We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport

by Deborah Hopkinson

Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson illuminates the true stories of Jewish children who fled Nazi Germany, risking everything to escape to safety on the Kindertransport. An NCTE Orbis Pictus recommended book and a Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Title.



Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

Ruth David was growing up in a small village in Germany when Adolf Hitler rose to power in the 1930s. Under the Nazi Party, Jewish families like Ruth's experienced rising anti-Semitic restrictions and attacks. Just going to school became dangerous. By November 1938, anti-Semitism erupted into Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, and unleashed a wave of violence and forced arrests.

Days later, desperate volunteers sprang into action to organize the Kindertransport, a rescue effort to bring Jewish children to England. Young people like Ruth David had to say good-bye to their families, unsure if they'd ever be reunited. Miles from home, the Kindertransport refugees entered unrecognizable lives, where food, clothes -- and, for many of them, language and religion -- were startlingly new. Meanwhile, the onset of war and the Holocaust visited unimaginable horrors on loved ones left behind. Somehow, these rescued children had to learn to look forward, to hope.

Through the moving and often heart-wrenching personal accounts of Kindertransport survivors, critically acclaimed and award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson paints the timely and devastating story of how the rise of Hitler and the Nazis tore apart the lives of so many families and what they were forced to give up in order to save these children.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Holocaust, World War II, Middle Grade, Historical, War

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2020

About the author

I write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)

NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.

I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.

Reviews

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the same attention to detail and straightforward writing style readers have come to appreciate from her, Deborah Hopkinson looks at how the rescue operation of Jewish children from Nazi occupied Europe, known as the Kindertransport, was able to saved approximately 10,000 young people.

In the first half of this fascinating history, Hopkinson details Hitler's rise to power and ties its impact into the lives of a number of Jewish families. Most people don't realize just how widespread anti-Semitic feelings were in 1930s Germany, but as Hitler became more popular, as his followers increased, many Jews who had believed themselves to be as German as their non-Jewish neighbors began to experience a definite change. For example, Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps for no reason, prohibitions were enacted so that Jews in civil service lost their jobs, Jews couldn't go to the movies or visit a park, Jewish children were no longer allowed to attend German schools. But on November 9, 1938, when Nazis attacked and ransacked Jewish homes, business and synagogues, destroying everything in their path and arresting around 30,000 men, many Jews realized things were not going to get better.

You may wonder why didn't Jews leave long before Kristallnacht? She points out that many Jews believed they could ride out the tempest of anti-Semitism sweeping Germany, that it would soon blow over. But when many realized they had waited too long, and emigration became almost impossible as borders in other countries began to close, a chance for some parents to save their children opened up. Shortly after Kristallnacht, a plan was put in place in Great Britain to get "unaccompanied children up to the age of seventeen" out of Nazi occupied countries without the usual red tape. (pg. 142) The children were chosen from applications that were filled out by parents, often without the child's knowledge. I cannot imagine the level of courage it must have taken for these parents to send their children into the unknown, but I can certainly understand why they were willing to take the chance to get them out of harm's way.

To help the reader fully understand what the Kindertransport was, why parents would be willing to send their children away to live with strangers, most of whom were not even Jewish, Hopkinson uses the personal stories of a number of participants, a cohort group of different ages and backgrounds. Through interviews, written memoirs, and oral histories, as well as an abundance of relevant secondary material, the individual stories unfold, engrossing and increasing the readers understanding of just what these children lived through, before leaving Germany, what it was like traveling to England, and their adjustment to life in a different country, most without knowing even a little English.

Once again, Hopkinson has taken a complicated historical event and made it completely accessible to her young readers. And as if the stories of these Kindertransport children aren't compelling enough, she has included an abundance of secondary resources of readers. There are copious photographs throughout the book, as well as sidebars inviting readers to "Stop, Listen, Remember." Back matter includes information about the people in the book, the; Survivors, the Rescuers, and the Historians; a Timeline; a Glossary; Look, Listen, Remember: Resources to Explore; a Bibliography; Newspapers, Articles, and Websites for more investigation; and of course, Source Notes.

