Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers Book 16

Lillian and her blind father are taken in by Otto Weidt to work in his brush-making factory to protect them during the Holocaust. Otto saves their lives numerous times during the war. It is based on a true story!

This is a beautifully written book about a hero during WWII. It is an easy read for children to help them understand what happened during WWII without graphic details. I love reading about people who put their lives at risk to help Jews escape death. The author tells her story about finding Otto’s legacy and the research she did about the people mentioned in the book. This information is found at the end of the book.

The narrator of the audiobook, Gabi Epstein, does a great job with the reading of this book. Her voice is easy to listen to and she has voices for each character so you can distinguish between who is speaking. I would highly recommend this book/audiobook to lovers of historical fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the audiobook of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The Brushmaker’s Daughter by Kathy Kacer was based on true events that actually occurred during World War II and the Holocaust. It was the latest book in the Holocaust Remembrance series. There were sixteen other books in this series prior to the addition of The Brushmaker’s Daughter. It was written for children in grades four-seven to read and learn about the Holocaust. The Brushmaker’s Daughter was well written, inspirational, and heartbreaking all at the same time. The characters were well developed and although many were fictional they were based on real people. It was a short book that had only 86 pages. Its length only added to the appropriateness for its targeted audience. Although The Brushmaker’s Daughter was written for younger readers, I found it captivating and discovered that it played on all my emotions. It had just enough suspense and very little violence making it a good choice for children that are between 9 and 12 years old in age. I listened to the audiobook that was read by Gabi Epstein. She brilliantly read The Brushmaker’s Daughter with just the right amount of conviction and just enough emotion.

The Brushmaker’s Daughter took the reader to Berlin, Germany during the year 1939. It was extremely dangerous to be living in Berlin, Germany if you were Jewish and even more so if you were Jewish and blind. The Nazis were not only trying to rid the world of Jews but also anyone that had a disability. Blindness qualified as a disability. Twelve year old Lillian and her Papa found themselves in this dire situation. Lillian’s Papa was blind and they were Jewish. Her Papa knew that it was only a matter of time before the Nazi soldiers would discover them and send them to a concentration camp. He knew that they had to leave Berlin and find a safer place to live. In the middle of the night, father and daughter left Berlin and walked and walked until they got to Otto Weidt’s brush and broom factory. Mr. Weidt welcomed them and offered both twelve year old Lillian and her Papa jobs at his factory. At the factory, many types of brushes and brooms were being made. These brushes and brooms were being made for the Germans to use in conjunction with the war. Mr. Weidt’s factory was quite unique, though. All the workers he employed were not only Jewish but they were blind. Some of the workers were even deaf or mute. Mr. Weidt claimed that only blind workers had the skills to make his brushes so expertly. In exchange for their work, Otto Weidt swore to always protect his workers from Nazi raids. Otto swore to keep them safe and out of concentration camps. Mr. Weidt even devised a plan to warn his workers if Nazi soldiers were entering his factory. He also provided a place where they could hide if there was ever a raid. Mr. Weidt found sympathetic people in town that provided housing and food for his workers. Lillian and her father experienced a sense of safety that they had not experienced in a long while under Mr. Weidt’s care. They became good friends with some of the other workers. As these friendships developed, the other workers revealed to Lillian and her father the many ways they had come to be blind. Some had been born blind, while others became blind later in life and some had become blind as a result of botched eye procedures and operations. Then one day, a Nazi raid occurred with no warning. Would Otto Weidt be able to save his workers from the fate of being deported to a concentration camp?

The Brushmaker’s Daughter by Kathy Kacer was inspirational and educational. I must admit that I knew very little about Otto Weidt and his heroic part in saving blind, Jewish men and women during the Holocaust. I am glad that he was recognized for his heroism when he was awarded The Righteous Among the Nations award in 1971. The Brushmaker’s Daughter explored the themes of bravery, compassion, courage, strength, friendship, empathy, challenges blind people faced and the conviction to do the right thing no matter the consequence. Although, The Brushmaker’s Daughter was meant for a younger audience, I found it to be a very compelling read and felt that it could be read by anyone. Stories, like this one, where a brave and courageous hero selfishly saved the lives of countless blind and Jewish men and women, must be told, heard and remembered. I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC of the audiobook, The Brushmaker’s Daughter by Kathy Kacer through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (less)

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I was excited to read this novella (Book 17 in the Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers) about WWII Berlin written from the perspective of an adolescent girl. It recounts the true story of twelve-year-old Lillian and her Papa who are on the run from Nazi soldiers and don’t know where to turn. Then they meet Otto Weidt, the owner of a factory that makes brushes for the Nazi army, and employs blind Jewish workers to provide for and protect them.

