  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 12/01/2019 In 1939, 13-year-old Moishe Moskowitz and his family struggle after the Nazis invade Poland. Life is particularly difficult for the Jewish Moskowitzs: they are first confined to a ghetto where Moishe's mother must sell her jewelry for food; later they are packed into cattle cars and shipped to an extermination camp; and, during a transfer to another camp, some Czech women toss fresh loaves of bread to the prisoners in a rare gesture of kindness. Smith's short, evocative poems highlight significant incidents from Moishe's perspective as he survives against nearly impossible odds. The author makes good use of poetic devices (Nazis are compared to wolves, stalking their prey), and while eschewing most graphic violence, the poems convey the sheer determination of survivors: It is not good soup, / but I make sure every drop finds its way / to my mouth. / Hope must be fed. Lyon's sepia-toned art depicts the story's many emotions, especially the fear and loneliness that are Moishe's constant companions. The story is based on the experiences of Moskowitz-Sweet's father, and she offers additional details in an appended note. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. Loading...
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