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Alleen op de vlucht
'Alleen op de vlucht' is het aangrijpende, waargebeurde verhaal van een Joodse jongen die aan de Holocaust weet te ontsnappen. Tien jaar is hij pas, als hij op een dag thuiskomt en ontdekt dat zijn familie door de Duitsers is weggevoerd. Dan begint een leven van verstoppen, rondtrekken en liegen. Om te overleven vergeet hij zijn naam, zijn taal en zijn godsdienst en neemt hij een telkens wisselende identiteit aan. 'Publishers Weekly' vergeleek dit boek met het dagboek van Anne Frank.
Auteur Jack Kuper (1932) emigreerde in 1946 vanuit Polen naar Canada. Hij woont in Toronto en geeft nog altijd regelmatig lezingen over zijn leven tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Auteur Jack Kuper (1932) emigreerde in 1946 vanuit Polen naar Canada. Hij woont in Toronto en geeft nog altijd regelmatig lezingen over zijn leven tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 10, 2017
The occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union began with the invasion of Poland in 1939 and lasted until May of 1945. During the entire course of this occupation the territory of Poland was divided between these two forces, both of which were equally hostile to Polish people and their culture.
This is the actual account of the early life of Jankele Kuperblum, (Kubush) aka Jack Kuper, a Jewish resident of Poland during this time.
At nine years of age, upon coming home to find his mother and father taken by the Germans he employs all his fears to find shelter and survive, more or less in plain sight.
Jack’s is a brave story to tell, which he does in a child like voice, recounting his experience during a period of great shame for humanity.
I cannot imagine having lived through such despair, with so many victims, forever scarred, and forever changed, by this ordeal.
We all have our lists, bucket and other wise, like what would you do if you won a million dollars?
What if you could live to see but one thing?
Could it be for humanity to put an end to the inhumane suffering that we inflict upon each other?
What a sad thought that turned out to be.
This is the actual account of the early life of Jankele Kuperblum, (Kubush) aka Jack Kuper, a Jewish resident of Poland during this time.
At nine years of age, upon coming home to find his mother and father taken by the Germans he employs all his fears to find shelter and survive, more or less in plain sight.
Jack’s is a brave story to tell, which he does in a child like voice, recounting his experience during a period of great shame for humanity.
I cannot imagine having lived through such despair, with so many victims, forever scarred, and forever changed, by this ordeal.
We all have our lists, bucket and other wise, like what would you do if you won a million dollars?
What if you could live to see but one thing?
Could it be for humanity to put an end to the inhumane suffering that we inflict upon each other?
What a sad thought that turned out to be.
Give peace a chance.
August 30, 2014
Child of the Holocaust is the first book that I ever read about the Holocaust. It describes how Jack Kuperblum survived World War II in Poland by wandering about from village to village pretending to be a Catholic. This book is certainly the one that taught me the most about the experience of Jews in Nazi-Occupied Europe. Everything that I have read since merely helps fill in the gaps.
Jerzy Kosinki's "Painted Bird", Anne Frank's "Journal", Tadeusz Borowski's "This way to the Gas Chambers" and Jean Louis Steiner's "Treblinka" are all extraordinary books but I because I read them after not before Jack Kuper's book all contained less that was new to me.
If you have the strength to read another book on a very black moment in world history, Child of the Holocaust is an astounding and profoundly. This book relatively unknown Canadian classic and deserves to be read by more people living in Jack Kuper's adopted country.
Jerzy Kosinki's "Painted Bird", Anne Frank's "Journal", Tadeusz Borowski's "This way to the Gas Chambers" and Jean Louis Steiner's "Treblinka" are all extraordinary books but I because I read them after not before Jack Kuper's book all contained less that was new to me.
If you have the strength to read another book on a very black moment in world history, Child of the Holocaust is an astounding and profoundly. This book relatively unknown Canadian classic and deserves to be read by more people living in Jack Kuper's adopted country.
May 4, 2024
This was a very interesting and sad story. To think of a little boy coming home to find his parents taken by the Germans. Then, he had to do everything he could to stay alive. He “changed” his name so many times, he said he couldn’t even remember his real name at times.
The story was quite choppy. He tried his best to tell his story, but there wasn’t a lot of organization to the story.
There was quite a bit of language throughout. And a lot of talk of circumcision/uncircumcision.
The story was quite choppy. He tried his best to tell his story, but there wasn’t a lot of organization to the story.
There was quite a bit of language throughout. And a lot of talk of circumcision/uncircumcision.
