Ashes

by Kathryn Lasky

Thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm's favorite pastime is reading. With Adolf Hitler slowly but unstoppably rising to power, Gaby turns to her books for comfort while the world around her changes dramatically: The streets become filled with soldiers, Gaby's sister's boyfriend raises his arm in a heil Hitler salute, and the Schramms? family friend Albert Einstein flees the country. When Gaby's beloved books come under attack, she fears she may have to leave behind the fiction -and the life- she has always cherished.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Holocaust, Historical, Fiction, World War II, Germany

318 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2010

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Written

I mostly enjoyed ASHES. It was told in the first person and thus drew me into the core of the story.

Additionally, it was great to have A beer Einstein made a visit. Wry creative!

With all due respect to Holocaust victims and survivors, this story added very little different to the tale. I am aware that the Holocaust should never be forgotten. This book retold the same story as many before.

I recommend to those not familiar with the Holocaust.

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are plenty of books about the Holocaust, for all ages and from all points of view. In Yann Martel's Beatrice and Virgil, this is problematic for the main character, a writer named Henry, because he has written what he feels is a fresh allegorical look at the Holocaust, only to realize (thanks to his editors) that in fact he has covered the same ground in the same way as countless others.


This is the challenge for any writer covering this intense, fraught, and oft-described subject. Ashes meets it by presenting the story from the point of view of 13-year-old Gaby, who lives with her upper-middle class family in 1932 Berlin. Gaby isn't Jewish, but her family is disgusted and alarmed by the fascist element - most notably Hitler's SS and SA troups - that seems to be gaining power and influence in Germany.


Gaby is a big reader, and so a huge book burning staged by the Nazis is a powerful and horrifying event for her. However, her antennae go up long before this, as the tone of her society changes in ways small and large, banal and menacing. We often ask "How could regular people have allowed such horrors to happen?" and this book will give readers a glimpse at how this might have become possible.


What if the Tea Party folks managed to come to power, along with those who have become stridently anti-Muslim? We have some powerful laws and documents to protect our freedom in the US, but if those laws became eroded, there is a pretty scary fringe element that would be happy to rush in and take over. Not that the US is anything as volatile or horrific as 1930s Germany - but what books like Ashes show us is that we always need to be on our guard against hatred and irrationality.


I sensed bits and pieces of many different books and movies about this time period in Ashes. There is a boyfriend-turned-Nazi, a la "The Sound of Music," and a scene in which a frighteningly blond youth sings a stirring patriotic song in a Biergarten is very similar to a scene in "Cabaret." It's Gaby's thoughtful reactions to the people and events around her that form the core of this novel, so a bit of retreading isn't so terrible.


Ashes is well-written (from the clear-eyed, if occasionally appropriately histrionic point of view of teenaged Gaby), and if it isn't strikingly unique, that's fine. The Holocaust is one of those topics we need to keep thinking, talking, and reading about, in order to ensure that it never happens again.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Berlin during 1932/3 this is the story of young girl's experiences as the Nazi party gains power in Germany. Gaby is the physical embodiment of the perfect Aryan with her long blond braids, but she doesn't agree with the changes that are happening in her country and her city. Her family is strongly anti-Nazi, even pulling her out of school when she has an unpleasant encounter with a teacher who is staunchly pro-Nazi.

Overall this is well written, but I found some of the supporting characters kind of flat, which made it difficult to feel anything later in the story. Also, I liked that the family had a connection to Einstein and I would have loved to see more physics woven in, or a girl interested in physics, but instead Gaby is made out to be an avid reader and excellent at math even though she spends a good portion of the book wondering if her sister is having sex with her boyfriend, thinking about wearing dresses, and sneaking into movies; it just didn't feel true. Note, the content of the book seems more middle school than J.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are so many books out there that deal with the torturous trials and horrors of the rise of Nazi Germany from the perspective of those who were being afflicted by the new Third Reich instituted by Adolf Hitler, but Ashes is of a very different blend. It's easy to forget how many Germans were strongly opposed to the Aryan supremacy rhetoric that was being doggedly pushed by their intense Führer in the early 1930s and beyond. Germany of that era is often broadly painted as a nation bent on world domination and the destruction of all ideas not of the Aryan order, but Ashes pushes back against that kind of historical laziness. In the novel, we see the increasingly perilous German world through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Gaby Schramm, daughter of a distinguished German astronomer. As the story progresses, it's easy to observe that Gaby and her family are as resistant to the discriminatory concepts introduced by Hitler as are any of the people whose nationalities or cultures are directly affected, and that the Schramms, too, could soon face the reality of danger for their disagreement with the harsh philosophy of the Führer.

