Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Godwin Books (2023), 144 pages
Description
Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.
User reviews
LibraryThing member LibrarianRyan
It was never my intention to read the novel of this book. I am not into books that will make me cry if I’m choosing for myself. However, when a graphic novel edition came along, I had to snap it up and give it a read. This book was exactly what I was expecting. It was gut retching, heartbreaking,
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sad, and very true to life. While this is a fictional story it is based on a real-life person who survived the child’s camp at Auschwitz and acted as a librarian while there. The love of books helped her survive a drastic portion of her life and we are better people for knowing her history and the atrocities that happened. This book was the first time I had ever heard there were specialty children’s camps. It’s not something readily talked about so this book did its job and brought to life new facts of history not seen elsewhere. Show Less
LibraryThing member BibliLakayAyizan
Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this graphic novel tells the incredible story of a courageous girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.
Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. The
Adapted from the novel written by Antonio Iturbe, this graphic historical novel is an incredible story with beautiful art. It is a very emotional testimony about how books gave hope to hundreds of people during World War II. Dita’s librarian job is dangerous, as she risks her life everyday to protect the precious books, forbidden inside Auschwitz. If found, it would be a death sentence for the young woman. But, at no moment she hesitates, fulfilling her mission without hesitation. It is truly a very inspiring graphic novel, sharing the worse, but also the best of humanity.
Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. The
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teenager is a book lover and devoured every book she could put her hands on before the war. But she was taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, and is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. Her life brightens when Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards. Adapted from the novel written by Antonio Iturbe, this graphic historical novel is an incredible story with beautiful art. It is a very emotional testimony about how books gave hope to hundreds of people during World War II. Dita’s librarian job is dangerous, as she risks her life everyday to protect the precious books, forbidden inside Auschwitz. If found, it would be a death sentence for the young woman. But, at no moment she hesitates, fulfilling her mission without hesitation. It is truly a very inspiring graphic novel, sharing the worse, but also the best of humanity.
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LibraryThing member TomDonaghey
The Librarian Of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel (2022) byAntonio Iturbe, adapted by Salva Rubio, illustrated by Loreto Aroca. The novel was based on the novel of the real life of Dita Kraus whose family was taken from Prague to Auschwitz during WWII. Her family landed in a special “show” section
Teen-aged Dita, who has an all-encompassing love for books, is asked by the Jewish “leader” Fredy Hirsch, to take charge of the eight books that have been somehow smuggled into the camp. Having a book means a death penalty, same as reading one. But she accepts.
This of course is a sad story but, like so many others today, it displays a small light shining within the death camps. The Jews might have been sentenced to extermination, but they continued to struggle in their own ways.
Spoiler alert: Dite survives the camp and manages to find happiness later in life.
The illustrations depict both the gut-wrenching sadness of the times, the hatred of the Nazis, and the will to survive. The most evil of events are not shown dead-on, but this is a graphic depiction of the time so do not think this is meant for children. Make sure an adult is on hand with the book to offer explanations of what was happening. Also, remind them not all people of one group is evil, nor is any one group saintly. This is a good jumping off point for discussions of the time and place, and perhaps the shadows of all that still linger.
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of the notorious death/slave labor camp. The “BIIB” department of the camp housed prisoners who didn’t have their heads shaved or their clothes taken away. They were to be displayed when the Red Cross, or other outside interests, made the rare visit to the camp.Teen-aged Dita, who has an all-encompassing love for books, is asked by the Jewish “leader” Fredy Hirsch, to take charge of the eight books that have been somehow smuggled into the camp. Having a book means a death penalty, same as reading one. But she accepts.
This of course is a sad story but, like so many others today, it displays a small light shining within the death camps. The Jews might have been sentenced to extermination, but they continued to struggle in their own ways.
Spoiler alert: Dite survives the camp and manages to find happiness later in life.
The illustrations depict both the gut-wrenching sadness of the times, the hatred of the Nazis, and the will to survive. The most evil of events are not shown dead-on, but this is a graphic depiction of the time so do not think this is meant for children. Make sure an adult is on hand with the book to offer explanations of what was happening. Also, remind them not all people of one group is evil, nor is any one group saintly. This is a good jumping off point for discussions of the time and place, and perhaps the shadows of all that still linger.
Show Less
LibraryThing member blbooks
First sentence: Back then, she was just a child...but books were already a window.
My thoughts, part one: This one is a [young adult] graphic novel adaptation of an award-winning novel. I have read both the original novel and the graphic novel.
Premise/plot: Though it is a work of fiction, The
My thoughts, part two: THE graphic novel condenses the story considerably. The illustrations may add something to the story for some readers. Graphic novels aren't exactly my favorite and best. I read a few per year. I can find them incredibly engaging at times.
Having read both the graphic novel and the original novel it is based on, I prefer the original. But I can appreciate why this one was adapted to a new format to potentially reach different readers.
My thoughts, part one: This one is a [young adult] graphic novel adaptation of an award-winning novel. I have read both the original novel and the graphic novel.
Premise/plot: Though it is a work of fiction, The
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Librarian of Auschwitz is based on a true story: the story of a super-small library and its young librarian, Dita. Block 31 is different, special, almost miraculous and too good to be true. Here Jewish children come together every day while their parents labor under the watchful eyes of their guards. School is forbidden; learning is forbidden. But. A school it is. There are teachers and teenage helpers. Dita is one of the helpers or assistants. She's also the librarian. For what is a school without a library? This library collection, like the school, is completely forbidden. It consists of EIGHT books plus additional living books. Dita's job is risky, but important. Block 31 exists for one reason only: to fool the world in case someone comes looking for answers. The Germans mistreat Jews? You've got to be kidding. Just look! Here's a camp of families. We even see that the children are taken care of during the day and laugh and play and sing. The prisoners are not fooled for a minute, but, the children are fortunate in some ways.My thoughts, part two: THE graphic novel condenses the story considerably. The illustrations may add something to the story for some readers. Graphic novels aren't exactly my favorite and best. I read a few per year. I can find them incredibly engaging at times.
Having read both the graphic novel and the original novel it is based on, I prefer the original. But I can appreciate why this one was adapted to a new format to potentially reach different readers.
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Awards
Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Fiction — 2024)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
144 p.; 10 inches
ISBN
1250842980 / 9781250842985