Synopsis
A faded grey-striped shirt is the catalyst for Frannie's grandparents to reveal their Holocaust experiences to her, show her the Jewish way to memorialize the dead, and caution her to tell her children of their experience.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-4-While visiting her grandparents, Frannie discovers an old striped shirt, and eventually musters up the courage to ask why her grandmother has saved this ugly garment. Slowly, over a period of years, her grandparents share with her their experiences during the Holocaust. What makes this title different from others is that Frannie asks the question, "`Why didn't the Jews fight back? Why didn't they do something to keep the Nazis from killing them?'" Some of the acts of the resistance movements are explained, but Grandma states the most meaningful act of all, "`We fought the Nazis by staying alive.'" And it is up to Frannie to tell their story and keep it alive. The dedication of the grandparents to celebrating life is evident not only in their love for their grandchild, but also in their beautiful garden. This is a moving book, just perfect for those too old for David Adler's The Number on My Grandfather's Arm (UAHC, 1987), and not quite ready for Lois Lowry's Number the Stars (Houghton, 1989). It is amply illustrated with full-page black-and-white pictures that capture the moods and emotions of the text.-Micki S. Nevett, Westmere Elementary School, Albany, NY