In 1932, Germany is still a country in limbo, trying its best to recover from the sanctions taken against it after the major defeat of World War I. The German economy is all over the place, spiking and crashing with hardly any advance notice at all, so that one cannot be sure if the entirety of one's personal wealth will be worth much of anything in the space of but a few days, or even just a few hours. The economy is sluggish, at best, and many of the people harbor grudges against the Allied nations that sacked the German military a decade or so earlier, and made their home country give up both its fighting forces and a major chunk of its crucial financial assets. The time is ripe for a charismatic leader who can convince the smoldering German people that their once-proud nation has been wronged by others, and that the only way to regain their collective former glory is to grab on to the essence of German pride and stand up, rising above the unfavorable punitive circumstances created by the end of World War I to demand the lion's share of global power.

Gaby uneasily watches as the political climate in Germany begins to change. Adolf Hitler goes from being an unpopular politician to a cult figure with the masses, as greater and greater numbers of Germans begin to buy into his basic philosophy of Aryan pride. The scene grows increasingly unaccommodating for Jews and for anyone who holds ideas contrary to those espoused by Hitler; this would include Gaby's parents—who despise Hitler and his frightening plans for a "pure" Germany—and their friend Baba Blumenthal, a Jewish reporter who always publishes the truth about what's going on in Germany, even when it makes her unpopular with the new guard. Soon, strong hints spread that literature considered "un-German", or which forwards the consideration of ideas that go against the Third Reich, will be confiscated and burned as a way to rid the country of all toxic influences to the new path of glory that Hitler envisions. As German poet Heinriche Heine wrote, however, "Where they burn books, they will end by burning human beings." The slippery slope toward the eventual extermination of the people themselves who oppose Hitler will have been begun, and the full-blown horrors of the Holocaust will have seen their commencement.

The attitude with which Gaby views all of this going on around her is smart and studied, probably because she, herself, is such an advanced reader. Gaby holds dear the written thoughts of literary artists such as Mark Twain, Jack London, Heinriche Heine and Ernest Hemingway; she knows well the power inherent in literature, and how wrong it is to eliminate the writings of some authors just because one may disagree with their point of view. Her internal observations of the trend toward destruction that she sees around her carry the sharp snap of poignancy, as do her spoken words. For example, when Gaby learns that someone she knows has thrown in with the other Nazi book burners, she says, "I'll say whatever I want. I'm not a book. You can't burn me!" Just a few years later, of course, the Führer would prove that he had no qualms about burning people who disagreed with him. Six million Jews and I'm not sure how many others would meet the end of their lives in ashes, reduced to nothing but black and gray soot by the man who had come to wield control over every facet of their existence. Not even an "Aryan" girl like Gaby, daughter of a German astronomer who dared subscribe to ideas that originated in a Jewish mind like Einstein's, would be safe from the flames when Hitler's rule hit the zenith of its madness.

Ultimately, Gaby is trying to figure out adolescence—which is hard enough on its own—concurrent to dealing with the advent of one of the most horrible times in modern history. We look back on the scene and realize, more or less, how everything is going to happen, but those who lived during that time had no such assurance of how the reign of Hitler would meets its final end. What if Hitler did take over the world, and continued the suppression of Jewish ideas and people until they were all just...gone? What if Hitler's frightening military forces were to keep on growing until not even the world's most powerful nations could defeat them, and Aryan supremacy was subsequently lifted up as the law of the land for the whole world? I think that it's important when reading a book like Ashes to let our minds travel down these same paths as those of the people of the time; to suspend our foreknowledge for a while and allow ourselves to explore the narrative with minds free of preconceptions. It's scary to see the uncertainty of that world the way that it would have looked to Gaby, but I believe that we can learn a lot more from the book if we're willing to take that approach.

