What World Is Left

Engrossing, poingant, personal. A heart-wrenching account of life and survival in "model-city" concentration camp, Thereseinstadt.

An animatedly-written teen novel by the daughter of a Dutch family sent to Theresienstadt, a holding camp in Czechoslovakia where many important and talented Jews were sent prior to being transported to Auschwitz. Since it is based on the author's mother's experiences and the author's research, it rings true. The story invented by the author is touching and brings an immediacy of experience, portraying the layout of the camp, the crowding, hunger, disease, and sudden "transport," but also the friendships and productivity of the many talented Jewish inhabitants, including "Anneke's" father, a famous cartoonist. There is also a section on the infamous charade of the camouflaged camp and the ensuing film staged to fool the Red Cross employees who have come to inspect the camp. The final section describes the fleeing by truck of the German guards, including Rahm, the camp Commandant, plus the ironic post-war "grilling" of her father by the Russians who suspect him of colluding with the Nazis because the familly lived together in one room, and all of them survived. There is some appropriate sexuality in it, very gracefully described. References and Author's Note Appended. Ages 12 and up. Marcia Posner

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 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. Reviewed by: LadyJay