What do you think?
Rate this book
Yellow Star
The niece of Syvia Perlmutter, one of only twelve child survivors of the Lodz ghetto in Poland, shares her aunt's experiences of the Holocaust in free verse that relates the courage and heartbreak she lived during a time of terrible circumstances.
227 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2006
1424 people are currently reading
12420 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Roy
27 books96 followersJennifer Roy (see also Jennifer Rozines Roy) is an American children's writer. She is best known for fiction including Yellow Star, which won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award (2006), Sydney Taylor Honor Award, The William Allen White Children's Book Award (2009), a New York Public L Book, an ALA Notable Book, National Jewish Book Honor Award, and received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, VOYA and Booklist. She has written 35 educational books for children ages 5–16, including the "You Can Write" series.
Her latest book is Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein (February 2018), inspired by the true story of a young boy growing up in Iraq under the first Gulf war. Her Co-author Ali Fadhil was that boy and he grew up to be a translator in the trial of Saddam Hussein.
Her first illustrated book is "Jars of Hope", (August 2015). She is also the coauthor of the Trading Faces series (Simon and Schuster), a series co-written with her twin sister, Julia DeVillers. The second book in the series is Take Two, the third book is Times Squared, and the fourth is "Double Feature". The fifth book in the series is "Triple Trouble". Her book MindBlind, about a boy who is profoundly gifted and has Asperger syndrome, was published in October 2010 and received a YALSA award.
Her latest book is Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein (February 2018), inspired by the true story of a young boy growing up in Iraq under the first Gulf war. Her Co-author Ali Fadhil was that boy and he grew up to be a translator in the trial of Saddam Hussein.
Her first illustrated book is "Jars of Hope", (August 2015). She is also the coauthor of the Trading Faces series (Simon and Schuster), a series co-written with her twin sister, Julia DeVillers. The second book in the series is Take Two, the third book is Times Squared, and the fourth is "Double Feature". The fifth book in the series is "Triple Trouble". Her book MindBlind, about a boy who is profoundly gifted and has Asperger syndrome, was published in October 2010 and received a YALSA award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,780 reviews
January 27, 2019
I have read many books about the Holocaust, but only two from a child's perspective, this and the other was When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. Both are true stories of growing up in the misery and destruction of World War 2, both Jewish.
Before reading this, I didn't know that in the Lodz Ghetto, only 12 children survived, along with about 800 adults. Syvia, or as she became known in the Americanized version of her name, Sylvia, was one of those little children. Her niece, Jennifer Roy, wrote her aunt's story in the language of a child; it feels and sounds like a little kid who can't understand why the Germans want to kill her just because of her religion. She witnesses and endures horror.
One of the things she says is that she had a beautiful orange coat, which she is shown in on the cover of the book, which her mother had to sew the yellow star on, she hated it, because yellow is supposed to be a happy color.
Her father is the hero of the story, his wit and good sense saving Syvia and the rest of her family time and time again.
Before reading this, I didn't know that in the Lodz Ghetto, only 12 children survived, along with about 800 adults. Syvia, or as she became known in the Americanized version of her name, Sylvia, was one of those little children. Her niece, Jennifer Roy, wrote her aunt's story in the language of a child; it feels and sounds like a little kid who can't understand why the Germans want to kill her just because of her religion. She witnesses and endures horror.
One of the things she says is that she had a beautiful orange coat, which she is shown in on the cover of the book, which her mother had to sew the yellow star on, she hated it, because yellow is supposed to be a happy color.
Her father is the hero of the story, his wit and good sense saving Syvia and the rest of her family time and time again.
December 31, 2008
It sounds like such a cliché but I really could not put down this book, and I read it in one day; I don’t know how many hours it took but even though I read slowly, it wasn’t many. This book is riveting. I’ve read many fiction and non-fiction books about the Holocaust and this is now one of my favorites.
It’s a “based on truth” story, one of those fiction/non-fiction books.
The author interviewed her aunt, who was one of twelve children to survive the Lodz ghetto during the Nazi occupation in World War II.
Brilliantly, it’s told by this aunt in a child’s voice; she was 4 ½-10 during her time in the Polish ghetto. The child’s voice sounds completely authentic and compelling.
I like to believe that the gist of this story is true, and it’s about some very smart and savvy and brave people who were extraordinarily lucky despite their incredible misfortune to be caught in this time and place. It’s a very inspirational story and the people are extremely likeable, especially the main character Syvia/Sylvia and her mother, sister, and especially her amazing father.
It’s written as juvenile fiction but there is much straight non-fiction interspersed throughout, including the author’s notes and some war statistics at the end of the book. This book can be thoroughly enjoyed by adults as well as by young people.
