Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Egmont Books Ltd (1989), Edition: New edition, 192 pages
Description
After escaping from an Eastern European concentration camp where he has spent most of his life, a twelve-year-old boy struggles to cope with an entirely strange world as he flees northward to freedom in Denmark.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ctpress
“The sun glistened on a drop of water as it fell from his hand to his knee. David wiped it off, but it left no tidemark: there was no more dirt to rub away. He took a deep breath and shivered. He was David. Everything else was washed away, the camp, its smell, its touch–and now he was David,
12 year old David escapes from a prison camp somewhere in eastern europe. We don’t know much about his background - but the prison guard who help him escape tell him to make it to the coast and board a ship to Italy and from there try to reach Denmark.
David doesn’t trust anybody and he meets everyone with fear and suspicion. He’s afraid that they will tell “them” (the prison police) - he knows he has to preserve his freedom, not letting anybody tell him what to do or think. He’s his own master. It’s a gripping story as David tries to make sense of the world outside the prison camp.
Slowly he opens up and learn to trust other people, learn to smile, to laugh, to sense beauty and appreciate life - and get help during his long escape. But danger is still lurking. There’s still a long way to Denmark.
Anne Holms novel was a big succes in Denmark - and soon in many other countries.
Show More
his own master, free - free as long as he could remain so.”12 year old David escapes from a prison camp somewhere in eastern europe. We don’t know much about his background - but the prison guard who help him escape tell him to make it to the coast and board a ship to Italy and from there try to reach Denmark.
David doesn’t trust anybody and he meets everyone with fear and suspicion. He’s afraid that they will tell “them” (the prison police) - he knows he has to preserve his freedom, not letting anybody tell him what to do or think. He’s his own master. It’s a gripping story as David tries to make sense of the world outside the prison camp.
Slowly he opens up and learn to trust other people, learn to smile, to laugh, to sense beauty and appreciate life - and get help during his long escape. But danger is still lurking. There’s still a long way to Denmark.
Anne Holms novel was a big succes in Denmark - and soon in many other countries.
Show Less
LibraryThing member maryj59
I first read this book as a teenager, and now think it must be one of the books you read as a child that shapes your view of the world. David, 12, can remember nothing before the camp where he has always lived. The Commandant gives him a chance to escape when he turns twelve - for reasons the boy
In a way, it's a simple story. What's remarkable is living through his experiences in David's head and observing how his travels among free people change him. When David really discovers what love means, towards the end of the book, I still cry, even after all these years.
Not for everyone, to be sure - but I recommended this book, some years ago, to a mother who was looking for books for her son. She called me back and said, "He loves it! He's reading bits of it to me, saying, 'Listen to this, Mom!'"
This is a book that will raise many questions in the right young reader, and stay with them for a long time.
Show More
does not understand. David knows only two things when he manages to stow aboard a ship and get to Italy. THEY - the commandant and others like him - are not to be trusted, and he must somehow get to Denmark. All he has is his innate intelligence, strength and courage, and a small bundle containing a little money, bread, a compass, matches, a knife, and a bar of soap. In a way, it's a simple story. What's remarkable is living through his experiences in David's head and observing how his travels among free people change him. When David really discovers what love means, towards the end of the book, I still cry, even after all these years.
Not for everyone, to be sure - but I recommended this book, some years ago, to a mother who was looking for books for her son. She called me back and said, "He loves it! He's reading bits of it to me, saying, 'Listen to this, Mom!'"
This is a book that will raise many questions in the right young reader, and stay with them for a long time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan
David is a 12 year old boy who has essentially grown up in a concentration camp in some unnamed Communist country. One of the guards--David only refers to him as "the man"--arranges for the boy to escape, and mysteriously gives him instructions to go to the port of Salonika, stow away on a ship to
--J.
Show More
Italy and then make his way north to Denmark. David follows the man's instructions, fully expecting to be shot in the back at any moment, and so begins one of the odder travelogues I've read. While David is quite ignorant about life in Italy, he has far too much experience with human life in prison. It makes for some expected mistakes, but also for an interesting view of life in the "free world". On the surface, the concept of a 12-year-old making a journey from some Balkan country to Denmark seems unrealistic, but Ms. Holm had me so caught up in seeing the world through David's eyes, I didn't worry too much about the plot. The story weakens a bit in the end, but overall it's a tale worth checking out.--J.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jonathan02px2014
A very good book on how David a conentration camp escapee gets to Denmark in the middle of WW2. He is smuggled out by an officer and manages to get to Denmark with the help of many people. Through the journey he discovers that the officer loved his mother and smuggled her out at the start of the
Show More
war. At the end of the book he is finally reunited with his mother. Show Less
LibraryThing member Embejo
This is a great little book aimed at younger readers. It was written for 9-13 year olds and is about a boy who escapes from a concentration camp and flees across Europe. It is well written, and while as an adult I wanted to know more about where he was and why he was imprisoned (i.e. the politics
I enjoyed the character of David, and found myself ever hopeful that he would survive and make it to safety and freedom. The story of David’s live unfolds gradually throughout the book and he discovers along with the reader how he came to be in the camp and why he was helped to survive by the commandant whom he hated.
