A Good Read The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
This year sees the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the horrors of the Holocaust came to the world’s attention. In the intervening years many great pieces of literature have been written to explore why it happened, and the consequences of it. One such book is The Reader by the German author, Bernhard Schlink. Set in West Germany in 1958, Michael, a 15-year-old falls ill with hepatitis and befriends a 36-year-old woman, Hanna. They develop a close relationship until she suddenly disappears a few months later. The narrative then skips to six years later where Michael, now a law student, is observing a war crimes trial. On trial are a group of female SS guards who served at Auschwitz. Michael has to battle his emotions and the reader is asked, along with the protagonist, to question why such atrocities were
allowed to happen and how can we stop them happening again. The issue of how ordinary Germans carried out Nazi orders is one that Germans have struggled to come to terms with and Schlink explores this in a touching manner.
The style of writing is sparse at times – with little explanation offered to the reader at times. It can appear blunt, but offers a clarity that forces the reader to engage with the subject matter. It reflects how the post-war generations in Germany have struggled to come to terms with the actions of ordinary Germans during the war.
Once by Morris Gleiztman
Adult literature is not alone in dealing with the Holocaust, and there are in fact many pieces of children’s literature that aim to introduce the events and the effects of them. One such book is Once by Morris Gleiztman. It is the first is a series of four books which tell of the life of Felix, a 10 year old Polish Jew in 1942. For three years, Felix has lived in an orphanage, waiting for his parents return for him. They own a book shop and Felix believes that this is why they had to leave him. He has seen Nazis burning books and figures out that it must be dangerous to be a bookseller. His parents must have sent him to the orphanage to keep him safe. However, he soon learns that it is not being a bookseller that is dangerous.
Gleiztman is very careful to write at an appropriate level for his young audience whilst not sanitising the dreadful events that Felix finds himself caught up in. The young reader will learn, along with Felix, exactly what is taking place across Europe. Yes, it is shocking, yes it is moving, and yes, be prepared for questions from a child who is reading this. It is aimed at readers in their first year or two at secondary school and offers a good age-appropriate introduction to a subject that they will most likely encounter in History or RE lessons.
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