is forced to go to work in a factory, making bombs for the Nazis. Lida hates having to help the Nazi war effort, because if they win, she will never be free again. However, she is able to find comfort from memories of her family, from her friendship with other children living at the camp, and from keeping alive her hope that one day she will find her sister again.
Before reading Making Bombs for Hitler, I didn't know that so many children and young adults from Eastern Europe had been used as slave labor by the Nazis during World War II. I wouldn't necessarily say I enjoyed reading this book, because it's a very sad and tragic story about the suffering of children in war. However, I think it is a very important story to tell, and the author tells it well. Lida was a very couragous character who survived living and working in conditions that were nearly unbearable, all the while keeping alive the hope that she would someday be reunited with her sister. This book is a companion novel to another book by the author, Stolen Child, which was about Lida's sister, Larissa. Making Bombs for Hitler can be read as a standalone, but you will want to read Stolen Child too, to find out how Larissa survived the war. I recommend this book to young readers studying World War II as well as to adults with an interest in the subject.
May 2, 2012
Reason for Reading: The author has become one of my favourite Canadian juvenile authors.
This book is a companion to 2010's Stolen Child. Each book tells the fate of two Ukrainian sisters as they are separated in the middle of WWII. The books need not be read in any particular order. Making Bombs for Hitler details what happens to the eldest sister, Lida. The first couple of pages describe her parting from the younger sister, which is told in much more detail in Stolen Child. Lida is then sent to a Nazi slave labour camp where many Ukrainians were herded and sent to for the duration of the war. Since the Ukraine, at the time was part of Russian territory, the Nazi's labeled all Ukraines as Russians and thus as enemies at this time in the war. The Ukrainians (Russians) were the lowest of the low in prison camps and treated the worst of the worst.
Skrypuch tells a compelling story that pulls no punches. While keeping the book tame enough for the intended audience she manages to still tell of the horrors that went on in these camps. The starvation, enforced labour under extremely dangerous conditions, the beatings and rough treatment and the "experiments" that went on at the hospital. It is a brutal story of reality, yet as mentioned age appropriate, though not recommended for especially sensitive children. Marsha is an author who writes as if she actually knew her characters and they become real as life to the reader. This is a haunting story of how the Nazi's treated prisoner enemy children, and especially of the plight of the Ukrainians as an ethnic group during WWII as they were a people without a home, being divided between two enemies, the Nazis and the Soviets. Excellent book, highly recommended, especially in conjunction with its companion, Stolen Child.
This book is a companion to 2010's Stolen Child. Each book tells the fate of two Ukrainian sisters as they are separated in the middle of WWII. The books need not be read in any particular order. Making Bombs for Hitler details what happens to the eldest sister, Lida. The first couple of pages describe her parting from the younger sister, which is told in much more detail in Stolen Child. Lida is then sent to a Nazi slave labour camp where many Ukrainians were herded and sent to for the duration of the war. Since the Ukraine, at the time was part of Russian territory, the Nazi's labeled all Ukraines as Russians and thus as enemies at this time in the war. The Ukrainians (Russians) were the lowest of the low in prison camps and treated the worst of the worst.
Skrypuch tells a compelling story that pulls no punches. While keeping the book tame enough for the intended audience she manages to still tell of the horrors that went on in these camps. The starvation, enforced labour under extremely dangerous conditions, the beatings and rough treatment and the "experiments" that went on at the hospital. It is a brutal story of reality, yet as mentioned age appropriate, though not recommended for especially sensitive children. Marsha is an author who writes as if she actually knew her characters and they become real as life to the reader. This is a haunting story of how the Nazi's treated prisoner enemy children, and especially of the plight of the Ukrainians as an ethnic group during WWII as they were a people without a home, being divided between two enemies, the Nazis and the Soviets. Excellent book, highly recommended, especially in conjunction with its companion, Stolen Child.
June 30, 2017
بعد از اینکه والدین و مادربزرگش رو در سال 1943 از دست داد، لیدا ی 10 ساله از خواهر کوچکترش لاریا توسط نازی هایی که اکراین رو اشغال کرده بودن، جدا شد و اونو به اردوگاه کار منتقل کردند. اما لیدا اونجا متوجه میشه که چقدر میتونه قدرتمند باشه. لیدا و چند نفر دیگه رو برای کمک به ساخت بمب های هیتلر منصوب میکنن اما لیدا تمام تلاشش رو میکنه تا بمب ها رو دستکاری کنه.