I remember reading this at school and enjoyed it again this second time around.
Show More
of it all) it was silent on these issues which is probably appropriate for a younger person, and not altogether necessary for the story in any case.I enjoyed the character of David, and found myself ever hopeful that he would survive and make it to safety and freedom. The story of David’s live unfolds gradually throughout the book and he discovers along with the reader how he came to be in the camp and why he was helped to survive by the commandant whom he hated.
I remember reading this at school and enjoyed it again this second time around.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nnicole
One of those books I loved as a kid, but which I find hasn't held up very well for me as an adult.
LibraryThing member tonnadesigns
This book made me think about my life in a whole new way. David took no liberty for granted. We take every liberty we have, and we have all liberties, for granted. It made me appreciate where God has placed me in life.
LibraryThing member DawnmarieSimmons
I absolutely loved this book from the moment I first read it. I would highly recommend this to anyone.
LibraryThing member HGard
Super favourite from grade 9. What would I have done with my imagination if Mrs. Levy hadn't used this book in her Language Arts curriculum? Read again recently, and it captured my thoughts again. A survival story among the best, in my opinion.
LibraryThing member sara_k
David by Anne Holm
David is in a concentration camp but is not Jewish...noone knows why he is there. A guard helps him escape and sends him towards Denmark. David is scared and starving but determined to run to safety.
Luckily (!) Daivd speaks French like a nobleman, Italian like a nobleman, English
Too perfect, too good.
David is in a concentration camp but is not Jewish...noone knows why he is there. A guard helps him escape and sends him towards Denmark. David is scared and starving but determined to run to safety.
Luckily (!) Daivd speaks French like a nobleman, Italian like a nobleman, English
Show More
like an Oxford scholar (you get the idea). He can also read most languages, write a little, and has impeccable manners. He meets both helpful people and unhelpful people in his run. David believes very strongly that he can tell a person's good/bad by looking into their eyes and watching a few seconds of interaction. He makes his way to Denmark and along the way finds the ability to smile and the secret to his family.Too perfect, too good.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Randalea
Searching for freedom is difficult when you have never know it. David escapes from the only life he has known inside a Communist Concentration camp (WWII). A great study or discussion starter for: What is freedom?
LibraryThing member Gerlu
A good alternative to the Diary of Ann Frank.
LibraryThing member bwhitner
This is the story of a young man named David who was raised in concentration camp from the age of one. When he is twelve a guard helps him to escape and tells him to go to Denmark and he will be fine. He treks across the country meeting different people, each commenting on his uniqueness. Very
Show More
interesting read. Book would be good for YA. Just good perspective on how to be a good person. I also found interest in how he defined his God. He had no upbringing in faith just the beliefs of the other people in the camp. I found the book to be interesting overall. Show Less
LibraryThing member debnance
Imagine what you might be like if you had spent your entire childhood in a concentration camp. That is the main character of our story, David. And then one day, totally out of the blue, imagine a guard helps you to escape. That is our story.
David knows several languages and has a deep sense of
He meets many people who are kind and helpful in his journey, and he decides he wants to live. He chooses a God, the God of David, spoken of in the camps, the God who allows people to “lie down in green pastures, and sit beside still waters,” a God who can help David find a safe place to live. He comes to rely on his God amid the troubles he runs across in his journey.
A very deep and thoughtful story that children could all benefit from reading, I think.
David knows several languages and has a deep sense of
Show More
right and wrong, all because of his tutelage under a wise older man in the camp. But he is missing lots of things most children know, like how to smile and how to play. All he knows is that he wants to find “a country with a king” so that he can live in freedom, and that he doesn’t want to ever become like “them,” treating people with cruelty and violence.He meets many people who are kind and helpful in his journey, and he decides he wants to live. He chooses a God, the God of David, spoken of in the camps, the God who allows people to “lie down in green pastures, and sit beside still waters,” a God who can help David find a safe place to live. He comes to rely on his God amid the troubles he runs across in his journey.
A very deep and thoughtful story that children could all benefit from reading, I think.
Show Less
LibraryThing member electrascaife
A 12-year-old boy escapes from a concentration camp and makes his way north to Denmark.
