The Key is Lost

by Ida Vos

Her name has been Eva Zilverstiju her whole life, until today. In a couple of hours the entire Zilverstiju family must go into hiding from the Germans, who want to kill all the Jews in Holland. Suddenly Eva may no longer be Eva Zilverstiju, but another child with a strange French name.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Holocaust, World War II, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Childrens

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2000

About the author

Ida Vos (maiden name Gudema) (December 13, 1931 – April 3, 2006) was a Dutch author. She wrote books for adults and children. In most of her books, Vos wrote about her experiences as a Jewish girl during the Second World War. Her best-known book was Wie niet weg is wordt gezien (published in English as Hide and Seek), which was awarded with a Dutch literature prize for children's books in 1982.

From 1936, Vos and her family lived in Rotterdam. In Rotterdam, she experienced the German bombardment of the city in May 1940, after which her family moved to Rijswijk (near The Hague). In 1943 the Gudema family went into hiding. Vos and her sister Elly were separated from their parents during this period (relating to her book Hide and Seek).

After the war Vos became a kindergarten teacher. She married in 1956, and had three children. During the 1970s she was admitted to a hospital due to her war traumas. This led to writing about her experiences, first as poems, but soon in the shape of stories and - eventually - children's books. Central in her work was the infringement on her freedom by the Nazi occupiers and the time she spent in hiding.

Vos died on April 3, 2006 in Amstelveen at 74.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I read accounts of the Nazi's relentless pursuit of the Jewish people I am struck by how incredibly, unbelievably awful that must have been. It is very difficult to fathom how such evil could continue for so long. Though troubling, one evil man is not inconceivable. But, how one horrible individual was able to convince so many people to follow his orders is shocking. I pray none of us ever falls into such darkness.
This novel is a work of fiction but is based on the author's own experiences in hiding during the Nazi invasion. Eva and her younger sister Lisa, who must change their names and identities for safety reasons, initially go into hiding with their parents and another family. However, as the risks increase, the two young girls are forced to live elsewhere, apart from their parents. Multiple moves ensue and the certainty of their future and their parents lives is unknown. Much like The Diary of Anne Frank, the fortitude and imagination required to sustain throughout the ordeal is excruciating. Eva's feelings got deep under my skin; the horrors she witnessed and the pain she endured are something no human should ever be subject to. Not for the faint of heart, this read is wholly absorbing, albeit bittersweet and heart-breaking.
Classroom use would require discretion and sensitivity. Generally, The Diary of Anne Frank is reserved for the middle school crowd but this book is aimed at a slightly younger audience. For those teachers who are brave enough to incorporate the novel, it would serve well as a companion piece for lessons in history, religion, and geography.

[Mary L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and told from a child's point of view of hiding from the Nazi's in Holland. I can't imagine how they managed to survive the whole thing. The author included a poem that her mother had written for them so I think that it was a true account although it doesn't say so. It was translated into English from another language.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even jeugdherinneringen ophalen...

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Eva, her nine-year-old sister Lisa, and their parents are Jews living in Nazi-occupied Holland during World War II. When the Nazis began to deport Jews to concentration camps, Eva's parents decide that the family must go into hiding. At first, they manage to stay together, but then they must split up, and Eva and her sister are sent to a seperate hiding place. They lose everything but each other. They cannot even use their real names, but must use French Catholic names instead. In spite of all this, the two sisters cling to each other for comfort and find refuge in the imaginary worlds and adventures they dream up.

[Isabelle T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay, not one of my favorite books. There wasn't a lot of action in it and it didn't really keep me reading. Although it was pretty interesting and helped me learn more about the Holocaust.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An effective fictional telling of young people losing the security of home and family, security and even hope, threatened by the ultimatums of Nazi power in WWII.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book about the holocaust

[Hallie Cantor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva and Lisa Zilverstijn are Jewish sisters who must adjust to new names, new biographies, and new lives as they go into hiding from the Nazis in wartime Holland. The book vividly records their point of view, from curiosity to terror to weariness, as they are shuttled from family to family.

The author's depiction of the non-Jews is largely sympathetic. Hating the Nazis, they shelter the girls, and the parents, at great risk. The Dutch, too, suffered greatly under the occupation, especially late in the war, when starvation forced them to eat tulips and whatever else was around. In a chilling scene the girls, newly liberated, are invited by some of the locals to view the dead children on funereal display in parents' homes.