It’s a “based on truth” story, one of those fiction/non-fiction books.
The author interviewed her aunt, who was one of twelve children to survive the Lodz ghetto during the Nazi occupation in World War II.
Brilliantly, it’s told by this aunt in a child’s voice; she was 4 ½-10 during her time in the Polish ghetto. The child’s voice sounds completely authentic and compelling.
I like to believe that the gist of this story is true, and it’s about some very smart and savvy and brave people who were extraordinarily lucky despite their incredible misfortune to be caught in this time and place. It’s a very inspirational story and the people are extremely likeable, especially the main character Syvia/Sylvia and her mother, sister, and especially her amazing father.
It’s written as juvenile fiction but there is much straight non-fiction interspersed throughout, including the author’s notes and some war statistics at the end of the book. This book can be thoroughly enjoyed by adults as well as by young people.
April 15, 2015
This was an easy read if you mean that it was written in such a simple manner. A simple but gripping manner. This is a story of one of the only 12 children who survived in the Lodz ghetto during the Holocaust.
It is written by a descendent of the little girl, but written in her own words. As the women tells her story, she tells her story as if she is currently reliving the experience, in a child's voice. This makes this story evening more haunting and heartbreaking, which does not make this an easy read.
I am normally not one to shed tears for books or movies, but admittedly found myself balling my eyes out at the end. In truth, I'm not sure why, I was pissed people could do this to other people, I was happy they survived, I was horrified and relieved, I was just so overcome with a mix of emotions.
I would definitely recommend this book to older children learning about the Holocaust.
It is written by a descendent of the little girl, but written in her own words. As the women tells her story, she tells her story as if she is currently reliving the experience, in a child's voice. This makes this story evening more haunting and heartbreaking, which does not make this an easy read.
I am normally not one to shed tears for books or movies, but admittedly found myself balling my eyes out at the end. In truth, I'm not sure why, I was pissed people could do this to other people, I was happy they survived, I was horrified and relieved, I was just so overcome with a mix of emotions.
I would definitely recommend this book to older children learning about the Holocaust.
June 11, 2024
"In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto (Lodz, Poland) was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children."This book is the story of one of these children. Syvia was in the ghetto from age 4 to the day before her 10th birthday.
This book was formatted in a kind of free verse. It reminded me of poetry. Poetry of life and of horror. I read it in one day, but I had to take several hours between readings. The imagery is sharp and even detailed. The verses are Syvia's remembrances and are particularly poignant as the voice of a child. You can see her growing up and wondering why, just because she is a Jew, she was hated so much. One scene really was hard for me. She is walking by the fence in the ghetto and sees a lady step outside her house with her pet dog. Syvia tells us in her thoughts that even if someone got out of the fence and wasn't found and shot they still would have been turned in by this lady that treats her animals better than she would the people just a few feet away are who are being starved to death. Syvia also goes on thinking that she wished she could have a pet, but than she thinks that even if they were allowed, the pet would be killed for food.
I find it hard to read books about atrocities, but I know that we need to know the stories so that we can keep it from happening again. Yellow Star is an excellent way to teach children about this time in history. Highly recommended!
November 26, 2016
Written in poetic form, the recollections and memories of one of the 12 children who survived the Lodz ghetto. Moving, simple, I finished it in two readings. Amazing book.
June 30, 2017
Life in a ghetto in Poland from a child's point of view. I'm so glad for the strength of the survivors of the Holocaust who are willing to share their experiences - it is an important topic.
November 18, 2008
Like some other true WWII stories written for children, this has been published as fiction; I'm not sure why.
I thought at first that the style was really going to annoy me (I wouldn't really call it free verse, myself, so much as just breaking up the lines), but after a couple of pages I got used to it. The voice is very believable as that of a child growing throughout the book from 4 years to 9 years. The story is simply told, but really stunning, especially in the second half. There's nothing manipulative or trying-too-hard about this narrative.
On the other hand, I did not like the informative sections sprinkled throughout the book. For one thing, they gave away too much of what would happen in the next section of the narrative; and they also interrupted the flow. They were starker than the main story, and written at a different level, leaving open the question of who the intended readers are. My library shelves this as "teen fiction", which seems very odd, but I guess they decided the information was too horrible for kids. The narrative is definitely accessible (in both reading level and subject, in my opinion) for, say, fourth graders and up, and I think a lot of teenagers might think this is too young for them.
I thought at first that the style was really going to annoy me (I wouldn't really call it free verse, myself, so much as just breaking up the lines), but after a couple of pages I got used to it. The voice is very believable as that of a child growing throughout the book from 4 years to 9 years. The story is simply told, but really stunning, especially in the second half. There's nothing manipulative or trying-too-hard about this narrative.