December 15, 2015
A great story. I marveled how this young boy (Jack Kuper) was so clever to stay alive. He traveled by foot from one farm to the next to seek food and shelter. So many times he was turned away because he would draw attention to the families. The German soldiers patrolled the area, looking for Jews. He kept up the pace until the war ended. He was so happy that he visited the farms and the people that has helped him. They were ready to keep him and employ him. He wanted to find his family, so he traveled to his old home, nothing there.
May 4, 2014
The Child of the Holocaust, by Jack Kuper (Jacob Kuperblum) is Kuper’s own childhood memoir, of survival in the most extreme circumstances; and for those of you following my reviews, expect to find many books in this genre, as it is something of a fascination for me.
As with many of the books in this field, however, I often find myself, while compelled and overwhelmed by the author’s personal experiences – there’s nothing like reading such a book to have us realise how lucky we are and have always been – I can at times become a little frustrated by, and therefore disappointed in, the narrative style.
Firstly, the story: imagine, as a child, coming home one day and finding that your entire family no longer lives in your home; everyone's been taken away by the SS. Are there worse nightmares? What would you do, when faced with such stark reality, want to be with them? Or perhaps, endeavour to confront more hardship – for want of a better word – and so keep alive? Such was Jack Kuper’s predicament, and having chosen the latter option, this is his story of survival, via wit, a wing and, I imagine, many, many prayers, even if Jack, understandably, lost his faith, both physically and philosophically…
What a story!
But, alas, for me, I’d love the chance to re-write it, and I’d start by deleting every adverb in the book; I can’t help but think that Jack Kuper tried too hard to ‘tell the story’, when all he needed to do was just that: tell the story.
Still worth reading though…
As with many of the books in this field, however, I often find myself, while compelled and overwhelmed by the author’s personal experiences – there’s nothing like reading such a book to have us realise how lucky we are and have always been – I can at times become a little frustrated by, and therefore disappointed in, the narrative style.
Firstly, the story: imagine, as a child, coming home one day and finding that your entire family no longer lives in your home; everyone's been taken away by the SS. Are there worse nightmares? What would you do, when faced with such stark reality, want to be with them? Or perhaps, endeavour to confront more hardship – for want of a better word – and so keep alive? Such was Jack Kuper’s predicament, and having chosen the latter option, this is his story of survival, via wit, a wing and, I imagine, many, many prayers, even if Jack, understandably, lost his faith, both physically and philosophically…
What a story!
But, alas, for me, I’d love the chance to re-write it, and I’d start by deleting every adverb in the book; I can’t help but think that Jack Kuper tried too hard to ‘tell the story’, when all he needed to do was just that: tell the story.
Still worth reading though…
June 12, 2019
I am not sure that it is possible to rate a memoir like this.
November 15, 2020
From the very beginning, the book sets a somber tone when nine-year-old Jakob Kuperblum returns to his home in a village devastated by a German invasion. The Jewish residents were taken, including Jakob's family, leaving him to survive on his own during World War II. The young Jewish boy goes from place to place disguised as a Christian in search of food and shelter. All the while, Nazi-occupied Poland creates life-endangering hurdles that Jakob must endure.
I especially enjoyed the first-person narrative. Through Jakob's point of view, I better understood his struggles hiding from Nazis as he wonders whether he will see his family again. His interactions taught me how Jewish people were treated during World War II. Many of which will stick with me for a long time. The kids his age played games where they roleplayed the killing of a Jewish person. Jakob had to play along to conceal his identity. I found the contents of the book incredibly interesting yet heartbreaking. However, the slow pace and abrupt ending were a disappointment for me.
The holocaust was the brutal, inhumane genocide of Jewish people. The horrors they suffered from 1941-1945 were merciless, resulting in an irrefutable tragedy we should never forget. Despite the world’s knowledge of this, genocide still exists today. The world has not learned from its mistakes and the events occurring in countries such as Syria are evidence of this. After reading this book, I cannot believe the twenty-first-century timeline includes numerous genocides.
I encourage anyone who wants to learn about the holocaust to read this book. The story, told from a child’s perspective, makes it easy to comprehend the grave subject. I suggest those under the age of fourteen to refrain as there are some inappropriate parts.
I especially enjoyed the first-person narrative. Through Jakob's point of view, I better understood his struggles hiding from Nazis as he wonders whether he will see his family again. His interactions taught me how Jewish people were treated during World War II. Many of which will stick with me for a long time. The kids his age played games where they roleplayed the killing of a Jewish person. Jakob had to play along to conceal his identity. I found the contents of the book incredibly interesting yet heartbreaking. However, the slow pace and abrupt ending were a disappointment for me.
The holocaust was the brutal, inhumane genocide of Jewish people. The horrors they suffered from 1941-1945 were merciless, resulting in an irrefutable tragedy we should never forget. Despite the world’s knowledge of this, genocide still exists today. The world has not learned from its mistakes and the events occurring in countries such as Syria are evidence of this. After reading this book, I cannot believe the twenty-first-century timeline includes numerous genocides.
