The Other Half of Life

by Kim Ablon Whitney

A heartbreaking novel based on the true story of a World War II voyage.

In May of 1939, the SS St. Francis sets sail from Germany, carrying German Jews and other refugees away from Hitler’s regime. The passengers believe they are bound for freedom in Cuba and eventually the United States, but not all of them are celebrating. Fifteen-year-old Thomas is anxious about his parents and didn’t want to leave his father, a Jew, has been imprisoned and his mother, a Christian, is left behind, alone. Fourteen-yearold Priska has her family with her, and she’s determined to enjoy the voyage, looking forward to their new lives.

Based on the true story of the MS St. Louis, this historical young adult novel imagines two travelers and the lives they may have lived until events, and immigration laws, conspired to change their fates. Kim Ablon Whitney did meticulous research on the voyage of the St. Louis to craft her compelling and moving story about this little-known event in history.

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

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Kim moved back to her hometown of Newton, Mass. where she lives with her husband, two young sons, and greyhound. She is a graduate of Tufts University, and has an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. She is a member of the PEN New England Children’s Book Caucus and is the coordinator of the PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. A lifelong horse lover and rider, she is a nationally licensed judge and officiates at horse shows around the country. She’s also a passionate Boston sports fan, and an excerpt from her baseball-themed novel-in-progress will appear in the anthology FENWAY FICTION.

Reviews

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1939, 930 German Jews set sail across the Atlantic Ocean on the MS St. Louis in the hope of escaping Nazi persecution in Germany and of finding political asylum in Cuba. The trip was costly to begin with, and then Cuba demanded $500 additional dollars that the refugees couldn't afford to pay. The ship proceeded to the United States and Canada, but both countries refused to grant asylum to the Jewish refugees. The captain of the St. Louis had taken it upon himself the make sure the passengers were treated with dignity while crossing the Atlantic, and when they were refused admittance into these three countries, he again took on the responsibility of finding asylum for all his passengers, refusing to return to Germany until this was done.

The Other Half of Life is a fictionalized version of this event.

Thomas Werkmann, 15, is traveling alone on the MS St. Francis from Germany to Cuba because his Jewish father is in Dachau and his Christian mother could only afford to buy one tourist-class passage and landing permit. On his first day at sea, Thomas meets Professor Affeldt, his wife and two daughters Priska, 14, and Marieanne, 10. They are traveling first class and pass Thomas off as their cousin so that he can join them for meals. It doesn't take long for Thomas and Priska to become friends and to meet other kids their age on board ship.

Priska and Thomas couldn't be more different. Throughout the voyage, Thomas is skeptical about whether or not they will be admitted into Cuba, while Priska firmly believes that they are finally "saved" from Hitler's persecution of Jews. Yet despite her infectious optimism and faith, Thomas continues to say he will not believe they are "saved" until they are safely in Cuba, making him metaphorically a Doubting Thomas figure. And, of course, we know from reality that they never are allowed to enter Cuba, but that isn't the end of the story for Thomas. Whitney's takes us much further than the Cuban port in her version of the story.

I found this to be a fascinating fictionalized version of the real events in this coming of age novel. In the space of a two week voyage, Thomas learns much about people, life and himself, much of this occurring in his games of chess with various opponents. Chess is a game his father had taught him and Thomas was quite good at it. He even took a pawn from his father's chess set and carried it around in his pocket. Though I don't play chess, I could still follow the games progress and how each one contributed to Thomas's growth. Slowly, he learns that sometimes people are not who they appear to be, including himself and even Priska, with whom he falls in love with Priska.

The Other Side of Life is an energetic novel, well-written with well-developed characters. At times I found myself annoyed with Thomas's negativity and with Priska's relentless positivity (is that even a word?) but I also liked the contrast. I also know I am a realist and in Thomas's situation, I would feel just like he does. Whiteny brings in all kinds of questions regarding identity. Thomas is a Mischling but raised in a secular home. It is on the MS St. Francis, fleeing a country that sees him only as Jewish, that he begins to learn and appreciate more and more about Judaism, his father's religion, and coming to terms with the fact that it is a part of his identity, too.

This is a very interesting historical fiction novel and between Whitney's imagination and research she has produced a valuable novel about a little known part of Holocaust history.