On the other hand, I did not like the informative sections sprinkled throughout the book. For one thing, they gave away too much of what would happen in the next section of the narrative; and they also interrupted the flow. They were starker than the main story, and written at a different level, leaving open the question of who the intended readers are. My library shelves this as "teen fiction", which seems very odd, but I guess they decided the information was too horrible for kids. The narrative is definitely accessible (in both reading level and subject, in my opinion) for, say, fourth graders and up, and I think a lot of teenagers might think this is too young for them.
May 26, 2015
Required reading for any and all. Not only is it about the Holocaust (loosely) but it's about the experience of a child in the Holocaust.
it's heart breaking and heart wrenching so many times over. The father in this book is something else. Although the family as a whole persevere it is through the sheer and utter brilliance of the father who, time and time again, saves the family from sure death. He is a man for which we all have to aspire to be a fraction of in reality for in the worst possible days in probably the worst periods of human history, at ground zero, he did things that I am positive a majority of us would fail to do despite our intentions. individually the child and her sister and mother also show us the side of those who suffered so much in the Ghettos. The strength and the desire for life. The desire to live, shook me to my core. It's a book about family as much as a recount of the atrocities. that despite everything as a unit, a family, they were able to persevere over the worst horror imaginable.
The fact this is true, this story is real, shows the reader that in the depths of hell even good men shine brighter then the darkest of souls. I highly recommend the book and the audiobook to get different perspectives.
it's heart breaking and heart wrenching so many times over. The father in this book is something else. Although the family as a whole persevere it is through the sheer and utter brilliance of the father who, time and time again, saves the family from sure death. He is a man for which we all have to aspire to be a fraction of in reality for in the worst possible days in probably the worst periods of human history, at ground zero, he did things that I am positive a majority of us would fail to do despite our intentions. individually the child and her sister and mother also show us the side of those who suffered so much in the Ghettos. The strength and the desire for life. The desire to live, shook me to my core. It's a book about family as much as a recount of the atrocities. that despite everything as a unit, a family, they were able to persevere over the worst horror imaginable.
The fact this is true, this story is real, shows the reader that in the depths of hell even good men shine brighter then the darkest of souls. I highly recommend the book and the audiobook to get different perspectives.
November 20, 2013
this is a memoir of the holocaust seen through the eyes of a child. Syvie was four when her family was taken by force by the Nazis and forced to live in a "ghetto" section of Poland. at first there were over 250,000 Jewish people who were there over five years later when they were rescued by the Russians, there were less than a thousand. Syvie was ten when the holocaust ended. This is her story. she tells us of her horrific memories of this horrific era. She is now in her seventies and lives in the USA.she had her name "Syvie" changed to "Sylvia"when she came to the USA. this book is actually intended for Children. I think it is so important to read about the holocaust and this book is told in easy to read language for kids. but just as interesting for an adult to read.
August 10, 2018
What a touching story! It’s not easy to move me to tears but this book did just that. What I admired the most was not only it was a true story of a Holocaust survivor (author’s aunt Syvia) but the author’s decision to narrate it from a child’s perspective. Purposely told in easy, simple language, it touches the deepest chords of a reader’s heart with its child-like sincerity and desire to understand the cruel world around. Syvia is impossible not to love and admire, just like the other children who happened to grow up and mature far too fast in the appalling conditions of the Lodz ghetto: don’t look at the German guards - they’ll shoot you; don’t leave the apartment and don’t make any noise - a new aktion is coming; stay in the hole dug by your father in the cemetery in the middle of the night - only this will save your life. It’s a fast read but it affected me in ways that some full-length accounts didn’t manage to. It’s Elie Wiesel’s “Night,” told from a child’s perspective. Highly recommended not only to all WW2 history buffs but to every single person who values history and good quality literature. “Yellow Star” is definitely one of those stories that everyone must read, without exception.
November 15, 2009
Summary and Analysis:
Yellow Star is a novel in verse that would be appropriate for middle school readers. Yellow Star is both a book of poetry as well as a biographical account of a young girl's experiences during the Holocaust. Specifically, the author's aunt Syvia (now called Sylvia),is a survivor of the Lodz ghetto in Poland. In the beginning, there were 270,000 Jewish people living in the Lodz ghetto. When the ghetto was liberated by the Soviets, there were only 800 people left. Among the 800 people were 12 children, who had remained hidden when the Nazis came to send the children to Chelmno concentration camp, or later, Aushwitz concentration camp. The author's aunt Syvia was one of the 12 children that survived.