As I alternated between reading and listening to this short audiobook (I mean super short), I tried to keep in mind that it was written for children in grades 4-6. I knew nothing about Otto Weidt who was honored as Righteous Among the Nations in 1971, and found the book inspiring, but it was so short there was little character development, and the writing was inadequate. It was a pass for me: 3 stars.

Although this is a juvenile historical fiction novel I really enjoyed listening to it. I believe it would be a good read as well. The story gives information many children may not know about. The fact that there was a factory that made brushes for the Nazis by blind and deaf Jews is a little known fact. A different take on WWII, one I haven’t heard about before. I have already recommended it to other adults and will recommend to children as well. The only negative about the audio was the narrator’s voice. I did not care for it.

This book was a nice quick read for an adult. It is a children's book and the entire time I read it I thought about when I was in elementary school reading Number The Stars by Lois Lowry. The Brushmaker's Daughter also deals with WWII and the Holocaust.

Otto Widt is the owner of a brush making factory. He was a real person and it was an honor to get to hear a little of his story and how he used his government sanctioned factory to not only try and protect Jewish citizens, but blind ones at that. Being blind at that time was considered less than, not worthy of a "superior race" and were treated almost as badly as the Jewish people.

In this book we follow young Lillian and her Papa as they are on the run. They have such a hard time finding someone to help them, until they get in contact with Herr Widt. He takes them, hires them both to help in the factory, and protects them. Even when things seem lost, He is there to make sure all of his workers are protected. The danger is still there in the real world by the time the book ends, but this specific story had a nice ending.

It is always great to read about real human beings that fought against the Nazi's and Gestapo forces and thinking. When my daughter gets a little older, It is my hope that this book can help educate young children like Number The Stars did for me many years ago.

Kathy Kacer's The Brushmaker's Daughter is based on a true story from World War II in Berlin. The story follows a young girl and her father as they make their way to a factory that employs Jews who are deaf or blind. There they make brushes for the Nazi army. Lillian and her father both work at the factory and are in the care of Otto Weidt, who spends the war trying to help people in similar situations. He provides them with jobs, food, and a place to stay. When the Nazis come to raid the factory, how will they escape? What will they do?
I find stories about the war both intriguing and heart-breaking. It never ceases to amaze me: the resilience of the human spirit. It also astounds me when I think about what people will do to each other! People like Otto Weidt and many others like him deserve recognition for the help they gave and also for the hope that they brought. I enjoyed this story. I thought that the audiobook was very well done. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to enjoy it. #TheBrushmaker'sDaughter #Bookstagram #all_the_pages

The Brushmaker’s Daughter follows the experience of Lilian in Nazi Germany. Lilian gives descriptive information and experiences of a young girl and her blind father struggling to survive. Their story is entwined with the true story of Otto Veight. Veight was a factory owner who employed blind and deaf Jews to make brushes.
The Brushmaker’s Daughter is a wonderful resource for teen readers. It provides the young reader with knowledge of experience, fear and struggles of a young girl in Nazi Germany. By incorporating Otto Veight, it adds his story and events such as where his employees in the workshop were arrested and were in the process of being loaded on the train. The Brushmaker’s Daughter gives the reader a tie understanding and to look more into the life of Otto Veight.

Thanks to NetGalley Second Story Press and Kathy Kacer for the advanced listeners copy

