"Yellow Star" by Jennifer Roy

4 of 5 stars.

The Basics: This novel is a first-person narration by Syvia, a Holocaust survivor of the Lodz ghetto in Poland. It was actually written by her niece, the author Jennifer Roy, based on multiple interviews and phone conversations. The book follows Syvia's years in the Lodz ghetto from the time she was 4 to the time the ghetto was liberated by the Russians when Syvia was about 10 years old. The book includes background information in the beginning of each section pertaining to what is going on during the war as the plot of the story continues.
 
My Thoughts: I love that this novel is written in free verse. It is so fitting since Syvia is a young girl when she enters the ghetto. The questioning and innocent nature of a child is expressed in this free verse format. I read this book with my students and they absolutely loved it. It was informative and gave insight into the feelings that many experienced during this awful time in history.
I have read that some of the plot was a bit exaggerated which I did sense as I read the book. It seemed like Syvia's family got lucky too many times and the way in which her father handles some situations seemed a bit fictionalized. Either way, the story was good and allowed insight into the procedures and life in a ghetto during the Holocaust.

Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!