نویسنده توصیفات خوبی از شرایط رو که نشان دهنده بی ارزشی جان انسان ها در اون زمان و سختی شرایط زندگی بوده، نشون میده. طراحی نثر هم طوری بود که در انتها همچنان عنصر امید رو برای خواننده باقی می گذاشت. تقریبا پرسیدن سوال اینکه اگه ما جای لیدا بودیم چه کار میکردیم، غیر ممکنه.
کتاب خوبی بود و برای تدریس توی کلاس تاریخ هم مناسبه و حوصله سر بر نیست. نثر ساده و گیرایی داره و با سرعت مناسبی هم جلو میره.
نویسنده توصیفات خوبی از شرایط رو که نشان دهنده بی ارزشی جان انسان ها در اون زمان و سختی شرایط زندگی بوده، نشون میده. طراحی نثر هم طوری بود که در انتها همچنان عنصر امید رو برای خواننده باقی می گذاشت. تقریبا پرسیدن سوال اینکه اگه ما جای لیدا بودیم چه کار میکردیم، غیر ممکنه.
کتاب خوبی بود و برای تدریس توی کلاس تاریخ هم مناسبه و حوصله سر بر نیست. نثر ساده و گیرایی داره و با سرعت مناسبی هم جلو میره.
April 13, 2017
Wow. I can see why my kiddos have all been coming up to me with this book in their hand saying "Ms. Stewart, you HAVE GOT to read this!" They've been reading Number the Stars & The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in their reading class, so when this one appeared at the book fair last week, it flew off of the shelves as fast as the librarian could restock it. In just the few days it's been around, it has had quite the rapid circulation rate as it is read, borrowed & lent, and read again. I was finally able to get my hands on a copy and was informed that I was NOT to wait on reading it. So, at the insistence of my children, I sat down tonight and read it. They were not wrong. This is a fabulous book.
Covering a mostly glossed over angle of the Holocaust, this book centers around Lida, a Ukrainian prisoner of Nazi Germany. The book follows Lida through her experiences in a work camp, and reveals several of the Nazi terrors that ran rampant throughout said camps. The author deftly interweaves hope and history in the story as adroitly as Lida wove stitches through fabric, even though at times Lida seemed to almost collapse under despair because of what she was doing, there was always that feeling that some way, somehow, she would make it out. While making it out doesn't mean a "happy ending" for these prisoners, the reader is left with a profound sense of mixed grief and relief. I would definitely recommend it for middle-grade readers with a pre-existing interest in this time period. Readers without background knowledge may be left confused, as this covers quite a different aspect than most middle-grade fiction on this time, but readers with background, like my giant little readers will devour it. While not extremely graphic, I would not recommend it for more sensitive readers under 10 (my students are all 10+ and have handled it well) until they are able to process the things that happened. It's important for us to learn about this topic, but even more important that we comprehend the message.
Covering a mostly glossed over angle of the Holocaust, this book centers around Lida, a Ukrainian prisoner of Nazi Germany. The book follows Lida through her experiences in a work camp, and reveals several of the Nazi terrors that ran rampant throughout said camps. The author deftly interweaves hope and history in the story as adroitly as Lida wove stitches through fabric, even though at times Lida seemed to almost collapse under despair because of what she was doing, there was always that feeling that some way, somehow, she would make it out. While making it out doesn't mean a "happy ending" for these prisoners, the reader is left with a profound sense of mixed grief and relief. I would definitely recommend it for middle-grade readers with a pre-existing interest in this time period. Readers without background knowledge may be left confused, as this covers quite a different aspect than most middle-grade fiction on this time, but readers with background, like my giant little readers will devour it. While not extremely graphic, I would not recommend it for more sensitive readers under 10 (my students are all 10+ and have handled it well) until they are able to process the things that happened. It's important for us to learn about this topic, but even more important that we comprehend the message.
April 11, 2024
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
read anything by this author. her WWII historical fictions are so good and tragic and simple enough for younger readers but also can be enjoyed by all ages. loved this one ✨
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
read anything by this author. her WWII historical fictions are so good and tragic and simple enough for younger readers but also can be enjoyed by all ages. loved this one ✨
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
March 17, 2017
None of the school libraries in our town could keep this book on the shelves during our spring book fair. The students were drawn to the title and the excellent video trailer from Scholastic. They kept reading because this is an engaging story, told well. They finished with heavy hearts and new knowledge.