This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was bought for my personal library.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle-grade historical fiction is based on the real-life voyage of the M.S. St. Louis, a luxury liner that took Jews away from Nazi Germany only to be turned away from Cuba, the USA and Canada. (All 947 passengers were returned to various countries in Europe, and many died in concentration camps.) Whitney tells the story through the eyes of 15-year-old Thomas, a prickly youth who carries guilt over his father going to Dachau and leaving his mother behind. I found Thomas hard to identify with until halfway through the book, but I liked the way the author used another passenger, mischievous 14- year-old Priska, to enliven Thomas as well as provide love interest. The game of chess is another sub-theme (chess players may best appreciate the details of strategy and moves).
I had mixed feelings about the two epilogues that showed us Thomas’ life ten and seventy years after the ship that was supposed to take its passengers to freedom instead was forced to return them to Europe. This book humanizes a little-known historical incident and includes maps and additional reading suggestions.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 4 stars because I found this book compelling. This book is about the Jews that escaped Germany on the MS St. Louis. They are escaping from Hitler and his Nazi regime. They are boarding a ship that is supposed to take them to Cuba but is instead forced to the U.S. On this ship is 15-year-old Thomas, forced to leave his family in Germany to be safe. Also, on this ship is 14-year-old Priska and her family who are Jews. The ship's crew consists of Nazi party members to watch the passengers and a captain who isn't a Nazi nor willing to play the game that will make the passengers pawns. One of the Nazi party members turns out to be a spy. Lastly, at the end, the passengers end up coming back to Europe and most of the passengers end up dying in the holocaust. There is a lot of great characterization in this story. Also, it's based on a true and sad story from WWII. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes suspense and war (specifically WWI and WWII).

[A Busscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never knew about this boat. How terrible to get SO close you can see your family on the shore, but they won't let you off. It was fascintating to hear about the captain that gave the Jews their dignigty back and then at the end of the war was tried as a criminal. Also, Manfred hiding in plain site. I think that Chess moves were a bit too much. 3pg worth of skimming b/c I didn't care about the game. I also found it weird that Marianne and Thomas married. Marianne would always be second fiddle to her sister.

[Mary Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid historical fiction based on the sad story of the MS St Louis, an ocean liner loaded with Jewish refugees that departed Germany in 1939 for Cuba. Whitney focuses her novel on Thomas, a teen travelling alone to meet a half-brother who had earlier emigrated to Cuba. The relationships among the passengers and between passengers and crew are well-drawn, including a budding romance between Thomas and a young woman named Priska. I think this would be enjoyed by those young readers who can't get enough of World War II, though the labored descriptions of chess matches may deter some.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Only one incident surprised me (negatively) for the sheer unlikelihood of it. It’s a fictional account of a story I was not aware ever happened so I’m glad to have one more piece to add to my understanding of a terrible time in history.

[Robert Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story.

[Theresa Dr. Gerstner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on yhe true story of MS St. Louis 1939.

[mary lou adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad but moving, everything I hoped the book would be.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the story

The story was interesting and it was mostly a positive approach. Thanks for sharing your research about the ship and the Captain.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that the novel by Kim Albon Whitney, The Other Half of Life, was fabulous. It is about a 15-year-old boy, Thomas Werkmann, who boards a ship, the St. Francis at Germany bound for Cuba and then the United States. His mother has sent him there alone with the hope that he can escape the horrors of Nazi Germany in the mid-1900s. His father is in a concentration camp. When Thomas boards the ship, he means the Aldett family and becomes very taken with their beautiful daughter Priska, who feels the same way. (Her younger sister, Marianne has a crush on him as well.) The ship's captain is not a member of the Nazi party, but the rest of it is, and the only thing keeping the crew from treating them the Jews the way they were treated back in Germany is the ship's captain. Thomas enjoys his time on the ship playing chess and talking with Priska, but he constantly worries about a rumor that says the Jews will be turned back to Germany and denied landing rights in Cuba. Meanwhile, Priska is always very happy, a bit naive, and optimistic about what will happen once they reach Cuba. One crew member has caught the attention of Thomas. The man walks with a cane, but Thomas believes that it is hollow and that the man is hiding something. Towards the end of the book, Thomas finds out that he is right, and the man is a spy for the Nazis. The man is killed accidentally. Then, the ship is turned back around to Europe, and Priska, Thomas, and others believe that they are saved because Holland, England, and Belgium have agreed to take them in, and they won't have to return to Germany. Little do they know, however, that by the end of the war, all three countries will have been occupied by the Nazi's and many people on the ship will be sent to concentration camps. The book ends with fast-forwards to 10 and 70 years later. Priska and Thomas agreed to meet after the war is over at a certain place, but we fast-forward ten years later and Thomas is at their meeting place, waiting for Priska. Instead, Marianne comes and tells him that Priska died in a concentration camp. We then fast-forward sixty years later and Marianne and Thomas are married with two children. Thomas is still in love with Priska, but he and Marianne are binded by their mutual love for her.

