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Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust
"The very model of excellence in nonfiction. . . . An astonishing and inspiring survey. . . . A necessary, exemplary book." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Through meticulously researched accounts — some chronicled in book form for the first time — Doreen Rappaport illuminates the defiance of tens of thousands of Jews across eleven Nazi-occupied countries during World War II. In answer to the genocidal madness that was Hitler’s Holocaust, the only response they could abide was resistance, and their greatest weapons were courage, ingenuity, the will to survive, and the resolve to save others or to die trying.
Back matter includes a pronunciation guide, a list of important dates, source notes, a bibliography, a bibliography by chapter, and an index.
Through meticulously researched accounts — some chronicled in book form for the first time — Doreen Rappaport illuminates the defiance of tens of thousands of Jews across eleven Nazi-occupied countries during World War II. In answer to the genocidal madness that was Hitler’s Holocaust, the only response they could abide was resistance, and their greatest weapons were courage, ingenuity, the will to survive, and the resolve to save others or to die trying.
Back matter includes a pronunciation guide, a list of important dates, source notes, a bibliography, a bibliography by chapter, and an index.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Doreen Rappaport
61 books77 followersDoreen Rappaport has written many books of fiction and nonfiction for young readers, specializing in thoroughly researched multicultural history, historical fiction, retellings of folktales and myths, and stories of those she calls the "not-yet-celebrated." Among her recent books is Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Bryan Collier, which received a Caldecott Honor Award and a Coretta Scott King Honor Award for illustration. Doreen Rappaport divides her time between New York City and a rural village in upstate New York.
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September 5, 2012
Not all Jews walked obediently into Hitler’s gas chambers during the Holocaust. There are many stories of Jews who took up arms and fought the might of Nazi Germany. Despite being vastly outnumbered, out gunned and out-trained, these Jews refused to succumb to Hitler’s genocide. They fought in city streets, villages, forests, ghettos and inside Nazi labor and death camps. Many Jews who escaped from the camps joined local partisans to continue this desperate fight. Jewish civilians understood that they had no chance to defeat Hitler’s mighty Third Reich. Yet, with remarkable bravery, they refused to surrender.
Beyond Courage author Doreen Rappaport reveals powerful stories of defiance through twenty one scrupulously researched accounts of Jewish courage in eleven nations. The reader can sense the terror that continuously plagued Jews. We learn the names, faces and places of Jewish heroism. Readers sense the valor that drove Jews to accept the ultimate sacrifice, to die fighting rather than accept starvation, forced labor and death in a Nazi camp. Some events are told in book form for the first time.
Many captured Jews believed that they would remain alive as a source of labor. Soon tales of terror and mass murder arrived from Jews who had escaped Nazi death camps. By 1942, fresh stories flourished about thousands of Jewish families rounded up in Eastern Europe who were murdered and buried in huge pits. Jews under Nazi control gradually accepted that their days were numbered. No one heard from Jews deported to the East. Most Jews realized that they had two choices. They could meekly wait, hoping for a swift Allied victory, or they could fight back with whatever means possible. Some of these brave Jews were children, who could maneuver through small spaces in walls, barriers and fences. They brought food and weapons into Jewish ghettos. Since they were destined to be murdered anyway, many Jews decided to fight back. This is their story.
Beyond Courage describes the long, dark path that Jews walked, from their homes in villages, towns and cities, into decrepit ghettos, then to transit and labor camps and finally to death camps. Along the way, many Jews fought back with any form of resistance that they could command. In one instance, Rappaport reveals a large group of Jewish families who escaped from Nazi control and survived deep in a Polish forest, creating their own village, with huts, streets, services and businesses. 1,230 disheveled, starving Jews managed to survive without crops, farm animals, medicine or shelter; creating their own “shetel” beyond the ability of Nazi troops to locate.
Rappaport examines the Nazi destruction of ghettos in Vilna and Warsaw, where thousands of Jews fought against armored German divisions with pistols, Molotov cocktails and home-made bombs. The Nazi transit and labor camps of Holland, Belgium and France reveal stories of Jews who ambushed Nazi troops, fled into the forest, joined partisans and returned to fight again. Other captured Jews dug dangerous tunnels, helping thousands of fellow Jews to escape from concentration camps. We learn how Jews risked their lives to observe Jewish holidays and rituals within the camps. There were many clandestine births and weddings. Imprisoned Jews created schools and orchestras. Not all resistance was armed.
Beyond Courage takes us into Nazi death camps, where millions of Jews were gassed to death, their bodies cremated by Sonderkommando (Jews forced to burn the bodies of fellow Jews). Rappaport details the courage of Jews in places such as Sobibor, Chelmno, Treblinka and Auschwitz, who stole gunpowder and bombed crematoria. Others escaped from certain death, stole weapons and ambushed Nazi troops or destroyed railroad tracks, slowing down Nazi death factories.
This book also details the courage of gentiles who assisted Jews, provided food and shelter, protected them and smuggled Jewish children to safety. Despite the fact that most Europeans did little to aid Jews, or turned in their Jewish neighbors to Nazi and Gestapo leaders, there were many instances of righteous gentiles who risked their own lives to help Jews.
Throughout this excellent book, Rappaport uses detailed accounts from survivors, family members, interviews and witnesses, as well as letters, secret newspapers and poems that survived the camps and ghettos. Enhancing the veracity of these accounts are dozens of written records, pictures, maps, poems and diagrams, some of which had been deeply buried in metal boxes by Jews whose resistance had come to an unfortunate end. Although the galley delivered to this reviewer lacked some of the pictures destined to appear at publishing, there were still many incredible pictures of these astonishingly brave Jews. Rappaport’s writing style is fluid, evocative and concise. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in one of the most appalling events in history. It is also suitable for educating young people.
Charles S. Weinblatt is the author of Jacob’s Courage: A Holocaust Love Story (2007, Mazo Publishers).
Beyond Courage author Doreen Rappaport reveals powerful stories of defiance through twenty one scrupulously researched accounts of Jewish courage in eleven nations. The reader can sense the terror that continuously plagued Jews. We learn the names, faces and places of Jewish heroism. Readers sense the valor that drove Jews to accept the ultimate sacrifice, to die fighting rather than accept starvation, forced labor and death in a Nazi camp. Some events are told in book form for the first time.
