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What the Night Sings
A Morris Award FinalistLonglisted for the National Book AwardFor fans of The Book Thief and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas comes a lushly illustrated novel about a teen Holocaust survivor who must come to terms with who she is and how to rebuild her life."A tour de force. This powerful story of love, loss, and survival is not to be missed." --KRISTIN HANNAH, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The NightingaleAfter losing her family and everything she knew in the Nazi concentration camps, Gerta is finally liberated, only to find herself completely alone. Without her papa, her music, or even her true identity, she must move past the task of surviving and on to living her life. In the displaced persons camp where she is staying, Gerta meets Lev, a fellow teen survivor who she just might be falling for, despite her feelings for someone else. With a newfound Jewish identity she never knew she had, and a return to the life of music she thought she lost forever, Gerta must choose how to build a new future."What the Night Sings is a book from the heart, of the heart, and to the heart. Vesper Stamper's Gerta will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her story is one of hope and redemption and life--a blessing to the world." --Deborah Heiligman, award-winning author of Charles and Emma and Vincent and TheoA WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2018A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF 2018
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2018
153 people are currently reading
4203 people want to read
About the author
Vesper Stamper
17 books186 followersBorn in Germany and raised in New York City, Vesper Stamper writes and illustrates novels which tell, through both words and pictures, stories of history’s rhymes. Her debut illustrated YA novel, What the Night Sings, about the aftermath of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young musician, was a National Book Award Nominee, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, a Morris Award Finalist, Golden Kite Honor Book and Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner, and was named one of the Best YA Books of 2018/9 by YALSA, the Wall Street Journal and Kirkus. Vesper has a BFA in Illustration from Parsons and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from School of Visual Arts and is the host of the podcast Vesperisms: The Art of Thinking for Yourself, which aims to cultivate a rehumanized worldview through artistic thinking. She lives with her husband, filmmaker Ben Stamper, and her two teenagers, in the Northeast, and teaches illustration at School of Visual Arts.
Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner
Morris Award Finalist
National Book Award Nominee
National Jewish Book Award Finalist
Golden Kite Honor Book
White Raven (International Youth Library)
Best Books of 2018 by Kirkus, YALSA & WSJ
Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner
Morris Award Finalist
National Book Award Nominee
National Jewish Book Award Finalist
Golden Kite Honor Book
White Raven (International Youth Library)
Best Books of 2018 by Kirkus, YALSA & WSJ
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
February 22, 2018
Am I your friend? Then trust me, you want to read this book. Don't read it or buy it for the wonderful weight of paper or the font or the smell of ink. They are all wonderfully apt choices. Read it for the journey your heart will make with Gerta. Read it for remembering a piece of history too oft relegated to statistics and numbers too mind-boggling to comprehend. Read it to trace your own humanity.
This is not only good young adult fiction, it is good literature. The story is an immersive experience for your imagination, engaging sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. The illustrations are as key to the story telling as the words on the page; don't rush past them or you will miss something wonderful in the telling.
Well done, Ms. Stamper. Well done.
This is not only good young adult fiction, it is good literature. The story is an immersive experience for your imagination, engaging sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. The illustrations are as key to the story telling as the words on the page; don't rush past them or you will miss something wonderful in the telling.
Well done, Ms. Stamper. Well done.
December 17, 2017
Equally a love letter to the power of music as well as a Holocaust remembrance. Lyrical, evocative language is the real strength of this book, though the story itself is engaging, too, though horrific, because of what happened to the Jews, which it does not shy away from discussing. It's almost more poignant because the heartbreaking details are reported so matter-of-factory, while the hopes and dreams (if there are any left to have) are presented so magically, that that juxtaposition makes the harsh reality all the clearer. For fans of NUMBER THE STARS, LETTERS FROM RIFKA, and other WWII middle grade/tween reads, this provides a new perspective, telling two Holocaust stories we don't often hear - a secular Jew's confusion over both her treatment and, afterward, her religion, and the significance of music. Exceedingly powerful, with the illustrations acting like a garnish for the writing.