The Brushmakers Daughter by Kathy Kacer
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
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The Brushmaker’s Daughter is one of the books on Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers. The story is about twelve year old Lillian and her blind father who were on the run and has avoided capture by the Nazis with the help of a real life hero named Otto Weidt. Mr. Weidt owns a factory that makes brushes for the Nazi Army’s use. He employed blind Jewish workers and does his very best to keep them safe.
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Like every Holocaust story, this is heart breaking. Though most of the characters were fictional the story was based on true to life story of the real Mr. Otto Weidt and his factory. I love how the writing is penned and catered to the intended audience. A must read for middle schoolers. The hardship and the horror brought by war was carefully presented and described in an age appropriate language. It was a short book which is perfect for a reading reflection in a classroom setting. The audio book was narrated by Gabi Epstein. Like the printed book, the sound of the audio was perfect and relatable to young listeners. I enjoyed this read and the bonus information and photos at the end of the book brought more reality to the story. When all the survivors passed away and gone their story will go with them and the Holocaust Remembrance Series is a good way to keep the memory alive and hopefully will teach the young generation in the future.
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Special Thank You to Second Story Press @_secondstory and #netgalley for the free audiobook in exchange of an honest review.
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#thebrushmakersdaughter #secondstorybooks #secondstorypress #advancedreaderscopy #advancelisteningcopy #holocaustbooks #wwllbooks #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #middleschoolreading #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview

This is a story for middle grade readers about the realities Jewish people in Germany faced during WWII. Twelve year old Lillian tells how she and her father Morris, who is blind, try to survive a dangerous time. Her mother died a year earlier from a lung infection so the two of them only have each other to rely on. They are Jewish, hoping to hide in the crowd of a big city, and end up working at Otto Weidt’s brush factory.

Otto Weidt is a real person who employed blind and deaf Jewish workers. He was kind, friendly, clever, and very brave. He did his best to protect his workers and even had a secret room in the factory they could hide in if needed. A museum is now at that location in Berlin.

The author does a good job showing the fears and dangers Jewish people faced, but in a way that is appropriate for the age group. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio copy of the book.

I received this as an ARC through Netgalley. The Brushmaker's Daughter would make a great addition to any middle school classroom. Kathy Kacer did an excellent job conveying the fear and uncertainity that faced the Jewish population in Germany during WWII at a level a child will understand, without scaring them.

Twelve-year-old Lillian and her blind father keep their heads down and try to quietly exist in Berlin during World War II. Being Jewish, this is a difficult task, but so far they manage with the help of Otto Weidt, a factory owner, who has so far convinced the Nazis that only the blind have the special skills to manufacture the brushes needed for the war effort.

Though the premise does require the reader to suspend some disbelief, the book is well written and the characters well developed considering the length of the book which is in the very appropriate range for middle-grade lit. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone. I think it did a great job explaining a difficult historical event in an age-appropriate way. It is a story that needs to be told.

The author did a great job of showing the danger German Jews faced and the fear they felt without showing a lot of violence. That is tough to do. If you have middle-grade kids, get them this book.

This was a wonderful story, perfect for middle grades, about a young girl and her blind father who work in a factory of brushmakers during WWII in Berlin. Not very long but powerful. Based on true events.

Full review coming on my blog www.drbethnolan.com

Reviewing
The Brushmakers Daughter
By Kathy Kacer
Narrated by Gabi Epstein

A dazzling introduction for young readers to the Holocaust. Based on true events, Kacer gives readers a taste of the terrifying and dangerous life that Jews faced day after day under Hitlers reign. While simultaneously highlighting the inherent good in humanity.

The rollercoaster ride of emotions makes the characters relatable and tucks the main characters right in the readers hearts. It was heart wrenching to follow Lillian and her blind father as they desperately seek work while flying under the Gestapo‘s radar in hopes of staying together.

Epstein’s narration kept me and my 14 year old engaged and wanting more. Great for young and experienced readers alike.

4 stars for this young reader hope filled look at The Holocaust.

Thanks to NetGalley Second Story Press and Kathy Kacer for the advanced listeners copy

The Brushmaker’s Daughter tells the story of Lillian and her blind Papa, who are on the run during WWII because they are Jewish. But Otto Weidt, an owner of a brush and broom factory, hires both Lilian and her father and promises to protect them. Otto Weidt employees are blind, deaf, or mute and Jewish. As the Nazis close in on the factory, Otto desperately tries to save his workers from being shipped off to concentration camps.

While Lilian and her Papa are fictional characters, Otto and his worker are not. The story, which is inspired by true events, is very age-appropriate—great suspenseful storytelling of WWII history without any violence. Even though the book is recommended for upper elementary and middle school, I thoroughly enjoyed the narration - heart-pounding, educational, and inspirational.