Many captured Jews believed that they would remain alive as a source of labor. Soon tales of terror and mass murder arrived from Jews who had escaped Nazi death camps. By 1942, fresh stories flourished about thousands of Jewish families rounded up in Eastern Europe who were murdered and buried in huge pits. Jews under Nazi control gradually accepted that their days were numbered. No one heard from Jews deported to the East. Most Jews realized that they had two choices. They could meekly wait, hoping for a swift Allied victory, or they could fight back with whatever means possible. Some of these brave Jews were children, who could maneuver through small spaces in walls, barriers and fences. They brought food and weapons into Jewish ghettos. Since they were destined to be murdered anyway, many Jews decided to fight back. This is their story.
Beyond Courage describes the long, dark path that Jews walked, from their homes in villages, towns and cities, into decrepit ghettos, then to transit and labor camps and finally to death camps. Along the way, many Jews fought back with any form of resistance that they could command. In one instance, Rappaport reveals a large group of Jewish families who escaped from Nazi control and survived deep in a Polish forest, creating their own village, with huts, streets, services and businesses. 1,230 disheveled, starving Jews managed to survive without crops, farm animals, medicine or shelter; creating their own “shetel” beyond the ability of Nazi troops to locate.
Rappaport examines the Nazi destruction of ghettos in Vilna and Warsaw, where thousands of Jews fought against armored German divisions with pistols, Molotov cocktails and home-made bombs. The Nazi transit and labor camps of Holland, Belgium and France reveal stories of Jews who ambushed Nazi troops, fled into the forest, joined partisans and returned to fight again. Other captured Jews dug dangerous tunnels, helping thousands of fellow Jews to escape from concentration camps. We learn how Jews risked their lives to observe Jewish holidays and rituals within the camps. There were many clandestine births and weddings. Imprisoned Jews created schools and orchestras. Not all resistance was armed.
Beyond Courage takes us into Nazi death camps, where millions of Jews were gassed to death, their bodies cremated by Sonderkommando (Jews forced to burn the bodies of fellow Jews). Rappaport details the courage of Jews in places such as Sobibor, Chelmno, Treblinka and Auschwitz, who stole gunpowder and bombed crematoria. Others escaped from certain death, stole weapons and ambushed Nazi troops or destroyed railroad tracks, slowing down Nazi death factories.
This book also details the courage of gentiles who assisted Jews, provided food and shelter, protected them and smuggled Jewish children to safety. Despite the fact that most Europeans did little to aid Jews, or turned in their Jewish neighbors to Nazi and Gestapo leaders, there were many instances of righteous gentiles who risked their own lives to help Jews.
Throughout this excellent book, Rappaport uses detailed accounts from survivors, family members, interviews and witnesses, as well as letters, secret newspapers and poems that survived the camps and ghettos. Enhancing the veracity of these accounts are dozens of written records, pictures, maps, poems and diagrams, some of which had been deeply buried in metal boxes by Jews whose resistance had come to an unfortunate end. Although the galley delivered to this reviewer lacked some of the pictures destined to appear at publishing, there were still many incredible pictures of these astonishingly brave Jews. Rappaport’s writing style is fluid, evocative and concise. This book is an essential read for anyone interested in one of the most appalling events in history. It is also suitable for educating young people.
Charles S. Weinblatt is the author of Jacob’s Courage: A Holocaust Love Story (2007, Mazo Publishers).
September 25, 2012
In a stunning work of nonfiction for young people, award-winning author Doreen Rappaport has just published an ambitious new work profiling little-known true stories of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, a book that took her six years to research and write. Her extensive research for this project included interviews with some of the survivors whose stories are told in this volume.
This is a massive topic for a book for young people, but Rappaport manages to make it comprehensible by dividing her story into discrete sections and concentrating on a selection of individual stories. The first section, titled Realization, deals with the years up until the beginning of the war, when Hitler came to power. The second, Saving the Future, discusses brave Jews who smuggled Jewish children to safety in Holland, Belgium, France, and the forests of the Soviet Union. In part three, Rappaport examines resistance stories from the ghettos, not only the famed Warsaw ghetto uprising, in which a few thousand Jewish fighters held off the might of the Nazi army for nearly a month, but organized escapes from the Vilna ghetto and secret magazines penned by children in Theresienstadt. Other chapters discuss resistance in the concentration camps and partisan warfare conducted by Jewish resistance fighters against the Nazis.
As Rappaport notes in her introduction, few of these remarkable and heroic stories are known to the general public. Even in Jewish families, we generally learn that Jews went to the gas chambers like "lambs to the slaughter." In this volume, she takes pride in showing that stereotype is untrue, and that there were many Jews who defied and resisted the Nazis in a variety of ways.
These many amazing stories include that of 14-year old Idel, who escaped not once but twice from a labor camp in Belorussia, finally succeeding in tunneling out of the camp with the help of other inmates, after which he reaches the partisan Jewish group governed by the Bielskis, who were hiding out in the forest. Rappaport even includes an incredible story of a revolt of the Sonderkommandos, the Jewish prisoners who were forced to work in the gas chambers and the crematoriums. Although their elaborately planned revolt ultimately failed, they did succeed in blowing up one crematorium.
Handsomely designed and abundantly illustrated with dozens of archival photographs and maps, both from the war years and after, the book is supplemented with extra material on Rappaport's website, including conversations between the author and some of the survivors she profiles and links to other resources for studying the Holocaust.
Extensive back matter includes: a pronunciation guide for the many foreign names and words in the text; a timeline of important dates from 1933 when Hitler takes power until the end of the war in 1945; source notes; a selected bibliography of books and websites, organized both as an overview and also chapter by chapter; photography and art credits; and an index. A study guide for Beyond Courage will soon be available on Rappaport's website.
This book is highly informative and readable for adults as well as students, and definitely belongs in all public and school libraries (at least high school and middle school). I will be incredibly surprised if we don't see this book--a model of outstanding nonfiction writing for young people--recognized during book award season.
