Amy Littlesugar

Despite the glaring grammar/usage errors (i.e. "Max could whistle good"), this was a touching short story that taught me about organizations who endeavor to reunite stolen art during the Holocaust with their rightful owners. I had never realized before that Nazis stole what they wanted (uncontested & unstoppable) even from the population against whom they did NOT discriminate. I guess I've only seen Nazis from the victims' perspectives or from the objective (relatively) survey courses I've show more taken, so these details were left out. Even though this story was so short, it had gorgeous paintings, taught me something I didn't already know, and made me cry.

Disclaimer: I even cry during Cheerios commercials; I'm not guaranteeing anything. show less

Willy was a shy young boy who longed for a friend his own age. When Max and his father, Professor Solomon, walked into the antique shop owned by Willy's father, intrigued by the painting of a "smiling lady" in the window, the two boys soon became fast friends. Playing hide-and-seek in Willy's basement, making and sailing boats in the fountain at the park, visiting each other's homes, they did all the things that normal boys liked to do. Unfortunately, they weren't living in normal times. It show more was Antwerp, just before the Nazi invasion of Belgium, and Max was Jewish. When Max and his father are forced to flee, they ask Willy's family to keep "the lady" for them, and Willy knows the perfect hiding spot. But will she be safe? And more importantly, will he ever see his friend again...?

A tale of children separated by the horror of war, Willy and Max is a powerful story, of friendship, and of promises made and kept. It is the first Holocaust-themed picture-book, that I have seen, to address the issue of the widespread Nazi theft of artwork and other treasures, particularly from their Jewish victims. In fact, the author mentions the Commision for Art Recovery in her brief afterword. I thought that William Low's illustrations - particularly his use of color and light - perfectly captured the emotions of the story, and was very moved by the conclusion, which had me blinking away tears.

I did wish that the author had been a little clearer, as to whether this was fiction or non-fiction. The story is narrated by Willy's grandchild, but Littlesugar never definitively states that this is her family's story. I also wonder if this is really a good introduction to the subject of the Holocaust, for the child that knows nothing about it, since it never really discusses the events of the Holocaust - what it was, what happened. But for those children who already know the basic story, Willy and Max should be an excellent selection. show less

Amy Littlesugar's historical fiction 'Willy & Max: A Holocaust Story" is poignant as well as educational. The story begins in Belgium on the precipice of World War II and surrounds to young boys who become fast friends. Max is Jewish, Willy is not and trouble is just around the corner.
One of the reasons this story is so brilliant is that the author tells an important narrative but doesn't end up in the usual place: a concentration camp. World War II was so multifaceted and Hitler's hatred show more covered so much ground that sometimes looking beyond the death camps is a welcome change.
This story revolves around a fictional piece of art called "The Lady" and is what ultimately binds these two boys, and their families, together. The books' illustrations are stunning and captivating, furthermore, the story is told with realistic themes and dialogue. I must confess to tearing up on more than one occasion while reading the text.
I strongly recommend this book for any school lesson surrounding World War II and in particular discussing Hitler's pillaging of thousands of pieces of artwork around Europe. Due to some of the harsh dialogue from the Nazi soldiers, I would recommend that educators read this carefully before deciding to present it to children younger than fourth or fifth grade. show less

This is a unique holocaust story with two families, one Jewish and one gentile. While it is the story of friendships and connections lost over the course of the war it is also a historical story about the preservation of art. Max and Willy form a close friendship, but they also watch their home irrevocably change before their eyes when the Nazi's invade. The book jumps from the round-up of the Jews to present day, leaving much in between unexplained. I enjoyed this technique. So much is lost show more and will remain unexplained so if you sit back and consider the absence of any information it is a good approach to make the reader reflect on what's been lost. show less