I Am Rosemarie

by Marietta D. Moskin

Rare Book

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Holocaust, Fiction, World War II, War, Historical

258 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

MOSKIN--Marietta D., 83, beloved widow of A. Donald Moskin and mother of James and Linda, died peacefully on August 3, in her home in Manhattan. Born in Vienna, Austria, she came to the United States with her parents in 1946. She earned a BA from Barnard College and an MA in economics from the University of Wisconsin, and worked as an economist for General Motors. Later, she became a prolific children's book author with sixteen books plus short stories and translations. She was a Holocaust survivor, and her book, I Am Rosemarie, was based on her experiences and has been translated into German and Dutch. It is still used in schools in the United States and Europe. She was a member of the Unitarian Church of all Souls for fifty-five years, and served on its board and committees and as editor of its Quarterly Review. Survived by her children, James and Linda. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

—The New York Times on August 7, 2011

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book five star because it was one of my favorite books when I was in middle/high school. It was the catalyst for me reading everything I could find at the time about the Holocaust. Looking back on it with the knowledge gained over the years, I have to say it sounds very unrealistic--Rosemarie and her parents are Dutch Jews. At some point after the Nazi takeover, her parents are arrested and send to the transport camp. They manage to convince the Nazis to let them return for Rosemarie. Once they get back to the camp, they land jobs keeping it running and settle into an existence, that if not pleasant, is tolerable. While there, they manage to acquire South American passports, which keep them off the cattle cars headed to the death camps. Eventually they are sent to Bergen-Belsen but manage to keep their own possessions. Life is definitely worse than before, but her family is still together in the same place, and except for her grandmother (who they learn died of a heart attack during transport)alive. They are moved again to a camp for English citizens where conditions are much better, and so they manage to survive the war, unlike many of their friends.

In some ways the book is a gentle introduction to the Holocaust; in other ways, it doesn't show enough of the horror. As I said, I gave it five stars because it was a childhood favorite; today, I'd give it more like three--good story, but not realistic.

[Brecken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I am Rosemarie is a Historical fiction book about a sixteen year old girl who experiences the Holocaust. Throughout the book she goes to several different concentration camps and talks about her struggles in each one. She first goes to the transit camp Westerbork, her parents manage to get jobs in the camp and she makes a friend. The second camp she goes to is Bergen-Belsen, which is the most cruel camp and has very harsh conditions. Finally the last camp is the Red Cross, Biberach camp. Here she and her family are treated a bit better and get more food. I liked this book a lot, It was a bit more gentle in its introduction to the Holocaust and didn't have as much gore as other books. But, the argument could be made that it wasn't realistic or scary enough. I liked the fact that it was a bit less terrifying, although the family did seem a bit lucky.

I generally liked this book a lot and found it to be quite fascinating. But I found it a little short. The book (to me at least) has a little bit of a slow start, but I found more interest as it went on. The book is very detailed and the author did an excellent job in capturing the characteristics of young Rosemarie. And I really liked that it was a bit less horrifying compared to other Holocaust books.

I would probably recommend this book to a younger audience learning about the Holocaust. It is perfect for middle-high school readers, because it still packs on the details but again isn't mortifying. But it is a good read and really anyone would enjoy reading it. And it is a great learning experience. So, if you have the chance to read it I would definitely recommend it.

[Rachel Tau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch “Um ein Haar: Überleben im Dritten Reich”, geschrieben von Marietta Moskin und erschienen im Jahr 1972, spielt 1940 in Amsterdam, gerade als die Deutschen in den Niederlanden einmarschiert sind. Das Buch ist aus der Perspektive von Rosemarie Brenner, einer 12 Jährigen Jüdin geschrieben, und erzählt, wie sie es im Dritten Reich überlebt.
Rosemarie Brenner ist ein normales Mädchen in den Niederlanden. Doch nachdem die Nazis die Macht übernehmen, werden sie und ihre Familie plötzlich wegen ihrer jüdischen Abstammung von vielen ausgegrenzt und müssen sich täglich vor den SS-Soldaten fürchten. Sie verlieren ihren Besitz und verstecken sich bei einer alten Bekannten. Schließlich werden Rosemarie und ihre Eltern in ein deutsches Arbeitslager deportiert. Dort arbeiten und leiden sie unter schwierigen Bedingungen. Sie werden gezwungen zu sehen, wie ihre alten und neuen Bekannten an noch schlimmere Arbeitslager geschickt werden und müssen trotz ihrer Trauer jeden Tag aufstehen und weiterkämpfen. Vier Jahre später, während ihr Leben und der Krieg hoffnungslos wirken, bekommen Rosemarie und ihre Eltern eine Chance auf die Freiheit. Sie werden mit anderen ausgewählten Juden an die Grenze der Schweiz gebracht, um gegen Deutsche ausgetauscht zu werden.Weil es aber unerwartet zu viele Juden für den Austausch gibt, müssen Rosemarie und ihre Eltern kurz vor der Ankunft, in Deutschland zurückbleiben und werden zurück in ihren Arbeitslager gebracht. Am Ende der Geschichte wird Rosemarie jedoch von den Engländern befreit und überlebt so als Jüden im Dritten Reich, obwohl es in manchen Zeiten für sie sehr knapp war.