November 27, 2018
My reaction to this book was very uneven. In parts, it went as high as giving it 4 stars and in parts as low as 2. Maybe if I were less familiar with this phase of history, it would have had a stronger grip on my imagination. For me, it felt like I could easily see the ribcage of the research through the diaphanous skin of the story. The most interesting aspect was that it dealt more with the survival & readjusting period than with the camp years, something that I had never seen in fiction (please let me know in the comments if there are other/better works of fiction dealing predominantly with the rehabilitation of Holocaust survivors during 1945-1948). The least attractive features were the predictability of the plot and the author's complete silence regarding the controversy of displacing and persecuting Arabs to create Israel.
December 26, 2018
EVERYONE STOP WASTING YOUR TIME READING THIS REVIEW AND GO PICK UP WHAT THE NIGHT SINGS BY VESPER STAMPER.
So, this book is just another part of the reason why I wait until the first week of January to make “Best Books of Year Whatever” lists. I picked up this book because I’d seen it around a couple of times and the synopsis looked interesting, but mainly because I still have to complete my Goodreads challenge. UM well this book had me pausing every 5 pages because there are. So. Many. Powerful. Quotes.
This illustrated novel follows Gerta Rausch, a Jewish teen survivor of the Holocaust. It’s a coming of age story just like any other, except for the fact that Gerta has faced years of being told she isn’t even human. So, Gerta isn’t simply finding or discovering her identity, she’s rebuilding and regaining it after an unfathomable tragedy that has robbed her of every friend or family member that might have helped.
The author, Vesper Stamper, highlights all the many factors of identity SO well. I spend all my time reading and writing, and I still can’t find a way to encapsulate just how perfectly Stamper portrays the pieces that make up one’s identity. Choice, individuality, survival, chance, and art are all depicted as forces that make us up, and I couldn’t agree with this depiction more. This story is so clearly Gerta’s, but I feel like anyone who’s ever thought hard about their identity can find themselves in Stamper’s words and illustrations.
That said, this book is about more than just identity. It’s also about the tragedy that robbed the world of countless unique and irreplaceable souls. There’s nothing I can say about the Holocaust that hasn’t already been said. However, what sets this book apart from many other Holocaust books (none of which are less important than this one) is that unique combination of such a tragedy with the tale of girl growing into a woman. That, and the emphasis on music’s impact on Gerta’s life. The contrast between the hideousness of the life our characters were forced to grow accustomed to and the beauty of the music that kept Gerta alive was breathtaking, to put it simply. Stamper balances the death and ash of the camps with the glory of music in a way that my mind is barely able to wrap its head around.
The one issue I did have with this book is the romance. I understand that Lev, Gerta’s love interest, symbolizes a ton. He helps her bridge the gap between existing/surviving and truly living, shows her how much potential she has from the moment he first meets her, and patiently allows her to grow into herself while supporting her from the frontlines. That said, the chemistry felt off, more platonic than romantic. It isn’t toO huge a dealbreaker for me, though, because the author does indirectly address this issue within the novel.
Now that the more critical part of the review is over, though, LEMME JUST SAY Vesper Stamper is one of the most creative minds I’ve had the privilege to encounter through a piece literature this year. She combines history with a current and forever relevant topic (identity struggles), all while writing like the goddess she is. AND THERE ARE PICTURES TOO. I’m a hoe for Young Adult novels with illustrations in them, and this book was no exception. Everything from the slightly disturbing/odd style of art and the illustrations themselves adds legions of meaning to an already spectacular story. I just... want Vesper Stamper’s brain please and thank you. Seriously, this novel is art and a speculation on art and produced by art. Ughhhh. I say this about a ton of books, but when I write a book, I want it to be like THIS ONE.
Obviously, this book was magnificent. Because of the subject matter, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this to the faint of heart. Be prepared for parts that’ll make you cry and leave you scarred. I finished this book just a couple of hours ago, but I just have that feeling that it’ll stay with me long after today. If you want a book that will genuinely touch your soul, pick up this one ASAP.
P.S. The author’s note is 100% worth reading. Give this book and author all of your attention and money thank you and good night.
So, this book is just another part of the reason why I wait until the first week of January to make “Best Books of Year Whatever” lists. I picked up this book because I’d seen it around a couple of times and the synopsis looked interesting, but mainly because I still have to complete my Goodreads challenge. UM well this book had me pausing every 5 pages because there are. So. Many. Powerful. Quotes.