I encourage anyone who wants to learn about the holocaust to read this book. The story, told from a child’s perspective, makes it easy to comprehend the grave subject. I suggest those under the age of fourteen to refrain as there are some inappropriate parts.
September 13, 2017
The book Child of the Holocaust is about a little Jewish boy who has their parents taken away from him, leaving him an orphan. He then goes on a country-wide adventure with death trailing him the entire time. He starts off his adventure with a farm with a family of not Jews. It goes well until the Germans start searching the town he is in. He then has to flee, and try to survive the storm.
I liked the book because of the writing style. Although there are some inappropriate parts, the book was interesting and had some interesting qualities. It had an interesting writing style, which made you want to keep reading every chapter. The book was long, and it had lots of detail that made you feel like you were in the character's position.
I would recommend anyone who doesn’t know what and/or wants to know what holocaust survivors had to go through should read this book. It puts what surviving was like into words, and makes you feel lucky you were born when you were. You read what it was like for the lucky ones, and it makes you imagine what it would’ve been like to have been taken away from your home and family. It makes you feel empathy for the people who Hitler killed, and the lives he ruined.
I liked the book because of the writing style. Although there are some inappropriate parts, the book was interesting and had some interesting qualities. It had an interesting writing style, which made you want to keep reading every chapter. The book was long, and it had lots of detail that made you feel like you were in the character's position.
I would recommend anyone who doesn’t know what and/or wants to know what holocaust survivors had to go through should read this book. It puts what surviving was like into words, and makes you feel lucky you were born when you were. You read what it was like for the lucky ones, and it makes you imagine what it would’ve been like to have been taken away from your home and family. It makes you feel empathy for the people who Hitler killed, and the lives he ruined.
August 12, 2022
Jankele Kuperblum came home one day to discover that basically everyone he knew- friends, family, and neighbors- had been rounded up by the Germans and disappeared. He never saw any of them again. He wound up changing his name, forgetting his religion and heritage. He was forced to wander around, looking for someone to take him in and care for him, and to hide him from the Germans. What a stressful and traumatic way for a child to live! Personal accounts like these, especially those from wars or other major historical events, are so important. Having accounts like this one is invaluable to the historical record. I found this memoir to be absolutely heartbreaking, but very engaging.
February 18, 2021
Loved this book. True story about Jack aka Jankele Kuperblum hiding out and surviving through WWII as a young boy age 10-13 and all he went through to survive.
You come to appreciate all that you have and are given. Kids should read this in school to appreciate also what they have and how lucky they are for what they are given and that they do not have to go through what he had to, to survive.
You come to appreciate all that you have and are given. Kids should read this in school to appreciate also what they have and how lucky they are for what they are given and that they do not have to go through what he had to, to survive.
June 6, 2022
Verhaal over hoe Jack Kuper als joodse jongen van tien jaar oud de tweede wereldoorlog overleeft op het Poolse platteland door zich als Poolse jongen voor te doen. De hele oorlog door is hij op de vlucht, en dat stopt na afloop eigenlijk niet. Er is identiteitsverwarring en antisemitisme aan ene kant en christenhaat bij joden aan andere kant, deze zorgen ervoor dat hij als wees een moeizame weg moet gaan.
December 1, 2019
not a big fan for animal cruelty or the fact the author couldn't get most of the words right, a lot of misspelled words, and the fact that he wanted to be baptist instead of being Jewish is crazy, he was moving from family to family and went with the wrong people, 2 stars.
April 1, 2023
An essential Holocaust child book that compares well to Jerzy Kosinski's "The Painted Bird". Kuper and Kosinski knew each other and an implied rivalry was formed as to who was the real voice of the wandering Jewish child during WWII.
December 5, 2023
Fijn geschreven boek. Als lezer ervaar je het beklemmende gevoel van het Joodse jongetje dat zich in zijn eentje moet redden. Ontzettend indrukwekkend en bizar verhaal. Het boek is zeker de moeite waard.
January 6, 2025
Incredible survival of a young child. But book felt incomplete, it ends with he is in an orphanage and no indication of how what happened after. Writing was not good and surprised he has had a writing carer
October 4, 2017
Muy vívido, puedes sentir y sufrir las penurias y angustias del protagonista. Y saber q fue real todavía impacta más. Muy bueno y rápido de leer, nada engorroso.
October 8, 2018
Only gave 4 stars because of the very sudden and open ending - I hate an open ending
August 13, 2019
Wonderful!
May 20, 2020
What bravery and survival instincts this child had. I would definitely recommend this book.
