The Crate

978-1-947290-68-6

by Deborah Vadas Levison

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Pub Date Jun 19 2018 | Archive Date Nov 02 2018

History | True Crime

Talking about this book? Use #TheCrate #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

After surviving the horrors of the Holocaust – in ghettos, on death marches, and in concentration camps – a young couple seeks refuge in Canada. They settle into a new life, certain that the terrors of their past are behind them. They build themselves a cozy little cottage on a lake in Muskoka, a cottage that becomes emblematic of their victory over the Nazis. The charming retreat is a safe haven, a refuge from haunted memories.

That is, until a single act of unspeakable violence defiles their sanctuary. Poking around the dark crawl space beneath their cottage, they discover a wooden crate, nailed tightly shut and almost hidden from view. Nothing could have prepared them for the horror of the crate’s contents – or how the peace and tranquility of their lives would be shattered.

Now, their daughter, Deborah Vadas Levison, an award-winning journalist, tells the extraordinary account of her parents' ordeals, both in one of the darkest times in world history and their present-day lives. Written in searing, lyrical prose, THE CRATE: A Story Of War, A Murder, And Justice examines man’s seemingly limitless capacity for evil... but also, his capacity for good.

Advance Praise

"THE CRATE, by debut author Deborah Levison, tells the true story of her family'sdiscovery of a wooden crate, nailed shut and hidden beneath their cottage.Inside: the butchered remains of a murder victim. ... Drawing a connection between the recent crime and herfamily's experiences in the Holocaust, THE CRATE is a sensitive portrayal of theeffects of violence, emphasizing the importance of remembrance."
-Vanessa Westermann, VANESSA'S PICKS--------
"Escaping the horrors of the Holocaust, Levison's parents nestle into a quiet cottage in Muskoka. But trauma ripples into their new life when they discover a crate hidden beneath their sanctuary. Seamless prose, profound emotional texture, and a very human voice help chronicle this unforgettable story. THE CRATE is true crime at its best."

- K.J. Howe, bestselling author of THE FREEDOM BROKER and SKYJACK, and Executive Director of ThrillerFest
--------
"Levison opens wide the door to her world full of memories. That is where we read of Hungarian survivors of the Shoah, of escape from oppressive regimes, of brutality and murder, but also of bravery, love and beauty. Two main true stories, with a time gap of some fifty years in between, converge as they happen to the same family. With the writing shifting between documentary and memoir, it becomes hard for the reader to put down this book. THE CRATE has one problem: sadly, it has to finish. But you can always go back and start rereading it."
- Immanuel Mifsud, Ph.D., recipient of the European Union Prize for Literature, poet, and author of IN THE DARK NIGHT WE LOOKED

--------
"THE CRATE combines the horror of one murder with the terror of historical mass murder. A family retreat in the dark woods north of Toronto, once a haven for a young girl, is soiled by a heinous act of violence. Behind the scenes, survivors of the Holocaust, who outlasted the Nazis, the Russian communists, and even their own neighbors, try to raise the next generation free from the atrocities they witnessed. THE CRATE is a vital and necessary book that should be read as much for its historical content as for its entertainment value. Once you begin reading, this book is hard to put down. Once you are finished, it is impossible to forget."
- Ron Winter, Pulitzer-nominated author of MASTERS OF THE ART, GRANNY SNATCHING, and THE HYPOCRITE
--------
"In THE CRATE, Debbie Levison takes us layer by layer, into the core mystery of her story. From the creation and history of her family's deep-woods cottage where the box was found, to the lives of people who built and seasonally inhabited the place, to the tragic history of the person whose corpse was found inside the crate, she carefully knits the interrelationships of all of these elements. Each time she looks backward, into what in the hands of a lesser writer might devolve into the mundane, she instead draws us further into the story. She does this by connecting each detail of her nostalgic memories of the family's summer getaways to the violation wrought by the murder that invaded their private sanctuary. Levison manages to slip between the past and present with ease and never loses us in the process. Then she looks even further back in her family history to connect the unsettling impact of the modern-day murder to the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust that her parents just barely survived and most of her ancestors did not. Her description of the Nazi atrocities is uncomfortable and often painful to read. As the story progresses, Levison digs deeper into her own emotions as well and brings them raw to the surface to share with us. In the end, THE CRATE is as informative as an investigative news report yet as intimate as a personal diary. Compelling ...first-rate ... the kind of book that makes us want to read."
- Chuck Miceli, poet, playwright, and author of AMANDA'S ROOM
--------
"Levison captured the accuracy of this real life horror. She and her family were thrust into a police investigation by the very person they trusted. The angle of this story is one not often told. THE CRATE hands us bone-chilling facts weaved through a story of survival."
- Detective Dave Allen, Lead Investigator(Retired)
--------
"Author Deborah Levison has played a critical role in touching our hearts and minds through retelling the Holocaust stories of her family. She is a truly gifted author with a very important message to communicate through her writings. And she is an equally gifted speaker, leaving her audience members spellbound,deeply moved, and riveted to their seats. At a time when the last survivors of the Holocaust are passing away, Levison has preserved through THE CRATE important stories for future generations to read."
- Al Treidel, Educator

Marketing Plan

Price discounts and standard return policies are available for bookstores through Ingram. Others wishing to order quantities of 20 or more may contact us directly at promos@wildbluepress.com for discount pricing.

Price discounts and standard return policies are available for bookstores through Ingram. Others wishing to order quantities of 20 or more may contact us directly at promos@wildbluepress.com for...