I am David

TRIGGER WARNINGS: References cruelty, violence, and neglect. Holocaust: references concentration camps. Animal death. Grief. Suicidal thoughts.

I Am David tells the story of a young boy named David who escapes from a concentration camp during World War II. He is assisted in his escape by one of the guards and the story follows his journey as he strives to follow the guard’s instruction to make his way to Denmark. We are never told where the concentration camp is located, and the identity of David’s captors is never mentioned. By backtracking his journey, we can guess that it is somewhere in Eastern Europe, possibly Bulgaria, or Yugoslavia but it is never explicitly stated. I felt this was a positive move. It emphasises the human show more aspects of the story over historical details and serves as a symbolic representation of the dehumanising and anonymous nature of the camps during the Holocaust. The anonymity reinforces the idea that the experiences of those in concentration camps were tragically common and not limited to a single geographical location.

Don’t let the subject matter put you off, though. For such a depressing topic, the book is engaging in every other aspect. I was captivated by the beautiful painted image that adorns the cover of my edition, setting the stage for what turned out to be a profoundly moving literary experience. The prose is simple and straightforward yet possesses a unique beauty which enhances the emotional depth of the novel, instilling a sense of haunting sadness that lingers throughout the narrative. From the outset, I found myself immersed in the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolded. One aspect that resonated deeply with me was David's personal name for God, a small but impactful detail that adds a layer of individuality to his character.

The believability of the narrative is striking; never once did I feel jarred out of the story. The author skilfully portrays the emotional struggles and growth of the protagonist, David. His thought processes are presented with a compelling authenticity, which broke my heart on more than one occasion.
The author skilfully weaves universal themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the importance of individuality into David's personal journey, making the story relatable to a broad audience. Some reviewers said that they found the pacing of the novel slow at times. I personally did not encounter this issue. Some parts of the story are predictable, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the narrative.

I Am David is marketed as children’s literature (middle grade), but it’s a book which will appeal to all ages. Themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity prevail, leaving me with a lasting impression of a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, as appealing to adults as to the tweens for which it was written. Indeed, the narrative is likely to resonate more profoundly with adults, given their broader understanding of the historical and psychological nuances woven into the story.

I am not ashamed to say that this book hurt my soul. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you read just one book this year, make it this one. show less

TRIGGER WARNINGS: References cruelty, violence, and neglect. Holocaust: references concentration camps. Animal death. Grief. Suicidal thoughts.

I Am David tells the story of a young boy named David who escapes from a concentration camp during World War II. He is assisted in his escape by one of the guards and the story follows his journey as he strives to follow the guard’s instruction to make his way to Denmark. We are never told where the concentration camp is located, and the identity of David’s captors is never mentioned. By backtracking his journey, we can guess that it is somewhere in Eastern Europe, possibly Bulgaria, or Yugoslavia but it is never explicitly stated. I felt this was a positive move. It emphasises the human show more aspects of the story over historical details and serves as a symbolic representation of the dehumanising and anonymous nature of the camps during the Holocaust. The anonymity reinforces the idea that the experiences of those in concentration camps were tragically common and not limited to a single geographical location.

Don’t let the subject matter put you off, though. For such a depressing topic, the book is engaging in every other aspect. I was captivated by the beautiful painted image that adorns the cover of my edition, setting the stage for what turned out to be a profoundly moving literary experience. The prose is simple and straightforward yet possesses a unique beauty which enhances the emotional depth of the novel, instilling a sense of haunting sadness that lingers throughout the narrative. From the outset, I found myself immersed in the poignant and thought-provoking story that unfolded. One aspect that resonated deeply with me was David's personal name for God, a small but impactful detail that adds a layer of individuality to his character.

The believability of the narrative is striking; never once did I feel jarred out of the story. The author skilfully portrays the emotional struggles and growth of the protagonist, David. His thought processes are presented with a compelling authenticity, which broke my heart on more than one occasion.
The author skilfully weaves universal themes of freedom, self-discovery, and the importance of individuality into David's personal journey, making the story relatable to a broad audience. Some reviewers said that they found the pacing of the novel slow at times. I personally did not encounter this issue. Some parts of the story are predictable, but this does not detract from the overall impact of the narrative.

I Am David is marketed as children’s literature (middle grade), but it’s a book which will appeal to all ages. Themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity prevail, leaving me with a lasting impression of a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, as appealing to adults as to the tweens for which it was written. Indeed, the narrative is likely to resonate more profoundly with adults, given their broader understanding of the historical and psychological nuances woven into the story.

I am not ashamed to say that this book hurt my soul. I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you read just one book this year, make it this one. show less

I first read this book as a teenager, and now think it must be one of the books you read as a child that shapes your view of the world. David, 12, can remember nothing before the camp where he has always lived. The Commandant gives him a chance to escape when he turns twelve - for reasons the boy does not understand. David knows only two things when he manages to stow aboard a ship and get to Italy. THEY - the commandant and others like him - are not to be trusted, and he must somehow get to Denmark. All he has is his innate intelligence, strength and courage, and a small bundle containing a little money, bread, a compass, matches, a knife, and a bar of soap.

In a way, it's a simple story. What's remarkable is living through his show more experiences in David's head and observing how his travels among free people change him. When David really discovers what love means, towards the end of the book, I still cry, even after all these years.

Not for everyone, to be sure - but I recommended this book, some years ago, to a mother who was looking for books for her son. She called me back and said, "He loves it! He's reading bits of it to me, saying, 'Listen to this, Mom!'"

This is a book that will raise many questions in the right young reader, and stay with them for a long time. show less

David is a 12 year old boy who has essentially grown up in a concentration camp in some unnamed Communist country. One of the guards--David only refers to him as "the man"--arranges for the boy to escape, and mysteriously gives him instructions to go to the port of Salonika, stow away on a ship to Italy and then make his way north to Denmark. David follows the man's instructions, fully expecting to be shot in the back at any moment, and so begins one of the odder travelogues I've read. While David is quite ignorant about life in Italy, he has far too much experience with human life in prison. It makes for some expected mistakes, but also for an interesting view of life in the "free world". On the surface, the concept of a 12-year-old show more making a journey from some Balkan country to Denmark seems unrealistic, but Ms. Holm had me so caught up in seeing the world through David's eyes, I didn't worry too much about the plot. The story weakens a bit in the end, but overall it's a tale worth checking out.
--J. show less

A very interesting but exceptionally far fetched adventure of a boy escaping from an unnamed Eastern European Concentration Camp in the middle of the Cold War (almost certainly meant to be Bulgaria) and making his way to Denmark.

It is a triumph of good over evil and imagination over rationality. Would make a great mini series

This is a great little book aimed at younger readers. It was written for 9-13 year olds and is about a boy who escapes from a concentration camp and flees across Europe. It is well written, and while as an adult I wanted to know more about where he was and why he was imprisoned (i.e. the politics of it all) it was silent on these issues which is probably appropriate for a younger person, and not altogether necessary for the story in any case.

I enjoyed the character of David, and found myself ever hopeful that he would survive and make it to safety and freedom. The story of David’s live unfolds gradually throughout the book and he discovers along with the reader how he came to be in the camp and why he was helped to survive by the show more commandant whom he hated.

I remember reading this at school and enjoyed it again this second time around. show less

Simultaneously a heart-rending and uplifting story about a twelve-year-old boy helped to escape from a concentration camp, with the barest of instructions on how to make his solitary way through several countries to get to Denmark. His trials and triumphs, his appreciation for the beauty around him, his longing for freedom and love, all make this a very poignant story. Anne Holm writes with such heart.