This is a massive topic for a book for young people, but Rappaport manages to make it comprehensible by dividing her story into discrete sections and concentrating on a selection of individual stories. The first section, titled Realization, deals with the years up until the beginning of the war, when Hitler came to power. The second, Saving the Future, discusses brave Jews who smuggled Jewish children to safety in Holland, Belgium, France, and the forests of the Soviet Union. In part three, Rappaport examines resistance stories from the ghettos, not only the famed Warsaw ghetto uprising, in which a few thousand Jewish fighters held off the might of the Nazi army for nearly a month, but organized escapes from the Vilna ghetto and secret magazines penned by children in Theresienstadt. Other chapters discuss resistance in the concentration camps and partisan warfare conducted by Jewish resistance fighters against the Nazis.
As Rappaport notes in her introduction, few of these remarkable and heroic stories are known to the general public. Even in Jewish families, we generally learn that Jews went to the gas chambers like "lambs to the slaughter." In this volume, she takes pride in showing that stereotype is untrue, and that there were many Jews who defied and resisted the Nazis in a variety of ways.
These many amazing stories include that of 14-year old Idel, who escaped not once but twice from a labor camp in Belorussia, finally succeeding in tunneling out of the camp with the help of other inmates, after which he reaches the partisan Jewish group governed by the Bielskis, who were hiding out in the forest. Rappaport even includes an incredible story of a revolt of the Sonderkommandos, the Jewish prisoners who were forced to work in the gas chambers and the crematoriums. Although their elaborately planned revolt ultimately failed, they did succeed in blowing up one crematorium.
Handsomely designed and abundantly illustrated with dozens of archival photographs and maps, both from the war years and after, the book is supplemented with extra material on Rappaport's website, including conversations between the author and some of the survivors she profiles and links to other resources for studying the Holocaust.
Extensive back matter includes: a pronunciation guide for the many foreign names and words in the text; a timeline of important dates from 1933 when Hitler takes power until the end of the war in 1945; source notes; a selected bibliography of books and websites, organized both as an overview and also chapter by chapter; photography and art credits; and an index. A study guide for Beyond Courage will soon be available on Rappaport's website.
This book is highly informative and readable for adults as well as students, and definitely belongs in all public and school libraries (at least high school and middle school). I will be incredibly surprised if we don't see this book--a model of outstanding nonfiction writing for young people--recognized during book award season.
October 21, 2012
I loved this book so much. I have always been very interested in this time period of history. Doreen Rappaport paints a picture of amazing Jewish resistance and courage during the Holocaust. The book has facts at the end listing the important dates of the war, and is organized in an appealing way. It is very helpful in coming to understand the Second World War and the events that took place. One of the reasons I loved this book so much was that it was very different than other Holocaust related novels in the fact that it talked not only of Jewish persecution but of Jewish people going to extreme measures to protect their beliefs and loved ones. In my opinion this is not usually the focus of most books on this topic. If you, like me, enjoy learning about this time in history, you will love this book too!
May 31, 2015
"Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust," was an emotional, heartbreaking, intense, powerful, and captivating non-fiction book written by Doreen Rappaport. I have always been interested in history, especially World War II. I felt I was familiar with the topic but after reading this I was surprised with all the information I was able to take away from this book.
The holocaust has been described as an atrocity, cruel, devastating, and an act of pure evil. It was a horrendous time in our human history, the genocide of thousands of innocent lives. That is all we read about and hear in regards to the holocaust- though true-shouldn't be the only words to describe it. Rappaport's book displays raw emotion; stories of hope found in a hopeless place, pride and self worth found in each and every survivor and victim at the hands of evil. The book is broken up in sections: history of hitler's rise to power, the horrifying round ups, life in the ghettos, and life in the camps. Each section filled with personal accounts that will leave the reader speechless and inspired. An example of this is when Rappaport mentions how more than one thousands Jews who escaped and were caught during the famous Warsaw uprising of 1943, chose to end their own life rather than surrender. (78, Rappaort) Startling facts like that fill this book. Stories of faith and heroism, encapsulating the Jewish resistance left me hopeful about the human spirit.
There are so many pictures in this book that are so moving, often times much more powerful than the words on the page. It was "chilling" to know that this actually occurred, that these are actual stories of people who had to go through this, that their loved ones went through this, and that they lost many of their friends and family to this heinous act.
I believe that this book will be better suited for students in the upper level grades, such as 7th and 8th, due to the sensitive content.
This is a powerful book that can be used as a source to cross reference subjects: from the perspective of a history class, this book references timelines, maps, factual names, and places. It can be used in reading discussions, or what I believe is a great tool to enhance a student's knowledge on a particular reading/material they are occupied on. Students may take part in a group in order to analyze and compare the book. An example would be to incorporate Rappaport's work into a group discussion of Eli Weisel's "Night." I think this will serve and fuel discussions for many students. This book touches sensitive content but I believe it is essential and necessary for a young reader to be exposed to. Real life survivors and personal accounts of those that llived through this horrifying event. Students will learn about the many untold stories of heroes that risked their lives for something they believed in. I recommend this non-fiction book to anyone interested in an important time in our history.
The holocaust has been described as an atrocity, cruel, devastating, and an act of pure evil. It was a horrendous time in our human history, the genocide of thousands of innocent lives. That is all we read about and hear in regards to the holocaust- though true-shouldn't be the only words to describe it. Rappaport's book displays raw emotion; stories of hope found in a hopeless place, pride and self worth found in each and every survivor and victim at the hands of evil. The book is broken up in sections: history of hitler's rise to power, the horrifying round ups, life in the ghettos, and life in the camps. Each section filled with personal accounts that will leave the reader speechless and inspired. An example of this is when Rappaport mentions how more than one thousands Jews who escaped and were caught during the famous Warsaw uprising of 1943, chose to end their own life rather than surrender. (78, Rappaort) Startling facts like that fill this book. Stories of faith and heroism, encapsulating the Jewish resistance left me hopeful about the human spirit.
There are so many pictures in this book that are so moving, often times much more powerful than the words on the page. It was "chilling" to know that this actually occurred, that these are actual stories of people who had to go through this, that their loved ones went through this, and that they lost many of their friends and family to this heinous act.