Ashes is an important novel that deals with themes from the era directly preceding World War II that often go mostly unnoticed. It is a story that has the potential to truly expand the scope of one's mind, which is always a good thing to look for in literature of historical fiction. I would recommend the book to anyone, and likely give it a three-and-a-half-star rating.

[Marjorie Ingall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suffers from a slow beginning, but it gathers steam super-fast. It’s the story of 13-year-old Gaby, a pretty, book-loving non-Jew in 1930s Germany. Her father is an astrophysicist at the University of Berlin, a colleague and friend of Albert Einstein; her mom’s best pal Baba is a fabulous Jewish society columnist. Gaby’s life seems sweet – luscious descriptions of parties, society events and fabulous outfits will delight fashion-loving girls -- but the Nazis are gaining power and anti-Fascist intellectuals like her family are disparagingly called “White Jews.” Einstein’s work is derided as “Jewish physics” and Gaby’s beloved, chic literature teacher isn’t who she seems. Adults will see some of the plot twists coming, but kids won't. Strangely, as another Goodreads reviewer notes, there's a scene that's a carbon copy of one in the movie Cabaret; I'm gonna choose to think that Lasky forgot she'd seen the movie and the scene worked its way into her subconscious. Each chapter begins with a well-chosen, pointed quote from an author Gaby loves – Jack London, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Heinrich Heine – authors whose books are burned by the Nazis at the book’s climax. American Jewish kids need to know that not all Germans were Nazis, and this very readable book is a good way to teach them.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is pretty comfortable for Gabriella Schramm, 13, called Gaby by friends and family. Living in 1932 Berlin, her upper middle class family is better off than most Germans at the time. Her father is a renowned scientist, teaching astronomy at the University, and is friends with Albert Einstein. Her mother, an former pianist who gives lessons at home now, hob nobs with Baba, a well-respected Jewish society columnist for the only newspaper in Berlin that isn't pro-Nazi. Gaby's older sister, Ulla, is scheduled to begin studying at a conservatory in Vienna next year. And Gaby, who loves to read anything she can get her hands on, including Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, Mark Twain and my personal favorites Rainer Maria Remarque and Erich Kästner, is looking forward to reading Heinrich Heine's poetry in Gymnasium after summer vacation.

But things are beginning to change, both within Gaby's family and all over Germany. First, Ulla insists on remaining in Berlin for the summer instead of going to the family's lakeside vacation home, claiming she has a bookkeeping job at the cabaret where her boyfriend Karl, an engineering student, works. But when Karl and Ulla come to visit, Gaby begins to suspect that Karl is a Nazi supporter. She had already suspected the same thing of the family housekeeper, Hertha and the man who maintains their Berlin apartment building. In fact, Gaby has noticed a significant increase in the number of Brown Shirts (SA) and Black Shirts (SS) all over Berlin despite the ban on them.

Back in school after vacation, Gaby and her best friend Rosa are overjoyed to begin studying literature with the very beautiful, kind, well-dressed Frau Hofstadt, who is picked up everyday by a mysterious limousine. But, at home, the talk is more and more about the political situation, which in 1932 is all over the place, though everyone is relieved when the Nazis loose seats in the Reichstag (Parliament), hoping that that will be an end to Hitler and his Nazi party.

But that's not what happens at all and through all kinds of twists and turns, Hitler is named Chancellor by President Hindenburg at the end of January 1933. And with amazing speed, Gaby watches her previously safe, happy world fall completely to pieces.

The period 1919-1933 was such a complicated time in German history and politics. The Nazis referred to it as the Kampfzeit, the time of struggle to gain acceptance and power for their radical policies. Lasky covers only 1932-1933 in Ashes and kudos to her for successfully tackling it in a novel for young readers. There is lots of talk about events that actually happened, and Lasky provides enough information to understand it without overwhelming or boring the reader.

