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Cuando llegue la felicidad, ofrécele una silla

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En la Alemania de 1952, Halinka vive en un hogar para niñas, donde se muestra reservada, a pesar de ser muy valiente y astuta. Sus días transcurren entre evocaciones y el anhelo de volver a estar con su querida tía Lou. Cuando las niñas del hogar son invitadas a participar en una colecta de dinero, Halinka acepta er voluntaria. Pronto ve en esta situación una oportunidad para visitar a su tía. Sin embargo, un paseo por los jardines de un palacio le traerá una felicidad inesperada, la cual cambiará sus planes y la manera de enfrentarse a la vida.
Una novela esperanzadora sobre la posibilidad de apreciar la belleza incluso en tiempos difíciles.

URL: http://www.edicionescastillo.com/lite...

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

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About the author

Mirjam Pressler

262 books38 followers
German writer Mirjam Pressler is the author of several novels that have won awards in her native Germany and also received high praise from critics after being translated into English. In Malka and Halinka Pressler focuses on young Jewish protagonists who have been forced by fate to endure the Holocaust, while in Shylock's Daughter she returns readers to fifteenth-century Italy as she attempts to answer haunting questions surrounding the motivations of characters in a popular play by William Shakespeare. While receiving notice for her novels, Pressler is most well known for her work revising the diaries of Jewish Holocaust victim Anne Frank, and she is considered an expert on Franks's life and writings. In addition to translating Frank's famous diary from Dutch into German, Pressler has edited The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition and has also authored Anne Frank: A Hidden Life for younger readers. Winner of the 1994 German Youth Literature Prize for her work, Pressler divided her time between homes in Bavaria and Israel.

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5 stars
111 (35%)
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101 (32%)
3 stars
65 (21%)
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24 (7%)
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8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Lisa Vegan.
2,913 reviews1,316 followers
March 29, 2017
This was a perfect comfort read, especially for my 10-year-old self. I’m sure it would have been a favorite book of mine around that time.

I was immediately engaged. It was a very quick read and hard to put down.

I adore the narrator main character, with her strengths and flaws. I appreciate that she’s a reader, and thoughtful and introspective, and a survivor, and that she’s not always honest. In other words, she seems so real. I also like that the reader gets to know quite a bit about the other children in the home and things about some of the adults too. I also appreciated that a lot is left unknown and up to the readers’ imaginations and guesses. I think the way the story showed the girls and how they coped with their situations was very authentic. The characters are truly three-dimensional and have depth, the children and the adults too. The latter often isn’t the case in children’s books.

It reminded me a bit of The Secret Language though I thought this book was better than that one.

I felt emotionally touched, I was always interested, and I sometimes got hungry, typical of me when I’m reading books where food is described in great detail, especially when there are hungry characters and characters not getting quite enough food or not normally getting to choose what they eat.

The inside book cover mentions that the girls (in Halinka’s room) are 12 (well they’re in two grades so I’d guess different ages by at least a year) but they did seem a bit younger to me. Maybe 10? Maybe 11? Given their backgrounds and circumstances and given that this is historical fiction and not contemporary, I guess they could seem a bit younger to me than they are.

I’m not taking off any stars but there were things that bother me, such as the fat shaming, though in these girls’ cases, getting not quite enough food to be fully satisfied, it’s perfectly understandable.

I think this English language edition was translated with U.S. audiences in mind. The way they say the school grades is very American.

Anyway, I loved it and I’m so glad that I read it. This is the third book I’ve recently read that worked to get me out of a reading slump. Superb book!

Recommended for many readers, especially girls 9-12, and people who work with neglected and abused kids, institutionalized kids, and families in crisis.