The Other Half of Life is a great book that is best suited for ages twelve and up. It is a thought provoking book of historical fiction. Mixed with history and romance, it appeals to readers with many different interests.

[Curtis Dahlen]

Objective Summary: (spoiler warning)
The Other Half of Life By Kim Ablon Whitney follows a 15 year old boy named Thomas who is a Jew during world war two who lives in Germany. At this point in world war two, Hitler is letting Jews out of Germany on ships heading for Cuba, and then to the U.S. One of which is called the St. Francis. In an effort to escape Germany, Thomas is sent aboard the St. Francis by his mother. Unfortunately, they only have enough money to get one of them out of the Country and into Cuba. Thomas also had to leave his father behind because he was captured by the Nazis. While on the St. Francis, Thomas meets a family that he becomes very acquainted with. They go by the Affedts. On the voyage, the passengers are actually treated well because even though the captain is part of the Nazi party, he does not believe in most of the laws set against Jews. But on the ship is another person from the Nazi party, Ortsgruppenleiter Holz. Holz deeply believes in these laws. We later find out that he was a Nazi spy collecting information from the U.S. When they reach Cuba, they find out that to land on Cuban shore, they all need a visa. All that they have are landing permits. So then head to the United States, where they are once again, rejected. So they set course back to Germany, but before they get there, they manage to convince some European countries to let them land. So in turn, they split up the passengers to go to different countries. Priska and Thomas are sent to different countries. They plan to meat up 5 years later in Miami because by that time they will both be in America. Instead, in 10 years, Thomas sees Marianne, Priska's sister, who tells Thomas that Priska was killed in a concentration camp near the German boarder. Marianne and Thomas are then seen seventy years later where they have been married and have two kids. To end the book, it's al of them looking at an exhibit in a museum dedicated to the St. Francis.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

It's 1939, and things have steadily grown worse for the Jews of Germany.

Fifteen-year-old Thomas Werkmann has witnessed firsthand just how cruel the Nazis can be, and his mother has scraped together the money to send him to Cuba on the tourist boat, the MS Francis, along with over 900 other Jews hoping to escape persecution. Upon their leaving in Hamburg, Thomas is unwillingly befriended by the two daughters of a German literature professor.

Although jealous of the Affeldts and the fact that their family has managed to escape the country together, unlike his own, Thomas finds himself drawn to the 14-year-old Priska, regardless of her seemingly foolish optimism and overly friendly nature.

During their two-week voyage across the Atlantic, Thomas - and eventually Priska - grow suspicious about several things that seem to be happening on their ship.

Why is the crew treating the Jews with respect when Jews aren't considered citizens anymore? Why is the ship steward, Manfred, so friendly with them - Priska in particular - when he's a member of the Nazi party? Why was the Nazi general, Herr Holz, assigned to this ship when he carries a cane to get around, and why does his injury seem so fake to Thomas?

Before the ship enters Cuban waters, rumors begin to circulate, and Thomas and Priska do a little investigating of their own. Is it possible that there might be even bigger problems that may delay their entry into Cuba...and freedom? Although Thomas excels in chess, this may be one game where, as a pawn, he may never be able to win.

This story, based on the true account of the MS St. Louis, surprised me, as I had not heard about this incident prior to reading THE OTHER HALF OF LIFE. Poignant and heartfelt, the cast of characters on this ship will stick with the reader long after they've closed the cover.

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have preferred to give this a 3.5 rating.

The story was a bit slow at times, in the descriptions of chess games and such. The history part was interesting to me as I had not heard of this ship and incident before.