Both sisters are likeable and well-mannered, as reflecting their middle-class upbringing. Through them we get a glimpse of the underground network, and its vast and clever methods of rescue -- fake names, coded language, nocturnal movements. The girls are commanded never to shout, look behind them, walk around during the day, or give away their real names. They fight boredom in the basements or attics through books and board games. Like the author's other novel Anna is Still Here , this one ends with a certain redemption, as the girls help save the life of their last rescuer, a puppeteer.

While the characters aren't fully Torah-observant -- the Zilverstijns, like Anne Frank, were assimilated, as were probably most of the Western Jews -- and some situations border on adult nuance (i.e. one rescuer, in an adulterous relationship, ponders turning the girls in) there is nothing overtly offensive or risque. This book will appeal to all Jewish children and probably non-Jewish readers as well. It recreates the constant tension of being hunted, living one day to the next, and praying for a happy ending that never seems to be in sight.

[Sasha (bahareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The Key Is Lost is one of the four WWII books I read as a child that sparked my love for the subject. I look upon it with fond memories but this re-read for me made me kind of dislike The Key Is Lost . I was reading this aloud so these complaints might not come from someone just reading the text The abrupt scene changes made the flow and narrative of the story hard to follow. Sometimes Vos would say who was talking during conversation scenes and other times it'd be up to the reader (and listeners) to guess who was speaking ( in a conversation with more than two people )! The Key Is Lost does show the psychological effect being in hiding can have on children and I appreciated that it was a new look and insight I haven't seen in a long time. I do wish there was a pronunciation guide for some of the foreign words in The Key Is Lost though.

[MisterFweem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tight, briskly-told tale of World War II and the Holocaust, told in a way accessible to young children.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

schöner re-read aus Grundschulzeiten

[Ashlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know that the book was written based on the author's own experiences! I have read this book over 7 times and love it more and more every time. As a child and young adult, I found it easier to read historical fiction where the hard facts of war were glazed over. The book introduced the Holocaust in a lighter view to get the wheels turing. I loved that it was from the perspective of children which also helps children feel like they are connected to the characters. The book is medium length and a good read where you will laugh and cry with Ava and her sister.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually, I really don't like historical fictionon. But this book is so well written, that it reallly is good! The story is about two Jewish girls who are forced to leave their home and their lives behind in Holland during WWII. As they hide from house to house, they learn something new each time. But each move, their heart breaks mroe and more as they uncover more of the dangers and secrets of separation and of their people. This book is reccommended to those historical fiction readers and those who hate historical fiction!

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 4-7 271pgs

WWII Holland. Sisters 12 year old Eva and 9 year old Lisa must go into hiding along with their parents to avoid being sent to a work camp. While in hiding, Eva and Lisa use their imaginations to keep their spirits up and pass the time. Each time they are moved to another location, they wonder if this time they will stay until the war ends and they can be reunited with their parents.

[Cody Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a really good book because it is about these two girls that are in a war and there are hiding from the soldiers. I think that this book tells you a lot of information about the war. The main characters are this twelve year old girl named Eva and her nine- year old sister named Lisa. They go on a adventure threw out the city to avoid the soldiers and try to find new homes to stay at until the war is over

[Jo-Vivian]

I thought it was a good book because it talks about these two Jewish girls trying to survive World War II and trying to hide as carefully as they can with their father and mother, they were once together, but then separated thinking it was for the best, while the two girls trying to find themselves a home, they wonder... when this war was ever going to end.

[Sad Face · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good toned-down version of Jewish experiences during World War II. A good read for teens learning about the Holocaust, but won't traumatize them, great for easing into the heavy stuff.

Well written, suspensful, and engrossing.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a so-so book, not the best.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another yound adult book that was very sad. It was a coming of age story set during the Holocaust.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hard to describe in words, sad, happy, touching, etc. Well it was history and just that. A very good story.

[Delena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I like historical fiction around war time I enjoyed this book. It is a junior fiction book but I liked the story and the picture it gave of war survivors.

[Phyllis Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction quite a bit. I feel this story fell a bit flat in digging deeper into the two sisters feelings after going into hiding and being separated from their parents.

[Norah · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little bit scary. not realy for 4 and under. [people die]

[Sophie Langedijk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg hier heb ik ooit mn boekbespreking over gedaan

[Victoria Brenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS *chefs kiss* i think i’ve re read it 8 times now. I love it!

[Roma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I do appreciate the importance of her work, I do not enjoy her style of writing.