This one is tough on the feels, folks; although at times I was irritated at the boy, my heart was breaking for him throughout the story. It felt like a [[John Boyne]] novel, but not quite so well written, and the
This one is tough on the feels, folks; although at times I was irritated at the boy, my heart was breaking for him throughout the story. It felt like a [[John Boyne]] novel, but not quite so well written, and the
Show More
ending was way too abrupt. Show Less
LibraryThing member countrylife
Simultaneously a heart-rending and uplifting story about a twelve-year-old boy helped to escape from a concentration camp, with the barest of instructions on how to make his solitary way through several countries to get to Denmark. His trials and triumphs, his appreciation for the beauty around
Show More
him, his longing for freedom and love, all make this a very poignant story. Anne Holm writes with such heart. Show Less
LibraryThing member startwithgivens
Reading children's books as an adult is always so interesting. I love how Holm preserved his childhood innocence while maintaining the reality that David grew up in concentration camp and saw things no boy should have. The book was expertly written and I am glad I finally took the opportunity to
Show More
read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member DelDevours
TRIGGER WARNINGS: References cruelty, violence, and neglect. Holocaust: references concentration camps. Animal death. Grief. Suicidal thoughts.
I Am David tells the story of a young boy named David who escapes from a concentration camp during World War II. He is assisted in his escape by one of the
Don’t let the subject matter put you off, though. For such a depressing topic, the book is engaging in every other aspect. I was captivated by the beautiful painted image that adorns the cover of my edition, setting the stage for what turned out to be a profoundly moving literary experience. The prose is simple and straightforward yet possesses a unique beauty which enhances the emotional depth of the novel, instilling a sense of haunting sadness that lingers throughout the narrative. From the outset, I found myself immersed in the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolded. One aspect that resonated deeply with me was David's personal name for God, a small but impactful detail that adds a layer of individuality to his character.
The believability of the narrative is striking; never once did I feel jarred out of the story. The author skilfully portrays the emotional struggles and growth of the protagonist, David. His thought processes are presented with a compelling authenticity, which broke my heart on more than one occasion.
The author skilfully weaves universal themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the importance of individuality into David's personal journey, making the story relatable to a broad audience. Some reviewers said that they found the pacing of the novel slow at times. I personally did not encounter this issue. Some parts of the story are predictable, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the narrative.
I Am David is marketed as children’s literature (middle grade), but it’s a book which will appeal to all ages. Themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity prevail, leaving me with a lasting impression of a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, as appealing to adults as to the tweens for which it was written. Indeed, the narrative is likely to resonate more profoundly with adults, given their broader understanding of the historical and psychological nuances woven into the story.
I am not ashamed to say that this book hurt my soul. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you read just one book this year, make it this one.
I Am David tells the story of a young boy named David who escapes from a concentration camp during World War II. He is assisted in his escape by one of the
Show More
guards and the story follows his journey as he strives to follow the guard’s instruction to make his way to Denmark. We are never told where the concentration camp is located, and the identity of David’s captors is never mentioned. By backtracking his journey, we can guess that it is somewhere in Eastern Europe, possibly Bulgaria, or Yugoslavia but it is never explicitly stated. I felt this was a positive move. It emphasises the human aspects of the story over historical details and serves as a symbolic representation of the dehumanising and anonymous nature of the camps during the Holocaust. The anonymity reinforces the idea that the experiences of those in concentration camps were tragically common and not limited to a single geographical location.Don’t let the subject matter put you off, though. For such a depressing topic, the book is engaging in every other aspect. I was captivated by the beautiful painted image that adorns the cover of my edition, setting the stage for what turned out to be a profoundly moving literary experience. The prose is simple and straightforward yet possesses a unique beauty which enhances the emotional depth of the novel, instilling a sense of haunting sadness that lingers throughout the narrative. From the outset, I found myself immersed in the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolded. One aspect that resonated deeply with me was David's personal name for God, a small but impactful detail that adds a layer of individuality to his character.
The believability of the narrative is striking; never once did I feel jarred out of the story. The author skilfully portrays the emotional struggles and growth of the protagonist, David. His thought processes are presented with a compelling authenticity, which broke my heart on more than one occasion.
The author skilfully weaves universal themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the importance of individuality into David's personal journey, making the story relatable to a broad audience. Some reviewers said that they found the pacing of the novel slow at times. I personally did not encounter this issue. Some parts of the story are predictable, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the narrative.
I Am David is marketed as children’s literature (middle grade), but it’s a book which will appeal to all ages. Themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity prevail, leaving me with a lasting impression of a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, as appealing to adults as to the tweens for which it was written. Indeed, the narrative is likely to resonate more profoundly with adults, given their broader understanding of the historical and psychological nuances woven into the story.