I've read a lot of books about the Kindertransport, fiction and nonfiction, but this is by far one of the best. As Hopkinson parallels the rise of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism with the lives of Jewish families who ultimately chose to send their children to England, knowing they might never see each other again, she neither romanticizes nor loses her authorial objective eye so that a more complete picture of this little known but no less important historical event emerges.

The Kindertransport lasted only a short amount of time, from December 2, 1938 to May 14, 1940. The stories are harrowing, heartbreaking and although they took place 80 years ago, they couldn't be more timely for today's world, as people are yet again flirting with fascism.

I can't recommend We Had To Be Brave highly enough.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an ARC gratefully received from the author.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport by Deborah Hopkinson tells the true stories of many Jewish children and their experiences growing up in Germany and other countries as the Nazis came to power and instituted oppressive laws against them. As conditions worsened, it became dangerous for these children to even go to school or be seen on the streets for any reason. Then they were eventually banned from schools and public transportation. The author follows a number of children as representing the experiences of many more. Through the risky efforts of their families, many were able to be transported out to safety before the Nazis closed off various escape methods. Some were then hidden with Christian families or in orphanages and their Jewish heritage kept hidden. In many cases these children had to adapt to new languages, new foods, new cultural and religious conventions. In too many cases the author found that the parents, grandparents and other family members were soon rounded up and shipped off to the death camps never to be seen again. The author used the results of her research including personal papers and memoirs as well as interviews with a few remaining survivors of the Nazi Holocaust and it was very well written in presenting such a somber historical account of the Nazi cruelty.

[sophia marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*no rating because it's about peoples' lives*

All the stories in this book were equally inspiring. I loved hearing all the different stories of perseverance through these kids. Would recommend for a younger audience though because it is written in mind for children.

[Peivand · Rating 3 out of 5]

برای نوجوانها نوشته شده به نظرم
بیشتر حالت آمار و ارقام داره تا بیان انگیزه و اینجور چیزها
خیلی جذاب نبود ...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Imagine getting on a train and leaving your parents and your family behind.

Premise/plot: Deborah Hopkinson’s newest nonfiction narrative is about the kindertransport. There are multiple narratives unfolding. First there is a general narrative that is explaining, providing context, giving an overall framework for the book. Second there is a narrative that follows three people, two girls (Ruth David, Marianne Elsley) and a boy (Leslie Brent). But it doesn’t stop there. It offers a third narrative, a sprinkling of other voices, dozens of voices. These voices aren’t dominant exactly, more a background ensemble chorus to the the three soloists.

My thoughts: We Had to Be Brave is a compelling introduction for middle graders on up. It gives readers a glimpse, some food for thought, an opportunity to thoughtfully consider the past and contemplate the present and future. There is definitely depth and substance. Definitely feels. Though I will say this it doesn’t dwell in the darkness and sorrow overlong. It is straightforward in what happened. But I didn’t feel it was manipulative to the emotions. I don’t think the goal was to get readers weeping over pages and distraught to go on. You don’t have to push hard to get a reaction. Less is best in some cases.