Mir persönlich gefiel das Buch ziemlich gut und es hat meine Perspektive auf das Leiden der Juden im 2. Weltkrieg erweitert. Besonders dadurch, dass die Protagonisten am Anfang der Geschichte ein "normales" Leben in den Niederlanden führt und im Laufe der Geschichte ungefähr in meinem Alter ist, konnte ich mich gut in ihre Situation versetzen und ihr Leid und Schmerz fühlen. Ihre Emotionen wirkten für mich immer sehr passend und menschlich. Es gab Stellen, an denen Rosemarie sich einfach am Ende fühlte und nur an sich und ihr Überleben dachte- sie war nicht immer Perfekt. Über diesen vielen Jahren wurde das kleine, glückliche Mädchen zerstört und genau dies machte sie menschlich. So konnte ich einen Einblick gewinnen, wie es den Juden während des Zweiten Weltkriegs in Wirklichkeit ging. Außerdem wurden weitere wichtige Themen angesprochen. Familie, Erwachsen werden und ‘sich selbst finden’ spielen in diesem Roman so wie bei vielen Jugendromane eine große Rolle. Aber besonders der Aspekt des Dankbar seins (am Anfang der Geschichte hatte Rosemarie vieles, was sie im Nachhinein hätte dankbar sein sollen) und einen Grund für das Weiterkämpfen (Hoffnung) finden, gefiel mir. Ich persönlich als 14 Jähriges Mädchen mit Stimmungsschwankungen befinde mich oft in…depressiven Lagen, ohne sehr viel Freude und Hoffnung. Dieses Buch, “Um ein Haar", erinnerte mich jedoch, dass ich sehr viel habe, worüber ich jeden Tag dankbar und froh sein kann. Dass ich mit meiner lebenden Familie in einem schönen, sicheren Haus leben kann, und statt bis zu meinen Knochen körperliche Arbeit erfüllen muss, zur Schule gehen kann, sind alles Privilegien, welche die Juden vor weniger als 100 Jahren nicht hatten. Ich konnte also im Nachhinein vieles von diesem Buch lernen.

Zudem war das Buch auch einfach interessant und schnell lesbar. Ich konnte das Buch in 2-3 Tagen fertig lesen, da der Sprachstil dank der Ich-Perspektive des jungen Mädchen sehr verständlich ist und das Buch nur aus 280 Seiten besteht. Die Spannung war für mich immer da, und die plötzlichen Wendungen in der Geschichte gaben mir einen Grund, immer weiter zu lesen. Ich würde das Buch “Um ein Haar” für Jugendliche ab 13, besonders Mädchen, empfehlen. Wie schon gesagt ist das Buch verständlich und gut lesbar. Trotzdem würde ich es aufgrund des starken und heftigen Thema des 2. Weltkrieges und dazu auch die Themen des Erwachsen werden, nicht Kindern unter 13 empfehlen.

[Fallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this is a memorable book from middle school. We were assigned to read a book and given a choice from various novels during our WWII unit, and I Am Rosemarie appealed to me because of its synopsis; which was just as well since it read as rather realistic.

It resonates to young readers since it’s told through the younger eyes of the protagonist, Rosemarie: a Jewish girl who’s forced along with her family into a concentration camp. She fares against the anguish of losing not only friends, but a sense of time, place, and purpose amongst the antagonism of anti-semites and the encroaching evil regime which brutalizes dissenters.

Which reads as a somber, tragic irony in this day and age defined by the rise of neo-Nazism, the alt-Reich, and trolldom united under confederate, swastika, Pepe patterned flags or avatars. Revisiting this narrative as told through the eyes of Rosemarie rekindles a childlike sensibility for me in observing the complacency and nonchalance of higher powers; notably, how politicians, parliamentarians, celebrities, and the moderators of social media are apathetic to the vitriolic void of technologies which bleed into reality.

[Sunni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marietta D. Moskin makes a note at the end of this novel stating that this story was an invention of her, the author. It is "a composite based on very real people who lived through all the things described in this book". Regardless of the fact that the main character Rosemarie may not have actually existed, all of the events this character suffered through did.

The Jewish holocaust during World War II was a tragedy, and this novel captures the suffering and pain of those who survived to tell of what they endured. This book was masterfully written, and is a great supplement to history teachers everywhere who are teaching of World War II and the Jewish Holocaust. Even if you are not currently researching the Holocaust it is an eye opening book that I feel all should read. You will not only enjoy the author's writing, but it would be impossible to not take away a better understanding of the trials and tribulations of a people persecuted.