This illustrated novel follows Gerta Rausch, a Jewish teen survivor of the Holocaust. It’s a coming of age story just like any other, except for the fact that Gerta has faced years of being told she isn’t even human. So, Gerta isn’t simply finding or discovering her identity, she’s rebuilding and regaining it after an unfathomable tragedy that has robbed her of every friend or family member that might have helped.
The author, Vesper Stamper, highlights all the many factors of identity SO well. I spend all my time reading and writing, and I still can’t find a way to encapsulate just how perfectly Stamper portrays the pieces that make up one’s identity. Choice, individuality, survival, chance, and art are all depicted as forces that make us up, and I couldn’t agree with this depiction more. This story is so clearly Gerta’s, but I feel like anyone who’s ever thought hard about their identity can find themselves in Stamper’s words and illustrations.
That said, this book is about more than just identity. It’s also about the tragedy that robbed the world of countless unique and irreplaceable souls. There’s nothing I can say about the Holocaust that hasn’t already been said. However, what sets this book apart from many other Holocaust books (none of which are less important than this one) is that unique combination of such a tragedy with the tale of girl growing into a woman. That, and the emphasis on music’s impact on Gerta’s life. The contrast between the hideousness of the life our characters were forced to grow accustomed to and the beauty of the music that kept Gerta alive was breathtaking, to put it simply. Stamper balances the death and ash of the camps with the glory of music in a way that my mind is barely able to wrap its head around.
The one issue I did have with this book is the romance. I understand that Lev, Gerta’s love interest, symbolizes a ton. He helps her bridge the gap between existing/surviving and truly living, shows her how much potential she has from the moment he first meets her, and patiently allows her to grow into herself while supporting her from the frontlines. That said, the chemistry felt off, more platonic than romantic. It isn’t toO huge a dealbreaker for me, though, because the author does indirectly address this issue within the novel.
Now that the more critical part of the review is over, though, LEMME JUST SAY Vesper Stamper is one of the most creative minds I’ve had the privilege to encounter through a piece literature this year. She combines history with a current and forever relevant topic (identity struggles), all while writing like the goddess she is. AND THERE ARE PICTURES TOO. I’m a hoe for Young Adult novels with illustrations in them, and this book was no exception. Everything from the slightly disturbing/odd style of art and the illustrations themselves adds legions of meaning to an already spectacular story. I just... want Vesper Stamper’s brain please and thank you. Seriously, this novel is art and a speculation on art and produced by art. Ughhhh. I say this about a ton of books, but when I write a book, I want it to be like THIS ONE.
Obviously, this book was magnificent. Because of the subject matter, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this to the faint of heart. Be prepared for parts that’ll make you cry and leave you scarred. I finished this book just a couple of hours ago, but I just have that feeling that it’ll stay with me long after today. If you want a book that will genuinely touch your soul, pick up this one ASAP.
P.S. The author’s note is 100% worth reading. Give this book and author all of your attention and money thank you and good night.
June 26, 2018
Stamper opens her Young Adult novel about survivors of the Holocaust with the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. Sixteen-year-old Gerta is skeletal and ill with typhus. She has survived the Camp by being a member of the Camp orchestra, playing her father’s viola. Taught to play by her father, the viola allows her to feel close to him—and it gives her comfort. However, her true love is singing. Unfortunately, the horrific conditions of her incarceration have damaged her vocal chords—perhaps forever.
Ironically, Gerta was not even aware that she was Jewish when she and her father were picked up by the Germans in Koln. Her father had purchased forged identification papers, and lived his life in a way to avoid notice by the authorities. It didn’t work! Eventually, he was discovered and ended up in the ovens of the concentration camp.
So with liberation, Gerta is free at last. Well, actually, only sort of free. She is living in a guarded British camp. She has no family! No home! No sense of who she is—a musician, yes, but not a great one. Slowly she opens herself up to friendship—particularly with Lev. Lev knows exactly who he is—an Orthodox Jew from Poland and a journalist. Just as music has sustained Gerta, religion has sustained Lev. But Gerta knows nothing about Judaism. And a relationship beyond mere friendship is just too much too soon.
This historical fiction novel helps the reader to understand what happened to teenagers AFTER their rescue. It was tough! They were orphaned refugees, still shunned in their home countries and facing an uncertain future. How can one not feel enormous compassion for their situation? Highly recommend.