I believe that this book will be better suited for students in the upper level grades, such as 7th and 8th, due to the sensitive content.
This is a powerful book that can be used as a source to cross reference subjects: from the perspective of a history class, this book references timelines, maps, factual names, and places. It can be used in reading discussions, or what I believe is a great tool to enhance a student's knowledge on a particular reading/material they are occupied on. Students may take part in a group in order to analyze and compare the book. An example would be to incorporate Rappaport's work into a group discussion of Eli Weisel's "Night." I think this will serve and fuel discussions for many students. This book touches sensitive content but I believe it is essential and necessary for a young reader to be exposed to. Real life survivors and personal accounts of those that llived through this horrifying event. Students will learn about the many untold stories of heroes that risked their lives for something they believed in. I recommend this non-fiction book to anyone interested in an important time in our history.
February 19, 2019
Considering the author's other books, I was curious how you do a children's version of this subject. The short answer is you don't. This is not a children's picture book. It would probably work as a school age book for the right person. It's a tough subject and one I have not read on in a long time. It's also a travelogue - the author covers much of the area of the European part of WWII. And there's a lot of death and destruction. And loss. It's not an in your face book. It's just the stories of people, usually young people, fighting back in various ways and often dying.
November 22, 2019
When I started this, I thought it would just gently touch on things like the Sobibor revolt, Bielski partisans; boy was I wrong! This book is packed with a lot of interesting never-before-told stories of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. There were a few times when I would have liked to gently remind the author that Catholic Irena Sendler went out of her way to save 2,500 Jewish children, and gentile Sugihara hand wrote visas to thousands of Jews, and Protestant Andre Trocme and his friends saved 5,000 Jews - just because I felt the book getting a tad anti-Christian. Don't get me wrong - most Christians during that time drove me nuts, but I think the author should remember there were thousands of Gentiles who rescued Jews.
Overall, great book and I would recommend it.
Overall, great book and I would recommend it.
January 13, 2017
Personal Response:Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust by Doreen Rappaport, was a good book. I have always been interested in the history of the Holocaust. This book was a true story of events that happened leading up to the Holocaust and what took place during the Holocaust. This story explained what exactly happened to the Jewish people.
Plot:This book included stories about the events that happened during the Holocaust. This book showed pictures of the tragedy and the people that went through it. It included many stories about the bravery and courageous feats that they went through during this time. George Loinger helped to sneak a lot of kids out of France and got them to Switzerland. Another story was about a group of resistance fighters that ambushed a train full of Jews so they could escape. The Holocaust was a terrible time in American history, but it was good to read that many people fought back.
Characterization: This book was a true story about multiple human encounters during the Holocaust. The one that stood out the most was The Ambush. Hertz Jospa was the main leader in the ambush. He was a brave leader. He and his men fought against the Nazis to break free from the concentration camp and they succeeded. After they got away, most of the people were recaptured and executed.
Impacts of Setting: This book took place throughout Europe during World War II. Nazi Germany was trying to eliminate the Jews during the Holocaust from the years of 1933 through 1945. It described Jewish resistance fighters who lived in the Naliboki Forest, Warsaw Ghetto in Poland, and the Vilna Ghetto in Lituania. The book also talks about all of the concentration camps scattered throughout Europe during the war. The book described the terrible living conditions and suffering endured by the Jews during this time period.
Recommended: I would recommend this book to anyone who was interested in reading about the Holocaust, Hitler, and his rise to power. I thought this book should be read by males and females from the ages 14 and up, because it was very explicit about what exactly happened during the Holocaust. I gave this book 4 stars because it was a very good book and kept my interest.
Plot:This book included stories about the events that happened during the Holocaust. This book showed pictures of the tragedy and the people that went through it. It included many stories about the bravery and courageous feats that they went through during this time. George Loinger helped to sneak a lot of kids out of France and got them to Switzerland. Another story was about a group of resistance fighters that ambushed a train full of Jews so they could escape. The Holocaust was a terrible time in American history, but it was good to read that many people fought back.
Characterization: This book was a true story about multiple human encounters during the Holocaust. The one that stood out the most was The Ambush. Hertz Jospa was the main leader in the ambush. He was a brave leader. He and his men fought against the Nazis to break free from the concentration camp and they succeeded. After they got away, most of the people were recaptured and executed.
Impacts of Setting: This book took place throughout Europe during World War II. Nazi Germany was trying to eliminate the Jews during the Holocaust from the years of 1933 through 1945. It described Jewish resistance fighters who lived in the Naliboki Forest, Warsaw Ghetto in Poland, and the Vilna Ghetto in Lituania. The book also talks about all of the concentration camps scattered throughout Europe during the war. The book described the terrible living conditions and suffering endured by the Jews during this time period.
Recommended: I would recommend this book to anyone who was interested in reading about the Holocaust, Hitler, and his rise to power. I thought this book should be read by males and females from the ages 14 and up, because it was very explicit about what exactly happened during the Holocaust. I gave this book 4 stars because it was a very good book and kept my interest.
March 12, 2013
This is a badly needed book! It will become a standard in Jewish schools and classrooms, and should be a standard reference in public schools. Doreen Rappaport put her heart and soul into this book and did a magnificent job. She wanted to counteract the common myth that Jews went to slaughter like lambs and the Nazis had an easy time of it. Not so! Many Jews fought. Many Jews fought knowing they would fail and likely die and most did indeed die. But they were not going to simply hand the Nazis a win without letting them know they had been in a battle. Most people have heard of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. How about the Vilna (the Jerusalem of Lithuania) or Sobibor uprisings? I certainly hadn't known and I consider myself well read on Holocaust literature. In fact, most of this book was new to me. How about the individual resistance such as the 12 year old Motele Shlayan who, while perforce entertaining the SS officials with his violin playing, manage to set and explode a bomb that hopefully took out a lot of the SS officers there. the photograph of his violin was quite moving to me. This is a really comprehensive book, covering all aspects of resistance of that time: in the camps, among the partisans, in the ghettos.