Yellow Star begins when Syvia is about 5 years old. Her family is not rich but they are "comfortable". Around this time, all Jewish people in Poland are forced to wear the yellow star of David on their clothing. Soon after, they are moved into the Lodz ghetto. At first, Syvia does not mind it, although she doesn't understand why they had to leave their home. Syvia is perfectly happy playing with her two best friends. She does miss starting school though, which doesn't affect her as much as it affects Dora, her older sister.
Eventually, Syvia's friends disappear and she is very lonely - as she is home alone all day while her mother, father, and sister work. Food becomes harder and harder to find and the combination of cold weather and illness kills many people. Things become so much worse for Syvia when the Nazis order the deportation of many families. They are told they will be moved to the east- where there are jobs and better living conditions. However, Syvia's father's "gut" tells him this is not so. Although Syvia's family is not selected for deportation - she is not out of danger. Soon enough, the Nazis come for all of the children. Some families give their children up willingly, believing the Nazi lies, but once again, Syvia's father knows better. He hides her in the cemetery for several nights and she is once again safe.
Finally, years later, the Nazis begin to liquidate the ghetto. They are losing the war and so they want to send all Jewish people into Germany to Auschwitz concentration camp. Only 800 Jews are allowed to stay behind, in order to clean up the ghetto and salvage furniture, etc for Nazi use. Syvia's father manages to get them into the working group and so they stay behind in the ghetto. Soon enough, the ghetto begins to be bombed by the advancing Soviet soldiers. In one of the most tense moments of the book, all of the Jewish people left in Lodz gather together in a large courtyard, thinking they would be safer from the bombing there than in buildings. The leader of the Soviet bombers, also Jewish, sees the yellow stars on their clothing from up in the air and orders the air raid to stop. This is how the remaining Jews of Lodz are liberated.
I listed to this book on CD and I read portions of it, as well. I must say that I enjoyed listening to it more than reading it because the voice actor was very talented. This helped me because I could hear the names, etc being pronounced correctly.
I liked the fact that Yellow Star is told in verse, as well. Not only was this a nice change from reading traditional novels about this subject matter, it helped make the narration more authentic. Syvia lives in the Lodz ghetto from the time she was 5 until the time she was 10. The poetry in this book helps make the first person narration more authentic - as the short lines come off as being very childlike.
This book also had some useful tools within it as well. There is a detailed timeline in the back of the book, as well as a prologue and epilogue that talks about the author's relationship with her aunt Syvia. In between sections of this book, there is some historical background written in prose that helps the reader understand the context - as the protagonist is too young to be able to give that information and some of it was information that the people in the ghetto didn't know at the time, anyway. For example, that Auschwitz was the destination of the last trains out of Lodz.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2014
How does one go about reviewing a book that talks about one of the most horrifying times in the history of this world, I wonder? Also, I ask myself if I have the right to actually review this personal memoir of another individual? However, I believe that not saying anything about it would reduce the impact that this book has on the overall genre of post holocaust books. Therefore, here are my humble thoughts about this book.
This is a true life account of one of the child survivors of the Lodz ghetto in Poland. It is the story of Syvia (known today as Sylvia) written by her niece who wanted to share her aunt's experience with the world. The entire book is narrated by Syvia and therefore is a story as seen and experienced by a child. The narration is lyrical and truly makes us experience the times with her. As I read it, I became Syvia and it was as if I was going through those experiences with her. While one can argue that one holocaust book is the same as another, except may be in its severity, I still believe that each story makes us think of that horrifying period and makes us want to pause for a moment and think of whether the world has truly learnt from it.
Syvia and her family, according to her own words, escaped by way of a miracle. I believe it to be true after reading the book but I also have to add that it was the smart and quick thinking of her father that actually helped them survive their stay in the ghetto.
One statement that moved me in this book was when she says and I quote "Live for today, for tomorrow we may fry in the pan". These were the words they kept repeating in order to survive. How horrifying to live a life like that. On the other hand, how true those words are even today. We tend to think of the past and the future but forget that the present is what we have and what we can actually change.
While reading this book, I was forced to think of one more fact and accept that despite reading or having knowledge of such horrors, mankind has still not learnt its lesson. Persecutions in the name of caste, creed, religion, nationality and worse simply due to sheer hate for no reason at all still continue today. There are people experiencing and surviving such persecutions even as I write this review. The book and this thought makes me wonder, when will this end? Will we as mankind ever be able to live peacefully? Have we traded one atrocity for another? My heart is heavy today.
However, the fact that Syvia and her family survived the horrors along with 800 others and lived onto enjoy a better life does give me hope that maybe one day mankind will rid itself of all its prejudices and be able to live a life that is truly worth living!
