Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Second Story Press (2014), Hardcover, 32 pages
Description
Once there was a renowned magician called Nivelli, who performed before packed audiences in the grandest theaters of Berlin. Night after night, his fans applauded and called out for more astonishing feats of magic. "Bravo!" they would shout, as Nivelli bowed low with a great flourish. But that was in a different, happier time, before the Jews of Europe were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. This is the true story of a young boy on the inside of Auschwitz, whose life is changed by the actions of a prisoner who performs magic for the guards and who the boy later learns was the famous Nivelli.
Awards
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award (Winner — 2015)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to Twelve — 2015)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cataloger623
This true story takes place Nazi death camp. Yet it is a story with a glimmer of hope running through it. A magician who is performing before people capable of kill him teaches a young fellow prisoner one of his magic tricks. It was an act of kindness the young boy never forgot.Afterwards the boy
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and the magician were separated never to meet again. The story is in the guise of a children's book. It is profound,and the illustrations enhance the reading. There is an afterward explaining what happened after the war was over. Show Less
LibraryThing member rpazmino-calligan
What a great book for children who are learning about world war II. This book tells the story of a man who teaches a magic trick to a young boy in Auschwitz, and the two never meet again. This story is touching and shows how even during the most terrible of times, there is a light at the end of the
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tunnel. I would love to share this book with a class of any age. I loved the afterword, which showed real pictures of both Levin and Werner and what happened to them after the war. Show Less
LibraryThing member NickiSlater
Young Werner Reich shares his Auschwitz concentration camp bunk with Herr Levin. Awakened one night by the Nazi guards, Werner, who has lost all hope, thinks this is the end for him. But the guards want Herr Levin -- not Werner. To Werner's astonishment, they want Herr Levin to entertain them with
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magic tricks. After weeks of being forced to perform, Herr Levin offers to teach Werner some magic as a way to take his mind off their awful circumstances. It is a wonderful gift that would sustain Werner until the end. Includes a special section with photographs about the real-life Werner Reich and Herr Levin, aka The Great Nivelli. Show Less
LibraryThing member jegammon
Response - Again, I like World War II topics, especially ones that involve personal stories. While the setting is sad and unfortunate, the story ends with a hopeful tone.
Curricular connection - read aloud; unit on World War II; character development
Curricular connection - read aloud; unit on World War II; character development
LibraryThing member bookbrig
The history was interesting, and the art was fine, but the story didn't really stay with me and I only have a hazy recollection of the facts a few days later. Admittedly, this might be my mood rather than a problem with the book.
ISBN
1927583462 / 9781927583463