Ashes is a well-written novel, and although it is a little slow in places, given the time and place of the action, it is indeed a worthwhile read. I particularly loved that each chapter begins with a quote from a book Gaby loves and which foreshadows what happens in that chapter. And since Gaby witnesses the Nazi book burning on May 10, 1933, it is all the more poignant a reminder of some of what was lost in that tragic event.

The novel is told from Gaby's point of view, which gives us her very subjective, but very astute observation, not only of what is happening around her, but how she thinks and feels about it all, A fine example of that is when she witnesses her former math teacher, Herr Berg, being removed from her school by the Nazis for being Jewish, and disappears. The reader feels her shock, disgust, sadness and despair all at the same time.

Some of the scenes may feel a little cliche and I am not the first person to realize that Karl resembles Lisle's Hitler Youth boyfriend from The Sound of Music, and that there is a scene similar to one in Cabaret, in which everyone in an outdoor Biergarten joins a Hitler Youth in singing a Nazi song. But, these scenes also make a necessary point (and people have traditionally joined in singing in Biergartens in Germany, it wasn't just a Nazi thing to show support).

Ashes is a nice contribution to the body of Holocaust and World War II literature and on its own, a very interesting book about a very complex time made accessible by good research and skillful writing.

This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was purchased for my personal library

This review was originally posted at The Children's War

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical novel, set in Berlin, Germany, presents the unique viewpoint of a teenage girl, not Jewish and anti-Nazi, who witnesses Hitler's rise to power in the crucial years 1932 to 1933. Gabrielle and her family have Jewish friends (Einstein!) who are affected by the growing anti-Semitism fostered by the Nazis. Her father is an astronomy professor at the university, and her mother is a piano teacher, both intellectual positions in a time when intellectuals (i.e., free thinkers) were suspect. To complicate matters, sister Ulla's boyfriend and the maid Hertha both act suspiciously Nazi. I enjoyed this novel most of all for this depiction of what life was like for ordinary people as Germany moved through political turmoil. I had never read about this before and was fascinated. Lasky presents pro-Nazi Germans as either seeing an opportunity to better themselves through schmoozing and sucking up or as people genuinely and perhaps blindly believing that Hitler would make things better. Because Gabriella is raised by parents who value intellectual freedom and who are not racially prejudiced, she also has those values, and is repulsed by the injustices she sees around her.

What particularly impressed me about Gabrielle was the books she read. Today's 13- to 14-year-olds would be reading YA novels or maybe Stephen King or Danielle Steele. This girl and her friends were reading Hemingway, Jack London, Erich Maria Remarque, Mark Twain, and other "classic" authors who, today, are generally only read by kids of that age for school assignments. Perhaps it's because there was no genre of YA literature back then, nothing transitional for teens, or perhaps, their parents being intellectuals, they were encouraged to read adult books at an earlier age. Gabrielle also has very mature ideas and insights for a girl of her age, perhaps as a result of her parents and the kind of literature she reads.

Lasky provides an introduction describing the events leading up to the beginning of the story and historical notes at the end giving further information on the historical characters mentioned in the story, as well as the real people who inspired some of the main characters. It lacked only a timeline or chronology of events, which I would have found useful. My local library system classed this novel as juvenile, but I think it's more YA, and that's how I'm classing it. Because of its insights into the political situation and how the German people thought as Hitler came to power, this would be a fantastic read for a class studying World War II. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Note to anyone reading the hardcover edition: In the beginning and toward the end there were several disconcerting typos.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm lives a comfortable and happy life with her middle class family in Berlin, Germany in 1932. Her father is a scientist who studies and teaches physics at the university. Because of his work, Albert Einstein is a friend of the family. Gaby enjoys reading books, going on after school outings to the zoo and the movies with her best friend, Rosa, and spending summers at her family's vacation home by the lake. Her biggest worry up until now has been the teacher who confiscates the books he catches Gaby reading during class. But all that is about to change, as Adolf Hitler grows in popularity and power.