In that hope and with that prayer I write this review and dedicate it to all such survivors, wherever they are, praying for strength and endurance to survive and emerge as winners.
This is a true life account of one of the child survivors of the Lodz ghetto in Poland. It is the story of Syvia (known today as Sylvia) written by her niece who wanted to share her aunt's experience with the world. The entire book is narrated by Syvia and therefore is a story as seen and experienced by a child. The narration is lyrical and truly makes us experience the times with her. As I read it, I became Syvia and it was as if I was going through those experiences with her. While one can argue that one holocaust book is the same as another, except may be in its severity, I still believe that each story makes us think of that horrifying period and makes us want to pause for a moment and think of whether the world has truly learnt from it.
Syvia and her family, according to her own words, escaped by way of a miracle. I believe it to be true after reading the book but I also have to add that it was the smart and quick thinking of her father that actually helped them survive their stay in the ghetto.
One statement that moved me in this book was when she says and I quote "Live for today, for tomorrow we may fry in the pan". These were the words they kept repeating in order to survive. How horrifying to live a life like that. On the other hand, how true those words are even today. We tend to think of the past and the future but forget that the present is what we have and what we can actually change.
While reading this book, I was forced to think of one more fact and accept that despite reading or having knowledge of such horrors, mankind has still not learnt its lesson. Persecutions in the name of caste, creed, religion, nationality and worse simply due to sheer hate for no reason at all still continue today. There are people experiencing and surviving such persecutions even as I write this review. The book and this thought makes me wonder, when will this end? Will we as mankind ever be able to live peacefully? Have we traded one atrocity for another? My heart is heavy today.
However, the fact that Syvia and her family survived the horrors along with 800 others and lived onto enjoy a better life does give me hope that maybe one day mankind will rid itself of all its prejudices and be able to live a life that is truly worth living!
In that hope and with that prayer I write this review and dedicate it to all such survivors, wherever they are, praying for strength and endurance to survive and emerge as winners.
December 21, 2023
5 stars. This is marketed as poetry, but since it’s all blank verse and doesn’t even have a rhythm, it reads more like a narrative—but somehow it’s not jerky or spasmodic. It flows very well. Syvia’s story is amazing and I found it impossible to put the book down. This book is poignant and bittersweet and beautiful and moving and heartbreaking all at once. You really feel like a child is telling it. It’s so well done. It’s a side of the Holocaust that I haven’t read much about, and somehow, it was encouraging and a blessing. In the midst of all that horror, children were loved and sacrificed for and cared for. The encounter with the Russian at the end is so sweet. <33
A Favourite Quote: I am thinking how good it sounds to hear Papa laugh. It has been a long time since I’ve heard laughter, and it warms a place in my heart that even the soup cannot touch.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “No, as far as the Nazis know, there are eight hundred adults and no children left in the Lodz ghetto.”
Well, then, aren’t we clever, I think as I drift off. We know more than the Nazis do.
A Favourite Quote: I am thinking how good it sounds to hear Papa laugh. It has been a long time since I’ve heard laughter, and it warms a place in my heart that even the soup cannot touch.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “No, as far as the Nazis know, there are eight hundred adults and no children left in the Lodz ghetto.”
Well, then, aren’t we clever, I think as I drift off. We know more than the Nazis do.
July 11, 2020
I needed a break from what I was reading so I picked this up. I started it during home room and finished it 5th period. I loved this book. (Clearly) "Out of 350,000 people twelve children survived. I was one of those twelve." This story is about a Jewish girl who survived through the war. She was one of the twelve and it's and incredible story and I needed some verse and this was definitely worth reading!
August 14, 2020
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
.
"In 1939, the Germans invaded the town of Lodz, Poland. They forced all of the Jewish people to live in a small part of the city called a ghetto. They built a barbed-wire fence around it and posted Nazi guards to keep everyone inside it. Two hundred and seventy thousand people lived in the Lodz ghetto. “In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children. “I was one of the twelve.” - Sylvia Perlmutter.
.
During the Second World War, the Nazis set up ghettos for Jews, marking the beginnings of their persecution. The author, Jennifer's aunt was one of the twelve children who survived the ghetto and this is her story. Although this book is written by Jennifer, the book is narrated through the eyes of Syvia who was barely four and a half years old at the time of the War. Written in verse, this book was nothing short of a masterpiece. What makes it gut-wrenching is the confusion and innocence of the children who struggled to comprehend the idea behind the hate that the Nazis spewed. I have read my fair share of books about Holocaust but this one has taken the top spot.
.
