“Brave people are not the ones who aren’t afraid. Those are reckless people who ignore the risk; they put themselves and others in danger. That’s not the sort of person I want on my team. I need the ones who know the risk — whose legs shake, but who carry on.”
A family camp was set up at Auschwitz so that if the Red Cross came to check out the camp, they would see families and children living together. The children were supposed to be gathered at a warehouse each day and kept entertained, but a few adults secretly turned it into a school. There were even a few books hidden away that could only be borrowed by asking the librarian. Just a teenager, Dita is charged with making sure the books are hidden away if any Nazis or Kapos darken the school doors. She knows the power of books and takes her role seriously.
I have read several books by Holocaust survivors lately, or books based on the true stories of survivors. The Librarian of Auschwitz is the most recent one. Dita was a real person who took survived a brutal time in a concentration camp. When the author was tracking down a book written by Dita’s husband, he got in touch with Dita and was able to ask her to share her story.
The family camp is often visited by Dr. Mengle and Dita is approached by him one day when he tells her he’s watching her. She then has to decide if risking her life is worth hiding books. She seeks advice from her mother and friends, but ends up finding the best source of bravery from the camp director. Although, he has his own secrets, too, which Dita struggles to understand when she finds them out.
The Librarian of Auschwitz is not an easy book to read but it’s an important one. The more we know of the personal horrors the people in the concentration camps suffered, the more we can ensure it never happens again. If you appreciate historical fiction that is very close to reality, you must read The Librarian of Auschwitz.
What has been the most influential WW2 book you’ve read? Share in the comments!
Buy The Librarian of Auschwitz here (affililate link).