I have a book from my childhood , Children of the Resistance, of children and teens who resisted Hitler. While I'd have to go back and check, I don't think there is more than one or two stories, if any, of Jewish children who resisted, the most famous being the brother and sister who resisted in Berlin itself, the Scholls who were referred to in the last chapter "Not Every German is A Nazi". As the author pointed out, she was brought up in a Jewish household thinking that Jews didn't resist the Nazis and it was a revelation to her to discover that they did, quite a few of them resisted. It is really too bad that this did not get a nod from any of the awards ALA gave out for 2012 books.
I have a book from my childhood , Children of the Resistance, of children and teens who resisted Hitler. While I'd have to go back and check, I don't think there is more than one or two stories, if any, of Jewish children who resisted, the most famous being the brother and sister who resisted in Berlin itself, the Scholls who were referred to in the last chapter "Not Every German is A Nazi". As the author pointed out, she was brought up in a Jewish household thinking that Jews didn't resist the Nazis and it was a revelation to her to discover that they did, quite a few of them resisted. It is really too bad that this did not get a nod from any of the awards ALA gave out for 2012 books.
October 13, 2012
Rappaport succeeds in her aim to tell the mostly unknown stories of those Jews who resisted the Nazi Holocaust and those righteous gentiles who supported them. These non-fiction accounts use photographs and personal accounts of survivors, supported by the poems written by the Theresienstadt inmates. She counters the preconception that the Jews acquiesced in their capture, incarceration and slaughter and provides the research evidence from all over Europe to support her position. Most of our students know about Ann Frank and Oscar Schindler but here are many other, unsung heroes. Moreover, we know about eh famous people who escaped in time and several novels have been written about the kindertransport where parents had the terrifying task of sending their children off into an unknown future. However, we don’t know about the ordinary people who endured or resisted or contributed in essential services such as the forging of papers or the many others who hid Jews in their cellars and attics. Many of these endured the hatred of their countries’ patriots because they had to assume attitudes of pro-Nazism to cover their secret activities.
The text is divided into five parts: the realization, saving the future, in the ghettos, in the camps and partisan warfare. The most striking account for me was the successful, flight and long term establishment of a secret shtetl villsage in a Belarus forest that sheltered 1,230 people. The numerous photographs of the camps and the survivors are both enlightening and disturbing, especially the one of a peephole into a gas chamber.
Use this graphic book to support the large body of holocaust fiction for years 9 – 12.
Wide reading links: Holocaust fiction, refugees, the migrant experience, world war II, resilience, overcoming adversity and friendship across cultures.
The text is divided into five parts: the realization, saving the future, in the ghettos, in the camps and partisan warfare. The most striking account for me was the successful, flight and long term establishment of a secret shtetl villsage in a Belarus forest that sheltered 1,230 people. The numerous photographs of the camps and the survivors are both enlightening and disturbing, especially the one of a peephole into a gas chamber.
Use this graphic book to support the large body of holocaust fiction for years 9 – 12.
Wide reading links: Holocaust fiction, refugees, the migrant experience, world war II, resilience, overcoming adversity and friendship across cultures.
November 27, 2013
This is a book describes different stories of people who lived during the Holocaust and the events that unfolded. A lot of people during the Holocaust suffered greatly and wanted emigration to other countries, but not all were fortunate enough to get out. Those who could not make it out were sent to camps, lived in ghettos, and created rebellions. There were underground newspapers that formed and circulated in rebellion groups, like the Oyneg Shabes, which spread the truth about the war and Nazi lies along with personal struggles. One of the stories in the books is about a fourteen-year-old boy, Idel Kagan, who was spared along with his family, since they were deemed “skilled” workers and were used in labor camps by the Germans. This boy suffered greatly, with his mom and sisters killed in the first round of “skilled” workers and his dad brothers and uncles killed in the last round. He finally escaped the camp through an underground tunnel the workers helped to build and eventually moved to London where he married and raised a family. This book is filled with many other stories like Idel’s, but not all having the same successful outcome. This book could be used to teach children about World War II and provide them with another aspect of the horrible events that the Jewish people suffered through during that time. I think this would be a valuable book in middle school and even high school classrooms to teach students about the major historical event of WWII and the Holocaust.
November 9, 2014
Beyond Courage is an excellent book chronicling the courageous work of the Jewish resistance in the eleven Nazi-occupied countries during World War II. The stories describe the great efforts made—over five years—to free and help those Jews who had been captured and imprisoned by the Nazis.
It is a story of the ingenuity, bravery, determination and tenacity of many outstanding figures in labour and concentration camps to overcome the obstacles to rescue.
In spite of careful planning, the extremely difficult conditions of the camps meant that rescue attempts were not always successful, and many would-be rescuers died in the process.
This book incorporates the violence of the scenes it describes, and the Jews themselves often resorted to killing, bombing and shooting their German enemies, indiscriminate about whether a particular German had been involved in the Jews’ imprisonment.
The author has meticulously researched the material and the book is laid out in chapters and headings that make it is easy for the reader to understand the different historical phases of the conflict, and the way in which the Jewish resistance evolved.
I highly recommend this as a stirring book which offers detailed, factual information about the courage of countless Jews who, in the harshest conditions, managed to save so many of the Jews of Europe. Reviewed by JG
September 3, 2012
In this new collection of stories describing how Jews fought against Hitler and the Nazi regime, the author begins with Kristallnacht and describes the heroism of two teens who remove Torah scrolls from a synagogue and then moves chronologically to other acts of heroism. She describes the transport of children to other lands and how children were smuggled out of cities right under the noses of the Nazis. She also details the resistance fighters in the Polish ghettos and in the camps. Some of the stories are brief, and others are longer. Every story, though, is fascinating, inspiring and humbling, all vivid reminders that there was plenty of resistance to Hitler's campaign to eradicate the Jews. The book is also filled with photographs. There are even lightly shaded photos behind the text. Although these are a bit hard to see, the glimpses they offer readers hint at the courage and determination behind the atrocities. One caption notes how art teacher Friedl Dicker-Brandeis brought art supplies with her when she was transported to Theresienstadt, and then hid the children's drawings when she was moved to Auschwitz. I finished the book wanting to know even more about so many of the heroic individuals whose stories are told here.