ETA: I should think more before I write. I want to add that there is a lot of humor in this book despite its generally sad stories.
Profile Image for Hilary .
2,294 reviews491 followers
March 5, 2017
This is a very moving account of a young girl's life in a childrens home. The story is set in Germany, shortly after WW2. Halinka has been put in the home after being removed from her mother who was neglectful, Halinka also suffered physical abuse but it is not clear if this was from her mother or her mother's boyfriends. Halinka has one good person in her life, her mother's sister, who loves her but can rarely see her.

The story is about the day to day life in the home. Halinka struggles to make friends and finds it hard to trust. It is sensitively written and you feel for Halinka who seems to have had little joy or kindness in her life. As you would expect from children who have suffered loss and abuse, there is bullying, fighting and physical violence. As the story is told from the perspective of the children, there are parts where views are expressed that are not correct or kind, for example when the children are expressing views on gypsies or prostitutes. There are some parts which make for uncomfortable reading. Despite the sadness of the book the small incidents of happiness were lovely and you feel that there is hope for the characters in the story.
Profile Image for Setzoka.
34 reviews43 followers
November 24, 2020
این کتاب منو یاد کودکیم مینداخت. این مجموعه کتاب نوجوان نشر پیدایش رو وقتی بچه بودم خیلی دوست داشتم. همه‌ی اونایی که من خوندم، که شامل این یکی هم میشه، درباره‌ی یه سری بچه‌ با شرایط زندگی سخت نوشته شدن.

کتاب خوندن توی بچگی و نوجوانی، تجربه‌ی خالص‌تر و ناب‌تریه نسبت به بزرگسالی. در واقع حس می‌کنم کتاب خوندنم الان یه تلاش نصفه و نیمه است برای رسیدن به همون حس عجیب. گاهی انتخاب کتاب‌هامم همین میشه. تلاش برای رسیدن به حداقل خاطره‌ی اون لذت.

در هر حال هلینکا کتاب خوبی بود. لطیف بود. این بهترین کلمه‌ایه که می‌تونم در توصیفش بگم. فوق‌العاده نبود اما خوب بود. چیزخاصی نداشت. هیجان بیش از حد یا موضوع جذاب و جدیدی نبود. درباره‌ی یه دختر توی پرورشگاه با تفکرات و اخلاق خاص. اما ایراد خاصیم نداشت. نثر، شخصیت پردازی، سوژه. همه چیز به قاعده بود.

پ.ن) نمی‌دونم چرا هر وقت سرم شلوغ‌تره بیشتر کتاب می‌خونم. اصلا عجیبه.
Profile Image for Roya.
282 reviews346 followers
August 10, 2018
نه به خاطر این که کتاب بدی بود، بلکه به خاطر این که دو ماه یا سه ماه گذشته از خوندنش، و اصلا یادم نیست کتاب درباره ی چی بود :/
Profile Image for Meaghan.
1,096 reviews25 followers
June 27, 2012
A sad, sweet tale of a lonely girl (I don't remember them mentioning her age, but I'd guess eleven or so) in an orphanage. Although the story is set in Germany in the early 1950s, it could come from just about any time or place.

Halinka's attempts to stay strong and find some joy in her Spartan existence ring true. At first she stays aloof from everyone, keeping her thoughts and inside her head and sharing them only with her secret book and a beloved aunt whom she occasionally visits. Eventually, however, Halinka lets her guard down and confides in a few select people at the children's home.

I thought the characterization in particular was very well-done. With the novel being set in an institution, all the orphan girls might start to blur together, but Pressler was able to make each child, and each staff member, distinctive. Although the movement in the story is largely internal, the fundraising contest added some suspense. I would highly recommend this for 9-to-12 girls.

