On each Rosh Hashanah eve, Eli watches his great-grandmother light
seven memorial candles, say a prayer and shed a tear over the
blessing. Year after year, Eli observes, while not comprehending
the sadness his family feels on what should be a happy celebration
of the incoming Jewish New Year. His mother and father only tell
him "some things are too difficult to talk about." Following the
death of both great-grandparents, Eli takes a trip with his family
to Lithuania, the homeland of his ancestors. There they visit the
Ponar Forest where a massive gravesite exists for the 100,000 Jews
and others who were executed by the Nazi's during the war. Eli's
introduction to his family's brutal demise is shocking, yet he
quickly understands that it is his turn to remember along with the
importance of passing down the stark facts to each succeeding
generation. As survivors and the only real witnesses to the
Holocaust begin to pass on, educating the young to remember the
harsh events of history in order to prevent future genocide is one
way to avoid future ambivalence and denial. Although brief, this is
a sad, dark, candid look at a boy's family history coupled with
Farnsworth's equally gloomy blue/gray paintings that evoke a
feeling of extreme loss and mourning. While its message is
universally significant, its use will be most effective in
introductory Holocaust discussions and curriculum. (Picture book.
12-15) (Kirkus Reviews)
Year after year, Eli watches the solemn lighting of seven
candles at his family's celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish
New Year. On such a happy occasion, his parents and grandparents
always seem sad, and Eli can't understand why.
Then one year Eli travels to Eastern Europe to learn more about
his family history. There, he learns how the candles represent his
family's connection to the Holocaust in Lithuania, and how
remembering his ancestors can help heal years of grief and
shame.
This powerful story, illuminated by Bill Farnsworth's sensitive
brush strokes and muted palette, can be used as an introduction to
World War II and the Holocaust, and will also remind young readers
how they can make a difference in the lives of their families.
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