In 1940, the Perlmutters' were evicted from their homes like the thousands of other Jews and were forced to move into a ghetto in Lodz. Syvia with her parents and a twelve year old sister, Dora makes way into the ghetto, clueless about their release. Their stay in the ghetto lasted five years, beating death against all odds. Syvia's father was undoubtedly the hero of the story, without whom the family would have perished. The conditions of the ghetto were hideous, with no hot water and no warm clothes. During the winters, many families drew their last breath, unable to tolerate the cold. Food was a luxury, inviting starvation to the ghetto. If people weren't killed because of the cold, lack of food eventually did the job. Syvia managed to make friends with the other kids but most of them were taken away in cattle cars to be gassed.
.
While more Jews entered the ghetto, the Nazis ran out of food and space. Old people and children were rounded up and sent away to be executed. Because of Syvia's father's quick thinking, she survives time and again. His determination and leadership qualities came in handy as he managed to keep his family safe throughout their imprisonment. But many families weren't as lucky as them. Syvia tells us what it felt like to live in the ghetto where people were killed for no reason. A boy she knew yesterday wasn't alive the next day. Her only solace was her doll which was later sold to procure food. The food that they received contained ground glass, dirt and other particles but they couldn't afford to complain. As the War progressed, Syvia remembers how thousands of Jews were taken away, leaving the ghetto almost empty. Few of the lucky ones who were left behind protected the children from the Nazis by creating a secret safe place. It is here that Syvia realises that she's not the only child left behind in the ghetto.
.
When the Russians liberated the ghetto in 1945, the Perlmutters were amongst the 800 Jews that survived. Syvia who was ten at that time had grown beyond her age. This book is painful to read, the War seen from a kid's perspective making it all the more gut-wrenching. Wars have the capability of wiping away all the goodness but Syvia tells us about the sacrifices made by the parents and others to keep their children safe. The kindness of the Russian who found them happened to be a Jew and upon witnessing the plight of his fellow brothers, his heart is wounded too. Yellow Star broke my heart with every atrocity that the Jews had to face but their survival helped apply a balm to ease the pain. I highly recommend this.
.
Rating : 5/5.
.
"In 1939, the Germans invaded the town of Lodz, Poland. They forced all of the Jewish people to live in a small part of the city called a ghetto. They built a barbed-wire fence around it and posted Nazi guards to keep everyone inside it. Two hundred and seventy thousand people lived in the Lodz ghetto. “In 1945, the war ended. The Germans surrendered, and the ghetto was liberated. Out of more than a quarter of a million people, only about 800 walked out of the ghetto. Of those who survived, only twelve were children. “I was one of the twelve.” - Sylvia Perlmutter.
.
During the Second World War, the Nazis set up ghettos for Jews, marking the beginnings of their persecution. The author, Jennifer's aunt was one of the twelve children who survived the ghetto and this is her story. Although this book is written by Jennifer, the book is narrated through the eyes of Syvia who was barely four and a half years old at the time of the War. Written in verse, this book was nothing short of a masterpiece. What makes it gut-wrenching is the confusion and innocence of the children who struggled to comprehend the idea behind the hate that the Nazis spewed. I have read my fair share of books about Holocaust but this one has taken the top spot.
.
In 1940, the Perlmutters' were evicted from their homes like the thousands of other Jews and were forced to move into a ghetto in Lodz. Syvia with her parents and a twelve year old sister, Dora makes way into the ghetto, clueless about their release. Their stay in the ghetto lasted five years, beating death against all odds. Syvia's father was undoubtedly the hero of the story, without whom the family would have perished. The conditions of the ghetto were hideous, with no hot water and no warm clothes. During the winters, many families drew their last breath, unable to tolerate the cold. Food was a luxury, inviting starvation to the ghetto. If people weren't killed because of the cold, lack of food eventually did the job. Syvia managed to make friends with the other kids but most of them were taken away in cattle cars to be gassed.
.
While more Jews entered the ghetto, the Nazis ran out of food and space. Old people and children were rounded up and sent away to be executed. Because of Syvia's father's quick thinking, she survives time and again. His determination and leadership qualities came in handy as he managed to keep his family safe throughout their imprisonment. But many families weren't as lucky as them. Syvia tells us what it felt like to live in the ghetto where people were killed for no reason. A boy she knew yesterday wasn't alive the next day. Her only solace was her doll which was later sold to procure food. The food that they received contained ground glass, dirt and other particles but they couldn't afford to complain. As the War progressed, Syvia remembers how thousands of Jews were taken away, leaving the ghetto almost empty. Few of the lucky ones who were left behind protected the children from the Nazis by creating a secret safe place. It is here that Syvia realises that she's not the only child left behind in the ghetto.