Ironically, Gerta was not even aware that she was Jewish when she and her father were picked up by the Germans in Koln. Her father had purchased forged identification papers, and lived his life in a way to avoid notice by the authorities. It didn’t work! Eventually, he was discovered and ended up in the ovens of the concentration camp.
So with liberation, Gerta is free at last. Well, actually, only sort of free. She is living in a guarded British camp. She has no family! No home! No sense of who she is—a musician, yes, but not a great one. Slowly she opens herself up to friendship—particularly with Lev. Lev knows exactly who he is—an Orthodox Jew from Poland and a journalist. Just as music has sustained Gerta, religion has sustained Lev. But Gerta knows nothing about Judaism. And a relationship beyond mere friendship is just too much too soon.
This historical fiction novel helps the reader to understand what happened to teenagers AFTER their rescue. It was tough! They were orphaned refugees, still shunned in their home countries and facing an uncertain future. How can one not feel enormous compassion for their situation? Highly recommend.
June 2, 2018
This is a WWII Jewish survival story that uniquely begins when our heroine Gerta is “freed” from Auschwitz. What happens to the survivors of the concentration camps, and how they are treated by the allies after the end of the war is fresh information. Author Stamper does a remarkable job recreating the struggles, health issues, and residual bigotry the refugees faced. Decisions must be made about where to live, who to live with, and what to do with a faith that seemingly causes incredible grief and persecution. This is a powerful work of historical fiction that adds perspective to current events in the United States. Would highly recommend.
April 10, 2019
3.5 stars for this book. I liked the illustrations that accompany the story but I felt the story fell flat in some points. The point of the book is how these characters are able to rebuild themselves after facing one of the worst tragedies any human could (Auschwitz concentration camp), but the author could have done a much thorough job on it. It was a fast read.
April 2, 2019
A must read.
November 1, 2018
"What can a girl do who has refused to die?"
The blurb is true, if you liked The Book Thief or The Nightingale you will enjoy this book. This book starts off (thankfully) at the end of the Nazi occupation. It is told by a 16 year old girl that lived through all of those horrors, and is now faced with the challenge of moving forward and rebuilding a life. This is Gerta's story of who she was before, during and after life in a concentration camp.
This book incorporates illustrations throughout the book that enhance the story. I thought they were beautiful. There is also a lot of music and instrument playing.
The authors note at the end was also worth reading. It gave insight into how the story originated as well as the authors own experiences.
A powerful story about strength, survival and love.
"When all is stripped away, who am I? When this question comes to you, which it did for survivors like Gerta, which it will for each one of us, it shows the foundation upon which you’ve chosen to build, your concept of who you are in the world. Even if our abilities are diminished or removed from us, there are deeper gifts we can give. We can love others with our very selves."
*2018 Popsugar challenge - A book with a time of day in the title*
The blurb is true, if you liked The Book Thief or The Nightingale you will enjoy this book. This book starts off (thankfully) at the end of the Nazi occupation. It is told by a 16 year old girl that lived through all of those horrors, and is now faced with the challenge of moving forward and rebuilding a life. This is Gerta's story of who she was before, during and after life in a concentration camp.
This book incorporates illustrations throughout the book that enhance the story. I thought they were beautiful. There is also a lot of music and instrument playing.
The authors note at the end was also worth reading. It gave insight into how the story originated as well as the authors own experiences.
A powerful story about strength, survival and love.
"When all is stripped away, who am I? When this question comes to you, which it did for survivors like Gerta, which it will for each one of us, it shows the foundation upon which you’ve chosen to build, your concept of who you are in the world. Even if our abilities are diminished or removed from us, there are deeper gifts we can give. We can love others with our very selves."
*2018 Popsugar challenge - A book with a time of day in the title*
June 13, 2024
I read this book for 20 minutes every day this spring during my jr high library supervision duty- one thing to look forward to every afternoon! I am so glad I also read the author’s note to fully understand Vesper Stamper’s own personal transformation that parallels the main character Gerta: what obstacles and choices does a person face when the script of your life derails? To try again, to hope again, and to love again … those can be insurmountable tasks unless a person searches deeply to reflect on who they are and what they are willing to do to create a better world for themselves and others.
I never considered what life was like for the Holocaust survivors in the years immediately after their “liberation”. Anti-semitism didn’t just evaporate. Recovering physically from deprivation and starvation is only part of the healing. Trying to find family members and trying to make sense of a crazy inhumane world that stripped people of their humanity and systemically murdered millions of men, women, and children are beyond comprehension. Stamper does a great job of taking all these complexities and navigating Gerta through physical and emotional healing that takes time and trust.