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8–Based on the story of the MS St. Louis in 1939, the journey of the fictional Nazi luxury liner MS St. Francis from Germany to Cuba and the United States creates the dramatic underpinning for this story. Focusing on 15-year-old Thomas Werkmann and 14-year-old Priska Affeldt, Whitney chronicles what happened to more than 900 Jews seeking refuge from growing anti-Semitism in Germany. Thomas is traveling alone. His father, who is Jewish, is in Dachau, and his mother, a Christian, could raise the money for only one passage. A strong friendship develops between the wary boy and optimistic Priska, who is traveling with her family. Whitney integrates, sometimes in an overly journalistic tone, information about oppression in Germany, but readers' attention is held by the young passengers' playful pranks, the developing romance between the two main characters, and tension between the passengers and the Nazi crew. Chess becomes significant to the story, possibly leaving some readers at a loss. The dramatic tone is sometimes too subdued, especially when the passengers are forced to make the return trans-Atlantic journey after being turned away from Cuba and the United States. In spite of these shortcomings, this story will hold readers' interest and heighten awareness of history that could become forgotten. The author imparts the fates of the passengers in the last two chapters, one set 10 years after the ship returns to Europe and the other 70 years after. A chronology of German anti-Semitic legislation is appended.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1939, Hitler and the Nazi Party have taken over Germany and Jews are rapidly being degrading and persecuted like never before. 15-year-old Thomas's father is Jewish and his mother, a gentile, has decided to send Thomas away to Cuba where he'll join his older half-brother in safety. Thomas is determined to be tough and cynical but two girls enter his life and change him for good. At first Thomas feels the beautiful Priska is naive and her little sister Marianne silly, but the more he gets to know the girls, he realizes that Priska is more than what she seems and together they form a close friendship to get them through the nerve-wrecking voyage. Though they are treated kindly, Thomas worries that the Nazi officers on the ship mean to trick them and he and Priska suspect a high-ranking officer of being up to something and Thomas also suspects the kind attentions of the ship's steward. The only person he can count on is Priska and they help each other through the nerve-wracking voyage and long delays once the ship docks. The main plot of the story ends after the ship docks in Cuba and what happens next is told in one chapter and an epilogue.

I thought the book would longer and tell the whole story of the ship. I was also a bit confused because the story was based on a true incident and the book jacket advertises that fact but the name of the ship was changed in the story. Even knowing what happened to the ship, I found the story suspenseful enough to keep turning the pages until I finished. I also liked knowing what happened to the characters after the story ends. This is a good read for teens who are interested in Holocaust history without a lot of gory details.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing story based on one of the most shameful moments in U.S. history – the refusal to admit the 947 Jewish refugees fleeing from Nazi persecution on board the MS St. Louis in 1939. Here the ship is called the MS St. Francis, and we embark along with 15-year-old Thomas, traveling alone at the urging of his gentile mother after his Jewish father has been imprisoned by the Nazis. As the ship sets sail from Germany for Cuba, Thomas is befriended by Marianne and Priska, the daughters of the Affeldt family. Ten-year-old Marianne develops a crush on Thomas, but it’s beautiful 14-year-old Priska who enchants him and all the other boys on the ship, including Manfred a young steward who Thomas suspects subscribes to Nazi beliefs. Throughout the novel, chess provides a metaphor for the strategic choices made by both individuals and nations in the struggle for superiority and survival, but those unfamiliar with the game may lose interest in the detailed passages describing shipboard matches. Far more engaging, though, are the relationships between the characters, and the final two chapters, which reveal the fates of the passengers, are particularly poignant. Whitney ends the book with an informative author’s note about the true details of the MS St. Louis, a chronology of the Third Reich’s anti-Semitic acts, and suggestions for further reading. Recommend this book to fans of historical fiction or readers interested in the Holocaust. Girls may be hooked by the romance angle, boys may find the protagonist appealing, but all readers will learn about an important chapter in history.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That’s what I was thinking as I finished reading this book.