.
When the Russians liberated the ghetto in 1945, the Perlmutters were amongst the 800 Jews that survived. Syvia who was ten at that time had grown beyond her age. This book is painful to read, the War seen from a kid's perspective making it all the more gut-wrenching. Wars have the capability of wiping away all the goodness but Syvia tells us about the sacrifices made by the parents and others to keep their children safe. The kindness of the Russian who found them happened to be a Jew and upon witnessing the plight of his fellow brothers, his heart is wounded too. Yellow Star broke my heart with every atrocity that the Jews had to face but their survival helped apply a balm to ease the pain. I highly recommend this.
.
Rating : 5/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2023
"because yellow is meant to be a happy color, not the color of hate."
Oh my, this is a hard book to rate.
After all, it's an account of a Holocaust survivor's story.
But it's written in verse which is not my favorite format. I'm not much for poetry; I never have been and don't think I ever will be. So, why did I read it then?
Well, I read it for two reasons:
1) It's based on a true story.
2) I hoped it'd be one of the exceptions and that I'd end up appreciating, if not liking, it.
Maybe if I was a lover of written verse, of poetry in general, then it wouldn't have been so bad. Or maybe if I had waited for the audiobook, I would have liked it more than I did. Oh well. I'm still grateful for text-to-speech because, without it, I don't think I would have gotten through it as soon as I didif at all.
Personally, if Goodreads allowed it, my rating would be 2.5 stars.
Oh my, this is a hard book to rate.
After all, it's an account of a Holocaust survivor's story.
But it's written in verse which is not my favorite format. I'm not much for poetry; I never have been and don't think I ever will be. So, why did I read it then?
Well, I read it for two reasons:
1) It's based on a true story.
2) I hoped it'd be one of the exceptions and that I'd end up appreciating, if not liking, it.
Maybe if I was a lover of written verse, of poetry in general, then it wouldn't have been so bad. Or maybe if I had waited for the audiobook, I would have liked it more than I did. Oh well. I'm still grateful for text-to-speech because, without it, I don't think I would have gotten through it as soon as I did
Personally, if Goodreads allowed it, my rating would be 2.5 stars.
March 7, 2023
Historical account of a family who survives the holocaust ghetto in Łódź, Poland. Told from the perspective of Syvia from the ages of 4 to 9 years old, this biographical account is tragic, difficult, and sad. However, her family shows courage, resiliency, and hope by taking care of each other, and the other residents of the ghetto to network and survive.
September 24, 2021
I thought this was a mind opening book because it really put me in the shoes of the people who lived in ghettos and experienced life during that time. I recommend this book if you are into the Holocaust and World war two. I also enjoyed it because I have never read a novel in verse/ free verse before and it was interesting to read a book that was.
January 26, 2018
8.5/10
The premise of this had me a little worried. A book written by Syvia's niece in free verse but written as if it were from her perspective. It seemed on the surface to be gimmicky or contrived. This is such a good book. It's so simple, yet so moving. I found myself constantly thinking, "I can't believe that actually happened," but it did and the way Roy writes it makes you feel like a part of history. This a great book for children and adults.
The premise of this had me a little worried. A book written by Syvia's niece in free verse but written as if it were from her perspective. It seemed on the surface to be gimmicky or contrived. This is such a good book. It's so simple, yet so moving. I found myself constantly thinking, "I can't believe that actually happened," but it did and the way Roy writes it makes you feel like a part of history. This a great book for children and adults.
January 1, 2018
Wonderful
This was such an incredible book. I really enjoyed how it was told from the view point of a 4.5 year old girl named Syvia to the day before she turned 10 years old. I certainly will be sharing this book with my two daughters when they are a bit older. What an excellent look at history and the terrors the Jews faced.
This was such an incredible book. I really enjoyed how it was told from the view point of a 4.5 year old girl named Syvia to the day before she turned 10 years old. I certainly will be sharing this book with my two daughters when they are a bit older. What an excellent look at history and the terrors the Jews faced.
January 10, 2021
This is a simple, quick yet compelling read. The story is told in verse form, from the point of view of a very young child. It lives up to the hype about it when it first came out. A holocaust story that may be read by any child, about the experiences of one of only twelve children who survived the Lodz ghetto.
January 12, 2018
4.75 stars
review to follow
review to follow
August 23, 2022
Read this as a whole-class novel. It is interesting and written in verse. It's not life-altering and I don't think it was rigorous enough for 6th grade.
April 21, 2025
Hard book to read. Great story to be told and learned. Happy to have read it. Sad to know it was true of course. Makes me grateful of course for all the many great stories told ahead… grateful to have heard this story.