I never considered what life was like for the Holocaust survivors in the years immediately after their “liberation”. Anti-semitism didn’t just evaporate. Recovering physically from deprivation and starvation is only part of the healing. Trying to find family members and trying to make sense of a crazy inhumane world that stripped people of their humanity and systemically murdered millions of men, women, and children are beyond comprehension. Stamper does a great job of taking all these complexities and navigating Gerta through physical and emotional healing that takes time and trust.
January 10, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
June 15, 2018
Awesome story!
Not part of the stories of the death camps that I have ever heard told about before but any survivors today, are old. The MCs in this story are teenagers. They have nothing but each other.
I especially liked the personal story shared in the Author's notes.
The narration was excellent!
Not part of the stories of the death camps that I have ever heard told about before but any survivors today, are old. The MCs in this story are teenagers. They have nothing but each other.
I especially liked the personal story shared in the Author's notes.
The narration was excellent!
June 30, 2018
Just holding this book in your hands is a delight to the senses. It has a firm heft to it, the cover is lined with brilliant blue paper, the pages are thick, and the smell of ink spills from it. But it's not just a pretty cover: the contents of this book are every bit as thrilling. Vesper Stamper's writing is elegantly spare. Every word is there for a reason. It is also silky smooth, delicate, and powerfully evocative. Her illustrations are also spare, filled with clean lines and delicate detail. They perfectly complement the beautiful writing.
The story is about a girl named Gerta who loses everything during World War II and must somehow return to a sense of wholeness. It traces her time before the war, time in a concentration camp, and post-liberation in a rehabilitation camp. As she tries to put the pieces of her life back together she learns to love again and learns that life is not about what you do, your accomplishments, but who you are at the core.
The love story in this book is especially tender and raw and real. I was highly impressed with Vesper's skillful illustration of what love is not and what it is. She also shows that the intimacy of marriage is a very beautiful precious thing and not something to be squandered - I was so impressed with that. (I will say, though, that there is a wedding night description in the book that for me went a bit farther than I was comfortable with. It was very tastefully done, but contained just a bit more detail than I would have liked. For this reason, I personally wouldn't recommend this book to children or young teens.)
This is a gorgeous, thoughtful, and deep book. Vesper Stamper - I will be looking for more from you!
The story is about a girl named Gerta who loses everything during World War II and must somehow return to a sense of wholeness. It traces her time before the war, time in a concentration camp, and post-liberation in a rehabilitation camp. As she tries to put the pieces of her life back together she learns to love again and learns that life is not about what you do, your accomplishments, but who you are at the core.
The love story in this book is especially tender and raw and real. I was highly impressed with Vesper's skillful illustration of what love is not and what it is. She also shows that the intimacy of marriage is a very beautiful precious thing and not something to be squandered - I was so impressed with that. (I will say, though, that there is a wedding night description in the book that for me went a bit farther than I was comfortable with. It was very tastefully done, but contained just a bit more detail than I would have liked. For this reason, I personally wouldn't recommend this book to children or young teens.)
This is a gorgeous, thoughtful, and deep book. Vesper Stamper - I will be looking for more from you!
March 13, 2018
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway and WOW! The rawness in the book is heartbreaking but the truth is the hardcore truth, the holocaust is so well explained and the drawings are remarkable they show the bleeding lives, torture, and every day life that was lived with such ferocity! I loved this book be prepared for tears to shed and heartstrings to be not just pulled but yanked! I highly recommend this book to everyone its a strong but beautifully and truth filled book!
May 31, 2019
This book is amazing and unlike any other of its kind. If you are interested in the Holocaust/WW2, I think you will really enjoy this story of hope and survival told through the eyes of a 15 year old girl, Greta. There is a copy available in the BCMS LMC.
April 9, 2020
Like a song that stays with you even after the sound fades away.
May 7, 2024
What the Night Sings is a haunting tale about the persecution of Jewish people and the horrific things that were done to them in the different camps such as Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen.
What makes this book very interesting, is that most of the story takes place after the camp in which Gerta (the main character) is being held is liberated. The stories I've read and seen were usually about being people being captured or enduring the horrors in the camps. Both of these things were also a part of What the Night Sings, but it's not the main setting. Getting to spend more time with characters directly after their liberation was an interesting story which I hadn't heard before and I liked reading from this new perspective.
