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24th out of 24 books
—
16 voters
Behind the Secret Window
For thirteen months during World War II, Nelly Toll and her mother were hidden from the Nazis in the small bedroom of a Gentile couple in Lwow, Poland. Just eight years old when she went into hiding in 1943, Nelly began keeping the diary that would inspire this powerful and moving memoir of her childhood. In her small black journal Nelly wrote about the heartbreaking event...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
April 5th 1993
by Dial
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When I read this book, I thought it was going to be like every other Holocaust book. Where they get caught, go into a camp and survive somehow. It's not. This book is about how Nelly went into hiding and the risky adventures her and her family had. I love this book because instead of being sad all the time, she was thankful someone was kind enough to risk their lives to hide Nelly and her mom. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into the holocaust because it's easy to understand.
In my book, Behind The Secret Window, by Nelly S. Toll, the main character, Nelly is a Jewish girl during the holocaust. The germans invade her city, Lwów and put all of the jews into a ghetto. When the germans start "taking action" Nelly's family and her are forced to go into hiding. Nelly's little brother, is taken and most likely killed (it is not made clear in the book)and Nelly and her mother go and hide in somebody's house while her father hides somewhere else.
During the Holocaust many Je...more
During the Holocaust many Je...more
Creative Response- This is a dictionary of all the italicized vocabulary words or phrases that appear in the book, that are given definitions. They are ordered in appearance. Language is in mostly Polish. A little in German.
Babcia- Grandma.
Groszy- Pennies.
Dorozki- Horse drawn carriages.
Ciocia- Aunt.
Pani- Mrs. (used for educated, well-spoken people)
Pan- Mr. (Used for educated, well-spoken people)
Parszywe Zydlaki- Dirty Jews.
Kochanie- Sweetheart.
Zydowska swinia- Jewish Swine.
Matka Boska Czestochow...more
Babcia- Grandma.
Groszy- Pennies.
Dorozki- Horse drawn carriages.
Ciocia- Aunt.
Pani- Mrs. (used for educated, well-spoken people)
Pan- Mr. (Used for educated, well-spoken people)
Parszywe Zydlaki- Dirty Jews.
Kochanie- Sweetheart.
Zydowska swinia- Jewish Swine.
Matka Boska Czestochow...more
This book really got me thinking about fate and god, and if there is such a thing as fate/luck.
Nelly is such a lucky girl because numerous times she comes very close to being discovered by the gestapo, and yet every time she is safe and thanking god for her well being.
Is it really god who saves us? Is there really luck? Are people actually meant to be saved?
I just find it a bit odd that so many people around Nelly in similar situations get caught, and yet Nelly and her mom don’t. Nelly says its...more
Nelly is such a lucky girl because numerous times she comes very close to being discovered by the gestapo, and yet every time she is safe and thanking god for her well being.
Is it really god who saves us? Is there really luck? Are people actually meant to be saved?
I just find it a bit odd that so many people around Nelly in similar situations get caught, and yet Nelly and her mom don’t. Nelly says its...more
Having just read "Number the Stars," I came across, and decided to read, this true story which gives another view of the Holocaust from a young Jewish girl's telling. Nelly was 8 years old in Poland when she and her mother fled to hiding in the small bedroom of a Gentile couple's apartment in what had formerly been a building owned by the Jewish family. Nelly and her mother survived, along with 64 small water color paintings done by Nelly during their confinement. I was disappointed not to learn...more
This is the autobiography of Nelly S. Toll, a Jewish child growing up in Lwow, Poland during WWII. Nelly and her mother hide in the bedroom of a Gentile couple. Nelly in her free time writes in her diary, paints pictures, and writes stories that go along with the pictures. I loved this book, written from a small girl's POV. It showed all that she had went through and how she didn't get her normal childhood, not aloud to go out on the streets. It was a quick, easy read, besides a few words in ano...more
This book was so touching. The fact that some can forget friendships, and hate just because of differences scares me. The fact that people hurt and hurt until they can cause no more pain makes me wonder, who are these demons, and am I a member of their race. Am I am demon too? If I was in Nelly's situation, how would I act? What would I do? I tell myself I would keep peace, i would be the better one. But, will I ever be sure? How will I ever know?
This book is about the experiences of a young girl during World War II (I quite like WWII books) as she and her mother hide from the Nazis in a Gentile couple's home, in a secret compartment near their window; hence, the name "Behind a Secret Window." It is sort of like an autobiography, nonfiction, of course.
This book was one of the best World War II books I've read. I thought it was thrilling and sad. It was written well. Thumbs up to Nelly Toll. :)
This book was one of the best World War II books I've read. I thought it was thrilling and sad. It was written well. Thumbs up to Nelly Toll. :)
This memoir recalls the childhood of a young Polish girl. When the Nazis invade her city, she and her mother are hidden in a Gentile household. Their secret hiding place is between the walls of a bedroom and a blocked in window. The story is realistic without overt violence and although it tells of a horrific time, it is appropriate to use in either an upper elementary or middle school classroom.
This is the true Holocaust survival story of a girl from age 6 to 10 (about--I think). It is interesting (as all Holocaust stories tend to be) and needed to be told (as all Holocaust stories need to be) but was very juvenile in its writing style--which makes it a very quick read. I was rather disappointed that no information about what happened to her family members that didn't make was given.
I must say this book left me speechless. Im not the type of person who gets emotional towards a piece of literature but since i could relate to this with my ancestors it got me thinking what if something of this caliber happened again and what if i was on the other end of it. Through the twist and turns of this non-fiction story i became more intact with what actually happened in WW2. Don't get me wrong i have learned about this is school, read other books about the ghettos, and even talked to a...more
I really enjoyed this book because, the author describes how her life was before, during, and even after the war. Not a lot of people can relate to this story but it gives you a better understanding of how bad wars can be, and it mentions some of the traditions that jews celebrate. For example when someone close to them dies the cover all of the mirrors because, they believe that it is the appropriate time for grieving and so they won’t worry about what they look like.
I would recommend this boo...more
I would recommend this boo...more
This is great biography about a young child who was alive during WW2. It conveys the fear and innocence of a six year old. It brings out natural human emotions of pity and sadness.
The author captures the fear, boredom, and hope experienced by jews and the gentiles who hid them during Hitler's invasion of Europe during WWII.
I love this book, because it has a happier ending than Anna Frnak's does.
thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, very genuine and hopeful.
A really good book on the holocaust. A true story
Apr 05, 2013
Hannah
added it
havent got to read it you wont let me
So sad, but amazing and true.
Touching.
...don't really remember what this book was really about. I mean I know it was about the Holocaust. But what does the title have to do with the story again. It kind of seemed like anThe Diary of a Young Girl: the Definitive Edition wannabe and that book wasn't even that good. I have definitely read better Holocaust book before.
Just started this one and it drew me in. Its a memoir of a Jewish girl hidden from the German Nazis in Lwow, Poland (L'viv, Ukraine). The book has color reproductions of watercolor paintings the author made during her two years in hiding.
A girl has to be separated from her family, beacuse she is a jews her mom and hides in some wones house, guards try to find them and check there house will they find her and be killed?
A triumphant story of a Jewish mother and daughter hidden from the Nazis in Poland.
May 11, 2013
Legato Darksummers
added it
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Oct 26, 2012 05:35pm