We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust

by Jacob Boas

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Excerpts from five diaries written by Jewish teenagers about their families' experiences during World War II.

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4 reviews
This book consists of five diaries of teenagers who were killed in the Holocaust: David Rubinowicz, Yitzhak Rudashevski, Moshe Flinker, Eva Heyman and Anne Frank. It is so very interesting to read how each of the teens viewed what was happening around them and to them. The five diaries are compared in the final chapter and that is really quite compelling. These children all started keeping diaries in the early or mid-teens until they were brought to an extermination camp and killed. It is also very intriguing to know what these teens were thinking about, what kept them going, how their thought process worked during this difficult time. I have read Anne Frank's diary, but this book compares her situation and her entries to the other show more teens and that sheds some different perspectives on it. These teens seem much older than their years and of course their final entries are very sad indeed as we know what those final entries mean. show less
An examination of the Holocaust through the eys of 5 teenagers who kept diaries before their deaths at the hands of the Nazis. Anne Frank is, of course, one of these, but her experiences are compared and contrasted with the other 4 teens who saw different sides of the Death Machine that was Hitler's Germany. This is the first time I have seen Anne put into context with others of her generation. I found the whole book to be riveting.
½
In quite a few ways, it is better than Anne Frank's famous diary. Anne's diary was more introspective and ongoing war and persecutions of Jews was bit in background. This book does not produce the diaries verbatim, instead it is mostly presented as notes and background information along with excerpts from the diary. Five teenagers also had different circumstances, so it provides bit more perspective.

At less than 200 pages and large print, it is pretty easy and good read. In many respect better than Anne Frank's diary, if one wants to know how Holocaust was seen by Jew teenagers.
Decent book, im reading it in school for information on the Holocaust and its perdy good. By the way Go to youtube and look up RayWilliamJohnsen HE IS BEAST!! =3 you will love him.
When i first saw him i was sitting in class pertending to be working... it was so funny that i was crying, my tummy hurt and i was on the floor... I got in so much troble ;) have fun!!!

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Author Information

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Awards and Honors

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust
Original publication date
1995
People/Characters
Eva Heyman; David Rubinowicz; Moshe Flinker; Yitskhok Rudashevski; Anne Frank
Important places
Vilna, Lithuania; Poland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Schaarbeek, Brussel, België
Important events
World War II
Dedication
For Erica, Naomi, Simon, and Patricia
LJCRS Book Fair Selection 5756
First words
Foreword: I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank one cold winter day when school had been cancelled because of snow.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)In the meantime, I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, Teen
DDC/MDS
940.53History & geographyHistory of EuropeHistory of Europe1918-World War II, 1939-1945
LCC
D804.3 .W385History of Europe, Asia, Africa and OceaniaHistory (General)World War II (1939-1945)
BISAC

Statistics

Members
793
Popularity
34,886
Reviews
4
Rating
½ (3.52)
Languages
Dutch, English, Russian, Ukrainian
Media
Paper
ISBNs
10
ASINs
3