November 12, 2012
This book is probably intended for high school students. It includes a good summary of the events leading up to the Holocaust and a timeline of events in addition to the stories of rescue and resistance. Although some of the stories have been told before, elsewhere (the Bielski brothers, the Warsaw ghetto uprising), many include more details, photographs, and new information about Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Starting with resistance in Germany and then in occupied countries, concentration, labor, and death camps, and along the Eastern Front, the author achieves her purpose of documenting how not all Jews went to their deaths as "lambs to the slaughter." The bravery and selflessness of so many made a difference in what seems like a small number of lives compared to the six million who perished, but the author notes, where possible, how many descendants of the survivors have been given life through the resistance and rescue efforts--and even had only a handful been saved, we know that a person who saves a single life saves the entire world. If the subject of the book were not so tragic, I would be tempted to call it a "coffee table" book because it is styled and arranged so well and is, given the subject, easy to read.
January 18, 2013
So this book isn't bad, per se. It has a lot of good information, many primary resources in the forms of photos and poems, and the personal stories of resistance among the Jews are inspiring while also being very sad.
However, this book is (in my opinion incorrectly) cataloged as "juvenile". A Holocaust book? Juvenile? Really? Isn't that a bit over the comprehension and understanding of grade school children? Topically, it's far too mature for little ones, and the author makes it even more inappropriate with big, undefined words, a plethora of people and places that are hard to remember, and images that are at times quite graphic. In fact, I felt compelled to mention to my library that this book, despite the cataloging-in-publication data, is NOT juvenile.
Unfortunately, it is also relatively poorly written. The information jumps around, pictures don't always match the words, and it is rather hard to read thanks to long and convoluted sentences.
I hate downgrading a Holocaust book, because every resource, however poor, keeps the memory alive...but unfortunately this one doesn't earn top marks.
However, this book is (in my opinion incorrectly) cataloged as "juvenile". A Holocaust book? Juvenile? Really? Isn't that a bit over the comprehension and understanding of grade school children? Topically, it's far too mature for little ones, and the author makes it even more inappropriate with big, undefined words, a plethora of people and places that are hard to remember, and images that are at times quite graphic. In fact, I felt compelled to mention to my library that this book, despite the cataloging-in-publication data, is NOT juvenile.
Unfortunately, it is also relatively poorly written. The information jumps around, pictures don't always match the words, and it is rather hard to read thanks to long and convoluted sentences.
I hate downgrading a Holocaust book, because every resource, however poor, keeps the memory alive...but unfortunately this one doesn't earn top marks.
December 4, 2012
This book took me soooo long to read, because it hit me so hard. It tells of the amazing bravery and strength of people-men, women and children who stood up for what was right against overwhelming odds. I've read many books about the Holocaust before, and I think that since I always know the outcome when I start them, I am more prepared. But with this book, I started every chapter with hope. Sometimes my hope was rewarded and sometimes it was not. Some stories devastated me. When I came to Part Four, (In the Camps)I just hit a wall. I had to put the book down for a while. But even with all the stories of plans that didn't succeed and and lives cut short all too soon, there are stories of successes and the fact that these stories exist at all. Even in the face of the Nazi death machine, and unimaginable horror, the strength of the human spirit still managed to triumph.
June 23, 2014
An amazing set of stories from the Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust. For me, these stories are new and the pictures embedded within the stories were just as engaging because I was truly learning something new. From the descriptions of the camps to those heroes who tried to save thousands of children in various ways (smuggling them, caring for them, forging documents, etc.), the short two to four page biographies or stories were awe-inspiring, truly beyond courageous. It is a perfect title.
This would be a fantastic nonfiction book to use in studying the Holocaust because it shows all kinds of people (Greeks, French, Swiss, etc.) willing to put their lives on the line for something they were against. Some of the pictures are vivid and speak more than the words on the pages. There's almost too much in the book to take in all at once because of the atrocities that unfolded.
This would be a fantastic nonfiction book to use in studying the Holocaust because it shows all kinds of people (Greeks, French, Swiss, etc.) willing to put their lives on the line for something they were against. Some of the pictures are vivid and speak more than the words on the pages. There's almost too much in the book to take in all at once because of the atrocities that unfolded.
May 7, 2014
I thought the book was interesting, she had lots of information and lots of stories. I lost interest about half way through. I think it would be a great book for a younger reader who is emotionally ready to read about the Holocaust, but for me it wasn't detailed enough. She summarized a lot of inspiring stories, but I wanted some more depth. This is great for what it is and it's intended audience, but not for me. I also liked that the book had a thorough bibliography which would make it a great resource for a student writing a report and it makes it a credible resource (the last "history" book I tried to read didn't have a single source listed so there was no way of knowing what was fact or fiction) .
June 1, 2015
This book is cataloged as "middle grade nonfiction." Another reviewer has commented that the topic of this book might not be appropriate for juveniles.
However, I recall reading accounts of the Holocaust at a young age and wondering why the Jews did not fight back. Indeed, many did, and the author admirably tells the stories that she has been able to find. These stories should be told to people of all ages along with the background that the author provides.
However, I recall reading accounts of the Holocaust at a young age and wondering why the Jews did not fight back. Indeed, many did, and the author admirably tells the stories that she has been able to find. These stories should be told to people of all ages along with the background that the author provides.
October 2, 2014
This book was amazing. It was told in multiple perspectives with quotes and first hand action. It goes into great detail about what actions were taken to sabotage the Germans. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history. Nut, if you can't handle sad stories, this is not for you.
September 28, 2012
Great chronicle of Jews who resisted during the Holocaust in various ways with most of the stories little known. The best known covered are the Bielski brothers and the Warsaw Uprising. An excellent addition to Holocaust literature for teens.
January 24, 2013
I requested this book from my library, and when I picked it up, I didn't realize it was from the juvenile section. Obviously, these are tales that should be known, and don't let the fact that this book is written for a younger audience turn you off. It's a very good read.