First, Hitler’s private army, in their brown uniforms, begins to fill the streets of Berlin. Then the persecution of Jews and communists begins. Intellectuals and scientists like Gaby’s father are a target, too, for teaching un-German ideas and for not supporting the Nazis. Gaby is increasingly worried that her older sister Ulla’s boyfriend may be a Nazi. And even the books Gaby enjoys escaping into in these troubled times are becoming a target. As her entire world changes and seems to crumble around her, Gaby must come to terms with all that she has lost.

Ashes is a fascinating and often troubling look at life in Germany during Hitler’s rise to power. Gaby was a very likeable heroine. I especially enjoyed that she loved reading and that books were her escape into another world, which reminded me of myself at her age. If you enjoy historical fiction and are interested in this time period then I highly recommend you read this book, and I also think it would make good supplemental reading for preteens and young teens learning about this era of history in school.

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

3.5 - I have this listed as 'Holocaust' for my own personal knowledge but it maybe shouldn't be. If I had a list for this time period titled something else I'd use that but being that I don't and I don't think it's worth it for me to make a new one I'll use this.
I flew through this and can say for sure that the only aspect I did not like was the use of actual people in the book. Maybe that's because I don't usually read much historical fiction but it's strange to me to add the real Albert Einstein and Josephine Baker into a fictional book. I'd have rather seen a fictional character based on the two of them. This drastically took away from the book for me.
Besides this, and this isn't something easy to get past if you ask me, the book is really good. I loved the German words and phrases and it reminded me of when I was younger reading the words and phrases I heard so often. I liked that this was a different look into this time. As important as survivor testimonies and fictional accounts of the Holocaust from the survivor standpoint are, we hear less about what life was like for Germans, especially a family so against Hitler. The feelings of Gaby and her family really showed.
I really love how easy it is to understand the timeline of how Hitler and the Holocaust came about. Much of that can be very confusing and unless it's explained properly one can really get turned around. This could be tedious to go through for anyone who knows a decent amount about WW1 and the beginning of Hitler's rise but I think it's explained well here and it wasn't bad to rehash IMO.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book from my shelf randomly because I needed something to read, having left my actual book at home by mistake. I couldn't put the book down. I've never read anything by Kathryn Lasky before b/c she gravitates more toward fantasy which is not my favorite genre, but I liked this book. It is, perhaps, the only book I've ever read which talks about normal German citizens living through the events leading up to and chronicling Hitler's rise to power. Stepping into the lives of a normal family (and by normal I mean they are leery and appalled by Hitler, his claims, and his policies) as they read, listen, and watch first-hand the events leading to Hitler's eventual takeover provided a perspective I have never read before, and I found it fascinating -- and a little frightening since I could see many parallels to events in our own country today.

If there is a downside, I thought the ending was a little rushed and left many loose ends about important characters, and I felt the main character, through whose eyes and ears the story is revealed, was portrayed somewhat unrealistically. On the other hand, I suppose if the targeted audience is younger, she would be perceived as believable. She just displayed a knowledge of political and current events that I found a little unrealistic for someone her age. Ultimately the story told was a good one, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in this time period.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

It's 1932 Berlin, and Adolph Hitler is starting to become extremely popular. This is the story of one family's stance against the rising Nazi party, as told by a 13 year old girl who loves to read and is nervous about losing her freedom.

Note for parents: There are a couple swear words and passing mention of some mature themes. Best for grades 6 and up.

-Beth M.-

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was browsing Barnes and Noble Kathryn Lasky's latest book cover caught my eye. Without even reading the synopsis, I knew Ashes would be about some aspect of the Holocaust and World War II. I love when I stumble upon great book finds!


Ashes is a very well written novel that takes place during 1932 and 1933 at the very beginning of Hitler's rise to power. The main character, Gaby, is a teenager whose father is an astronomy professor. Her father works with Albert Einstein and the her family actually lives next door to the renowned scientist. Her mother's best friend is an entertainment reporter for a Berlin newspaper. Although Gaby's family is not Jewish, it would seem all of their close relations are. It is these close relationships that fuel the family's hatred for the changing government policies.


