Meg Wiviott

I've never (? at least not often) read a young-YA Holocaust novel that takes place *in* the camps. It's easier to tell a story of hope and resilience when your character escapes. This book walks that line perfectly, I think -- a Holocaust story should feel tragic and exhausting, and a YA novel should have a touch of hopeful ending.

I read this book to consider assigning it as a book club choice for our 8th grade ELA Holocaust unit. It's short, brisk, emotionally resonant, and the overall show more story isn't complicated. We ended up deciding against assigning it, unfortunately, because it requires far too much background knowledge about Judaism -- that could work in a whole-class novel, maybe, but even if we provided a glossary all the Hebrew and Yiddish and cultural knowledge would bog down many independent readers. show less

This book is a work of historical fiction , and serves as a recounting of the night of the broken glass on November 9th, 1938, which marked the beginning of the Holocaust for many. It is written from the perspective of a cat named Benno, and his numerous expressions throughout the story showcase the complexity and confusion many Jews probably felt around that time. Although this story is based on such a tragic and notorious event in history, the author still managed to make child-friendly show more without sugar coating any details. Furthermore, I think that the author had chose to write this children's book from the perspective of a cat because it added to the moral of the story: which was cats( or animals in general) only see people for who that are and not based on religion, race, sex, and we as people can learn a lot from that concept. Benno loved the people in his neighborhood because of how they treated him and how they always left milk for him at the end of every day. He was an alley cat and they had become his family, and like families do, they help care for and support one another on a daily basis. So imagine his dismay and confusion when he realizes his family had mysteriously disappeared over night, never to be seen again. show less

This was a poignant tale about survival, fear, hope, and friendship. Emotions seeped from the pages and deep rooted sympathy filled my soul.

It was about two girls that ended up at Auschwitz and found friendship in one another. Zlatka and Fania were pulled from their homes and sent to a work camp filled with ugly hatred and brutal punishment. Both lost family and both craved freedom. Together they protected one another and helped instill hope in their hearts. Zlatka found strength in her show more purple blouse that cost a whole days ration and Fania found strength in a paper heart filled with encouragement. Both pieces were banned, but both girls would not let go. In the end it was the simple things, friendship, and bravery that carried them home.

My heart was truly touched by this book. I found the brutality to be inspiring. It really made me feel appreciative and blessed for the most simple of things. I looked at my pen and paper completely differently. It no longer was just a piece of tree and an ink cylinder. It was a sliver of hope and power. A way to tell a historic story that should be shouted from the rooftops. I found the words insightful and important. I wanted to jump into the story and wrap my arms around the girls. I wanted to tell them how brave they were and how inspiring their story was. To know this was based on a true story just makes it that much more enthralling. I highly recommend it to every reader. This is a piece of history we should immerse ourselves in in order to always be reminded of how truly blessed we are... show less

Written in verse, "Paper Hearts" is based on true events and tells the story of Zlatka and Fania, two young women who lost everything but found each other in Auschwitz. Their courage, compassion, resilience and determination to survive can only be admired.

While heartbreaking and inspirational, the sparseness of the words made "Paper Hearts" very accessible as well as emotional, and perfectly represented the bleakness of Auschwitz. A great read.