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brandiraefong's review against another edition
There was a lot going on in this one. It took me a while to get into it, the tone and writing style in a felt like it was often showing the reader what was happening to Dita, but at the same time, always keeping her an arms-length away. In many ways this was a good approach, given the horrors she and those around her were enduring. It felt more like the narrative was just laying down the facts of their daily life, and it did this very effectively, painting the not only the horrors and fears, but also the daily minutiae of life in the concentration camp.
The second half read much faster, and I liked how it was slowly revealed how the lives of the people intertwined.
While I thought it was a bit slow at first, this had a different feel than many of the Holocaust focused WW2 fiction we've read, and I know quite a few of my teens have really enjoyed this one
The second half read much faster, and I liked how it was slowly revealed how the lives of the people intertwined.
While I thought it was a bit slow at first, this had a different feel than many of the Holocaust focused WW2 fiction we've read, and I know quite a few of my teens have really enjoyed this one
alexangelas's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time reviewing this because it’s based on a true story but it’s also mixed with some fictionalized parts to make the story come together more cohesively. I would have preferred a completely fictionalized story or a story as true to Dita’s story as possible. I love learning and I just wish I could discern what was real from what wasn’t.
In addition, I read other reviews and someone mentioned that that there were alternating POVs, which was difficult to pull apart. I literally had NO idea that there even were alternating POVs so I completely missed that. 100%. As a result, I feel like I missed so much to the story and I am sad that each POV wasn’t more explicitly stated. I listened to the audiobook which may have contributed to this confusion so I don’t know that I’d recommend it since it was so easy for me to miss this and I wouldn’t want someone else to miss it too.
Overall, this is definitely a story worth being told...I just wish I knew what was true and what was fictionalized.
In addition, I read other reviews and someone mentioned that that there were alternating POVs, which was difficult to pull apart. I literally had NO idea that there even were alternating POVs so I completely missed that. 100%. As a result, I feel like I missed so much to the story and I am sad that each POV wasn’t more explicitly stated. I listened to the audiobook which may have contributed to this confusion so I don’t know that I’d recommend it since it was so easy for me to miss this and I wouldn’t want someone else to miss it too.
Overall, this is definitely a story worth being told...I just wish I knew what was true and what was fictionalized.
its_ldb's review against another edition
3.0
While the book was impeccably researched and I was so excited to read it, it just didn’t live up to my expectations. I thought the story of how Dita was the librarian and what that entailed was interesting, but after she and her mother left Auschwitz the book felt rushed and boring. I was left wondering where the dialogue and details that were present in the first part of the book went. I was also found some instances of the interweaving of the different storylines to be cumbersome and annoying. Overall, I think it was a good enough book, but not something I would recommend over another book like Number the Stars or Night.
mtiscareno's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. For such a horrific period of time, the writing felt impersonal and cold.
aemilyl24's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting book. A pretty good possible entry-way into the Holocaust and concentration camps, they don't go into DETAIL DETAIL, but enough that you definitely know what's happening and the cruel-ness of the Holocaust. I actually liked that it was focusing on this aspect of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the little bit of joy that could happen. I had never heard of the family camp here, nor about the fact that they did have a little library of books. For that alone, it was well read. At the end of the book, we got to hear a bit about what happened to several real-life people. The only reason I don't give it a five star read is because I actually would like to know more about the Resistance if at all possible that they talk a bit about, but would like to know more.
saraphinasnape's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet story of survival but not altogether factual of the real Dita’s story.
samigrimmer's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to my penpal, I got to enjoy this story. It is an amazing story and worth the read. Took me a while because it's just such a sad story, but I am happy to have read it.
beckycoxmedina33's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent read, yet heart wrenching in so many places.