Review the book in hand. Review the book in hand. I am going to try my best. I say this because when you’ve read hundreds and hundreds of books on the Holocaust, it’s hard not to compare, contrast, have favorites, have preferred narrative styles and formats. I thought this was a solid read. But. It left me wanting more, more, more. I wanted fuller biographies and stories. To be fair, this one is great about steering readers to other books, other sites, even videos. The author perhaps wants readers to want more, to dig deeper, keep seeking and researching.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah Hopkinson records events in Europe, primarily Germany, Poland, and England, following WWI. She gives readers a view of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and slaughter of millions of Jewish people primarily through the lens of children who were rescued from death via the Kindertransport, trains and boats used to bring Jewish children to England before nearly all emigration out of Nazi-controlled countries ended at the start of WWII. Interspersed between her well-researched text and the remembrances of those who were a part of the Kindertransport are many photographs from the era. Each chapter is concluded with a Look, Listen, and Remember box providing the URL to oral histories of survivors. Back matter provides brief biographies of survivors and rescuers, a timeline of major events, and a myriad of resources for additional research. Hopkinson does not make light of Hitler and the Nazi atrocities, but the photographs used and recounting of history is appropriate for upper elementary school students who may not have the maturity to process material of a more stark nature. However, the 300+ pages may be more non-fiction than that age group will read. Older readers will not find that Hopkinson’s sensitivity makes this book too juvenile. Recommended for grades 5 and up. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Eyeopener

We Had to Be Brave is an outstanding presentation of how German Jews sent their children away to be cared for in England and other Allied countries.

The author uses first person narratives throughout which spices up the story.

It is an emotional rollercoaster from the pain of releasing children to to loneliness of the kids in a foreign country along with the cruelty of the Nazis.

Superior book.

[Bettendorf Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author relates the childhoods of three young Jewish children before Hitler’s rise to power, during the persecution of Jews after Hitler becomes chancellor in 1933, and the children’s’ eventual escape on the Kinderstansport, an effort to send Jewish children to England. The author uses first-hand accounts through interviews, memoirs, and photographs that resonate with the reader. Chapters end with instructions to seek out online resources and video interviews. This is a highly accessible book for teens and adults that reveal a unique experience of escape and survival from the Holocaust during World War II. - John G.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the same author’s book on the Titanic, I felt the overall impression of the book was considerably lessened by the book design. Larger page size and brighter paper to allow for larger versions of the photos and better ability to see details.
I would also have liked more space given to Kindertransport itself rather than what seemed like half the book being spent on the general impacts of Hitler’s rise to power. Perhaps developing the book for a teen rather than middle grade audience would have allowed for somewhat less space being given to very basic information.
Still, there is absolutely no question as to the volume and quality of the author’s primary-source research.

[Eileen Mackintosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intended for students in grades 4 to 6. It was informative but perhaps tried to tell the stories of too many. I am so far removed from the intended age group that I am unsure about recommending.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful nonfiction book to add to your reference shelf. This book is loaded with important facts, Internet resources and photos. It reads like a detailed textbook with a wealth of information. A great place to go for firsthand information and survivor narratives.

[Tiffany Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book for teens about the Kindertransport.

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

NCTE ORBIS PICTUS Recommended Book 2021

"IMAGINE GETTING ON A TRAIN AND LEAVING YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR FAMILY BEHIND. Imagine arriving in a new place, where you don't speak the language and where everything is different. People wear clothes that seem strange; the food is different too. Imagine feeling that great danger looms and threatens those you love most, yet you have no idea what might be happening to your family back home."

Imagine, too, that you will never see your family again because most of the children on the Kindertransport never did. It would be another seven years before the war was over and by then it was too late for most family members.

Crazy.

In an accessible way, Hopkinson tells the story of the Kindertransport--a small window of time just before WWII started when Jewish children were allowed to go to England and live with foster families. Hundreds of children were sent with just the bare minimum – by train and boat to live with strangers in an unfamiliar land. After the war, England offerend citizenship to those who lost their parents in the Holocaust.

Hopkins focuses on the stories of three children – Leslie (a male), Ruth and Marianne. She begins by painting a picture of their childhood, using their words and filling in the gaps with additional details. Readers realize that they were kids “just like me”—they played games, had friends, went to school, loved their family members, had toys, etc. (A brilliant move on Hopkinson’s part.) She also weaves in Hitler’s rise and the voices of the three children talking about how their world changed, how they began to feel as though they were in danger. As a reader, I literally felt the tension in their environments, the toxicity of the Nazi regime. She also weaves in the stories of countless other children.