I read quite a bit of young adult and children's holocaust literature. (See this review for a list of great books.) I was so glad to read another well-written book on this topic. I was even more excited to discover that it is actually a companion book and I have more to read.
One of the things I was impressed with was that Skrypuch dealt with the horrors of labor camps and Nazi atrocities unflinchingly, but was somehow mindful of the youth and innocence of her intended audience. In reading books like this one, young readers can understand what happened without being overwhelmed. I think this is important for a first introduction to a hard topic. If a reader becomes too horrified, they just shut down and avoid the topic from then on. If a reader sees the ugly, "feels" a bit of it, but is given some breathing room, most come to accept the bigger truths of pain and suffering and cruelty, and can go on to learn from it. Making Bombs For Hitler is just such a book.
I am so glad I read it. I will be reading more from Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch.
I read quite a bit of young adult and children's holocaust literature. (See this review for a list of great books.) I was so glad to read another well-written book on this topic. I was even more excited to discover that it is actually a companion book and I have more to read.
One of the things I was impressed with was that Skrypuch dealt with the horrors of labor camps and Nazi atrocities unflinchingly, but was somehow mindful of the youth and innocence of her intended audience. In reading books like this one, young readers can understand what happened without being overwhelmed. I think this is important for a first introduction to a hard topic. If a reader becomes too horrified, they just shut down and avoid the topic from then on. If a reader sees the ugly, "feels" a bit of it, but is given some breathing room, most come to accept the bigger truths of pain and suffering and cruelty, and can go on to learn from it. Making Bombs For Hitler is just such a book.
I am so glad I read it. I will be reading more from Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch.
August 12, 2016
Making Bombs for Hitler is the story of eight-year-old Lida, a Ukrainian child who is captured and enslaved in a German camp during WWII. There, she is starved, abused, forced to work long hours and reminded daily of her sub-human status. In spite of all these things, Lida's spirit remains strong. She fights off despair by looking for glimmers of good in her circumstances, and is a model of selflessness and hope to those around her. Another inspiring story from Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch.
June 19, 2021
This was nice quick YA read. It does a really great job of showing the reality of the German prison camps. This book surveys the labor camps, not the concentration camps so it’s definitely not as horrific. But still really sad.
Great story.
Great story.
October 28, 2025
Це історія української дівчинки Ліди, яка опиняється у нелюдських умовах Другої світової війни. Дитина, яка мала б думати про ігри й навчання, стикається з жорстокістю світу, де треба боротися за кожен день.
Роман написаний простою, доступною мовою (це янг едалт) через погляд дитини, яка намагається зрозуміти те, що зрозуміти неможливо.
Особлива сила книжки в тому, що любов до сестри і спогади про рідних допомагають Ліді триматися й не втрачати надію. Це не тільки історія про війну, а й про людяність, дружбу і світло, яке можна зберегти навіть у найтемніших обставинах.
Мене вразило, як авторка говорить про жахи примусової праці й злочини нацистів відверто, але водночас дуже уважно до віку та чутливості своєї аудиторії. Вона не «прикрасила» трагедію, але й не зробила її настільки травматичною, щоб дитина закрилася й відмовилась від теми. Це важливий баланс: читач бачить жорстокість, «відчуває» біль, але при цьому отримує простір для роздумів і можливість прийняти правду. Саме так формується розуміння, яке веде до співчуття й пам’яті.
Ця книжка відкриває двері до складних розмов, але робить це з обережністю і турботою.
👉 «Ми робили бомби для Гітлера» — це друга частина історії, яка починається в романі Викрадене дитя. Перша книжка розповідає про Ларису, а ця — про її сестру Ліду. Читати їх можна незалежно одна від одної: кожна має завершений сюжет і зрозуміла без контексту. Але якщо прочитати обидві, історія набуває більшої глибини й деталей, і ти ніби бачиш війну з двох різних перспектив.
Більше відгуків: https://t.me/knygonos
Роман написаний простою, доступною мовою (це янг едалт) через погляд дитини, яка намагається зрозуміти те, що зрозуміти неможливо.
Особлива сила книжки в тому, що любов до сестри і спогади про рідних допомагають Ліді триматися й не втрачати надію. Це не тільки історія про війну, а й про людяність, дружбу і світло, яке можна зберегти навіть у найтемніших обставинах.
