Name: The Librarian of Auschwitz
ISBN: 9781432849290

Antonio Iturbe

Received 4 Starred ReviewsBased on the real-life experience of Dita Kraus, imprisoned in Auschwitz by the Nazis, this is the incredible story of a fourteen-year-old girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust. Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes an extraordinary story of courage and hope.

The Librarian of Auschwitz

Lily

The Nazi officers are dressed in black. They look at death with the indifference of a gravedigger.

Books are extremely dangerous, they make people think.

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a 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. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terez�n ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

Katelyn Payne 

I was super disappointed in this book. I was actually super excited to read it because I had heard a lot of good things about it and my English teacher even really loved it. There are a couple things that I didn't like about this book and just some things that I noticed in general. 

1. I felt like there was a lack of emotional connection from the characters. I know that there was emotion portrayed in this book like you could tell when she was confused or upset but I felt like it was just a basis, almost like the author had written 'I was confused' and it ended there. 

2. I felt like some characters were introduced too early. I felt like their story and their lives could have waited until they actually appeared in Dita's life because whenever it was in their point of view I found myself not understanding why I was reading it. 

Those are the only major problems that I had with this story. There are a few things that I did like about this book. 

1. I liked how in the beginning it explains the different colors and what the different triangles mean in the concentration camp. I thought that that was super useful and also super interesting to know. 

2. I liked how the story didn't stop at Auschwitz. You get introduced to 2 other camps but only 1 of those camps is talked about and seen for a few chapters and that is the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. I liked this because I had always thought that Auschwitz was the worst camp that there was but to find out that there was a camp where they only had 1 meal and they just sat all day and some of the buildings didn't even have beds was pretty eye opening to just how horrific the holocaust was. 

I do think that if I reread this book at a later time I might have a changed opinion about it. Because I did just read another holocaust book right before this one and I think maybe if I had spaced them out more then I would have been able to pay attention more and not space out so much during this book.

Samantha Carter

Took me a while to get into this one but when I did, I couldn't put it down. The way in which Dita's story is told is so special and it really makes you think of how things were. I've just purchased the children's block/the painted wall

Fraser Simons

I’ve read a lot of books on the subject, so the benchmark is high. Some of the best written and mind opening books I’ve ever read have been the recounting of these kinds of experience. I went for it because of this particular framing. And the prose delivers in connection with the theme. 

However the conceit wasn’t enough to differentiate itself from stronger works. It does what it sets out to do. And it’s good. It’s just exactly as I expected. If you’re new to stories like this, I think you will be moved by it. If you’re steeped in classics and historical/modern classics, I think you may find it won’t exceed expectations. Which a perfectly fine thing for a book to deliver, imo. 3 stars, for me, is a good rating.

Mia Kern

I'm torn on how to rate this. Throughout most of the book I was convinced I would give it 3 stars. But once it focused almost entirely on Dita's story (the last fourth of the book or so) it was really captivating.

It really is a beautiful but tragic story. It drew me in quickly and made for an easy read (as far as the writing goes, the subject matter on the other hand...). The infusion of literary references throughout made this book feel cohesive even though it told the stories of so many different characters. I found myself loving Dita and rooting for her. 

But...the writing leaves something to be desired. I recognize this is a translated book, so perhaps some of that magic was lost through this translation. I found myself frustrated at the sudden, sometimes jarring, changes in narrator. I appreciated the telling of the stories of a variety of people, but it became hard to follow when the author would switch between main characters multiple times within a chapter. Sometimes the author interjected his own voice, in order to explain what happened to a character in the events following the book, but these too were jarring and took me out of the book.

In general, I think this is worth a read. Not for the prose or the stylistic choices, but for the stories that it conveys.

Jessica Mechlowitz

At first, I felt guilty about not enjoying the book all that much. It kept switching perspectives which got really confusing, especially since it was in third person. However, it did get better a little more than halfway through and I did quite enjoy it at the end (as much as one can considering the topic). Overall, I’d say it’s a pretty slow book and the translation of it makes it a little weird to read, but i believe it’s a book that everyone should read at some point if they’re interested in learning more about this tragic era.

For readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice: this is the story of the smallest library in the world – and the most dangerous. 'It wasn’t an extensive library. In fact, it consisted of eight books and some of them were in poor condition. But they were books. In this incredibly dark place, they were a reminder of less sombre times, when words rang out more loudly than machine guns...’ Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious books the prisoners have managed to smuggle past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the secret librarian of Auschwitz, responsible for the safekeeping of the small collection of titles, as well as the ‘living books’ - prisoners of Auschwitz who know certain books so well, they too can be ‘borrowed’ to educate the children in the camp. But books are extremely dangerous. They make people think. And nowhere are they more dangerous than in Block 31 of Auschwitz, the children’s block, where the slightest transgression can result in execution, no matter how young the transgressor... The Sunday Times bestseller for readers of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice. Based on the incredible and moving true story of Dita Kraus, holocaust survivor and secret librarian for the children's block in Auschwitz.

The heart-breaking Sunday Times bestseller based on the incredible true story of Dita Kraus

Nicole Sargent-Carberry

I don’t really have words to describe this. It doesn’t just follow Dita, but several other people as well.

Nadine 

I must admit to have struggled to complete this. It was pretty laborious and at times came across more like a check-list of things that needed to be included rather than something that was compelling. The most interesting part was the afterword where the author revealed sources and what happened to to characters after the war.

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a 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. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope. This title has Common Core connections. Godwin Books

Nikita

I've always been a huge history buff, specifically interested in the years of Nazi Germany, the Holocaust and the war so naturally I gravitated towards The Librarian of Auschwitz whilst getting to pick out a Christmas gift from my brother.

Choosing this book was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. It's beautifully written and such a heart-warming story.

This book has broken my heart, It has mended my broken heart and it has left me both breathless and speechless on multiple occasions. 

The Librarian Of Auschwitz is a story of a young woman who never gave up her fight even after she was free and it is beyond inspiring. 

Paige Green

Disclaimer: None! I bought my own copy!

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: October 10th, 2017

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Recommended Age: 16+ (inhumane conditions, violence, Jewish slurs, and the realization that this could happen again)

Pages: 424

Author Website

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a 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. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. 

Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

Going into this I didn’t know if the book would really portray the horrors of WW2 accurately. And I was pleasantly surprised when it did! Not happy or anything, but surprised that this book was so dark in places and that it didn’t hold back when talking about the murder of children and babies. I felt that the book did well in developing Dita and all of the other characters, but it’s real strength lies in world building and emersion into the book. The plot was intriguing and the book kept you on your toes until the very end. And even though you know the outcome, you can’t help but pray for something more to happen. 

I did find that the book was a bit jarring in how it kept switching POVs between the different characters and sometimes it made it hard to get back into the book when that happened. I also felt that there were a lot of characters, which made it hard for me to remember each and every one of them.

Verdict: Overall, this is a hauntingly beautiful tale about hope in a desolate situation.

Danielle H.

"There are those who might think that this was an act of useless bravery in an extermination camp when there were other, more pressing concerns -- books don't cure illnesses; they don't fill your stomach or quench your thirst. It's true: Culture isn't necessary for the survival of mankind; for that, you need only bread and water. It's also true that with bread to eat and water to drink, humans survive; but with only this, humanity dies. If human beings aren't deeply moved by beauty, if they don't close their eyes and activate their imaginations, if they aren't capable of asking themselves questions and discerning the limits of their ignorance, then they are men or women, but they are not complete persons: Nothing significant distinguishes them from a salmon or a zebra or a musk ox."

For readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice: this is the story of the smallest library in the world - and the most dangerous. 'It wasn't an extensive library. In fact, it consisted of eight books and some of them were in poor condition. But they were books. In this incredibly dark place, they were a reminder of less sombre times, when words rang out more loudly than machine guns...' Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious books the prisoners have managed to smuggle past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the secret librarian of Auschwitz, responsible for the safekeeping of the small collection of titles, as well as the 'living books' - prisoners of Auschwitz who know certain books so well, they too can be 'borrowed' to educate the children in the camp. But books are extremely dangerous. They make people think. And nowhere are they more dangerous than in Block 31 of Auschwitz, the children's block, where the slightest transgression can result in execution, no matter how young the transgressor... The Sunday Times bestseller for readers of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice. Based on the incredible and moving true story of Dita Kraus, holocaust survivor and secret librarian for the children's block in Auschwitz.

Ylse van het Hof 

Roisin Giles

An emotional novel focusing on the true events and real people during the awful extermination of the Jewish race during World War Two. The story line follows the main character, Dita, whose love of books and stories leads her to find a small amount of joy in tragedy and the strength to keep going. A quote that really got to me from the book that has stayed with me is:  'With bread to eat and water to drink, humans survive; but with only this, humanity dies.'

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, the award-winning The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe is the incredible story of a 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. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope. This edition includes bonus material. Godwin Books

The Librarian of Auschwitz

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