March 3, 2020
I was on a roll on picking positive books the day I got this book! I really don't think there are any happy holocaust stories for obvious reasons but there are ones with as-happy-as-they-can-be endings and this is one. Really great read and I loved the way it was written. cant believe it took me so long to read this book!
July 31, 2010
SYDNEY TAYLOR HONOR BOOK (2007)
Format: Novel in free verse poetry
Age level: Middle school
Protagonist: Syvia, a young Jewish girl
Brief Summary: This is the true story of Syvia, a young Jewish girl in Poland during World War II, told by her niece. Syvia is about 4 years old when the war begins and 10 when it ends. She and her family were sent to the Lodz ghetto in Poland, and this is their story. Syvia's story offers a unique view of the Holocaust in that she spent the majority of the war in a ghetto, as opposed to a concentration camp. Although there are many similarities between the two locations, one gains a deeper understanding of life in both places through this story.
I thought this book was amazing. I was a little disappointed to see it was another book written in free verse, but for this account, it was perfect. The poems flowed together well and allowed the author to highlight the main memories of her aunt. It also lent itself to the feel of a young child, which would not be accomplished by a very detailed memoir.
Format: Novel in free verse poetry
Age level: Middle school
Protagonist: Syvia, a young Jewish girl
Brief Summary: This is the true story of Syvia, a young Jewish girl in Poland during World War II, told by her niece. Syvia is about 4 years old when the war begins and 10 when it ends. She and her family were sent to the Lodz ghetto in Poland, and this is their story. Syvia's story offers a unique view of the Holocaust in that she spent the majority of the war in a ghetto, as opposed to a concentration camp. Although there are many similarities between the two locations, one gains a deeper understanding of life in both places through this story.
I thought this book was amazing. I was a little disappointed to see it was another book written in free verse, but for this account, it was perfect. The poems flowed together well and allowed the author to highlight the main memories of her aunt. It also lent itself to the feel of a young child, which would not be accomplished by a very detailed memoir.
March 21, 2008
This is a fantastic Holocaust novel. The author wrote from the perspective of her aunt, who was one of 12 children to survive the Lodz ghetto in Poland. Her aunt was four and a half when she entered the ghetto, and ten when the liberation troops reached them. Roy has an amazing way of making the most simple statements incredibly gripping. The novel is written in poetic prose:
I wish I could
rip the star off
(carefully, stitch by stitch, so as not to ruin
my lovely coat),
because yellow is meant to be
a happy color,
not the color of
hate.
I will be using this as a cross-curricular connection with the social studies teacher on my team this spring while she is teaching the Holocaust, but I think it was an awesome read in and of itself. I read it going to Connecticut and back for Thanksgiving, so it's really a quick read, too!
I wish I could
rip the star off
(carefully, stitch by stitch, so as not to ruin
my lovely coat),
because yellow is meant to be
a happy color,
not the color of
hate.
I will be using this as a cross-curricular connection with the social studies teacher on my team this spring while she is teaching the Holocaust, but I think it was an awesome read in and of itself. I read it going to Connecticut and back for Thanksgiving, so it's really a quick read, too!
October 17, 2016
This book was a disappointment because i had such high hopes going into it. The librarian and a lot of my reading friends absolutely loved it and recommended it to me since I love reading books about World War II. I'm sorry to say that I thought that the format could have been done better and I never really got an emotional connection to the book and the character. What I like most about other World War II books is that you get an emotional connection to the character and you start to really understand what happened emotionally to these characters. In this book, I felt like I was watching from outside a smudged window. I saw what was happening, yet I never really got an emotional understanding. The story itself was okay, but it could've been executed better to fully enjoy the book.
July 17, 2017
Sometimes hearing a story from the voice of an innocent child lends power to the telling. So it is with this true story of Holocaust survivor Sylvia Perlmutter. Her inner voice & simple hopes contrast with the horrors going on around her. I fell in love with her father, who used such creative ways to keep his precious little one safe & lightened the dark days with his gentle humor. I really appreciated Jennifer Roy's style--simple yet at times poetic and always poignant. Definitely recommend.
**Children's Literature
***Kindle Unlimited, read & listen
Tavia Gilbert (a favorite) narrator
**Children's Literature
***Kindle Unlimited, read & listen
Tavia Gilbert (a favorite) narrator
February 5, 2025
I picked this book up well over a decade ago for the first time and no matter how many times I go back to it I am unable to put it down. This was so foundational for me in my interest in understanding history not only from the facts and figures but from the primary accounts, and in the use of literature and art more in general as a means by which to do that. Will always recommend this
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,780 reviews