Мене вразило, як авторка говорить про жахи примусової праці й злочини нацистів відверто, але водночас дуже уважно до віку та чутливості своєї аудиторії. Вона не «прикрасила» трагедію, але й не зробила її настільки травматичною, щоб дитина закрилася й відмовилась від теми. Це важливий баланс: читач бачить жорстокість, «відчуває» біль, але при цьому отримує простір для роздумів і можливість прийняти правду. Саме так формується розуміння, яке веде до співчуття й пам’яті.
Ця книжка відкриває двері до складних розмов, але робить це з обережністю і турботою.
👉 «Ми робили бомби для Гітлера» — це друга частина історії, яка починається в романі Викрадене дитя. Перша книжка розповідає про Ларису, а ця — про її сестру Ліду. Читати їх можна незалежно одна від одної: кожна має завершений сюжет і зрозуміла без контексту. Але якщо прочитати обидві, історія набуває більшої глибини й деталей, і ти ніби бачиш війну з двох різних перспектив.
Більше відгуків: https://t.me/knygonos
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June 9, 2017It was a good book to read because at the end Lida revives a letter from her lost sister and it was very emotional when I read it.
February 15, 2023
This book doesn’t mess around. I literally cried on the third page. This is a great WWII historical fiction book for middle grades, HOWEVER, it is not for the faint of heart. Some very hard things happen to young children. I am currently reading this out loud to my 6th graders and we are really enjoying it. I definitely suggest this as a read aloud or read together option where you can keep the dialogue open. If a child is going to read it on their own, they need to be on the more mature side for this age level and also probably already familiar with some difficult WWII facts.
Really wonderfully written though. Absolutely heart breaking, but so wonderful to read about the resilience of young children who endure absolute horrors.
Really wonderfully written though. Absolutely heart breaking, but so wonderful to read about the resilience of young children who endure absolute horrors.
April 29, 2025
A very important book for post 2020 Americans to read
March 3, 2022
I loved this book. In my opinion this is better than The Darkest Hour. This has twist, turns, and Vin Diesels favorite thing, family. Yes, this may be a short review, well that's because you have to read it for yourself.
August 17, 2025
One of the first books I ever read from front to back, this book will always have a special place in my library. It was the first book that made me go to outside sources to explore the time period further, which only deepened my heartbreak. It highlights horrors that are almost beyond imagination. The worst part, the events that take place in this book, took place in the world that we live in now
March 5, 2021
Aside from the I Survived series, this book is the most checked out book in the historical fiction section of the elementary library I work in. I thought I would see for myself why it was so wildly popular and like my students, I also loved it. This book focuses on the Nazi practice of rounding up Polish, Ukrainian and other children and using them as slave labor in work camps on behalf of the Reich. Those who were too young or too infirm to be productive were eliminated. Some were drained of blood that was sent to the front for use by wounded German soldiers. Others, like the main character Lida, were forced into camp jobs, rented out to local farmers and others, or pressed into factory work. I enjoyed that I learned a new aspect of WWII, that this was fast-paced, and had great characters. I would recommend it for ages 10+.
March 6, 2019
A possible theme is no matter how hard something is you can over come it. Lida overcame many challenges by being sent to work camps and only eating turnip soup. The hardest challenge was losing her sister and she knew she would have to work hard to get her back. Lida works hard throughout the book by making tough decisions and back breaking work.
August 15, 2025
An easy read in the sense you want to keep reading and finish it in one go. This was so powerful. Aimed for a younger audience, I think it does a good job of explaining the horrors in an age appropriate way. At the same time, it doesn't sugar coat.
This is even more of a powerful read given the world today. A few times throughout there were lines something like, 'they must have gotten used to seeing us,' or 'used to this.' 'This' being slave laborers led around, emaciated and in rags. With very similar things happening now, we cannot get used to this. We cannot be complicit. We must resist. History is watching.
This is even more of a powerful read given the world today. A few times throughout there were lines something like, 'they must have gotten used to seeing us,' or 'used to this.' 'This' being slave laborers led around, emaciated and in rags. With very similar things happening now, we cannot get used to this. We cannot be complicit. We must resist. History is watching.
November 9, 2025
This is a very good middle grade historical fiction book
It’s not well known but the books are well written and the author did her research
It’s not well known but the books are well written and the author did her research
June 6, 2025
Absolutely 💯 recommend to kids! Very relatable easy to connect with. Easy story to become invested in and fall in love with the characters. Heart felt and just shows how far kindness can go and beauty can be found anywhere if you look hard enough.
