
Member Reviews

I expected to like this one more than I did. I love history, WWII especially. And historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. The story is good enough, but it just seemed a bit drawn out and didn't hold my attention as much as I'd hoped. Based on a true story, it tells the tale of young Dita. A prisoner at Auschwitz, she finds herself appointed the librarian of a very much forbidden collection of books. Admirable, of course, but told in a more matter-of-fact manner than I usually would choose. Not one of my favorites but a decent read.

The incredible courage and dignity of the Jewish people during WWII never ceases to amaze me. Antonio Iturbe has taken the bare bones of the facts of the family camp at Auschwitz and created a full bodied picture of the lives the prisoners lived. Your heart will be broken, but at the same time filled with joy at their small victories.
May we never forget.

I am really glad Dita's story is going to be told to English speaking audiences. I hope this book is turned into a true to life film because this is a story everyone needs to hear. While I've noticed from some reviews that I've read, some readers did not like the writing style, I personally enjoyed it. It made me feel as if I was there. I felt Dita's fear, which at times made it hard to get through. I hope to see this as summer reading in high schools.

I loved this beautiful melancholy tale and I can't wait for this to be available for everyone to read. I truly want to thank net-galley for allowing me an arc copy of this beautiful story. I loved how there was hope and light from books in such a hell. This is one of my favorite reads of 2017!

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After Dita's family is transferred from the Terezin ghetto to Auschwitz, Dita takes charge of the library for the family bloc. Composed of eight varying books, the library is a symbol of better times, hope, and life itself.
Although Dita's story was fascinating, there was something a bit off about the writing style. The book didn't have the realism that most holocaust stories have. This may be because it is a translation. I think the book is a bit slow moving to capture the attention of most teenagers, but I enjoyed it.