The Lost Childhood is a gripping story of survival, as told by the author Nir who is reflecting on his childhood as a young Jewish boy living in Poland. Nir begins his story before the war began, telling his of affluent family life and the lavish lifestyle of his parents. The memoir follows through his experiences during the war, moving from city to city in hiding from the Nazis. Much like the diary of Anne Frank, this book is wonderful because it gives the perspective of a coming-of-age boy during a horrific period in history. While the memoir accounts the many horrors that Nir witnessed and experienced himself, it also details his daily life, including crushes on girls and his attempt at fitting in with Polish Gentile boys. This book is an excellent resource for students grades 8-12, and is an informational and extremely interesting read. ( )