What I didn't know before reading this book, was that a lot of Jewish people decided to marry each other (even if they didn't know each other that well) after they were liberated. In What the Night Sings, our main character is bouncing between two "love interests" for quite a long time. Because I didn't know the backstory of it all, I was kind of confused and even a bit annoyed. Why would you want to do this? I just didn't understand why this was such a huge part of the story. But now I do understand. When (almost) everything you know and are is destroyed, you grasp onto everything that reminds you of or can bring you closer to it. Even if it means marrying a stranger.
The book has beautiful illustrations as well. They were all impactful in their own way. The illustrations of the camps were very difficult to see because they really embodied the darkness and heaviness of everything. The other illustrations however did the complete opposite. They showed the beauty and the hope, however small.
In the back of the book, the author has added a list of sources on WW2 (books, movies etc), a glossary of Jewish phrases used throughout the stories and a few other interesting things.
What makes this book very interesting, is that most of the story takes place after the camp in which Gerta (the main character) is being held is liberated. The stories I've read and seen were usually about being people being captured or enduring the horrors in the camps. Both of these things were also a part of What the Night Sings, but it's not the main setting. Getting to spend more time with characters directly after their liberation was an interesting story which I hadn't heard before and I liked reading from this new perspective.
What I didn't know before reading this book, was that a lot of Jewish people decided to marry each other (even if they didn't know each other that well) after they were liberated. In What the Night Sings, our main character is bouncing between two "love interests" for quite a long time. Because I didn't know the backstory of it all, I was kind of confused and even a bit annoyed. Why would you want to do this? I just didn't understand why this was such a huge part of the story. But now I do understand. When (almost) everything you know and are is destroyed, you grasp onto everything that reminds you of or can bring you closer to it. Even if it means marrying a stranger.
The book has beautiful illustrations as well. They were all impactful in their own way. The illustrations of the camps were very difficult to see because they really embodied the darkness and heaviness of everything. The other illustrations however did the complete opposite. They showed the beauty and the hope, however small.
In the back of the book, the author has added a list of sources on WW2 (books, movies etc), a glossary of Jewish phrases used throughout the stories and a few other interesting things.
February 23, 2018
Read our full review on Hypable!
What the Night Sings doesn’t feel like a rehash of the many other books of the genre. In fact, it feels so personal and accurately portrayed that it could almost be a true story.
Historically, music had a presence in many concentration camps during the Holocaust. Used both as an act of humiliation by the guards to the prisoners when forcing them to sing and chant during punishments, and in a more meaningful yet also tragic way: an act for survival.
I personally do not listen to audiobooks very often, but this book was one I was glad I listened to. The story is in part a true love story for music. Gerta’s singing and music from the viola are intertwined within the spoken words of the audiobook. It feels less like a book and more like a play. You can lean back, close your eyes and take in all the beautiful sounds.
What the Night Sings doesn’t feel like a rehash of the many other books of the genre. In fact, it feels so personal and accurately portrayed that it could almost be a true story.
Historically, music had a presence in many concentration camps during the Holocaust. Used both as an act of humiliation by the guards to the prisoners when forcing them to sing and chant during punishments, and in a more meaningful yet also tragic way: an act for survival.
I personally do not listen to audiobooks very often, but this book was one I was glad I listened to. The story is in part a true love story for music. Gerta’s singing and music from the viola are intertwined within the spoken words of the audiobook. It feels less like a book and more like a play. You can lean back, close your eyes and take in all the beautiful sounds.
August 17, 2023
Wow. This book is amazing. We meet Gerta at a concentration camp on the day of liberation. Throughout the book, we learn about her story and explore the devastating reality that Jews were forced to face directly after the war. Normally, Holocaust stories focus on the event itself. In this book, the author beautifully weaves together traumatic events, recovery, and hope. I highly recommend this book.
April 20, 2018
Vivid, horrifying, and hopeful. This book really crawls inside you and becomes stuck in your soul. The illustrations are powerful and fit the story so well, wait, no, they actually are part of the storytelling, integral rather than decorative. Songs and snippets of other languages are present throughout. Story, poems, songs, illustrations are all combined to effectively communicate the story of just a few years in Gerta's life.