For me, the greatest strength of this novel is the background knowledge the story provides. Lasky explains how Germany's defeat in the first World War impacted its economy and political standings. She also describes the transition of power that from Hindenburg to Hitler. Through the character of the family's housekeeper, Lasky shows how the ordinary German citizen could become easily enthralled with Hitler and his promises.


Ashes will be an excellent addition to my Holocaust library and an excellent way to begin a unit of study of this monumental time in history.

[Jackie Doty-abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabriella is living the typical life of a 13-year-old school girl in Berlin, Germany, during the time leading up to the rise of Adolf Hitler. Gabby's family is German, but they are not in favor of Hitler and live in denial that he could actually gain a following in Berlin. Gabby's father is an astrophysicist and associates with the likes of Albert Einstein and other Jewish physicists. Much of the story revolves around the family's friendship with Einstein and other close Jewish friends. Gabby begins to become disenfranchised when she realizes that "average" Germans, like her housekeeper and favorite teacher, are becoming Nazi sympathizers. Her sister even falls in love with a guy who turns out to be involved with the Nazi party and book burning. Eventually, her family is forced to leave Berlin as her father is considered a follower of Jewish physics.

I have read a lot of fiction set in this time period, but it was usually from a Jewish perspective. It was enlightening to experiene it from a German's perspective. I especially enjoyed the brief history lesson at the beginning of the book.

[Emily Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of a 13-year old girl who grows up in Germany during the Holocaust. She is an eager reader, who lives with her dad who is a scientist that works alongside Albert Einstien. With the Nazis and "Brown Shirts" becoming more apparent, their family discusses the topic more and more leading to her curiosity. She eventually joins Hitlers youth because of outside pressure from her teacher.

This would be an effective book for any class learning about the Holocaust, and it would additionally align with writing from different perspectives. There are a ton of books on the Holocaust, but this one takes an interesting twist to the typical perspective. Students could then put themselves into the situation, and possibly write a letter to someone from the perspective of the author. This would give students a way to interact and dive deeper into how it may have felt to live in their shoes.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is it like when the world around you reveals itself to be a lot uglier and more full of hate than you ever thought possible? Lasky explores this question within the context of the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, but it's not just a piece of historical fiction because of the world we find ourselves in.

[Ysbrandt Seghers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a very great book. The beginning was very slow and took a while for the story to become more interesting. Great storylines for many of the characters and I still find it pretty funny that Albert Einstein was a pretty big part of the book.

[Iggy]

It was a little bit stupid but it was an ok book love the part when they are in the beer garden and when Karl's parents turn out to be loyal Nazi's yet their son isn't.

[Shavana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow along as a young girl Gabriella loses everything she knows thanks to the takeover of Hitler. She loses almost everyone she became close to because of Hitler. She goes through lots of changes with her family and her personality that cause her to make impulsive decisions. This is a Historical Fiction book that takes place when Adolf Hitler takes over Germany and creates a war. I love all historical fiction books but this one I didn't really like this book. I didn't feel connections to the characters at all. I felt sympathy for her but couldn't relate to her nor form a relationship if that made sense. The ending was also very unsatisfying. I wanted to see her sister, Ulla, to escape Germany with her family but no! Of course, she has to stay with the "love of her life", Karl. The ending was also unsatisfying because all they did was drive to another country like what? That was such an unsatisfying ending. It was very unclimactic considering the whole story was about Gaby not trying to get sucked into the Hitler wave. I also wish I could've seen Ulla say something to Karl considering that they have a whole baby on the way and GOT MARRIED??? Ulla obviously didn't love him after she found out and I truly wish she left him. I rate this book 4/5 and it's a fun read if you like historical fiction.
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[Ameya Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was okay. It's not that intriguing to me. Most of the time I got bored and I drifted off from what I was reading. I had to re-read because I didn't know what I read because I drifted off. It's mostly meant for people that are interested in historical fiction. It's about a girl named Gabriella, or Gaby, who lives in the time with Adoft Hitler. Her parents are musicians. Her mother is a piano teacher. Her father used to be a violinist until he got a disease that made him unable to play. And that caused him to discover a new job, an astronomer. He is also friends with Albert Einstein. Gaby and her friend Rosa are looking forward to the next school year because they get the best (and prettiest) teacher there, Frailene Holdstaf. Later on, Jews started to flee because Hitler is starting to raise in power. Einstein, for example, left because he was Jewish. Later on, Rosa and Gaby realize that Frailene Holdstaf is a Nazi or a supporter of Hitler. Trusted people are becoming Nazis. Also, her sister's boyfriend's family are Nazis. In all of that, Gaby turns to the comfort of her books. But soon, they are burning books! And worst of all, they are her favorites. For example, "The Call of the Wild". Soon, Gabby and her family are leaving, without her sister, Ulla, and her best friend Rosa. She realized that her whole life is forever changed. And not in a good way.