Then there’s the crazy move to get on the lists for the Kindertransport, to say goodbye to family members, not always realizing how dire the circumstances were, how this might be the last good-bye, hug, kiss. Being tired from the travel. Being homesick on arrival. Hopkinson does not get into great detail on the logistics of the Kindertransport and details about the adults who made this happen (there’s a few—just enough). She really focuses on the kids. And that’s really how the book is woven in general—what happened from a kid’s perspective which makes this all the more appealing to our students as readers. THANK YOU!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING ALOUD EXCERPTS, BOOK TALKING for independent readers to grab up and read, PROVIDING SETS FOR SMALL GROUPS TO READ AND DISCUSS.

BTW Hopkinson is a “go to” author for me. I still remember my husband being completely confused by why I wouldn’t put down Hopkinson’s book TITANIC: VOICES FROM THE DISASTER to come to dinner. “Don’t you know how it ends?” he asked me and I responding, “BUT THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN BY DEBORAH HOPKINSON AND I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE’LL END IT!!!” This book would PARTNER well with her D-DAY THE WORLD WAR II INVASION THAT CHANGED HISTORY—another thoroughly well researched, written book on this period.

PAIR THIS TEXT WITH Mexique: A Refugee Story from the Spanish Civil War (Ferrada & Penyas, 2020) - a picture book about 456 boys and girls sent from Spain to Mexico during the Spanish Civil War. Hauntingly familiar if you've read "We Had to Be Brave." Totally appropriate for older students reading Hopkinson's book.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Deborah Hopkinson has outdone herself. She is truly a master storyteller. Very thankful there are authors like her beefing up the children/teen nonfiction selections.

So far this is the best book I have read for children on the Kindertransport. I would say it is geared toward grade 6 and up based on the length, although it isn't as long as it first seems. The description says it has 368 pages. In reality it has nowhere near that. It's more like 254, with 100 pages of resources. It's definitely doable for upper elementary. I have a lot of students obsessed with the Holocaust, mainly because I have brought it to their attentions, and I know they would read this. The print is larger than normal and there are lots of photographs to boot.

Hopkinson tells the story mainly through the voices of three children, bringing each one forward one at a time throughout the book. She scatters in other children's stories when more detail is needed to see the full picture. She does a thorough job of describing the years leading up to December 1938 when the first train of children left for England. She describes how, little by little, the Jewish people first lost their freedoms and how that eventually turned into outright hatred. At first it was indirect. Jewish people couldn't attend public parks or theaters. Non Jews were forbidden from shopping at Jewish owned businesses. Children could no longer attend public schools. All of this was tolerable until it became personal. Hitler Youth would taunt child in the streets. Homes were invaded and belongings destroyed. Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, was the final straw. In November 1938, in retaliation for the death of a government official by a Jew, businesses, synagogues and private homes of Jews across Europe were destroyed. Jews who thought the insanity would end and things would go back to normal waited too long. Emigration lists were now very long and getting out was a long shot.

Thankfully, a small group of devoted, kind-hearted people took up the cause and found a way to get the children out. Great Britain stepped up, agreeing to take them in. For almost a year, children left their families to go stay with strangers in a foreign country. It was hard. Some children suffered from loneliness and homesickness for a long time. All of them thought they would see their families again, but most never did. In all, about 10,000 lives were saved through this program.

An excellent book for tweens and teens who want an introduction to the details of Hitler's reign of terror and how the determination and self-sacrifice of a few could make such a huge impact on innocent lives. Highly recommend.

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Had to Be Brave is a wonderful, well-written, and well-researched nonfiction book that relates much of the history behind the Holocaust in a way that is accessible and easily understood by kids who haven't learned that much about the topic. It contains a plethora of first hand accounts from children who lived through the Kindertransport. Those firsthand accounts really help children grasp what it would have been like to experience life as a kid before the war, something they can relate to and empathize with.

Thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for the gifted copy won through a giveaway!

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read more details about the Kindertransport, so I checked this book out from the library. It is targeted toward a middle school audience; but, I don't think that is a good reason for large print. The book is written like so many other history books are--kind of dry and listing events. I didn't like the way the author kept switching back and forth among the people highlighted. It would have been more interesting and easier to follow if she used a timeline for each person. It didn't really delve into that much that I had not already learned.

[Vicki Munro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but found it disjointed. It jumped from one person's story to another and while I was expecting to read of 3 children's journey, there were so many I lost count. It was an interesting read for an adult who had knowledge of the Kindertransports, but I believe that a middle school student would struggle to complete the book

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

While thick as a novel, this is a quick read as the reading level is low. A great book for a middle schooler with no background in WW2, as it captures a lot but skims across the surface.

I would have preferred only a handful of children's stories told in more detail over a shorter period of time.

[M.L. Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange Partner: We Had to Be Brave by @deborah_hopkinson. Releases February 4 through @scholasticinc.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FIVE STARS AND THEN SOME for this new nonfiction. This was FANTASTIC. Thoroughly researched, easy to understand, engaging, fascinating, superbly written...I could run out of adjectives. Very much my favorite book of 2020. I’ve only read four, but still.
Deborah Hopkinson, who deserves all the awards, takes us into the lives of many different real-life Jewish children (most from Germany, though the book covers a lot of Europe), describing their families and happy childhoods before everything took a detour to hell. Some of these children documented were orthodox, some were Jewish only by birth, and everything in between, but all of them were saved by the heroes and angels of the kindertransport. I had heard of this rescue operation in the late 1930s, but I didn’t know much about how it worked until this book.
I learned so much from this book. Oftentimes I prefer children’s nonfiction to ones aimed at adults, because I’m kind of dumb and don’t get much out of the adult ones. But this book was SO INTELLIGENT and well-written it is honestly perfect for all ages. The writing style is at a child’s level yet it is packed with enough facts and history to fascinate an adult.
It was moving to me to read the words of these actual children and to discover the fulfilling lives they went on to live after they were saved. Many of them are still alive and advocate for Holocaust education. This book is a beautiful tribute to their lives, as well as the lives of the saints who risked their lives to save them.
The book is full of photos and quotes to bring to life the children we read about. I have included my favorite of each. (Look at that angel in the picture.)
This book comes out next month and you really, really, really need to get it. Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy-all opinions are totally my own.

[Laura Koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the #kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.--- As a young reader I was always drawn to historical fiction texts about World War II and the Holocaust, and there are so many to choose from. When I saw this available for review, I wanted to push myself a bit outside my comfort zone, as nonfiction always does. I am so glad that I did. We Had to be Brave by Deborah Hopkinson is comprised of stories and voices of children and advocates from this time period that were involved in the Kindertransport, an operation aimed at trying to provide escape and refugee for Jewish children. Hopkinson weaves these stories together beautifully to create a timeline for young readers of the events leading up to World War II and the events of the Holocaust. She is able to make clear how certain events, such as Kristallnacht, had an indelible impact on the Jewish community. I was impressed that Hopkinson was able to use middle grade/teen friendly language to explain how Hitler came to power legally and how the Holocaust came to be. This was a concept that I did not come to understand as a learner until much later, and it’s an important lesson to learn if we want to avoid repeating the mistakes of our past. I was inspired by the tenacity and perseverance of the families that sent their children away, despite the certainty that they would never see them again. Likewise, I could not believe what the children went through in order to be safe. Overall, this book sheds light on an aspect of this time period that I knew very little about. It focuses much more on the events leading up to the atrocities that happened in concentration camps, and I think this is a story that needs representation in children’s literature. I learned a lot! This book is perfect for your nonfiction and history fans. Each chapter contains several black and white photographs. I also love that Hopkinson’s texts encourage children to be lifelong researchers. She consistently provides links so that her readers can listen and read more on the topics that capture their interest and passion. I have added this book to my Amazon wishlist, and I hope that you will too!