May 14, 2021
Didn't like the ending. I really need to know what happens after!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2021
Historia desgarradora y muy interesante. A veces me perdía con la forma como recordaba pero todo bien
March 27, 2023
Very well written. I had a hard time putting the book down. So hard to comprehend what Jewish people went through during the war.
May 17, 2025
heel mooi!
January 6, 2013
Mike Stritzinger
Ms. Brooks
English 10
January 7, 2013
Child of the Holocaust is a historical non-fiction book about a young boy names Jankele Kuperblum who comes home one day to find his family gone. He realizes that they have been captured by Nazis because his family is Jewish. From there on out he decides to make himself a new identity, change his religion to Christianity, and wander through Nazi occupied Poland for four years from village to village for shelter and protection. Also, explains the struggles and fears he has to live through the hide his identity.
There are something's that Jankele says are very factual. For example, when he comes home he can't find his parents and he keeps asking himself where they could be hiding like the attic, the cellar, or under the bed. This is a good connection to the diary of Anne Frank because they hid in their attic to avoid the Nazis and it actually happened so I think it's interesting that they all had the same mind set on where to hide if they were to be found. Another event that happened is when Jankele is in the village with a bunch of Christians and he is with the other village children and they decide to play the game Jew. It's basically a hide and seek based game where only one person hides who is the Jew and the others try and find him and when they catch him they say pretty nasty things like, "Hand up you dirty Jew!" This shows that even the children were taught that Jews were evil and nasty by society and that's how it was. Finally, another thing I found to be an interesting fact was just how Kruper showed Jankele's fear. Throughout the story there is always a German soldier and it's constantly running through Jankele's mind wondering if the soldier thinks he is a Jew. This shows how fearful it was for many jews who lied to live just to avoid being captured by Nazis.
I would recommend this book to people who love reading about the holocaust or how Jews tried to survive Nazi forces going after them. It's a very good read and is full with suspense. No body knows what going to happen next in the story. The question that stayed in my mind throughout the story was whether or not Jankele was going to be captured or not. To anybody who is interested in Nazis, Jews, or how Jews tried to avoid Nazis, read this suspenseful novel.
Ms. Brooks
English 10
January 7, 2013
Child of the Holocaust is a historical non-fiction book about a young boy names Jankele Kuperblum who comes home one day to find his family gone. He realizes that they have been captured by Nazis because his family is Jewish. From there on out he decides to make himself a new identity, change his religion to Christianity, and wander through Nazi occupied Poland for four years from village to village for shelter and protection. Also, explains the struggles and fears he has to live through the hide his identity.
There are something's that Jankele says are very factual. For example, when he comes home he can't find his parents and he keeps asking himself where they could be hiding like the attic, the cellar, or under the bed. This is a good connection to the diary of Anne Frank because they hid in their attic to avoid the Nazis and it actually happened so I think it's interesting that they all had the same mind set on where to hide if they were to be found. Another event that happened is when Jankele is in the village with a bunch of Christians and he is with the other village children and they decide to play the game Jew. It's basically a hide and seek based game where only one person hides who is the Jew and the others try and find him and when they catch him they say pretty nasty things like, "Hand up you dirty Jew!" This shows that even the children were taught that Jews were evil and nasty by society and that's how it was. Finally, another thing I found to be an interesting fact was just how Kruper showed Jankele's fear. Throughout the story there is always a German soldier and it's constantly running through Jankele's mind wondering if the soldier thinks he is a Jew. This shows how fearful it was for many jews who lied to live just to avoid being captured by Nazis.
I would recommend this book to people who love reading about the holocaust or how Jews tried to survive Nazi forces going after them. It's a very good read and is full with suspense. No body knows what going to happen next in the story. The question that stayed in my mind throughout the story was whether or not Jankele was going to be captured or not. To anybody who is interested in Nazis, Jews, or how Jews tried to avoid Nazis, read this suspenseful novel.
June 8, 2010
This book i like it but has some part are getting bored or something is not so interesting for me,in the book i found some part very exciting and sad its make you keep reading , it is a good book to read and know how this child survive with his struggle in wartime, i like the sad part and the adventure he had in his struggle trying to survive. i recomend
August 3, 2013
Amazing that Jack Kuper not only survived as a Jewish child on his own in Poland under German occupation--but he survived as a successful, functioning person. Imagine an 8-year-old coming home to find his entire family gone. This little boy then used his wits (and a certain amount of luck) to survive the Shoah.
November 16, 2007
The first book i read of the holocaust
July 11, 2009
This was a pretty good book but a bit slow in places. I was looking for something with more action and brutal truth but it was still a good read.
April 7, 2012
It was years ago that I read this book, but I can still remember how devastating it was.
July 24, 2012
Proud to say this is my zaidy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews