We Remember the Holocaust

by David A. Adler

Discusses the events of the Holocaust and includes personal accounts from survivors of their experiences of the persecution and the death camps.

Genres: Holocaust, History, Nonfiction, World War II, World History, War, Biography

147 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still, a sad story but have read most of this in many other books about the Holocaust.
It's a refresher course or could be a history lesson for those just now reading about
the horrors of the Holocaust.
I would recommend this to any reader wanting to know something about this tragic period.

[Rosalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

David A. Adler's book, "We Remember The Holocaust", is an excellent book to introduce the reader to the reality of the Holocaust. It is simple but well written, with many anecdotal narratives, taking the reader through the history of the persecution of the Jewish people through to its devastating "Final Solution", and the resulting cultural change to the face of Europe. The testimonies of how survivors fared afterwards is heart wrenching to say the least. Once again the question raised is, "Why did the nations of the world withhold help to the Jewish populations
* in the pre-World War II years,
* when they received information on the death camps during the war and
* treat the survivors so poorly in the DP camps ?"

[Moe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very sad but interesting. I learned that Hitler did experiments on the Jews. There were a lot of things that were disgusting and it made me cry in class. Pictures of all of the dead people and how strong the Nazi organization was and how it could keep on going. I learned that hatred is a bad thing and we should never let that happen again.

[Pauline Rutschow · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was awful and good.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This deserves more than 3 stars but I really can't bring myself to click that fourth one. So lets go with a 3.5 for me.
There is a lot of valuable information here, as with any non-fiction book about the Holocaust. But this one does things a little better than the others I've seen for the target audience. For example, and this is a relatively small matter but it's something that annoyed me greatly when I started reading more about the subject, this book translates what the German signs and posters said. I've found no other books, so far, that have done that and certainly not any for the younger crowd. I've read books that didn't even translate the Auschwitz "welcoming" gate. Granted, this is common knowledge to anyone to reads more than one book about the Holocaust but what about the rest of the readers? Especially the young readers who may not have read any others? We Remember the Holocaust translates all the signs, posters. etc. shown in the included pictures.
The timeline in the back of the book went a bit farther than others I've seen (I should specify that I mean "others" as in other books for younger readers.)
There were even two or three smaller items I hadn't known before reading this.
We Remember the Holocaust has a good number of photos too - some pretty graphic. I'm very careful with recommending this type of book to anyone not an adult but with this I think the content of the book parallels the photos beautifully. While some of the photos are graphic and disturbing, this is a very disturbing subject and IMO anyone who can handle what they're reading about can handle the photos. You still wouldn't hand this to a seven-year-old in my opinion, but maybe eleven or twelve? Maybe.... either way it's valuable and I'm glad I stumbled upon it.
I should also mention it can be read in an hour or two by an adult. Maybe even a child. Most of the last 30 pages or so are the time-line and gloassary.

[Jill Odens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read of the holocaust in the 70’s and 80’s. I could hardly grasp how such a thing could have happened. I was sure that if more people had known what was really happening, it would have been brought to a halt much sooner. It was a surprise to me later in life to discover that America had closed its eyes and borders, as did so many other countries, thus adding to the horror of the event. Now when I read an account such as Adler’s, I’m struck by how little has changed in our world.

Adler does an excellent job of telling the stories through the memories and experiences of those who lived through the holocaust. It is appropriate for young teens. It is necessary for this generation to realize how easily this scenario could happen again. One needs to know history in order to avoid repeating history.

[Angela Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside this book is real people and their story about their experience during the Holocaust. There are real pictures from the Holocaust throughout the book and the captions tell about each picture. This is an emotional book and it would be more appropriate for sixth grade and about. Students could use this book for research about the Holocaust, WWII, or to gain history knowledge. The people in this book talk about their experiences in the ghettos, the concentration camps, the displaced persons camps, and on the streets of their own town. The majority of the perspectives in this book are from the Jewish people view, not from the Germans view.

[Ashlyn Ahrendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of many of the Holocaust survivor's stories. It goes from the time before the Holocaust and goes until after it all ends. It heart breaking but very informative and well written. It's very personal as it uses many personal experiences. This book describes thing in detail and due to that I would wait until you are at least 15 years or older to read.

I wouldn't offer this book in my classroom unless I was teaching older kids due to the detail it goes into. It's a great book that is written in a way that is very informative and intriguing. For this reason I gave this book 4 stars.

[Sue Krawitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An account of the Holocaust, told by various people who survived. It was very sad but a book that needed to be told.

[Sam Doyel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat graphic, but an excellent and important read for younger audiences.

[Brandi Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Just excellent!

[Camron Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very emotional book to read. Sad how one man started one of history's greatest tragedies. I definitely would recommend this book for everyone to read so that they won't allow this to happen again.

[Cathy Boris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep learning more about things I already know.

[Dena Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, as many other reviewers have stated. Written in 1989, it is comprised of memories of survivors who were still alive at the time of writing. I wouldn’t recommend it for below 8th grade, due to its graphic nature in both words and photos. It is written at the 6.0 level and is worth only 4.0 AR points. The book includes photographs on every page, a table of contents, preface, detailed chronology, glossary, suggested reading list, bibliography, and index.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids old enough to understand this topic in history. The author does a great job entertaining survivors statements within the textbook facts. However keep in mind there are some graphic photos that could be upsetting for a kid.

[Allison]

Oh, this was the book I read at age ten.
Do not let your ten-year-old read this book.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative overview of the Holocaust, ideal for young readers or those unfamiliar with the subject.

[Colton Shriver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be a Holocaust survivor? The Holocaust forever changed those who endured it. The survivors emerged different people than what they were before this horrendous event. Guilt was a huge part of their lives afterward. Survivors were plagued by the feeling that they did not deserve to live. They felt guilty to have even a moment of happiness or peace. All they could think of was the masses of others and their loved ones that did not get a chance to live. In We Remember the Holocaust, by David A. Adler, feelings and emotions are explained by those that survived and endured this catastrophic event in our history we call the Holocaust.
We Remember the Holocaust is a mix of historical facts on the Holocaust and memories and stories from the survivors. David A. Adler decided to write this book to try and answer a question his son had asked him concerning the Holocaust. He knew that there were aspects of the story that history books could never explain. Only those who were present and lived through it could try and express the true horror and awfulness of the Holocaust. Each chapter is titled with a quote made by a Holocaust survivor. Some examples include “I heard marching boots everywhere”, and “Throw down a piece of bread. Give us a piece of bread.” The stories retold by the survivors dealing with each quote are very interesting, but sad.
While reading this book, I started to really think about the Holocaust. I began to realize that the Holocaust was more than just a historical event. It was an actual, tragic, life changing period of time in real people’s lives. After learning he could not get any idea of the horror without living it himself, David Adler geared his book towards trying to raise awareness so that we will never let anything like the Holocaust happen again. I think the author succeeded in his mission, as this book definitely had an effect on me.
Overall this was a good read. I would recommend this book to everyone. Every chapter amazed me with the history and some of the things people went through. It was written for a younger audience but it still kept my attention and taught me a lot. Just thinking about how people actually could survive the horror amazed me. Some of the stories in this book are too horrific to imagine. People were killed daily simply for being the wrong religion. The book did a good job however of explaining the Holocaust without getting too graphic. I will forever be amazed at the courage and strength of the Holocaust survivors.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

David A. Adler, son of a Jewish woman who escaped to America (via many other nations) just as the war started, began this book as a way to make the Holocaust more real for his children. The end product is a book full of information and pictures, a creation meant to be an introduction.


I enjoyed this book as the people Adler interviewed were children or teens at the time of the war. The stories the tell, from their perspective as young people, will make that time a bit easier to understand for my students. Within each of the nine chapters there are personal anecdotes, stories and pictures, giving this time period the humanity it deserves. The stories are graphic, but not overly disturbing, making this book appropriate for intermediate students as well as older students.


Students will have a well-rounded introduction to the events leading up to and after the Holocaust after reading this book that will, hopefully, lead them to want to read and learn more.

[Zach Naegele · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book several people recall their experiences in the holocaust. The book starts with the formation of the Nazi Party. As Hitler began to rise to power, Jewish citizens of Germany tried to run, but were caught illegally entering France and were sent back. It continues to tell of how the Jewish people started being discriminated against. They were forced to make themselves as Jews by wearing a six point star. Soon Hitler began to send soldiers into surrounding countries to claim them for Germany. Then Hitler invaded Poland and the mass discrimination against Jewish citizens rose to a new high. The Jewish people were rounded up and sent to live in Ghettos. From there, they were transported to forced labor camps, concentration camps, and death camps. When the Allied Forces finally arrived they couldn’t believe the horrors they witnessed. Finally some justice was served when the Nuremberg Trials were held against the Nazi leaders.

[Amy Heeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when I first learned what the Holocaust was. For a fifth grader, thats pretty serious, depressing stuff. I was fascinated of course and this book does a good job of illustrating various survivor's horrors in concentration camps. The fact that all the stories were true made it all that much more horrible and fascinating. One thing that set this apart from other holocaust books were the photographs that went along with the characters.

[rafaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

the holocaust was a sad think that happen to many jewels in Europe but the word was nerve being told how thinks did happen to jewels in the concentration camp! well. we remember the holocaust had show me how not only jewels had but the word suffer with Hitler action! some parts were to sad to read and i am sure some people cried reading this book! i think the worse thing i read here was how did they get away with the body's and public humiliation

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is meant to be a child's introduction to the Holocaust. Still, I learned quite a lot, especially the bit about the leaders of other nations not getting involved when they could have. I checked it out for my 7-year-old, but I don't think she's quite ready for it yet. Just a couple of graphic photos.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written for a YA audience and is meant to be an introduction to the holocaust, but I found the short book quite in depth and emotionally moving with the interviews and quotes. I learned a lot about what led up to the holocaust, which was pretty scary to see how it all happened. I think everyone needs to be aware, so that it never happens again.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for a younger generation, this is a surprisingly graphic and thorough account of the Holocaust using eyewitness quotes. I found it more moving and poignant than some other collections designed for adult readers.

[C T · Rating 3 out of 5]

People today must learn not to hate, to teach their children not to hate. They must understand that hatred can lead to discrimination and violence. What happened once must not happen again." (p.102-103)

[Belinda Dilbeck-webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for a young audience and very informative. When being taught about the Holocaust in school so many key ingredients are left out. This book gently and honestly fills in the gaps <3 Could easily have been read in a few hours but I read my books different then others :)

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an excellent resource for teachers who a) have students conduct research on the holocaust, b) needs supplements when they teach with The Diary of Anne of Frank.

[Rebekah Rosito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed when the author didn't include an article or passage about Anne Frank.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to rate. It was informative and well done, but hard to read due to subject matter, as would be expected. Everyone should read this or something like it to understand the holocaust.