Highly recommend it for elementary and middle school students and teachers or anyone that enjoys historical fiction

I finished listening to this book in audio format today. This book for young readers adds something unique to the sometimes overcrowded field of Holocaust literature by focusing on the experience of a Jewish girl and her blind father who work in a brush-making factory in Nazi Germany. The factory is run by a German man who is determined to help his Jewish neighbors in Berlin survive the Holocaust by providing them with jobs in his factory complete with a hiding place for when the Nazis conduct raids. All the employees at his brush-making factory are not only Jewish but also blind, which would make them doubly targets for Nazi persecution as the Nazis were determined not only to exterminate Jewish people but also to destroy all people with disabilities.

The book provides a moving examination and depiction of what the lives of these blind people were like. We can appreciate the father's courage, strength, and steadiness despite the vulnerability that his blindness seems to pose. It is truly empowering that he teaches his daughter that he views his blindness not as a obstacle but as an opportunity for learning. We also get insights into the variety of circumstances that could lead to blindness by the stories of the other workers at the factory. There are those born blind, those who became blind from infections as a child, and those who became blind due to botched routine eye surgery.

The plot opens with the tension of a young Jewish girl and her blind father on the run from the Gestapo in Berlin during the middle of the night and maintains its momentum when she and her father must hide from the Nazis in a dark back room of the factory and when it seems as if the girl and her father are about to be taken away to a dreaded Nazi concentration camp.

The prose contains many moving moments such as when the young girl reflects on how different her definitions of safety were prior to the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany and her awareness that there would be no laughter this winter.

Despite the seriousness of its subject matter (which the book doesn't shy away from discussing in a manner appropriate to its target audience), the book still feels like a celebration of how people can rally together and protect each other in even the worst times as well as an affirmation of the generosity of the human spirit. There is the generosity of the factory owner but also of the landlady and the other workers in the factory who make dresses and find coats for our young heroine.

An educator could use this work as a springboard for discussion of the Holocaust, including discussion of the destruction of Jewish property, the persecution of Jewish people in Germany, and the deportation of Jewish people to ghettos and the concentration camp.

The narrator reads the story with clarity and emotion that will be appealing to young readers. The only criticism I have of the audio is that adding more sounds to the narration might enhance the listening experience for young readers and help maintain their attention. The shorter chapters will help with maintaining the attention of young listeners, however.

This was my first audiobook that I have listened to and it was a great one to start with. Brushmakers Daughter is about Otto Weidt and how he protected blind Jewish people during the Holocaust. While the story was partly fictional, the events were based on true facts. It is a great book for a child ages 8-12 to be able to learn about the horrors of that time period without going into too much detail. A very quick read and extremely interesting. I would definitely recommend it to teachers for their students

The Brushmaker’s Daughter is a powerful short story about Lillian and her father as the Nazi’s track down Jews in Berlin. The story is both heavy and uplifting as Lillian sees the best and worst in people.

I absolutely loved this audio book. I have always enjoyed reading books from this time period. This story was especially lovely as it is inspired by a true story. Just like so many other Jewish people during WWII, Lilian and her Papa were always fearful of getting caught by the Nazi's. They had to leave the life they knew and constantly wonder if they would ever get away or avoid capture. Then, they meet Otto. He helps them when no one else does! I also enjoyed the story because it was short and fast paced and easy to finish on the car ride to work.

It’s 1939 Germany and Lillian and her Papa are on the run from Nazi’s they are Jewish and papa is blind, but a gentleman who owns a factory has given papa a job, all his employees are blind, deaf and Jewish. As long as the Nazi’s never find out that everyone in the brush factory is Jewish. Otto Weidt the owner of the factory is a real hero not only saving and hiding the people in his factory but he also gave them jobs and made them feel like they still had some control over their lives.

This is a short story that has a powerful punch and I think it is accessible to younger readers because even though this is a very hard story to tell it isn’t too violent or gory but tells the story of what it was like for Lillian as a young girl.

I want to buy the paper book now because I heard there are pictures in it. This is definitely a book I will buy for my library collection!

Narrator Gabi Epstein did a good job and helped remember how young Lillian was.

Otto Weidt is a real person you can Google him and find a lot more info about this true hero!

This was a new author and narrator for me I see this author has a few other books about the holocaust that I will need to pick up.

Highly recommend this one!

4 Stars

My thanks to Net Galley for the chance to review this audio.

This is actually geared toward a younger audience. A short audio listen of the story of 12 year old Lillian, her blind father, and Otto Veight , who employed blind Jews to make brushes in his factory , and trying to escape being arrested by the Nazis. Based on a true story.