This book was incredible. It tells the story of a young boy named Thomas who boarded the St. Francis ship by himself, with his mother still in Germany, to hopefully find freedom in Cuba since he was a Jew during the time Nazis were out to kill them. Thomas was depressed while entering this ship. He was leaving behind his mother…he was leaving behind his father… and there was no guarantee that there would be a better life after the ship. But he soon meets a young girl named Priska and her family. Thomas doesn’t understand how Priska can be so happy about everything. She says that the better half of life is at night. They meet each other at the top deck at night when almost everyone is in bed, and they often forget their worries. They soon begin to love each other. But bad news is soon discovered. Will they make it to Cuba and live their life together? Will one or both of them be killed in this journey? Or will they be separated and only be able to live on the past memories together?

This book was a little slow during a few parts, like during the long descriptions of chess games, but I couldn’t stop reading it. The ending of the book was very surprising, and sad yet joyful. This definitely explained what the Holocaust was in the eyes of young people, and how the children could sometimes forget about everything and just be kids, but other times would have to face terrible things with a strong heart. This book was amazing, and I enjoyed all of it.

[Hallie Cantor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting blend of fiction and non-fiction. Young Thomas is sailing to Cuba on the ill-fated MS St. Louis. He befriends a spunky young girl, Priska, and her genteel family. He is also a chess player who plays against a mysterious steward, Manfred, and sets up games with other passengers while they become trapped at the Cuban harbor, miserably awaiting passage. We find out certain secrets about the steward, and Thomas becomes a hero in tracking down a Nazi informer.

The story is charming, the characters interesting. Priska is clever without being obnoxiously feminist. She, her family, and most of the passengers are highly assimilated, like most of the German Jews, and class distinctions become apparent. Priska's own family get superior meals and accommodations.

This book was breezy and well-researched. However, while I enjoyed it, I find it wholeheartedly difficult to recommend because of the lineage of Thomas: his father is Jewish, but his mother is not. He might have fit the Nazi criteria for Jewishness, but not the Torah one. This can be dangerously misleading for any young reader. Perhaps a grappling with his identity might have made an interesting premise for another novel. His bravery, and his fate following the placement of the passengers, seemed to underscore Jewish weakness. Nevertheless, the novel portrays the youngsters on the ill-fated ocean liner with affection.

[Karen Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1939, Germany was controlled by the Nazis. On May 13, the passenger cruise ship MS St. Louis left Hamburg, Germany with over 900 passengers, most of whom were Jewish people escaping Nazi persecution. Their destination was the island of Cuba. This historical fiction novel is based upon the events of that voyage. Thomas is just 15, and traveling alone on the MS St. Francis to go live with his stepbrother in Cuba. His Jewish father was sent to a concentration camp, and his non-Jewish mother couldn't afford to buy two tickets for the trip. Thomas meets Priska, who is traveling with her family, and as they get closer to Cuba the questions and problems begin to increase. Some of the crew on the ship are Nazis, but the captain is not, and the situation becomes intense at times. Upon reaching Cuba, the ship is stopped, and then refused entrance to the harbor. Will they be allowed into America? Will they have to return to Germany and almost certain death in the camps? A gripping story based on true events. Well researched and written, this is an interesting and little-known chapter of Holocaust history. 7th grade and up, especially appropriate for 8th grade.

[Sian Rips · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes place in the 1900s as Hitler is taking over Germany. Many jews board ships to Cuba in order to escape. This is a story of the kids, sailing on St. Frances, as they explore, play, and face hardships while on the boat as well.

One thing I liked about this book was the perspective. This book really captivates the carefree, yet worried feeling of the kids who were going through such a terrible time. Although, the kids aboard the St. Francis did not know much in the way of government schemes and plans and what not, they knew enough to be worried. On the opposite side, since they did not know every gruesome detail, this enabled them to be more or less carefree.