A few notes: contrary to some of the descriptions of this book, the orphanage is NOT a home for "troubled" girls. I also don't think Halinka is Jewish, though the book wasn't entirely clear on that point. In any case it didn't matter whether or not she was.
32 reviews
March 6, 2014
Halinka-Mirjam Pressler
Wonderful book about a girl at a foster home in Germany after the war (1950’s?) . The character, Halinka, is a very thoughtful, cautious girl who’s only wish is to have the chance to live with her beloved aunt.
As I mentioned before, Halinka is a very cautious girl, and at the beginning of the book, she only confides in her “Sayings Book” where she writes a saying down to link to a memory. This is her way to prevent the girls in her dorm from accessing her journal and reading everything about her. Eventually she opens up and shares her history with a very select few friends. I really like Halinka as a character, and it is very interesting to see her history unfold as M. Pressler lets secret after secret, detail after detail leak out into the pages.
Profile Image for Abril.
65 reviews5 followers
July 29, 2020
Es una historia muy triste, casi todo el tiempo estuve a punto de llorar. Es una historia sencilla, pero que no necesita contar nada extravagante para hacerte sentir tantas cosas.
Profile Image for Miriam.
30 reviews
August 10, 2025
mega, man sollte häufiger seine alten Kinderlieblingsbücher wieder lesen. Leider wird einmal das N-Wort in einem Zitat von Huckleberry Finn genutzt, das geht natürlich gar nicht
91 reviews
July 8, 2008
Dies ist die Geschichte von Halinka und ihrem Tagebuch. Doch in das Tagebuch schreibt Halinka nur Weisheiten. Niemand darf wissen, an was sie sich erinnert, wenn sie diese Weisheiten liest nur sie und vielleicht Tante Lou. Die Gefahr ist groß, dass jemand Halinkas Tagebuch findet, denn die 12jährige lebt mit vielen anderen Mädchen in einem Heim. Lange versucht sie, keine Freundschaften zu anderen Mädchen aufzubauen. Sie möchte zu niemandem Vertrauen fassen Doch dann kommt alles anders
M. Pressler ist eine Meisterin in ihrem Beruf. Sie versteht die Welt der Kinder und weiß deren Gedanken in Worte zu fassen. Sie hat schon viele gute Kinderbücher veröffentlicht und auch mit *Wenn das Glück kommt, muß man ihm einen Stuhl hinstellen* hat sie ein Meisterwerk geschaffen.
Profile Image for Martin.
45 reviews
March 28, 2015
Eine berührende Geschichte. Und um ganz darin einzutauchen, muss man selber wieder etwas zum Kind werden. Unsere verschlossene, mutige Protagonistin ging mir niemals auf die Nerven. Die Weisheiten, die sie sich teils selber ausdenkt, die größtenteils aber von ihrer Tante stammen, klingen nicht altklug oder unpassend; Halinka und die anderen Heimkinder werden glaubwürdig dargestellt. Kinder, die Anfang der 50iger in einem Heim (vermutlich in Mannheim) leben.

Meine Befürchtung war, dass die Geschichte allzu traurig wird und mich niedergeschlagen zurücklässt. Mirjam Pressler aber findet ein passendes Ende - weder schmalzig, noch unglücklich - eher hoffnungsvoll und schön :-).
Profile Image for jülide.
60 reviews17 followers
April 22, 2021
Auch wenn es jetzt schon zwei Monate her ist,dass ich dieses Buch gelesen habe,erinnere ich mich noch sehr gut daran.Auch wenn ich vielleicht nicht ganz zu der Zielgruppe diese Buch gehöre,und mir dunkles Gold vom Mirjam Pressler mehr gefallen hat,war das,was mich an diesem Buch gefesselt hat Halinkas Optimismus.Ich bin mir sicher,dass wir alles etwas von Halinka und ihrer Sicht aufs Leben lernen können.Ein großartiger Roman,nicht nur für jüngere.
Profile Image for Melainebooks.
1,976 reviews24 followers
November 23, 2011
L'histoire d'Halinka n'est pas simple : sa mère polonaise l'a abandonnée et elle voit de temps en temps sa tante Lou avec qui elle espère vivre.
Heureusement, elle se fait une amie, Renate,et le récit est basé sur cette amitié.
21 reviews
April 6, 2016
I really loved this book because first of all, historical fiction is a genre that I don't really read but this book really interested me. It's about a girl named Halinka and her struggle living in a home for girls. I rate this book 4 stars.
Profile Image for Pumsish.
340 reviews53 followers
November 15, 2009
แนวเด็กกำพร้าที่พูดจาฉลาดๆ และหดหู่หน่อยๆ
Profile Image for Anna.
98 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2023
Ein sehr schön geschriebenes, einfühlsames Jugendbuch, in dem Mirjam Pressler glaubwürdig die ich-Perspektive der zwölfjährigen Halinka schafft, die im Nachkriegsdeutschland in einem Heim lebt.