March 31, 2017
Ukrainian Canadian author Marsha Skrypuch writes--as one interview said--"War Fiction: Writing the stories that haven’t been told." She writes about genocide and displaced persons with an eye toward well-researched historical detail often given a personal touch through interviews with survivors who lived through the very stories her fiction brings to readers who often begin each book with little or no knowledge about the stories that have been covered up, overlooked, or allowed to fall through the cracks of our baseline knowledge about man's inhumanity to man because fictional and historical accounts often focus on politics and battles rather than on those who suffered.
In "Making Bombs for Hitler," Skrypuch--author of twenty books for young people--focuses on the Nazi practice of rounding up Polish, Ukrainian and other children and using them as slave labor in work camps on behalf of the Reich. Those who were too young or too infirm to be productive were eliminated. Some were drained of blood that was sent to the front for use by wounded German soldiers. Others, like the novel's protagonist, Lida, were forced into camp jobs, rented out to local farmers and others, or pressed into factory work.
While Lida is a strong character, she is a child as are the others in her cold barracks room. So, young readers will be able to identify with her fears and concerns, including her worry about the fate of her younger sister who was taken somewhere else. Those sent to the bomb making factory are caught between their will to survive and the morality of making weapons for the Nazi war machine. It's difficult to read this without wondering "As a twelve-year-old child, what would I do under similar circumstances."
One strength of the book is the way in which Skrypuch portrays the bonding on the characters under deplorable conditions. They come together out of an inner strength much stronger than a simple will to survive, but out of a heartfelt and very human need to help each other. This is a heroic story that will stay with its readers long after the last page has been turned.
In "Making Bombs for Hitler," Skrypuch--author of twenty books for young people--focuses on the Nazi practice of rounding up Polish, Ukrainian and other children and using them as slave labor in work camps on behalf of the Reich. Those who were too young or too infirm to be productive were eliminated. Some were drained of blood that was sent to the front for use by wounded German soldiers. Others, like the novel's protagonist, Lida, were forced into camp jobs, rented out to local farmers and others, or pressed into factory work.
While Lida is a strong character, she is a child as are the others in her cold barracks room. So, young readers will be able to identify with her fears and concerns, including her worry about the fate of her younger sister who was taken somewhere else. Those sent to the bomb making factory are caught between their will to survive and the morality of making weapons for the Nazi war machine. It's difficult to read this without wondering "As a twelve-year-old child, what would I do under similar circumstances."
One strength of the book is the way in which Skrypuch portrays the bonding on the characters under deplorable conditions. They come together out of an inner strength much stronger than a simple will to survive, but out of a heartfelt and very human need to help each other. This is a heroic story that will stay with its readers long after the last page has been turned.
January 20, 2022
Luka, Lida, and Larissa. Three victims of the circumstances surrounding Ukrainian citizens during World War II with three distinctly different and historically accurate stories. Stolen Child/Stolen Girl is Larissa's story of being kidnapped, "reeducated," and placed into a Nazi family under the Libensborn program designed to increase the number of German children possessing the highly prized Aryan look. The War Below tells Luka's struggle to escape from the forced labor camps of the Ostarbeiter workers who were captured throughout the areas conquered by the Third Reich and of joining the Ukrainian resistance before being reunited with Lida, his fellow OST worker and Larissa's older sister. Making Bombs for Hitler is her book; a story filled with sadness and the struggle to survive the atrocities inflicted upon children and young people who were rounded up and used as a labor force for the German war machine. Lida is only twelve but learns quickly that she will be killed unless she can prove herself to be useful. Her skills as a seamstress and later as a bomb-maker keep her breathing, but just barely. Middle grade readers with sensitive hearts may struggle with Making Bombs for Hitler and The War Below as neither shy away from the stark reality of the OST workers. However, my 4th and 5th graders keep all three books checked out and a waiting list is often maintained for them. I hope that my students' parents are also reading this trio and remembering, or maybe just learning, about evils that cannot ever be repeated. Highly recommended for some students in grade 4 and all in grades 5 and up.
March 23, 2017
A good WWII read, but nothing exceptionally new here. I do like that this focuses on a non-Jewish person and their treatment during WWII, and I like that the atrocities committed by the Russians are also addressed...but it isn't as lyrical or emotional as, say Between Shades of Gray...I book I love. The actual "making bombs for Hitler", the idea I was most intrigued by, is actually only a brief side story and really doesn't play an important part in the story. It's really about Lida trying to survive in the work camp and the deplorable conditions she faces, which is a story I've read many times. That's not to say it's not important--these stories always are. A good story, but nothing spectacular.
