Book details
Claiming My Place: Coming of Age in the Shadow of the Holocaust
Description
A Jew growing up in predominantly Catholic Poland during the 1920s and '30s, Gucia Gomolinska studies hard, makes friends, falls in love, and dreams of a bright future. Her world is turned upside down when Nazis invade Poland and establish the first Jewish ghetto of World War II in her town of Piotrko'w Trybunalski. As the war escalates, Gucia and her family, friends, and neighbours suffer starvation, disease, and worse. Eventually she faces a harrowing choice: risk the uncertain horrors of deportation to a concentration camp, or certain death if she is caught resisting. She decides to hide her identity as a Jew and adopts the name Danuta Barbara Tanska. Barbara, nicknamed Basia, leaves behind everything and everyone she has ever known in order to claim a new life for herself. Planaria Price, along with Basia's daughter, tells this incredible life story directly in the first person.
Age
12-18
Text complexity
proficient
Length
272 pages
Why to read
- Educational Insight: The book provides a detailed and personal account of the Holocaust, offering readers an educational insight into one of the most harrowing periods of human history. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of hatred and the importance of tolerance and understanding.
- Inspirational Story: 'Claiming My Place' tells the true story of a young Jewish woman who assumes a false identity to survive during World War II. Her courage and determination to live are inspirational and can motivate readers to face their own challenges with resilience.
- Cultural and Historical Understanding: Reading this book can deepen one's understanding of Jewish culture and the historical context of the Holocaust. It provides a personal perspective that goes beyond textbook accounts, making the events more relatable and impactful.
- Human Spirit and Identity: The book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It encourages readers to reflect on their own identities and the lengths they might go to protect themselves and their loved ones.