Adam and Thomas

by Aharon Appelfeld

Other authorsPhilippe Dumas (Illustrator), Jeffrey Green (Translator)
Hardcover, 2015

Status

Available

Call number

J F APP

Tags

Holocaust, ages 9-12, Sydney Taylor Award, National Jewish Book Award finalist, Holocaust - resistance and rescue, Holocaust - refugees, Israeli writer

Genres

Collection

Juvenile Fiction (grades 1-5)

Publication

Triangle Square (2015), 160 pages

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:HONOR 2016 - Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book WINNER 2016 - Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries FINALIST 2016 - National Jewish Book Awards Adam and Thomas is the story of two nine-year-old Jewish boys who survive World War II by banding together in the forest. They are alone, visited only furtively every few days by Mina, a mercurial girl who herself has found refuge from the war by living with a peasant family. She makes secret journeys and brings the boys parcels of food at her own risk. Adam and Thomas must learn to survive and do. They forage and build a small tree house, although it's more like a bird's nest. Adam's family dog, Miro, manages to find his way to him, to the joy of both boys. Miro brings the warmth of home with him. Echoes of the war are felt in the forest. The boys meet fugitives fleeing for their lives and try to help them. They learn to disappear in moments of danger. And they barely survive winter's harshest weather, but when things seem to be at their worst, a miracle happens.… (more)

Barcode

3973

Awards

Sydney Taylor Book Award (Winner — 2016)
National Jewish Book Award (Finalist — Children's Literature — 2015)
Mildred L. Batchelder Award (Honor Book — 2016)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (2016)
Notable Children's Book (Middle Readers — 2016)

Language

English

User reviews

LibraryThing member Ameise1
This is the wonderful story of the Jewish children Adam and Thomas, who had to hide in the forest during the WWII. Both were smuggled from their mothers from the ghetto into the woods. Both fathers were already removed and the mothers still had to take care of the grandparents. Adam and Thomas know
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 each other from school. Adam is a craftsman's son and therefore very practical while Thomas comes from a family of academics and learns to overcome his anxieties and fears in the forest. They feed on the so expect the forest. One day they meet Mina, which was one of her classmates. She was hiding with a farmer but where she has to work and was also abused. Thanks to Mina the boys survive . She brings them bread, cheese and corn pastes which she takes it away from the farmer. They can also milk the cow. In winter, the survival in the forest is almost impossible. Nevertheless, Mina continues to try to bring the boys some food. The boys notes that Mina is increasingly abused and bring her into the woods. When all three are getting worse and worse, the mothers find them and bring them to a hospital of the Red Army.
This story is based on experiences of the author. He also spent some time in a Ukrainian forest during WWII. It is fully charity and trust in God.
I can highly recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Loved the autobiographical source for this book, and the amazing story of survival. Loved that the boys, who have almost nothing and are barely finding enough to eat in the forest, are nonetheless healing whoever they can and sharing all the water and food that comes their way. Astonishing,
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 horrifying (that this happens to children in war zones), almost dreamily philosophical. Wonderful illustrations and pacing.
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LibraryThing member nrandles
This touching World War II story is about two 9 year old Jewish boys named Adam and Thomas. The two boys learn to survive together in the forest. Although they start off as acquaintances, they soon connect as friends and learn to depend on each other. They survive with the help of Adam's dog, Miro,
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 and a brave girl named Mina. Mina takes the risk to secretly bring them food. The beautiful illustrations help bring the novel to life. This story was inspired by true events in the author's life. When Aharon Appelfeld was eight year's old he escaped a concentration camp in World War II. He lived in the forests for three years.
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ISBN

1609806344 / 9781609806347

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