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148th out of 386 books
—
1,404 voters
Thanks to My Mother
Susie Weksler was only eight when Hitler's forces invaded her Lithuanian city of Vilnius. Over the next few years, she endured starvation, brutality, and forced labor in three concentration camps. With courage and ingenuity, Susie's mother helped her to survive--by disguising her as an adult to fool the camp guards, finding food to add to their scarce rations, and giving h...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
March 1st 2000
by Puffin
(first published April 1st 1998)
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This book was written by Schoschana Rabinovici who lived through the holocaust. What a harrowing tale it was to read. While it is sad and heart wrenching to read it. I found myself thoroughly engulfed in her saga to stay alive in the worst of circumstances. I was amazed at her will to live and her Mother's ideas and protective nature. It also struck me that their were and are everyday hero's in the darkest of places. Meaning when life is terrible and in this case it was really terrible you stil...more
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As the title would have you suppose, the book is largely a tribute to the author's mother, Raja, who moved heaven and earth so Schoschana (then called Susie) could survive. The odds were stacked against them, particularly since Susie was a child, only eight years old when the war began. VERY few Jewish children survived the war, and most of those who did survived in hiding with gentile families or in institutions. Susie never went into hiding; although a kind former maid offered to take her, Raj...more
Enjoyed would be the wrong adjective to describe how I felt about this book. I was appalled, as I usually am when reading about the Holcaust, and to say that I "enjoyed" a book detailing the horrificness coming out of the concentration camps seems to me to be a slap in the face of those who suffered.
With that being said, I was engrossed from the beginning of this memoir. Susanna was only 10 years old when the Nazi's invade Poland and shuttle everyone to the ghettos to live. Eventually, the famil...more
With that being said, I was engrossed from the beginning of this memoir. Susanna was only 10 years old when the Nazi's invade Poland and shuttle everyone to the ghettos to live. Eventually, the famil...more
Although you will find this book in the children's section of a bookstore, it is also appropriate for adults. I am amazed at what this author's mother did, how clever and insightful she was and hope that I, too, could help my child and myself live through a life-threatening experience. These stories of suffering during the Holocaust make me shudder to think of "man's inhumanity to man" and yet in that same moment make me shake my head in amazement at what people can endure and the hope that peop...more
This is an incredible story about a young girl and her mother who overcame all odds and survived the holocaust. I couldn't put this bbok down as I read about some of the most horrifying situations this poor girl went through during Hitlers rampage. These women survived many concentration camps in the worst conditions you could ever imagine possible. I was astounded by the hero roll that this young girls mother took on to get them both through it. I really believe they saved eachother. This book...more
One of the most awe-inspiring books I have ever held in my hands, "Thanks to My Mother", by Schoschana Rabinovici, will leave you speechless at some points and crying at others. If you are looking for an excellent book on the real events of the holocaust then look no further, because this story will lead you through the unbelievably horrific events millions of Jews went through, and how some had amazing courage and bravery to survive it all. Rabinovici explains in perfect detail her story of the...more
Dec 02, 2011
Sydney Hollis
is currently reading it
The book I read was "Thanks to my mother" by Schoschana Rabinovici. The purpose of this book was to inform. The author was informing you about hard times in our past. The hard time in this book was the Holocaust. People were being racist towards the Jews during this time period. Unfortunately many of these people didn't make it out of the Holocaust and were unable to return to their homes. Why? Because they died. They were either shot, starved, or sick.
The theme of this book is don't give up. O...more
The theme of this book is don't give up. O...more
I'm not quite sure where to start with this one. A first hand account of living as a Jew during the Holocaust, it's everything you thought it would be, horrifying, degrading, disgusting and filled with death, despair and evil. But then it's even more than that, the author's descriptions and feelings are so vivid and real that it's very difficult to think of anything but what these people had to endure and were put through when reading it. I was lucky enough to be part of a production where Anne...more
I read this book this week in honor of Mother's Day, and I am haunted by it. The Holocaust is such a difficult and painful thing to read about, and as a mother, I could barely cope with reading about some of the tragic events shared in this book. The author was an 8-year-old Jewish girl when the Holocaust began in Lithuania, and she tells of her experiences during that time. I have an 8-year-old daughter, and I cannot even imagine her having to see and endure such horrible things. I have read ma...more
Jul 24, 2008
Jaclynne Brown
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Janet Crandall
Recommended to Jaclynne by:
Mandi Zappe
This is a heart wrenching tale of optimism and hope during an immensely dark period in our World's History. The bare truth of the happenings from the persecution to the ghettos and finally the deportation and mass murdering of the Jews through the eyes of a survivor only ten years old, hidden by her mother in the work camps disguised as a young adult. The imagery of what this child saw is haunting, and her tale of how she overcame this torture is inspiring.
I came across this book because someone had me return it, and I was reading the back cover and decided to check it out only because it took place in Lithuania, and I am of Lithuanian decent...It turned out to be an intruiging adventure that gave great empathy towards the characters, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys holocaust stories.