I am not ashamed to say that this book hurt my soul. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you read just one book this year, make it this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member eliza.graham.180
I read this first as a young child of about nine and it stayed with me. As an adult, with my own children, I was thrilled to see it in their primary school library. I then bought our own copy. I don't think I could read the last sentences without becoming a quivering wreck, but the book is never
Show More
sentimental. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookAddict
This is a great book for young adults and teens. This 12 year old boy escaped from a camp and traveled over several countries in search of a mystery which was revealed to him along the way. It's the story of a boy who didn't know any life outside of a concentration camp and had to learn to want to
Show More
live and to have hope. I recommend it Show Less
LibraryThing member DelDevours
TRIGGER WARNINGS: References cruelty, violence, and neglect. Holocaust: references concentration camps. Animal death. Grief. Suicidal thoughts.
I Am David tells the story of a young boy named David who escapes from a concentration camp during World War II. He is assisted in his escape by one of the
Don’t let the subject matter put you off, though. For such a depressing topic, the book is engaging in every other aspect. I was captivated by the beautiful painted image that adorns the cover of my edition, setting the stage for what turned out to be a profoundly moving literary experience. The prose is simple and straightforward yet possesses a unique beauty which enhances the emotional depth of the novel, instilling a sense of haunting sadness that lingers throughout the narrative. From the outset, I found myself immersed in the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolded. One aspect that resonated deeply with me was David's personal name for God, a small but impactful detail that adds a layer of individuality to his character.
The believability of the narrative is striking; never once did I feel jarred out of the story. The author skilfully portrays the emotional struggles and growth of the protagonist, David. His thought processes are presented with a compelling authenticity, which broke my heart on more than one occasion.
The author skilfully weaves universal themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the importance of individuality into David's personal journey, making the story relatable to a broad audience. Some reviewers said that they found the pacing of the novel slow at times. I personally did not encounter this issue. Some parts of the story are predictable, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the narrative.
I Am David is marketed as children’s literature (middle grade), but it’s a book which will appeal to all ages. Themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity prevail, leaving me with a lasting impression of a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, as appealing to adults as to the tweens for which it was written. Indeed, the narrative is likely to resonate more profoundly with adults, given their broader understanding of the historical and psychological nuances woven into the story.
I am not ashamed to say that this book hurt my soul. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you read just one book this year, make it this one.
I Am David tells the story of a young boy named David who escapes from a concentration camp during World War II. He is assisted in his escape by one of the
Show More
guards and the story follows his journey as he strives to follow the guard’s instruction to make his way to Denmark. We are never told where the concentration camp is located, and the identity of David’s captors is never mentioned. By backtracking his journey, we can guess that it is somewhere in Eastern Europe, possibly Bulgaria, or Yugoslavia but it is never explicitly stated. I felt this was a positive move. It emphasises the human aspects of the story over historical details and serves as a symbolic representation of the dehumanising and anonymous nature of the camps during the Holocaust. The anonymity reinforces the idea that the experiences of those in concentration camps were tragically common and not limited to a single geographical location.Don’t let the subject matter put you off, though. For such a depressing topic, the book is engaging in every other aspect. I was captivated by the beautiful painted image that adorns the cover of my edition, setting the stage for what turned out to be a profoundly moving literary experience. The prose is simple and straightforward yet possesses a unique beauty which enhances the emotional depth of the novel, instilling a sense of haunting sadness that lingers throughout the narrative. From the outset, I found myself immersed in the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolded. One aspect that resonated deeply with me was David's personal name for God, a small but impactful detail that adds a layer of individuality to his character.
The believability of the narrative is striking; never once did I feel jarred out of the story. The author skilfully portrays the emotional struggles and growth of the protagonist, David. His thought processes are presented with a compelling authenticity, which broke my heart on more than one occasion.
The author skilfully weaves universal themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the importance of individuality into David's personal journey, making the story relatable to a broad audience. Some reviewers said that they found the pacing of the novel slow at times. I personally did not encounter this issue. Some parts of the story are predictable, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the narrative.
I Am David is marketed as children’s literature (middle grade), but it’s a book which will appeal to all ages. Themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity prevail, leaving me with a lasting impression of a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, as appealing to adults as to the tweens for which it was written. Indeed, the narrative is likely to resonate more profoundly with adults, given their broader understanding of the historical and psychological nuances woven into the story.
I am not ashamed to say that this book hurt my soul. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you read just one book this year, make it this one.
Show Less
Awards
Original publication date
1963
Physical description
192 p.; 5.08 inches
ISBN
0749701366 / 9780749701369
Other editions
I am David by Anne Holm (Paperback)