One Eye Laughing, the Other Weeping: Diary of Julie Weiss

This is one of the most emotionally mature books in the series. The main character and her family are flawed, and they aren't always "right" in their decisions and beliefs (from the perspective of modern day readers), which thus makes them more interesting and more vivid. While I enjoyed the book as a kid, this went over my head a bit, but now that I'm an adult, I can appreciate the quality writing.

Julie Weiss is a 14-year-old girl who is a Jewish rich girl, life may seem good and perfect for her until...Adolf Hitler, an "anti-Jewish" leader comes and brings terror to Vienna. Julie's best friend Sophy, is sent to England being adopted, Julie's mother commits suicide, her brother Max runs away, and her father sends her to America to be adopted by her aunt who was never heard from, all Jewish things were messed up. Julie will just be satified with her life but she worries about her father in Vienna. There is a fictional epligue and historical note and pictures of the era. I recommend this to 9-12-year-olds.

This book is now among my favorites in the serries(although almost all of them are among my favorites, I love the serries). I think that Julie is a realistic girl, although she sounds a lot like Ann Frank, and she has a nice life in Vienna then everything is ruined but the second half is nicely done and not depressing...although the chances of it happening I think are slim.

I was fortunate enough to obtain an advanced edition of this wonderful book. Barry Denenberg is a wonderful author. He brought a wonderfully human viewpoint to this tragic time in history. Twelve-year-old Julie Weiss is the daughter of a wealthy Jewish couple in 1938 Vienna. She has a comfortable life, until Hitler's army invades Austria. Her family is the target of violence, and her mother sinks into depression, eventually commiting suicide. In spite of the bleakness of the first half the book, there is hope in the second half. Julie's father, desperate for her safety, arranges for her to go to New York City to live with her aunt and uncle, but decides to stay behind and help others. She is full of loneliness and despair at first, but finds comfort in her relatives and in a career in acting. I highly reccomend this to historical fiction fans. The author did an excellant job of bringing the time period to life.