[Leane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I would love to give you the review this book deserves...but I can't. I 'm still way too distracted by the unusually large amount of errors I found in this book. I'll start by saying that I have an unusual talent for finding typos in books. So, on average, a person finds about 1 of 2 errors per book, correct? This book had anywhere between 10 and 15 typos. One page even had 3. This become the main focus of the book for me and I spent the second half screaming in outage that the publishers put this out for the general public. Therefore, I plan to read the book over again and document the errors. Honestly.

Content-wise, I thought this book was interesting because it is told from the point-of-view of a thirteen year old girl whose father is a scientist and colleague of Albert Einstein. The setting is Germany, early 1930's. Need I say more?

I'm sorry to say that this book is definitely going to have some problems making it to school library shelves. I hate being so analytical, but there was unnecessary cussing and other details that parents will just not like. I'm totally against censorship (most of the time) but I fear for this book's life. Excellent writing, but again, destracted by failure to edit. You would think that a book put out by a fairly well known children's author and publisher would hold themselves more accountable.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic! A new perspective on the events that led to the rise of the Nazi movement, told brilliantly through the eyes of a 14-year-old middle class girl.

Every once in a while you think, would Gaby really have reacted that way--with that much insight and maturity and courage? But who knows? Maybe I'm just wondering, as I always do, what I would have done in a situation that required me to take a stand on the human rights of someone who was being persecuted. How would I have reacted to being enlisted in Hitler Youth? Would I have enjoyed being a slave owner? Would I have boycotted the buses? I hope I would have reacted as Gaby does.

I really "liked" reading about the difficulties of the time without having to get to the crushingly horrifying details of the actual Holocaust and WWII. The preliminary events are bad enough for me.

Oh, and one more thing: anyone who thinks that the current American political climate mirrors that of 1930s Germany should really do a lot more research.

[Handd51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesky is a brilliant writer, and this book is very good - but I'm not sure for what age. Gaby Schramm is 13 in Berlin in 1932. Her father is a non-Jewish friend and associate of Einstein, a "white Jew" according to the rising Nazi thinkers; her mother a talented musician and piano teacher. Her older sister a budding violin player who gets distracted - and knocked up - by a boy who is active in the Hitler youth as Hitler is coming to power. There is a scene where Gaby realizes very directly that Ulla has "done it" with Karl, and that they were skinny dipping in the lake together. That and the fact that, to understand the story, readers need the historical context provided in the foreword - this story happens before the war even begins. The major plot themes are the growth of Nazi influence over daily life, and the sister's "situation" - but the writing style could suit younger readers. Good as the book is, I'm not sure how many students will appreciate it.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tackles the goal of explaining Hitler's rise to power in 1932/33 and how it impacts the life of 13 year old Gaby, daughter of a physicist colleague of Einstein. The focus is on the use of censorship, propaganda & mob manipulation during the rise of the Nazi party. The "ashes" here are from the book burnings, not the camps. This is not really a holocaust story, but might help someone see how Germany let Hitler get there.