Zu Beginn der Erzählung ist Halinka sehr vorsichtig, sie will gar keine Freundin haben, lieber zieht sie sich an ihren Geheimplatz zurück, sehnt sich still nach ihrer Tante Lou, notiert poetische Weisheiten, liest Huckleberry Finn und flieht in ihre Fantasie, um düsteren Gedanken zu entkommen. Die brutalen Mädchen meidet sie, weil sie gemein sind und sie rassistisch als Z* beschimpfen (obwohl sie doch eigentlich Jüdin ist, aber das sagt sie lieber nicht laut), ihre Wut schluckt sie geübt hinunter. Die schwachen Mädchen meidet sie auch, denn die könnten ihr eh nicht helfen… aber eine kleine Schwester hätte sie schon gerne.

Im Laufe der Geschichte erfahren wir nach und nach Fragmente aus Halinkas traumatischer Vergangenheit, deren psychische Auswirkungen auf Halinka Pressler sensibel und realistisch darstellt.

Zunehmend lernt Halinka, dass es auch neben ihrer Tante Lou liebe Menschen gibt und wagt es sich zu öffnen, wobei sie überrascht feststellt, dass Reden hilft und es guttut für sich und andere einzustehen.

Pressler kreiert mit Halinka eine mutiges, gescheites Kind, das sich so gut es kann durch sein hartes Leben schlägt und dem Glück den Stuhl hinstellt, wenn es endlich kommt.

- Sehr gut geeignet als Schullektüre in der Unterstufe: Macht Trauma und Coping Strategien besprechbar; Halinkas Gedanken machen viele Reflexionsräume auf; Rassismen und Nachkriegszeit können thematisiert werden; die Schüler*innen sind ergriffen und können sich gut hineinversetzen




Profile Image for Isabel Jazmín.
1,365 reviews37 followers
November 3, 2019
Se trata de la historia de Halinka, una niña que vive en Alemania en 1952 en un hogar para niñas cuya familia no las puede atender. Ahí atravesará una serie de circunstancias que la harán llegar a conclusiones que nunca pensó tener.



Dentro del hogar conocemos a otras de las niñas, cada una lidiando como puede con sus propias circunstancias: una madre en la cárcel, una familia muy grande, otras preocupaciones sobre ellas.



Halinka, a pesar de todo, conserva el buen ánimo y trata de pasar lo mejor que puede las circunstancias que le tocan. Se apoya mucho en el cariño que le tiene su tía Lou si bien su mamá hace mucho que no se preocupa por ella.



En cuanto a los adultos, están las encargadas de la casa hogar quienes hacen lo que pueden por ayudar a las niñas; los padres ausentes y los que quieren apoyar a sus hijas pero no pueden.



Una novela sobre la sobrevivencia, sobre el amor a los demás y sobre todo del descubrimiento de que hay un mundo más allá de lo que se percibe a simple vista.
Profile Image for Los libros de Jean.
330 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2020
Halinka es un personaje que no olvidaré. A su corta edad, sabe lo que es la soledad y la pérdida. La vida que ha vivido, le ha enseñado a no confiar y a guardarse para ella sus pensamientos; y por eso, ella atesora sus reflexiones e ideas en un cuaderno.

