The Librarian of Auschwitz

Locations
Call Number: Y Fiction / Iturbe, Antonio, Kids Book / Fiction / Historical / Iturbe, Antonio
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Traverwood Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	Y Fiction / Iturbe, Antonio	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	Y Fiction / Iturbe, Antonio	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / Historical / Iturbe, Antonio	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / Historical / Iturbe, Antonio	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / Historical / Iturbe, Antonio	4-week checkout	Due 05-03-2024

"First published in Spain by Editorial Planeta in 2012"--Title page verso.
"Based on the true story of Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus"--Jacket.
Maps on liner papers.
Follows the true story of Dita Kraus, a fourteen-year-old girl from Prague who after being sent to Auschwitz is chosen to protect the eight volumes prisoners have smuggled past the guards.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

School Library Journal Review
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Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Forbidden Books submitted by hadleysnicole on June 26, 2018, 7:30am The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe tells the story of Dita Krauss, who acted as a librarian in Auschwitz (where books were forbidden), and how she coped. The story tell about the a harrowing look at what life was like in a concentration camp.

Dita Kraus, a fourteen-year-old, is imprisoned at Auschwitz with her parents. In Auschwitz, Dita and her parents lived in the family camp, known as Block 31. Dita was put in charge of eight precious books smuggled inside. It was a small collection. some were stained. Some were falling apart at the spine. The books helped the prisoners hang on to their humanity.

This book is an important work of historical fiction, detailing a dark time in European history, but it also celebrates heroes like Dita, and the other prisoners who held on to life as long as they could, and worked to instill this value in the children. As the author commented, true, people can consume bread and water and their bodies will survive., but they’re not complete persons unless they also learn and debate, are moved by beauty, and feed their imagination. Along with Dita’s story, the author fictionalizes another incredible true account of Rudolph Vrba and Alfred Wetzler, who managed to escape from Auschwitz and provide detailed reports of what was happening inside the camp.

I recommend this book for middle grade readers, and people interested history and the holocaust.

Disturbing subject matter - well written submitted by smgop on July 8, 2020, 8:36pm This was a gripping page-turner, yet I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach the entire time I read it.
The above review is excellent - be sure to read it!

Worth a read submitted by delaflynn on August 29, 2021, 3:01am Although fictional, this story deals with historical situations. Deplorable what people can do to each other but sometimes how those who are victimised deal with what is going on can be an uplifting testament to the resilience and strength of the soul.