December 10, 2013
While this book did include an overview of better-known instances of Jewish resistance such as the Warsaw Uprising, most of it was devoted to examples of resistance I hadn't ever read about before--including the Bielski family camp in the forests of Belorus. Powerful stories, told well.
October 9, 2016
A comprehensive look at Jewish Resistance during WWII. At times it needed more of a memoir-style in order to keep me interested. It's a little long and too dry to hold the attention of a middle school student-- but it is a good text with lots of detailed research. Well done, but not a "fun" read.
July 24, 2012
A worthy addition to any middle school library. Beautifully designed, peppered with photos and maps (many missing in the arc), compelling and readable, though more than one profile felt chopped off.
October 11, 2012
Really great book with a new perspective on the Holocaust.
June 11, 2013
Beautifully done and informative book, inspiring and emotional.Very nicely set up with pictures, notes, stories, and more of the amazing courage of the Jewish Resistance.
March 28, 2015
Listened to on cd.
September 20, 2013
Humanities Seth
8-2 9/4/13
Beyond Courage Book Review
Motele Shlayan ran from the building, with his violin in hand. He was panting hard, but a look of relief appeared upon his face. A few minutes later, the building exploded, along with all of the Nazi soldiers and officials inside of it. German soldiers rushed to the smoldering remains, trying to extinguish the fire, but it was no use and Motele was long gone, escaping on his horse. Looking up at the sky, he shouted in rage and anguish: “This is for my parents and little Bashiale, my sister!”
This story is among many included in Beyond Courage, a marvelous work of historical non-fiction, written by Doreen Rappaport. Beyond Courage is comprised of numerous true stories about Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. These stories are beautifully told by the author in the 3rd person, and are all unique in their own right, which makes Beyond Courage a captivating book to read. For example, the story of the Bielski Brothers, a group of partisans who fought the Germans in the Naliboki Forest in Belarus was filled with themes of perseverance, desperation, and victory and, finally, relief. The Bielski’s ended up surviving the Holocaust. However, other stories are much gloomier and depressing, like that of Youra Livchitz, who ambushed a train carrying Jews from Mechelen Transit Camp in Belgium to Nazi labor camps, trying to free the passengers. Youra and his two non-Jewish allies, Jean Franklemon and Robert Maistriau, were only partially successful: many of the rescued Jews were re-captured and killed. Livchitz was captured and executed by the Gestapo, and Franklemon and Maistriau were sent to various concentration camps, but survived. The stories in Beyond Courage detail the selflessness of the thousands of Jews and non-Jews, during the Holocaust, who used many tactics to resist Nazi tyranny.
Overall, this book touched my heart. Beyond Courage was a book that made me tear up when I read about the many Jews and non- Jews that fought against Nazi oppression. This book made me incredibly emotional, but also made me feel proud and grateful for the many resisters who risked their lives fighting against Hitler’s regime. The reason why I loved this book so much, and why it made such a significant impact on me, was that I am Jewish and also because I had relatives who were killed during the Holocaust. As a Jew myself, I was already quite knowledgeable about the Holocaust, and had read many books on the topic, like Primo Levi’s “Survival in Auschwitz” and Susan Goldman Rubin’s “L’Chaim,” among others. These books are magnificent in their own right, but do not delve into the Resistance aspect of the Holocaust, as Beyond Courage does.
Rappaport introduces the book with a prologue of historical events, beginning with a short history of Hitler’s rise to power, as well as the persecution of the Jews throughout history. This lays the groundwork for her explanation of the resistance movements during the Holocaust. Learning about the true stories of resistance during the Holocaust is an important contribution because it allows the reader to visualize and feel what it must have been like to be in the shoes of those who lived through horrific persecution. These stories are different than reading a novel or a text book. Reading the accounts in Beyond Courage, gives a much more authentic experience to the reader. Rappaport tells stories that create empathy in the reader and, thus, makes a bigger impact on the reader than often found in other forms of literature. For example, the story of a boy named Simon Gronowski and his mother, trying to escape from a train bound for a labor camp, is particularly moving. When his mother told him not to jump from the train and that he would be killed, Simon responded promptly, “I’m jumping now!” Rappaport describes the scene like this:
“As he landed on the ground, he heard machine-gun fire and men shouting in German. He looked back at the train, belching white smoke into the sky. He didn’t see his mother. Hadn’t she jumped? Was she still inside the boxcar? He wanted to stay and find out, but he knew he might be shot if he lingered, so he ran into the dark forest.”
In general, Beyond Courage is one of the most informative, thought provoking books I have ever read. Rappaport’s writing style has an ease about it that makes her story telling extremely personal. The author crafted these true stories together so well, that I felt a strong sense of empathy for these people. However, as good as the book was, I feel like there was one flaw: the ending. Instead of giving an analysis of the stories she told, and of the Resistance Movement in general, Rappaport ends with a final story. I think that she could’ve made the book more meaningful and informative by adding in a strong ending, but Rappaport didn’t, instead ending a great book with mediocrity. I think that a good ending for Beyond Courage would be an analysis of all of the stories where Rappaport told the reader, how those stories affected her, how the Resistance Movement impacted WWII and how resistance movements of the past can be compared to those found in the world today. I think that this analysis would make the ending much more impactful and relevant to readers, because it would show how the horrors of oppression, and the courage it can create, always exist in dire circumstances.
Beyond Courage is a book that I highly recommend for history enthusiasts of all stripes, who want to learn more about an aspect of the Holocaust that is rarely written about. I also recommend this book to anyone, because the stories present the best of human nature: love, generosity, courage, perseverance and hope. There are wars being fought, minorities being persecuted, and innocent victims of genocide in many places in the world today. One hopes that people with determination and good will rise up against their oppressors. The only question is, will they be successful, or will the evil elements of oppression continue throughout time?
8-2 9/4/13
Beyond Courage Book Review
Motele Shlayan ran from the building, with his violin in hand. He was panting hard, but a look of relief appeared upon his face. A few minutes later, the building exploded, along with all of the Nazi soldiers and officials inside of it. German soldiers rushed to the smoldering remains, trying to extinguish the fire, but it was no use and Motele was long gone, escaping on his horse. Looking up at the sky, he shouted in rage and anguish: “This is for my parents and little Bashiale, my sister!”
