Student Book Review:


Alicia, My Story

by:Alicia Appleman Jurman


Review done by:

 Jessica Schnell
Grade 6
Van Antwerp Middle School
Niskayuna, NY

Alicia, My Story is a thrilling novel that will catch your attention if you like books with adventure and bravery. This book takes place during the Holocaust. The Holocaust was when the Germans took over all the Jewish people and killed them all in very cruel ways. They would take people and shoot every tenth person, or through men and woman in a pen of mad dogs. Alicia Jurman was a girl of 14 who had to live through this. One by one, her family disappeared until it was just her and her mother left. Alicia felt that she had to take care of her mother because she was getting very sick. Alicia would go work at farms and pretend that she was a German. Sometimes the people she worked for would find out that she was a Jew, but they still kept it a secret. Her reward was a loaf of bread and some sour milk. That is how Alicia and her mother would survive.
It was very difficult for them to find a place to live. They once found a house and lived in it for a while until a terrible thing happened. Alicia and her mother were ordered to get out of their house by the Germans. As they walked out they came face to face with a couple of Germans pointing guns at them. They were just about to shoot Alicia when
her mother jumped in front of her. That was the most saddest part in the book for me. Alicia then was captured and taken to a jail cell. It was there when she discovered how awful this event really was. The Germans were so cruel to her and all the other people who were there. The worst part was when they all had to line up and get inspected by the Germans. As quick as they could, they had to take off all their jewelry so the Germans could have them to keep. Alicia had a problem with one earring and couldn't get it off in time. The Germans came by and yanked it out of her ear. Alicia was brave and didn't cry, but after a few minutes, she suddenly fainted. Alicia had to go through many other tough things in order to survive and luckily, she made it.
I find this book the most interesting book around. It helps you to think about what life was like during the Holocaust. As you can see, it was a very tragic moment for many people. The survivors usually had no one to go to, like Alicia. I highly recommend this book to any who likes a lot of action, and even if you don't, you will like them once you read this book.
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