So Young to Die: The Story of Hannah Senesh

by Candice F. Ransom

Hannah Senesh was born in 1921 in Hungary. She grew up while Hitler's influence was spreading across Europe. Twenty-three years later, she was executed by the Nazis for her role in a top-secret Allied mission. But in her brief lifetime, Hannah Senesh was a hero.

Bright, ambitious, and hardworking, Senesh was loved by all who knew her. In 1939, at the age of 18, she left her om in Budapest and went to Palestine. There she joined in the struggle for a Jewish homeland.

But she yearned to do more. And so in 1943, she was accepted by the British Air Force to be part of one of the most courageous rescue attempts of World War II - parachuting back into enemy territory to rescue Allie pilots and Jews, including her mother.

This is the story of a daring, brave young woman.

Genres: Biography, Holocaust, History, World War II, Nonfiction, Historical, Childrens

152 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

See also Candice Ransom

Ransom has published more than 150 books for children, and she is amazed every day that she's able to do this as her life's work. It's no small thing to discover at an early age (ten!) what one is meant to do, and then pursue that dream. For her, the best part of writing for children is that she can move between writing board books, picture books, easy readers, chapter books, middle grade novels, nonfiction, and biography. She is excited to move into picture book nonfiction with BONES IN THE WHITE HOUSE: THOMAS JEFFERSON'S MAMMOTH (Doubleday, 2020).

AMANDA PANDA QUITS KINDERGARTEN and the sequel AMANDA PANDA AND THE BIGGER, BETTER BIRTHDAY (Doubleday) are her first picture books with animal characters! She is proud of her easy readers featuring a brother and sister having fun throughout the year: PUMPKIN DAY, APPLE PICKING DAY, SNOW DAY, and GARDEN DAY. Look for more titles in this Level 1 series written in bouncy rhyme, plus the popular TOOTH FAIRY'S NIGHT (all Random House).

Reviews

[Natalielynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in 5th grade, 1993, and it changed the trajectory of my life. She was a passionate dreamer from an upper class existence, who passionately and poetically lived her beliefs. I just read a review where someone was faulting her for being affluent and idealistic, as if either of those things were bad. As if she had any choice into which family she was born. The facts of her life can stand alone. She was always a dreamer who fought for what was right. She lost a parent early on which sent her inward and she went to the page to try and make sense of life, as so many of us do. I dont pretend to know what was in her heart , as this other callous reviewer seems to. We can only know her through personal accounts, and documents left to us. All i know is that most people dont actually live their beliefs. She was young and acted upon the feelings in her chest, adhthoughts in hrhad a alon is unique, made all the more special by the facts of her existence while she was the prison camp. She lived joyously, bringing hope through her actions, resisting those beating her for information, and teaching others in prison the hebrew alphabet. Those are testaments to her being. Its not political, its real actions that r verifiable, facts that say what sort of woman she was. I am not jewish, nor isreali, nor hungarian. I found her story to be amazing and deeply altering. I have carried her in my heart all these 30yrs.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it when I was a child and it changed my life.

[Wienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lines from the book:

• "When one has a great deal to say one can't find words"
• "I made an accounting of what I had left behind, and what I found here, and I didn't know whether the move would prove worthwhile." [This honestly hit hard for me because I think of when I'll have to move for college.]
• "I don't have a clear picture of what I'll do, but I'll do my best at whatever it turns out to be."
• "I want to believe that what I've done, and will do, are right. Time will tell the rest "
• Just as she needed to write poetry and keep a diary, she needed to make her views known to the world. She had to let the world know she was there, and that she wanted to help. [This made me wanna write in my journal again. She made me believe that writing a diary is worthy.]
• Her purpose in life was to give people hope, even in this terrible place.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after seeing it in a scholastic flyer when I was in 5th grade. Since that day 20 years later, I still think about it and remember the struggles that all Holocaust victims had to endure. Just like other major past times, you tend to ask where were you when _____ happened. This was a good way to introduce different perspectives into my life, for instance:
After reading this book, I learned that my grandfather's plane was shot down over Hungry territory in WW2 and he was kept hidden by the residents.

I commend writers to contribute writing about such a gruesome time in the world, by showing the strength people find to survive (even if it's just surviving the next hour).