You'll never forget this story once you've read it. I loved this book and I think about the real life characters in this book often.
this book is really good but sad too. i'm not with it, but it whas alot of sad stuff. Thanks to her mom she is alive. This story is a true story that happened in 1939 she was young she barely was eight years old when the Gremans were taking power of the city where the little girl was. she hid for a long time but unfortunely she was found. When reading it I start crying because I it's sad how the people were treating them, also it looked like they don't have hearts to see those people like that s...more
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A very good book. Hard to read at times because of sensitive issues back then, but definately worth it.
This was an amazing story of survival, determination, and mothery devotion.
The author was 10 years old web she was forced (along with her large extended family) into the Jewish ghetto in Vilnius, Lithuania. When the ghetto was liquidated, her mother successfully (and brilliantly) managed to sneak this 10 year old girl into a "work camp" only for grown women. This is the story of their Holocaust experience through 3 concentration camps and a death march over 11 days through the snowy Wintery nor...more
The author was 10 years old web she was forced (along with her large extended family) into the Jewish ghetto in Vilnius, Lithuania. When the ghetto was liquidated, her mother successfully (and brilliantly) managed to sneak this 10 year old girl into a "work camp" only for grown women. This is the story of their Holocaust experience through 3 concentration camps and a death march over 11 days through the snowy Wintery nor...more
touching story.
NO SPOILERS!!!
Having now finished this book my head cannot drop the following question: Do you rate a book by the seriousness of the topic or simply by asking yourself honestly, how much did you like the book?! If you go by the first criteria all holocaust books will get five stars. Thenhow does a reader choose which to pick? I have followed my emotional response to this book. I liked the book, so three stars. Please, please remember this does not mean people should not read the book. In fact I...more
Having now finished this book my head cannot drop the following question: Do you rate a book by the seriousness of the topic or simply by asking yourself honestly, how much did you like the book?! If you go by the first criteria all holocaust books will get five stars. Thenhow does a reader choose which to pick? I have followed my emotional response to this book. I liked the book, so three stars. Please, please remember this does not mean people should not read the book. In fact I...more
My mother read this to me as a child actually. Then, at about 8 or 9 years old, I didn't really understand it. Now at almost 17, it really is life-changing; what a mother wouldn't do to save her child. Depicting the true life events of one girls tale of survival, thanks to her mother. It's heartbreaking and hard to swallow when you actually understand it, but it's true. I love this book, and wish everyone could get a chance to read it. You won't be sorry.
Hold crap this book is shocking, sad, amazing.... It is about a Jewish girl & how her mother helps her to survive the consetration camps. Amazing that the mother's brain is constently working ot come up w/ ways to save her daughter! True sacrifice! How they got so lucky in each situation I wonder? So many camps etc moves made and yet they "settle in" @ each location...learning the ropes to survival. I have to say at 1st with all the Jewish names I had a hard time keeping all the family membe...more
Susinka,a Jew, lived in Lithuania. Her parents divorced and her Mother remarried. The Germans occupied this part of the Soviet Union after 1941. Their lives changed. It became harder and harder to survive the regulations and rules and the round ups. Eventually being forced into a concentration camp. Raja, her mother, was determined that her daughter would survive. Amazing what she thought of and fought for so that she would live.
I had to put this book down several times while I was reading because I couldn't take it. It's sad of course, and it's the closest thing we have to understanding what those poor people went through in the holocaust. I did a speech in her point of view for a middle school project, everyone who listened to it seemed shocked and horrified.
I am always overcome when I finish reading a memoir of a Holocaust survivor, and this book is no exception. Against ALL odds, Susie survives life in three concentration camps, a death march, and many other unspeakable things. This is largely due to the courage and strength of her mother. Unbelievable what happened to those people, unbelievable what cruelty some were capable of, and unbelievable how even in the grimmest of circumstances the victims were able to pull together and survive. At least...more
Schoshana (everyone calls her Susie) is a Jew in Vilnius, Poland. She tells her story of survival during the Holocaust. She was only 9 when the Germans took over Poland and her nightmare began. Her mother did amazing things to keep herself and Susie alive through concentration camps and death marches. The strength of the human spirit amazes me!
Batchelder winner from 1999. The author was a child when the family was moved to the Vilius ghetto in Poland. When the ghetto is liquidated, she and her mother are sent to Kaiserwald, then Stutthof, then Tauentzien. Her story is horrifying as one would imagine, but the determination of her mother to see her survive is remarkable.
The best Holocaust book I have ever read. It is heart-wrenching and hopeful. The perseverance and strength of a mother and daughter will forever be etched in my soul. Do yourselves a favor and read this book.
A great account of the life of a concentration camp prisoner. I did not enjoy it myself because it was so gory and realistic. This book shows you how horrific the world's past has been.
This book was both revealing and informative. It is amazing what terrible situations the poor Jewish people lived through. This book is definitely worth reading. Five stars.
Aug 06, 2011
Stacey Molina
added it
i cried! this was such a good book, even though you wish she never had to go through all of it, your glad to hear her story. your glad someone had an almost happy ending.
Another difficult read about the Holocaust. This was written from the perspective of a girl who, with her mother, beat the odds in the ghetto and the concentration camps.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Meyer Bell 6: Why does the holocaust spark people's emotions as readers? Why was it such an important event in history? Why do people like to learn about it? | 3 | 8 | May 16, 2013 10:38am | |
| Hi!! :) | 1 | 2 | Nov 28, 2012 09:57am |