I liked it, but I thought it was unevenly paced....which could have been the intention given the subject matter. I'm not sure what kind of teen I'd offer this up to. Someone with strong interest in politics & literature would love it... but otherwise I'm not so sure.

Also, my copy had tons of typos & errors....over a dozen or so. Like someone rushed to get it published. weird.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm, "Gaby", lives in Berlin, Germany. She tells the story of the changes in Germany as Hitler takes over the country. She is confused by the growing anti-Jewish sentiments; especially what it means for family friend Albert Einstein. Gaby is also horrified by the growing popularity of censoring and subsequent burning of books.

Lasky lists actual historical figures in the back of the book and fully explains who they were. However, she does not have an explanation of the events of this book. Readers are left wondering what from the book was based on actual events. Young readers are not likely to go find a reference book to find out if these things actually happened.

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I could have done without the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and after a while I started to ignore them. But the plot was compelling and the characters well-written.

Product Description
Thirteen-year-old Gabriella Schramm’s favorite pastime is reading. With Adolf Hitler slowly but unstoppably rising to power, Gaby turns to her books for comfort while the world around her changes dramatically: The streets become filled with soldiers, Gaby’s sister’s boyfriend raises his arm in a heil Hitler salute, and the Schramms’ family friend Albert Einstein flees the country. When Gaby’s beloved books come under attack, she fears she may have to leave behind the fiction—and the life—she has always cherished.

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about a German academic family in Berlin in 1932. Gabriella's father is a physicist, and Albert Einstein is a personal family friend. Her mother is a former professional pianist, and they have lots of Jewish friends and acquaintances. But as the Nazis are coming to power, everything begins to change for the worse. Her sister's boyfriend turns out to be a Nazi, as does her favorite high school teacher, and she and her family are disgusted when the Nazis begin to confiscate "banned" books and organize a huge bonfire to burn them. I felt this book offered interesting insights into the turbulent period as the Nazis were coming to power, through the eyes of an "ordinary" 13-year old girl and her family.

[Kathryn Spencer-kociol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent on so many levels! Unlike Lasky's Night Journey, the plot is sparkly new and original, a refreshing change from some of the youth literature that deals with Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. The characters were all realistic and personable, and Gaby makes for a very likable heroine. The emphasis is on the transitional government of The Weimar Republic, and the political terror and individual acts of violence witnessed by Gaby and her friends are told with realistically chilling clarity. All the details in this book feel painstakingly researched. Gaby's teacher, Fraulein Hotstadt is an especially interesting character. Highly recommended for youth and adults alike.

[Ramarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laden with historical details, this is a compelling read, even if those historical details threaten to bog down the book. Set in 1932, Gaby is the 13-year old narrator, whose family of German intellectuals watches with dread as Hitler rises to power. Gaby sees the changes in her everyday life, through their housemaid, her sister's boyfriend, and even a beloved teacher. Physically, Gaby is the epitome of Aryan beauty, but her family and their beliefs are completely the opposite. She is a spirited main character, perhaps a little too wise to be believable, but her story is also a coming-of-age story...and she faces it all head-on.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for 5th grade historical fiction book clubs. I thought it may be too difficult for this age group and I think I'm right. The questions the kids are asking are very basic history questions and we haven't yet gotten to the point where Gaby starts obsessing about whether or not her sister is "doing it" with Karl. I will be very interested to see what the kids think of the ending.

On a personal note, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and how they stuck to their values. Usually WWII stories focus of the Jewish victims, but this novel shows that there are no winners in war.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! i cant wait to find out how it ends! right now (11:08pm on 3.21.11) i am at the part where she and her friend, Rosa, are at the cabarnet- the chameleon. im not really that into history related books but this one ive had for a week and have read almost 150 pages and am in love with it (and im not the fastest reader ill admit it nor do i read every time i have a free minute). this book is in the time period of hitler and the nazis and the jews. i find that time period and the salem witch trial period interesting. READ THIS BOOK- you wont be able to put it down!