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true Hero.
~ Rest In Peace ~

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

I don’t think this was a very good biography. She was a very interesting person and it’s an interesting bit of history that I don’t think is very well known for a lot of us outside of Hungary/who don’t know much about Hungary, but I don’t think it’s particularly well done. I would have rather have read her actual diaries and writings. They include some excerpts of her writing and they were the most interesting parts of the book.

It’s also just not that well written. It’s inconsistent and honestly it just felt like reading the Wikipedia article more than anything? There’s a lot of summarizing.

I wouldn’t recommend this one, but I do think the story is interesting and I’d recommend reading more about her.

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads like a biography, but with the many references to primary sources like Hannah's diary, it still had a feeling of humanity. Spoiler: For me, the most heroic thing Hannah did was not parachuting into enemy territory. It was making beauty, sharing her art, with her fellow prisoners.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not the most exciting book I've read, I did enjoy learning about a Palestinian Jew, who was gifted both intellectually and artistically, parachuting into enemy territory risking her life to save fellow Jews.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!!!! I liked the story itself more than I liked the way it was written. I am not a big fan of the biography style. In all a good read.

[Tamara Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the best biography but it is the first I’ve read of a Palestinian Jew who returned to Europe to fight the Nazis. Hannah was an amazing person.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about how determined she was and never gave up. The only thing I did not like is it the pictures were in the middle of the book and kind of spoiles the ending.

[Ginger Poulsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the greatest writing - I would have preferred to read Hannah’s diary - but what a woman!

[Rebecca Radnor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written biography of an Israeli poet/hero, best known for the lyrics to "Elie, Elie," which posthumously became one of the most famous Israeli songs which is often used as a prayer. While she is considered a National hero, from my perspective, where it not for her poems she probably would have disappeared into history as a naive, idealistic dreamer who essentially went and got herself killed; however, because of them her ignominious death during the course of botched rescue mission has been transformed into an heroic event in Israeli history. In other words, like many other national heroes of many other countries (including George Washington) Senesh's story was created posthumously, and probably conformed to what people needed her to be, an incarnation of the new Israeli/Jewish spirit, more than what she was.

The way I see it, Senesh was a talented dreamer from a somewhat spoiled upper class existence. She came to Israel to pursue an idealistic dream, to learn to be a farmer and to help create a nation. Once she actually got used to it and none of it was new, she started to get bored and feel she was better than this work. She got pulled by the next exciting prospect which was to be a spy in the war rescuing Jews from behind Nazi lines. So she trains for that, goes on her first mission, and her team realizes its botched as soon as they are dropped off, but Hannnah, who is stuck in her dreams thinks they should continue; ultimately she goes in alone thinking she can do it with no structure to support her and of course she can't is immediately captured before she can do anything useful (other than die heroically). If anything her poem blessed is the match is a testament to her belief in wanting to die a hero, rather than the more pragmatic attitude of getting the other poor bastard to die a hero for his country.

The biography relies on a combination of Hannah's diary and her mother's writing (her mother was partially responsible for her transition into a national hero)as its sources. While the version I own says nothing about it being translated, the language is so stultified that I think it either was, or was written by someone whose first language wasn't English.

The book talks a little bit about the British suzerainty, the white paper, the formation of the Haganah, etc.

[Gena Lott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written for a 4th grade audience, this story of a Hungarian Jew during World War II is inspiring and informational. The story of the Jews living in Hungary at the time of Hitler's occupation is little reported, but this book talks about the events leading up to the Germans entering Hungary and how one girl fought back.

[Shannon Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand I liked this book because of the strong female character (this is based on the life of the real Hannah Senesh), but then it almost seemed too short of a book to have all the action trying to be packed into it.

[Rachael Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her story is intriguing; however, it gives detail where it doesn't necessarily need it and not much detail when it does. It's almost written like a summery rather than a bio...still we like her story of pursuing your dreams and convictions.

[Jocelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

The background is compelling, but the writing itself is not. I have a hard time believing anyone under 30 would be engaged by this book. Unfortunately, boring.

[Siera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another record of the Holocaust, and goes right up with the other terrible, incredible accounts.

[Cws]

J92Sen

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was sad but a great story i coudln't put it down. I read it in 2 days and it was a quick read but very enjoyable. and sad.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story about a brave young woman, but I found the writing to be poor.

[Hannah D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, clear writing style.

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting true story of a young hero but unfortunately it was written poorly. A patient reader might be able to work with it, or one with an interest in the Holocaust.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and sad.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing journey she went through at a young age.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting WW2 biography