Monday, May 12, 2014

The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren -- ESSENTIAL

Elvgren, Jennifer The Whispering Town, illustrated by Fabio Santomauro. PICTURE BOOK. Kar-Ben Publishing, 2014. $7.95. Content: PG.

Anett's family harbors a Jewish mother and son during the Holocaust, intending to send them to safety via a boat to Sweden. Unfortunately, the cloudy nights make it impossible for the refugees to find the harbor, and Nazi soldiers are searching the neighborhood for escaped Jews. But thanks to Anett's bravery and ingenuity, and her neighbors' kindness, there may be hope for the boy and his mother after all. An author's note at the end gives more background on the Danish resistance.

I loved this book. Anett was a wonderful protagonist, and her story brought an important part of history to life in an interesting, beautiful, and very moving way. Anett did not act alone, however. Her family and their fellow townspeople helped, showing that a group of people can work together to make a positive change, despite the dangers and the odds against them. Although this is a picture book, the illustrations are somber enough, and the concept mature enough, that it could also work in many middle school classrooms.

EL, MS -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Caryn

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