[Akplmn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at about 8 or 9 years old, and decades later, it still stays with me. There is no question that this book, while in some ways accurate to the history, is a very gentle portrayal of the Holocaust. Bad things are happening to Rosemarie, but many of the most terrible things are really happening around her, rather than directly to her, and in that sense, this book really fails to portray the true horrors of the event. That being said, in a book that aims to introduce the Holocaust to young people for the first time, I'm not sure that a softer landing is necessarily a bad thing. It is still a very sad and heavy book. It's also a very well-written and immersive book, and as a child I found it impossible to put down, and was ultimately very moved by it. I would recommend it to any parent or teacher who is ready to broach the topic of the Holocaust with their child for the first time.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A moving story of a girl's growing up years in the concentration campls of Hitler's Europe."

Another eye opener. I read this book years ago, but having read it again, I realize I don't remember having read it. This one is not a true story about one person, but is a composite of true stories.

If you want to realize what blessings we all enjoy, read a story like this and you'll feel richly blessed.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenager Rosemarie and her parents struggle to survive in German labor camps during WWII.

Rosemarie was a very likable character who was easy to root for. This is a very soft version of tales of concentration camps. While Rosemarie was always hungry and had to deal with vermin, there was never a sense of possible or imminent death. It makes sense since this was published in 1973 by Scholastic for teens - nothing too graphic. It's still a solid story.

[Yellincenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fictionalized account of the author's experiences in concentration camps during the Holocaust. It is memorable and harrowing, but Moskin's ability to capture the cruelty and harsh conditions she survived is moving without being overly graphic, making this a great introduction to the Holocaust for young readers.

[Azure Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a great perspective of how the people felt and what really happened in the camps. Like how sick they got, what the food was like, and certain treatments for things. Everything about this book is moving and powerful. I loved the characters and all of the journeys they took together staying connected along the way.

[Pamela Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while in middle school. It is a good introduction to the horrors of the Nazi holocaust. This book began my march though thousands of pages of literature of WWII. If you are looking for a place to begin the conversation with 10+ year old kid it is a great jumping off point. If you are an adult and you haven't read it I highly recommend it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on the Holocaust: it describes the hiding, the round-ups, the transits, and Bergen-Belsen clearly. Yet, it ends with a note of hope. When I had to choose one book to teach about the Holocaust, I chose I Am Rosemarie.

[Sandy Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I could hardly put it down. It was a a very soft version of the Holocaust through a young girl's eyes.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in grade school. I’ve had a used copy for probably 20 years and finally decided to read it again. Very sad what Jews went through. I know that’s an understatement I have no good words. Indescribable.

[Cecilia]

WWII story. pretty typical, but not as brutal as some Holocaust books which was refreshing. suffering without mass acts of violence or overabundance of Nazis. Interesting, slightly new perspective. Some new survival tactics were intriguing.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a remarkable read. I'm surprised i never read this sooner. I definitely recommend. The end will choke you up with holding back tears.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not quite the read that "Diary of Anne Frank" is/was, I found the story of Rosemarie to be very interesting. Recently I find myself drawn to books about the Jews' struggle during this time.

[AGOULS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely great. i want to read more but i think i can´t search more

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

You and I, little butterfly, new to this world, fresh out of our cocoons, our wings still wet.
Like you, Little butterfly, I am new, A new me, A new life before me.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am Rosemarie is not a memoir; rather, Rosemarie is a composite based on real people who lived through all the real events in this book. Her family is Austrian but have lived many years in Amsterdam before being taken to the Westerbork transit camp in Germany. Her parents both get jobs in the camp, so they are some of the lucky few who are not transported soon after arrival. From there, they are eventually transferred to Bergen-Belsen, but again, she and her parents all survive. Finally, a small group of prisoners end up at a civilian internment camp overseen by the Red Cross, Biberach. Each Holocaust account is both similar and unique. Each story of survival amazing.

52/60 tbr box.

[Thyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think books about World War 2 are always interesting, it's crucial to educate yourself in the things that happened and are happening.
The story is/was real and got to my heard, nicely translated from english to german, easy to read (needed a day) and left me thinking, which is always a plus for me; when the books stick to my thoughts.
Read!

[Maryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It's always interesting to me to read about history. This is a Holocaust story. The main character is made up, but her experiences, places she goes, and some people she meets are gathered from others' real experiences.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over and over when I was young.
This book gave a look at what life was like in the ocncentration camp for a young girl. I have no idea of how realistic the book is or if it was a true story.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, this was one of my favorite books. I have it here for my kids to read when they are old enough.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really sad, and well written. The author could have thought of a better name for a cat than, "puss" though!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was 14 years old--I have read this book a half dozen times since. It is one of my all time favorites!

[VampirePrinzess · Rating 4 out of 5]

sad

[Carolyn]

I have zero recall of this book . . . cover looks intriguing.

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictional-but-based-on-true-stories story of a girl who experienced several Nazi prison camps.

[Heather]

This was like any other book based in the that time. sad at time like it should. Would read again if i had time.