Exemplary.
*edited to switch from the Audio CD (not sure how I orignally chose that) to the Hardback version (which I actually read)*
Exemplary.
*edited to switch from the Audio CD (not sure how I orignally chose that) to the Hardback version (which I actually read)*
November 3, 2019
beautiful perspective on what happened to Jews after they were freed from the concentration camps. Very lyrical at times. I enjoyed the accompanying pictures too.
March 30, 2018
The artwork in this novel is the reason for five stars. It is really moving. I enjoyed a new take on life in a concentration camp, especially after the war.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy history.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy history.
September 23, 2018
I checked this book out from the library and fell in love with it so much, I ordered my own copy. I didn’t even read the synopsis before I started reading, so I don’t want to ruin anything about this World War 2 story for you. Here is a list of what makes this book so unique:
•
IT’S BEAUTIFUL
This book is heavy, the pages are thick. It’s why I was drawn to it the minute I saw it. The endpages are the bright blue of the cover’s butterfly, and swipe left for a peek at the hardback cover. The illustrations are so lush (see my next post) I figured the writing had to be secondary to the pictures.
•
THE WRITING ISN’T SECONDARY TO THE PICTURES. Some passages are pure poetry. I admit sometimes the narrative is jumpy. It jumps from one part to the next quite suddenly at times, but this is the writer’s style and for me it worked brilliantly.
•
IT’S ABOUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER WORLD WAR 2, not during. I never thought much about what happened to the Jewish people when the war was over and they had no family or homes. This tells one girl, Gerta’s, story.
•
IT’S A ROMANCE, a really sweet romance.
•
IT’S FULL OF MUSIC. Music was a constant in Gerta’s life, and it’s how she related to everything around her. As a singer myself, I was mystified by the way the author described Gerta’s voice and her other instrument, the viola.
•
Last thing... IT’S ABOUT JEWISH TRADITION. As I said, music flows through the pages of this book, and so does Jewish tradition. The author is Jewish and she researched thoroughly for this book because she was fascinated by her heritage. (She even traveled to every concentration camp mentioned in the novel.)The notes at the end of the book taught me even more about the Jewish faith.
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Don’t be deceived by the illustrations, this isn’t a children’s book. The subject matter is mature. No curse words or anything like that, but some mature sexual situations are discussed tastefully. This book depicts strong moral values.
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If you are a teacher or a homeschool mom, you might consider ordering this for your teen’s schoolroom. I think it could be used even for art lessons, but especially for discussions on the war and Jewish faith.
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IT’S BEAUTIFUL
This book is heavy, the pages are thick. It’s why I was drawn to it the minute I saw it. The endpages are the bright blue of the cover’s butterfly, and swipe left for a peek at the hardback cover. The illustrations are so lush (see my next post) I figured the writing had to be secondary to the pictures.
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THE WRITING ISN’T SECONDARY TO THE PICTURES. Some passages are pure poetry. I admit sometimes the narrative is jumpy. It jumps from one part to the next quite suddenly at times, but this is the writer’s style and for me it worked brilliantly.
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IT’S ABOUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER WORLD WAR 2, not during. I never thought much about what happened to the Jewish people when the war was over and they had no family or homes. This tells one girl, Gerta’s, story.
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IT’S A ROMANCE, a really sweet romance.
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IT’S FULL OF MUSIC. Music was a constant in Gerta’s life, and it’s how she related to everything around her. As a singer myself, I was mystified by the way the author described Gerta’s voice and her other instrument, the viola.
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Last thing... IT’S ABOUT JEWISH TRADITION. As I said, music flows through the pages of this book, and so does Jewish tradition. The author is Jewish and she researched thoroughly for this book because she was fascinated by her heritage. (She even traveled to every concentration camp mentioned in the novel.)The notes at the end of the book taught me even more about the Jewish faith.
•
Don’t be deceived by the illustrations, this isn’t a children’s book. The subject matter is mature. No curse words or anything like that, but some mature sexual situations are discussed tastefully. This book depicts strong moral values.
•
If you are a teacher or a homeschool mom, you might consider ordering this for your teen’s schoolroom. I think it could be used even for art lessons, but especially for discussions on the war and Jewish faith.