[Jenee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a profound book, and will be incorporated in our family's Homeschool curriculum. I finished it in barely over a day because I could not put it down! As a mother, I can only imagine the heartwrenching decision to send your child alone, to a foreign country - to live with complete strangers- in hopes for a better life; also knowing you would probably never see them again. -And the courage of these innocent youngsters is astounding!
I loved the unique format of this book, and how Ms. Hopkinson weaved real, personal stories into the history; leading up to/during/after the Kindertransport. I also appreciated Ms. Hopkinson's 'Look, Listen, Remember' highlights, leading the reader to additional online resources.
I plan to suggest this book to my Book Club. It would definitely provide some interesting discussion!

[Beth Given · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chronicles the years leading up to WWII, introduces middle grade readers to how Hitler rose to power, and then explains the emigration efforts of Britain and other European nations for young Jewish people in Germany. Many children had to be separated from parents and would ultimately never see them again. They went into the care of strangers in a foreign country. I hadn't realized there had been an organized effort to get Jews out of Nazi Germany; I'd heard of underground efforts during the war, but this occurred in 1938-1939, after Kristallnacht but before Germany invaded Poland. Though this book is aimed at children, I learned a lot reading it.

There was some coincidental overlap between this book and my last one, Florence Adler Swims Forever, as one of the characters was a young Jewish person, who has traveled to America but is separated from her parents because they were unable to obtain visas.

[Megan (inkand.imagination) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart - this book was so heartbreaking and beautiful. Stories about the holocaust always fill me with so much sadness; but this one was unique in the way that it also painted a beautiful picture of the children who survived. Their quotes and real experiences during this terrible time show such hope and bravery.

I really enjoyed the end of the book, where all of the children mentioned in this book are discussed along with where they are today and/or what they did as they grew up. It’s truly amazing how they were able to survive and make hugely positive impacts on the world.

This book is written with a Scholastic focus - meaning it’s aimed at younger readers, but I think that it’s perfect for readers of all ages. I listened to the audiobook, and really enjoyed the narrator.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is juvenile fiction, I enjoyed it and learned so much about the amazing Kindertransport. I was sad at times but inspired by the bravery and resilience of those parents and children. I love this quote by one of the survivors Sir Erich Reich, who chose happiness rather than dwelling on the trauma of his early years. “My instinct has always been to not stay down in the dark for too long, but to get back up as quickly as possible because the scenery is much brighter, more enticing, uplifting and far reaching when seen from above.”

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tears. Feelings. I was riveted to this book, but had to take breaks as it brought me to tears a few times. It's an easy read, definitely more suited for young readers but I learned things. I'm happy with it.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story of the Kindertransport prior to the outbreak of WWII. It is a young adult book, which could easily be included in Holocaust curriculum at the middle school level. There are lots of resources at the end, including a glossary and a section on "where are they now."

[Minetta Slattery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent telling of this piece of history from WWII. YA reading level, so if you have middle or high school age children I reccomend they read this, and you should as well.

[Pumkin pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice book! Love learning about WWII, and this book is no exception. Great narrative and writing, and great story overall. I recommend ages 10 and up for vilonce.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fine overview of the events and key figures leading up to WWII. A good introduction to the time for young readers (4th grade and older) especially around the perils, hardships and ultimately life-saving process of the Kindertransport. Something children can really relate to. Well written for that age level.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

We can't get enough of NF books about the #Holocaust and #WorldWarII and @deborahhopkinson is a master. I found this NF book compulsively readable. It's fascinating to read about the #refugee crisis that Hitler created in the 1930s and the way that the international community responded by taking in Jewish children. Firsthand accounts and interviews along with lots of photographs make this accessible and interesting. Grades 4+.