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Description edit
IRENE GUT WAS just 17 in 1939, when the Germans and Russians devoured her native Poland. Just a girl, really. But a girl who saw evil and chose to defy it. “No matter how many Holocaust stories one has read, this one is a must, for its impact is so powerful.”— School Library... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
The story of a young woman who hides Jews in a Nazi officer's house.
Characters/People edit
- Janina: Irene's younger sister. The 2nd born of 5 girls.
- Irene: The heroine of the book. A 17-year old Polish girl whose story unfolds as the war claims her home and some of her loved ones.
- Rokita: A German officer of the SS Army. Head of a Jewish ghetto, where many of his 'Aktions' are carried out toward the final liquidation of Jews from the area.
- Helen: a friend
- Herr Schulz: A good German. Irene's employer, who cares for her.
- Miriam: a helper and a doctor
- Herr Major: someone who helps her keep jews
- Janek: A Polish man, part of the partisan group fighting the enemies of Poland.
- Lazar: A Jewish refugee whom Irene helps to escape.
- Zygmunt: her cousin
- Dr. David: Add a description of this character.
- Ternopol: A city where Irene works for a while.
- Hitler: Leader of the Nazi party, and chief enemy of Poland and the Jews.
- Irena Gutowna: main character and good friend to helpers
- Henry
- Dr. Ksydzof
- Rtigemer
- Marysia
- Radom: City where Irene re-unites with her family after their initial separation. She and Janina stay and work here, while living with their Aunt.
- Steiner
- Kielce
- Pasiewski
- Abram: A Jewish man who Irene helped escape to the forest.
- Thomas
- Maruszka
- Hermann
First Sentence edit
There was a bird flushed up from the wheat fields, disappearing in a blur of wings against the sun, and then a gunshot and it fell to the earth.
Table of Contents edit
Tears
PART ONE: I Was Almost Fast Enough
Lilac Time
Before the Storm
The Lightning War
Mother Russia
The Hospital
Svetlana Year
Through the Gate
My Heart, Like a Netted Bird
PART TWO: Finding Wings
When I Thought I Could Be Happy
Major Rugemer
A Drop in the Ocean
But it Was Not a Bird
Only a Girl
Stealing From Rokita
Falling From My Hands
Puszcza Janowka
The Blows of the Ax
The Race
Aktion
The Villa
The Forester's Cottage
The Coming Darkness
The Punishment for Helping a Jew
Into the Forest
PART THREE: Where Could I Come to Rest
To Fight
Flight
On German Soil
Amber
Postscript
Polish: A Rough Guide to Pronunciation
Some Historical Background
A Note on the Writing of This Book
Authors & Contributors edit
- Irene Gut Opdyke (Author)
- Jennifer Armstrong (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Alfred a Knopf Inc
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: 0679891811
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Alfred a Knopf Inc
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: 0679891811
Page Count: 288
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 920
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: Young AdultsThis story is a wonderful account of good vs. evil, and demonstrates in a beautiful, albeit tragic, way that actions do matter, and can change things for the good, or for the bad. It is a phenomenal story for anyone above the age of 13, but be aware that it is a very honest, a.k.a. graphic, account of the events witnessed by Opdyke during her trials in this time.
Subjects edit
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