What World Is Left
by Monique Polak
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A pampered child used to having her own way, Anneke Van Raalte lives outside Amsterdam, where her father is a cartoonist for the Amsterdam newspaper. Though Anneke's family is Jewish, her religion means little to her. Anneke's life changes in 1942 when the Nazis invade Holland, and she and her family are deported to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Not only are conditions in the camp appalling, but the camp is the site of an elaborate hoax: the Nazis are determined to show more convince the world that Theresienstadt is an idyllic place and that European Jews are thriving under the Nazi regime. Because he is an artist, Anneke's father is compelled to help in the propaganda campaign, and Anneke finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her sense of what is right. What World is Left was inspired by the experiences of the author's mother, who was imprisoned in Theresienstadt during World War II. show lessTags
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Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com
Anneke and her family live a privileged life in Amsterdam.
She and her brother go to school, wear fine clothes, and never want for anything. Their world is turned upside down after the Nazis take control of Holland. They are forced to wear yellow stars on their clothing, they must attend a Jewish school instead of their own, and, inevitably, are forced to relocate to Theresienstadt, a "model" concentration camp in Czechoslovakia.
Life is difficult in the camp. Every member of Anneke's family must work to stay alive. They face disease, hunger, and violence on a daily basis. Anneke works hard to maintain her dignity and pride while in the camp, but her will is constantly tested. She watches as her show more father, a celebrated cartoonist, is forced to create propaganda materials for the
Reich.
Anneke does not understand how her father can help the Nazis while they are suffering. His reasons are made apparent once the war has ended.
WHAT WORLD IS LEFT is a work of fiction inspired by true events. Polak's own mother spent a little over two years in the Theresienstadt camp. Many of the events in the novel were taken from stories that Polak's mother related to her, including the family's means of survival. Polak's grandfather, a Dutch artist, created propaganda drawings for the Nazis, thereby securing their safety while in the camp.
Ms. Polak has taken great care in telling this story because it is so very personal. It is an excellent novel - a great tale of overcoming adversity in a time of such dark despair. show less
Anneke and her family live a privileged life in Amsterdam.
She and her brother go to school, wear fine clothes, and never want for anything. Their world is turned upside down after the Nazis take control of Holland. They are forced to wear yellow stars on their clothing, they must attend a Jewish school instead of their own, and, inevitably, are forced to relocate to Theresienstadt, a "model" concentration camp in Czechoslovakia.
Life is difficult in the camp. Every member of Anneke's family must work to stay alive. They face disease, hunger, and violence on a daily basis. Anneke works hard to maintain her dignity and pride while in the camp, but her will is constantly tested. She watches as her show more father, a celebrated cartoonist, is forced to create propaganda materials for the
Reich.
Anneke does not understand how her father can help the Nazis while they are suffering. His reasons are made apparent once the war has ended.
WHAT WORLD IS LEFT is a work of fiction inspired by true events. Polak's own mother spent a little over two years in the Theresienstadt camp. Many of the events in the novel were taken from stories that Polak's mother related to her, including the family's means of survival. Polak's grandfather, a Dutch artist, created propaganda drawings for the Nazis, thereby securing their safety while in the camp.
Ms. Polak has taken great care in telling this story because it is so very personal. It is an excellent novel - a great tale of overcoming adversity in a time of such dark despair. show less
Another one I can suggest when the Holocaust Book Report comes around, but I don't think it's one I'd push as a summer read. (A little too girly, a little too ... tell-y instead of show-y in places?)
I got invested in the characters but not in the writing, if that makes sense. Didn't love the book but wanted to finish it anyway. A much more "sanitary" holocaust story, if only because it takes place at a much more "sanitary" camp (one without gas chambers etc).
I got invested in the characters but not in the writing, if that makes sense. Didn't love the book but wanted to finish it anyway. A much more "sanitary" holocaust story, if only because it takes place at a much more "sanitary" camp (one without gas chambers etc).
Have you ever had a bad day and thought "Wow how could things get any worse?" Well next time think of Anneke and her family. This book was based on the story of a Jewish Holocaust survivor, Anneke Van Raalte and her life in Theresienstadt, a "model" concentration camp in Czechoslavakia. But there was nothing good about bed bugs, starvation, disease, hard labor, and constant brutality. This well-written story tells of Anneke's moving journey during the terrible times of the Holocaust.
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CBC's 100 Young Adult Books
100 works; 4 members
Author Information
37 Works 915 Members
Monique Polak is a regular contributor to the Montreal Gazette and has been published in many other publications
Awards and Honors
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- What World Is Left
- Important places
- Theresienstadt concentration camp, Terezín, Czech Republic
- Important events
- World War II (1939 | 1945)
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 97
- Popularity
- 331,107
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- Dutch, English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 9