En el hogar de niñas donde vive, sus días transcurren pausadamente. Halinka solamente espera las cartas de su amada tía Lou y del momento en que pueda volver a visitarla.

Halinka no lo sabe, pero al haberse voluntariado a participar en una actividad especial, le dará la oportunidad de conocer una belleza que la inundará con un sentimiento que no puede explicar. Ahí aplicará una de las enseñanzas más importantes de la tía Lou: cuando llegue la felicidad, ofrécele una silla.

La amistad sincera que le ofrece la pequeña Renate a Halinka completa el cuadro de esta novela, que es de esas historias que mezclan la nostalgia y la tristeza, con un rayo de luz y esperanza.
Profile Image for Amber Scaife.
1,639 reviews18 followers
July 29, 2021
Halinka lives in a "home," an orphanage, of sorts, in post-WW2 Germany. Her mother was abusive, but she longs to live with her aunt, whom she describes as loving and wanting to take care of Halinka but can't until she finds a husband. Halinka hesitates to make friends in the home because she believes opening up to people will lead to pain, but she slowly learns that that's not always the case.

This is not exactly a happy story, but it does end on a hopeful upturn. It's well-written, despite Halinka being a little too observant and articulate for her age (a constant issue with middle grade books written in the first person), and the characters are very nicely drawn. I love that certain plot points are left unresolved when resolving them would have made the ending too pat and saccharine. As it stands, the story is perhaps a bit darker than it would have been, but much more realistic and satisfactory. Halinka is a complicated little girl, and I love her for it.
Profile Image for Marisó.
96 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2021
"Llorar cuando no estás solo es distinto por completo. Llorar solo es horrible."

No me esperaba que siendo un libro para niños/adolescentes fuera a ser una historia tan crudo. Por la mitad del libro y hasta el final no podía dejar de sentir tristeza y ganas de llorar en los momentos felices. Y el sentimiento sigue.

Al terminar, el final me pareció insuficiente, después de pensarlo más creo que fue muy bueno. No dejó de ser real pero permitió un poco de felicidad.
Profile Image for letmecherish.
1 review
April 18, 2024

This was a little bit hard to read. If it wasn't for my professor, I would not pick this one.
Halinka had a poor childhood and her trying to manage life with what she has gave me a critical point of view on how we should vision life. The moment when she went to the park was the most crucial part of this book for me. (I read this in Korean by the way)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ulla Saar.
Author 33 books30 followers
June 3, 2022
Tõsine raamat lastekodus kasvavate tüdrukute elust ja omavahelistest suhetest Teise Maailmasõja järgsel Saksamaal. Olustik on ehk mõnevõrra aegunud kuid psühholoogiline aspekt kahjuks endiselt sama, kuidas jääda ellu vaenulikus keskkonnas, kus mitte kedagi ei saa usaldada.
Profile Image for Benjamin Clawson.
23 reviews
July 5, 2025
3.5. I feel like it didn’t really reach into subjects it broached. Just left too many questions unanswered. Although it is a very flavourful read.
Profile Image for Lilac A. Penda.
200 reviews
July 6, 2025
The book itself is incredibly mature for it's target audience. A lot of the themes aren't explored in other children's books either. It handles these touchy subjects in a very real way too. Sincerity is a constant with this book. It's clear the author also has a profound trust/understanding of her target audience. To the point where she was comfortable writing through an unreliable narrator. If you haven't read it, please do. It's sappy and warm. Like honey.
Very lovely I would recommend it to anyone.
6 reviews
February 8, 2022
Charakteristischer, fesselnder Schreibstil. Ein Lektüre, die einem bewusst macht, wie viele schätzenswerte Dinge man im Leben hat. Und das nicht nur die nützlichen, sondern v. a. auch die schönen Dinge wichtig sind.
Profile Image for Beruthiel.
563 reviews7 followers
October 7, 2022
Ein wunderbares, einzigartiges Buch!
Zum Immerwiederlesen!
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