The other thing that I liked about the book was the simplicity. The authors writing style is very enjoyable and easy to read, which made the message of the story flow out to the reader easier. This was a very tough time for the jew aboard the ship, and reading about all the unfair treatment they received from outside countries, while the people left with such high hopes was sad. It tells the how these people, facing so much, coped aboard this ship, together, all with a simple wish for freedom.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the years leading up to World War II, the Jewish people of Germany were the first to experience Hitler's hatred and the first who tried to escape. 937 German-Jews paid exorbitant fees to board the MS St Francis in order to escape Germany in hopes of building a new life in Cuba and later, the United States. However, when the ship reached Cuba, they were not permitted to enter without another 500 dollars per person, money they did not have. In their desperation, they turned to the United States. Once again, they were turned away. They made their way back to Europe where several countries such as Holland, France, and England agreed to take some of them in. Many of those passengers disembarked feeling they were finally safe. This was not the case. Years later, over 200 of those passengers found themselves in concentration camps where many of them died. This book is fiction but is based on the true story of the MS St Francis and brings to light yet another horrifying chapter of the Holocaust.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm having a hard time trying to think how to write a review of this book. It's okay, it's just not great. The history is important and the author does a good job of trying to portray what happened on the MS St. Louis but for me, it felt a bit flat somehow. There were deep emotional things happening often in the book but the author jumped through them too quickly. You didn't have a chance to feel the moment because it was over before you knew what had happened and it isn't until the book is over that you think about some of these things and try to grasp the reality of them and how horrific they were and gut wrenchingly hard and sad and difficult.

This part of history is real. The characters are real. Something that shouldn't be forgotten which is the purpose of the author, it just felt like the author was trying to write to a younger audience not realizing that a younger audience doesn't need to be spoken to as children. If that makes any sense....... It almost felt like the author was trying to write a romance but threw in some history to sell it.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must on every school shelf. I had never heard of the MS St. Louis before reading this book. I could not imagine being in Thomas’ shoes and being the only one from my family on a ship that was to take me to safety. Thomas’ father was taken to a concentration camp because he was a Jew and his mother, being a Christian had only enough money to buy the safe passage for her son. On board he meets Priska and becomes her friend. She reminded me of Anne Frank with her positive outlook, believing that there was good in everyone and everything. Thomas seemed to have a more realistic outlook. He didn’t exactly trust all of those around him as Priska did.
This for me was an emotional ending. I loved the timeline that was placed at the end of the book. I also loved all of the sources that were listed at the end. It will prove valuable.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

While on my Nazi Germany phase, I picked up this book thinking it was just one of those books where the kid suffers and then gets to go to America at the end. Yay Whoops! This book completely turned the table and ended up being a really great book. It starts with a 15 year old boy named Thomas who is a Jew. Since this is Nazi Germany, his mother decides to send him to Cuba where his half-brother is. On the way he meets a 14 year old girl named Priska who, unlike Thomas, has lots of money and and her family. After they befriend each other, something goes wrong and then they have to go their separate ways. As a book that is Historical Fiction and a semi-romantic (I'm not a big fan of romance) this book completely threw me off with its awesomeness.

[Mrs. Hassig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this a 4 star because it's so danged sad. I think it's made worse because I know what happened to the MS St. Louis in real life and the author has just renamed this ships it the St. Francis. But I love her use of real characters that show how difficult it had to have been to leave everything you know and have to pay the Nazis to do it. And when it's all said and done Cuba isn't the only country that won't take the Jews on the ship. A must read if you want to know more about the Holocaust.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Id never even heard of the ship before. i liked that the book showed another side of WWII that id never seen before, one where the US wasn't always ready to help.
i play chess but ive never been good at it, and this book showed me ill probably never be since i dont think ahead...oh well. :) besides a crushed dream...
i really liked the ending, not really caring (*spoiler*) that it wasnt happy. wonderful book!!

[Nieava · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Half of Life tells the story of the MS St.Louis, a German ocean liner, which transported 937 Jewish refugees into different countries in Europe when Cuba refused the ship. The novel takes place from the protagonist Jonas' point of view. Jonas, a Jew, was separated from his mother. For Jonas getting on that ship is the start of a new life, little does he know about what lays ahead on his journey. The Other Half of Life is a tragic, beautiful, and enduring tale.

[Meri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was okay. There was nothing to make it stand out from other holocaust literature. It was lacking some of the soul searching and horror of other novels in the genre. Perhaps it's a good way to tell younger children about the holocaust without a lot of bloodshed, though it's no Number the Stars.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story, and it was very engrossing. I think Holocaust stories are very important, and this one centered around specific events I was not aware of. However, not a whole lot set it apart for me. And I do not like when I don't understand why a book has a certain title, and that was the case for me here.

[Mary S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having to leave one country and enter a new unseen country would be a frightening situation. Having to leave home, family, community because of your race is staggering to consider. Fearing every day that you may not make it to safety is thought-provoking because we live where we feel safe. As we ponder these issues while reading, the characters in this book grow too with the same questions.