This story is among many included in Beyond Courage, a marvelous work of historical non-fiction, written by Doreen Rappaport. Beyond Courage is comprised of numerous true stories about Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. These stories are beautifully told by the author in the 3rd person, and are all unique in their own right, which makes Beyond Courage a captivating book to read. For example, the story of the Bielski Brothers, a group of partisans who fought the Germans in the Naliboki Forest in Belarus was filled with themes of perseverance, desperation, and victory and, finally, relief. The Bielski’s ended up surviving the Holocaust. However, other stories are much gloomier and depressing, like that of Youra Livchitz, who ambushed a train carrying Jews from Mechelen Transit Camp in Belgium to Nazi labor camps, trying to free the passengers. Youra and his two non-Jewish allies, Jean Franklemon and Robert Maistriau, were only partially successful: many of the rescued Jews were re-captured and killed. Livchitz was captured and executed by the Gestapo, and Franklemon and Maistriau were sent to various concentration camps, but survived. The stories in Beyond Courage detail the selflessness of the thousands of Jews and non-Jews, during the Holocaust, who used many tactics to resist Nazi tyranny.
Overall, this book touched my heart. Beyond Courage was a book that made me tear up when I read about the many Jews and non- Jews that fought against Nazi oppression. This book made me incredibly emotional, but also made me feel proud and grateful for the many resisters who risked their lives fighting against Hitler’s regime. The reason why I loved this book so much, and why it made such a significant impact on me, was that I am Jewish and also because I had relatives who were killed during the Holocaust. As a Jew myself, I was already quite knowledgeable about the Holocaust, and had read many books on the topic, like Primo Levi’s “Survival in Auschwitz” and Susan Goldman Rubin’s “L’Chaim,” among others. These books are magnificent in their own right, but do not delve into the Resistance aspect of the Holocaust, as Beyond Courage does.
Rappaport introduces the book with a prologue of historical events, beginning with a short history of Hitler’s rise to power, as well as the persecution of the Jews throughout history. This lays the groundwork for her explanation of the resistance movements during the Holocaust. Learning about the true stories of resistance during the Holocaust is an important contribution because it allows the reader to visualize and feel what it must have been like to be in the shoes of those who lived through horrific persecution. These stories are different than reading a novel or a text book. Reading the accounts in Beyond Courage, gives a much more authentic experience to the reader. Rappaport tells stories that create empathy in the reader and, thus, makes a bigger impact on the reader than often found in other forms of literature. For example, the story of a boy named Simon Gronowski and his mother, trying to escape from a train bound for a labor camp, is particularly moving. When his mother told him not to jump from the train and that he would be killed, Simon responded promptly, “I’m jumping now!” Rappaport describes the scene like this:
“As he landed on the ground, he heard machine-gun fire and men shouting in German. He looked back at the train, belching white smoke into the sky. He didn’t see his mother. Hadn’t she jumped? Was she still inside the boxcar? He wanted to stay and find out, but he knew he might be shot if he lingered, so he ran into the dark forest.”
In general, Beyond Courage is one of the most informative, thought provoking books I have ever read. Rappaport’s writing style has an ease about it that makes her story telling extremely personal. The author crafted these true stories together so well, that I felt a strong sense of empathy for these people. However, as good as the book was, I feel like there was one flaw: the ending. Instead of giving an analysis of the stories she told, and of the Resistance Movement in general, Rappaport ends with a final story. I think that she could’ve made the book more meaningful and informative by adding in a strong ending, but Rappaport didn’t, instead ending a great book with mediocrity. I think that a good ending for Beyond Courage would be an analysis of all of the stories where Rappaport told the reader, how those stories affected her, how the Resistance Movement impacted WWII and how resistance movements of the past can be compared to those found in the world today. I think that this analysis would make the ending much more impactful and relevant to readers, because it would show how the horrors of oppression, and the courage it can create, always exist in dire circumstances.
Beyond Courage is a book that I highly recommend for history enthusiasts of all stripes, who want to learn more about an aspect of the Holocaust that is rarely written about. I also recommend this book to anyone, because the stories present the best of human nature: love, generosity, courage, perseverance and hope. There are wars being fought, minorities being persecuted, and innocent victims of genocide in many places in the world today. One hopes that people with determination and good will rise up against their oppressors. The only question is, will they be successful, or will the evil elements of oppression continue throughout time?
January 10, 2018
The book Beyond Courage is told through various short stories combined to show different perspectives of Jew's throughout Europe. The author includes many pictures to help the reader depict what it was like to live through the holocaust.
However, this book does not give the reader a complete grasp of the Holocaust. The author only mentions what happened during the Holocaust and what happened after. The author doesn't explain the events leading up to the Holocaust.
Overall, I recommend this book to people who want to have a basic knowledge about what the Holocaust was about and what things happened to people in different situations. If you are looking for a book with really high vocabulary then I would not recommend this book. Based on my experience, I highly recommend this book because it really tells a story using many people's experiences throughout the Holocaust
However, this book does not give the reader a complete grasp of the Holocaust. The author only mentions what happened during the Holocaust and what happened after. The author doesn't explain the events leading up to the Holocaust.
Overall, I recommend this book to people who want to have a basic knowledge about what the Holocaust was about and what things happened to people in different situations. If you are looking for a book with really high vocabulary then I would not recommend this book. Based on my experience, I highly recommend this book because it really tells a story using many people's experiences throughout the Holocaust
January 9, 2020
I could feel the anxiety pumping through all of these stories. All these plans were risky and full of situations that could have gone wrong kept me on my toes, and they always had this sense of bravery around them. Some of the stories were like something straight out of an action movie, showing stories of espionage and nerves of steel throughout. They changed my perspective on WW2. I thought it was just all about the Soviets and British, but there was a factor that many history books glanced at; The partisans. I knew they did something, but I thought they didn't have the impact they actually created. Beyond Courage shown me the effect partisans actually had, disrupting train lines to a point where SS officers dared not to cross them in some areas, to bombing a party full of SS officers. At the end of the book, I really wanted more stories to hear. They were so fascinating and incredible.
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