March 6, 2012
The book begins with "... and the light was so white that it made my eyes ache." This story makes my heart ache. At times I had to put it aside because of its intensity. The author shines a harsh light on more victims of the Nazi regime and makes me squirm with discomfort. Compelling read. Companion novel to Stolen Child. Both books should be read by anyone studying WWII because it wasn't only Jewish children who suffered. That war was beyond awful. Kudos to Marsh Skrypuch for remembering the OST Arbeiter children.
March 31, 2020
Me and my daughter both really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a good book for a younger audience about the tragic heartbreak of WWII. 1/15/18
Just read again for my sons 6th grade book Group.
I think it’s a great intro book to the atrocities of the Holocaust. The main characters age didn’t quite fit but enjoyable anyway. We have had some eye opening conversations. 3/2020
Just read again for my sons 6th grade book Group.
I think it’s a great intro book to the atrocities of the Holocaust. The main characters age didn’t quite fit but enjoyable anyway. We have had some eye opening conversations. 3/2020
June 17, 2023
Sharing this book with 5th graders made this book a favorite as a teacher! Their insights were heartfelt and honest. The Holocaust should never be forgotten. Finding beauty in it seems impossible, but not for the heroine, Lida. Kids are so strong and resilient. We should learn from them!
April 2, 2017
So many of my students will want to read this, 5th grade and up
October 16, 2024
₊⊹⁀➴ 5 stars
best book i read in 6th grade hands down.
best book i read in 6th grade hands down.
July 25, 2020
“Be useful or they will kill you.”
Lida (9) and her younger sister, Larissa, are taken from their grandmother by the Nazis and separated. Lida ends up in a work camp where if you can’t work or be useful, you won’t live long. So Lida lies about being older than she really is and works hard in the laundry, washing Nazi uniforms. The conditions in the camp are beyond terrible, but at least she and the other girls are willing to help each other out. “If we don’t look out for each other, no one else will.” And then there’s Luka, who Lida met while they were being transported to the camp. “The brother of my heart.” They also agree to look after one another.
Eventually, Lida is “loaned out” by the work camp to work in a munitions factory. And maybe, just maybe, Lida will be able to figure out a way to hurt the Nazi war effort, if she has the courage.
The message of staying human while enduring inhumane circumstances is powerful along with the power of music to comfort and unite. After all, her mother always told her “Beauty can be found anywhere.” And the beauty is how these kids still strive to help one another, comfort one another and unite their voices in song to remain connected to their former life. This one has been a very popular title with my 5th and 6th grade students.
Lida (9) and her younger sister, Larissa, are taken from their grandmother by the Nazis and separated. Lida ends up in a work camp where if you can’t work or be useful, you won’t live long. So Lida lies about being older than she really is and works hard in the laundry, washing Nazi uniforms. The conditions in the camp are beyond terrible, but at least she and the other girls are willing to help each other out. “If we don’t look out for each other, no one else will.” And then there’s Luka, who Lida met while they were being transported to the camp. “The brother of my heart.” They also agree to look after one another.
Eventually, Lida is “loaned out” by the work camp to work in a munitions factory. And maybe, just maybe, Lida will be able to figure out a way to hurt the Nazi war effort, if she has the courage.
The message of staying human while enduring inhumane circumstances is powerful along with the power of music to comfort and unite. After all, her mother always told her “Beauty can be found anywhere.” And the beauty is how these kids still strive to help one another, comfort one another and unite their voices in song to remain connected to their former life. This one has been a very popular title with my 5th and 6th grade students.
January 3, 2025
Making Bombs for Hitler vividly portrays the devastating conditions endured by young enslaved Ukrainians (and others) captured and imprisoned by the Germans during WWII, classified and dehumanized solely because of their ethnicity. The story does not shy away from the harsh realities of this dark period, offering an unflinching look at history that will likely shock young (and all) readers—as it should. This is not a light read by any means.
But it’s essential for current generations to learn and understand that these atrocities can happen, and this book presents a powerful way to do so through relatable storytelling. By connecting readers to the experiences of young people like themselves, it encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of the past. An important and impactful read that should be made available in school libraries.
But it’s essential for current generations to learn and understand that these atrocities can happen, and this book presents a powerful way to do so through relatable storytelling. By connecting readers to the experiences of young people like themselves, it encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of the past. An important and impactful read that should be made available in school libraries.
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