Twenty and Ten

"If we take these children, we can never betray them, no matter what the Nazis do."

During the German occupation of France, twenty French children were brought to a refuge in the mountains. One day a young man came to their school with a request: Could they take in, and hide, ten Jewish refugee children?

Sister Gabriel spoke up. "The Nazis are looking for those children. If we take them we must never let on they are here. Do you understand?"

Of course the children understood--but how would they hide them if the Nazis came?

During the German occupation of France in World War II, twenty children are being cared for in rural France by a Catholic nun. One day a man comes and asks Sister Gabriel to take in ten Jewish children. Understanding the considerable personal risks this will involve, Sister Gabriel and the children agree to do this. It means, for one thing, that each child will have less to eat since the ten Jewish children do not have ration cards. One day, sister Gabriel leaves the children alone while she walks into the village to get more supplies. While she is gone, Nazi soldiers arrive. The children were alert enough to spot their approach, giving the Jewish children enough time to hide. Will the Nazis discover the children’s deception?

This show more story highlights the children’s agency. Without an adult protector, the children use their wits and their courage to protect their Jewish friends. The children demonstrate moral awareness throughout the story through repeatedly working out interpersonal conflicts in an unselfish way. This book was first published in 1952, less than ten years after the time in which it was set. I can’t help wondering how 21st century children would respond to the challenges faced by the children in the book. We are so far removed now from the privations of World War II and its aftermath. show less

This little book has got to be one of our family’s all-time favorite stories to read aloud. The story is wonderful, about a group of resourceful children who saved the lives of another group. I finished reading it to my youngest this evening, and could feel her tensing up as the danger mounted. She loved the ending, and had a lot to say about it. As I was reading, I noticed my oldest son frequently edging into the room as he dried dishes, so that he could hear the story—even though he has heard it several times in the past! This is one of those books that are wonderful for all ages, the perfect type of story.

I love old books, especially old, out of print, children's books. I found an old copy of this book at a thriftshop recently for 10 cents. I purchased it and several others, saving them for holiday reading. I'm glad I did. Just before New Year's I came down with a cold. I spent a day snuggled in my warm blankets with hot tea....and several really great books. I started my reading binge with this title, first published in 1951 under the title Twenty and Ten.

I didn't realize it when I first started reading, but by page 10 or so I realized I have read this story before under its original title. I definitely enjoyed re-reading it! A group of fifth graders and one 4-year old sibling are tucked away at a country house in France. The German show more army is occupying France, so children have been moved away from cities for their safety. The nearby village has German soldiers though...so it isn't completely safe. Their teacher, Sister Gabriel, asks them to participate in a very important secret....they must not tell, even if German soldiers threaten or torture them for the information. They are going to hide 10 Jewish children. It's a matter of life and death for them all.

The book is only 80 pages long, but it packs a lot of story in those few pages! The story is not graphic and totally age appropriate for middle grade level readers. As an adult, I also enjoyed the story.

The used copy I bought is quite old....and in the middle, I found that 3 pages were missing. Luckily, I found a digital copy online to read those missing pages as they were right in the middle of an important part of the plot! I also discovered some long lost school notes from a prior book owner...a page of very old notes on the original 13 US colonies. I hope the prior book owner passed her quiz at school! :) You never know what you might find in an old book....or not find (the missing 3 pages!). I enjoyed the last read of this very old book and threw it away since it was too damaged to share with anyone or keep.

The Secret Cave is a very entertaining story about 30 courageous children! Great quick read for a day where I was feeling totally under the weather. Very uplifting story! show less

Thrift store find. Another aspect of the Nazi campaign against the Jews - this one is so rich, so full of complex ideas, that it deserves room on your Holocaust shelf in your classroom even if said shelf is overflowing. It is indeed scary, but some of the children were only 10 (a few were even younger) and I think it's perfectly appropriate to share with fourth or fifth-graders.

Who would think that in 76 illustrated pages a child could learn about first crushes, the difference between bad soldiers and honorable ones, the fact that Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years, the courage of a growing boy to share insufficient food, and of a girl to sneak out at night past the soldiers, etc.? And yet it's gracefully told and even show more includes bits of humor. show less

I love this book! I read it to a classroom of third graders, a few years back, and they also loved it. The children in the book are brave and resourceful, and help hide refugee children from the nazis in occupied France.

A wonderful read-aloud providing lots of discussion and written so well for even a kindergartener to understand. This book opened up my children's heart of compassion when they were so interested in WWII at the time after seeing WWII planes at a flight museum at Balboa Park.