The Dressmaker’s Daughter

by Edith “Ditta” Lowy

A young Jewish girl has been protected because her mother works as an expert seamstress for the Nazis. But how much longer can they survive? Based on a true story.

Genres: Historical Fiction

104 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Leslie Nelken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ditta was my mother’s girlfriend in Vienna (the one she shooed home on the day after Krystal Nacht) and I have l known her for much of my life. I never knew the details of her experience and this telling is so painful to read but such a necessary thing to know. Ditta’s intelligence, curiosity, and feistiness were with her to the end. Sadly she passed away last year but her spirit soars in this book.

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The shortest book I brought yesterday is called “The Dressmaker’s Daughter” by Edith “Ditta” Lowy with Joshua Greene. I’ve read a few books of his and he’s a good narrative writer. He is a popular lecturer on holocaust history, a former lawyer and brilliant entertaining communicator where he narrates the story of each holocaust survivor’s life. He narrates about this girl named Edith Jedlinsky. Her friends called her Ditta. She was born in 1926, Vienna, Austria. She is in her 90s. She only describes only very specific things about what had happened to her during horrible times in history when she was 12 years old, her life has changed for the worse. She has faced many challenges such as forbidden to ask questions in school, going park, swimming cinema so on. She sees many businesses got evicted, people drag out of their homes without warning, beating up in the streets, force people to leave their beloved homes without warning. What I didn’t know that was, Treblinka was bribed many prisoners to write their postcard letters to their families before murdering them. Many prisoners have written in codes to say goodbye so the Nazis wouldn’t know what it’s written in codes. As a result, did her mother’s dressmaker survive them together? You can decide.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see most Goodreads people have labeled this book as 4 stars, possibly on the simple structure of the memoir as it is presented. I would say it is against humanity to give it any less than 5.

I’ve read many many memoirs of WW II and Holocaust survivors and yes, they begin to sound similar. I even tho k checking the “spoiler” would be a bit ridiculous for this type of book. (Hint:she survives) Recounting the change of law, the deportations, the camp procedures, fear, pain, exhaustion that I guarantee few in America would comprehend, these books tell the life stories of those who lived.

Edith takes her story a step further to bridge the bizarre “after” to the events of her life. The simple title transcends the idea that random facts or events often were the difference between life and death; her mothers profession being a turnkey to life for them.

P. 43 “ I saw what was happening but refused to believe it. My disbelief was a self-protection mechanism. Your eyes see something unbelievable, so your mind refuses to believe it. Yet in another part of your awareness, you know it’s true. “

P. 69 “That is how we survived. By chance. A stranger pointed a finger to the right instead of to the left.”

P. 101 “So what lesson can I offer you from my experience? Maybe the best answer I can give is this: Study, learn and never stop learning. The history of humanity is one of constant learning-learn how to live a civilized life, learn from the mistakes of the past, learn to recognize the symptoms of tyranny and how to address them before it is too late…”

I’ll continue to read each account I come upon because they are key to our humanity and our future as humans.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son loves Historical Fiction and he is 9. I am always looking for books he can enjoy and learn from. History seems to be one subject he never gets tired of. I like to read the books before I let him read so we can discuss and I can answer questions he may have. This book will be one I recommend he reads. The more he knows and learns the better.

[Elena Davila · Rating 5 out of 5]

One hundred four pages packed with the atrocities of the Holocaust. It also shows the resilience of children, and the hope that we must have to make it through despite things not being "normal."

[Grace Garn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book on a real experience of the Holocaust. It was (obviously) not a extremely in-depth explanation as it’s only around 100 pages, but it was still a very good novel that kept my attention, and helped me learn more about how people in the camp lived and how they felt about what they were being put through.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ditta and her family life in eastern Europe. First, the Jews of their city are forced into ghettos, and then rounded up to be taken to concentration camps. Ditta survives multiple times because of her mother's dressmaking skills.

[Jamie Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for young readers

[Addyson A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am doing a research paper on the holocaust this was great information!

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about the holocaust

[Tanya Boulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy children's non fiction read. Such a sad but true tale. Interesting that newer generations have no idea of the horrors these people lived through

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little read for introducing (perhaps intermediate aged) children to the Holocaust. Bought this for our school library.

Would be good to read a full version of this.

[Olivia McCalmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, but it’s sad how she was a holocaust survivor. She and all the others never deserved to be prosecuted for just being Jews. I feel so bad for her and the trauma she went through.