March 22, 2018
This book is a hard look at the years following the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. While it's difficult subject matter, it is touching and filled with hope. Gerta an Levi, even Michah and Maria, are beautiful characters, and even in the starkest of moments, they are a true joy to the reader. What the Night Sings frames everything true and right about humanity against its most vile and heartbreaking moments. A worthwhile read.
November 21, 2018
I have read several other stories about the harsh conditions of the Hitler regime, but this book really puts it on a personal level. You almost feel like you are the main character, Gerta, who never even knew she was Jewish until she was taken away. All the dignities that could be stripped away, the Germans did. I hear of so many people calling others racist, but if anyone has a right to complain about being treated unfairly due to race, it is definitely the Jews. I already had a heart for the Jews, but this story really drenched me with the harsh realities of even living minute to minute. Or how surviving through it all was barely living again or having to start from scratch. Many stories with characters have drama, but because the Jews were thrust into such an unspeakable situation, the drama was mainly what was happening to all of them. I do not speak a lick of German, so I wish I had known about the glossary at the end of the book while struggling to read some of the words and phrases. Use it if you need it. I love the author's dialogue at the end of the book which gave a perspective of her life which really did add a lot of the flavor to this book. The only spoiler about that I will provide is that both she and the character Gerta are very musical. However, there are other similarities. I love to hear how and why an author wrote a story. I like to digest everything about that story that helps me to relate and understand it better. This book would be excellent in a middle or high school, as well as any adult who wanted to read it.
March 12, 2018
This book tells the story of a Holocaust survivor. Although many similar books end with liberation of the concentration camps, this new YA novel delves into the history of what happened after. The main character's journey is incredibly moving, and the magnificent prose and illustrations bring the story to life. I never imagined that someone could release such a new and vital Holocaust book in 2018, but here it is.
This story is both specific and universal. It deals with the daily life challenges and terrors that the character faced in concentration camps and what she did afterward, but it also deals with a larger issue: what do you do when life goes off script? I found this fascinating. In many similar books, the focus is on survivor's guilt, and although that is a very significant theme, this book serves a unique purpose by exploring how one can reshape their identity and dreams after losing everything.
The author's note in the back tells about the creator's own experience losing dreams and the identity tied to them. This book came directly out of her painful circumstances, and I am so glad that she created such beauty and significance out of her adversity. This is a radiant and important book, and even though I loved it for many subjective, personal reasons, I know that it is extraordinary. This should become a classic.
This story is both specific and universal. It deals with the daily life challenges and terrors that the character faced in concentration camps and what she did afterward, but it also deals with a larger issue: what do you do when life goes off script? I found this fascinating. In many similar books, the focus is on survivor's guilt, and although that is a very significant theme, this book serves a unique purpose by exploring how one can reshape their identity and dreams after losing everything.
The author's note in the back tells about the creator's own experience losing dreams and the identity tied to them. This book came directly out of her painful circumstances, and I am so glad that she created such beauty and significance out of her adversity. This is a radiant and important book, and even though I loved it for many subjective, personal reasons, I know that it is extraordinary. This should become a classic.
December 6, 2018
he was a good boi
April 14, 2018
I really liked What the Night Sings. I really liked how it was set after the camp was freed with relevant flashbacks instead of about the time in the camp. The only thing that bothered me was how the Maria thing wasn't more developed.
March 14, 2018
I’ve read many books about WWII and the holocaust but none quite like What the Night Sings. Instead of walking us through the terror and fear leading up to the camps, this book starts with the liberation of Bergen-Belsen and tells the story of Gerta in a mixture of flashbacks and moving forward after liberation.
I loved the monochromatic illustrations and the way we see a few different examples of what kept people alive during the horrors of the holocaust. I also enjoyed the way Stemper showed me the connection between the end of WWII and the creation of Israel.
It was painful but good to be reminded that life wasn’t miraculously better for the Jews following liberation. Many had no family left and nowhere to go. A book like this makes me long for humanity to learn from our mistakes and do better for each other.
I loved the monochromatic illustrations and the way we see a few different examples of what kept people alive during the horrors of the holocaust. I also enjoyed the way Stemper showed me the connection between the end of WWII and the creation of Israel.
It was painful but good to be reminded that life wasn’t miraculously better for the Jews following liberation. Many had no family left and nowhere to go. A book like this makes me long for humanity to learn from our mistakes and do better for each other.
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