We Survived the Holocaust

by Elaine Landau

A book about hope, resourcefulness, and love in which sixteen Jewish Holocaust survivors tell in their own words how Hitler's rise to power changed their lives forever.

Genres: Holocaust, History

144 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 1991

Reviews

[Abby Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Not only did it tell remarkable storys of survivors, but I learned SO much. READ IT!

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Elaine Landau,

I am an Eighth grade student in Bulkeley and my class had to pick a book that the character(s) wasn’t similar to you. That lead me to picking your book, We Survived the Holocaust. I do not practice Judaism. I always had an interest about the Holocaust because if we forget these things then this would happen again.
I loved that you did multiple people because that just makes this book more stronger and you get to hear every journey to freedom. I can’t believe that students would beat up the zJewish peers in public school, according to Ralph Katz. It was crazy to learn that even people who were soldiers were taken. Also, adding pictures of the people really painted a picture of who these people were. Another fascinating piece of information is that the escapes were from poor and rich people, it could have helped if you were rich but being poor didn’t mean that you had no chance of escaping. The information about the Nazi’s really helped me with learning the traumatizing experience.
I have a couple questions. Why did you choose to write about 16 people? How long did it take for you to recover from the traumatic experience and start writing it? Lastly, in a couple stories it talks about how some parents knew that the Nazi’s were going to do something bad, so why didn’t they flee?
Thank you so much for writing this very important novel. I hope that everyone tells their story. You inspire me.

Truly yours,
Nadine K

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Survived the Holocaust was written by author Elaine Landau and is about sixteen Jewish holocaust survivors and their stories throughout the horrific time. Whether they lost their family members or their homes, each survivor had a unique story to share about their struggles throughout. Along with their struggles, the survivors also share about what the gained after the holocaust had come to an end, and how they had moved forward after, which was very pleasing to read about.
I would highly recommend this book because it effectively educates the readers about the holocaust through stories from those directly affected by it. Elaine Landau organizes the stories in a very effective way that helps readers understand each survivors story and how some of them easily connected to others’ stories. With the book being easily understood, it is also a very great book for learning about the holocaust because the stories from each survivor easily kept me wanting to read more to hear about what they all went through and how they overcame the hardships they had faced

[Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful, sad, heartbreaking, and hopeful all in one. Hearing what these survivors went through/edured will stay with me forever. Their strength, courage, and bravery is something to be in complete Awee of. Also!! the individuals that risked their lives to help these ppl, you are angels.

[Zander Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good, all the stories that were told were explained pretty good. They had pretty good under the circumstances. I will definitely recommend this book.

[Elaine Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

We survived is such a powerful statement! Survival stories are some of my favorites because I see such heroic qualities in these people. They engender in me the desire to work harder, and live! I enjoyed these stories because they were the perfect length for students to get into and not become overwhelmed by the horrific nature of the stories. All too often we dwell on what the subject went through instead of the outcome-the achievement over evil.
These stories were some of my favorites too, because they were younger people. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have tried to survive during the Holocaust, but each and every day I watch young people and adults survive life and death events. I can become a better person learning from their survival skills.
This is a heart-grabbing book and very intense. But we need to remember these heroes.
This non-fiction material fits closely with the 8th grade language arts and writing standards 1 and 2.

1. Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons
and relevant evidence.
a. Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish
the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and
organize the reasons and evidence logically.
b. Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant
evidence, using accurate, credible sources
and demonstrating an understanding of the topic
or text.
This is an incredible primary source document and an invaluable credible source for students.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic
and convey ideas, concepts, and information through
the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant
content.
Certainly, there are other standards that relate but for students to be able to look at these experiences, analyze and clearly convey arguments, claims, and evidence to the reality of the Holocaust is important.

[Megan Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the author's purpose in writing the book was to tell the story of what happend to sixteen people during the holocaust. Another reason why the author might have written the book was to tell people what actually happend during the holocaust with people in concentration camps. Another reason the author might have written the book was to tell the world how strict and how difficult it was to survive during the holocaust.
I think the theme of the book is to never give up because the people in the book never gave up. I think the theme of the book is to never give up because the sixteen people never gave up and some of the people were the only ones left in their families alive because the never gave up. The theme is never give up because they fought and stayed alive when they were worked to death,when they were barely fed anything and when they were moved in crowded cattle cars they stayed alive and survived.
The style of the book is description because it explains what happend to people during the holocaust. The book is description because it takes the reader back to the holocaust and what happend during the holocaust. Another reason why the book is description because the book tells people about what the sixteen people went through during the holocaust.
My opinion of the book is it is a really good book, I really liked the book. The thing I liked the most about the book is that the book feels and sounds like you are actually listening to the person tell you what happend to them during the holocaust. I really didn't dislike anything about this book. I would change nothing in this book I think this book is perfect the way it is. This book is not like any other book that I have read.

[Meagan Sporrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

'We survived the Holocaust' is a collection of stories told by survivors of the WWII Holocaust set forth by the Nazi. It gives an insight to those who survived, and those who didn't, and how they endured until liberation or freedom.
This book describes how those who were prosecuted lived, from those who were in forced labour camps, to the ones in hiding, and to the ones who managed to escape.

Written in first person view, similar to an interview-like stories, the book is very effective in making sure the reader understand that these people were real, and that their experiences put them through a living hell.
A good read for any person who enjoys learning about WWII and those who experienced, it will keep those who finish it searching for more.

[Olivia Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book "We Survived the Holocaust" by Elaine Landau, her main purpose for writing this book was to show and tell people about the experiences that these people in the book went through during the Holocaust. The theme of the book "We Survived the Holocaust" is how the Holocaust impacted these people's lives. The book is written in first person narrative to give first-hand account of their experiences in the Holocaust. The writing style is very effective in the novel because it has direct quotes from the survivors of the Holocaust. I really liked reading this book because I was able to learn about their experiences and struggles they had to overcome. Also, I think the author did a very good job of telling about each one of the survivors stories.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, sad and great photographs.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories of survivors.

[Kassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

simple and thought-provoking. another book that highlights there was no formula to survival. it was random. so sad.