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A review of We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust

by Jacob Boas

Enduring spirit rises above unspeakable horror and teaches an unforgettable lesson for generations

Reviewed by: Beth Williams

We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust Anne Frank has often been called the voice of the Holocaust, and her diary has resonated with millions around the world for generations. Her words will continue to speak to the hearts and souls of millions of people for generations after us. But, Anne wasn't the only one who wrote her deepest, most secret thoughts in a diary during the horrors of the Holocaust, and in Jacob Boas' book, "We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust," we get a heartbreaking peak into the world of four other teenagers' thoughts, feelings and experiences. No matter how old you are, once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down. And, once you do put it down, you'll feel profoundly different. While "We Are Witnesses" is marketed as a young adult book, it is a book that will speak to the heart of everyone.

Ever since I read "We Are Witnesses," I've felt as though I had to make sure I live my life to the fullest in honor of the millions who didn't have that chance. Of the five teenagers' diaries we get a peak at---David, Yitzhak, Moshe, Eva and Anne---Eva's words affected me the most. Perhaps it's because she was a young girl who dreamed of growing up to be a journalist (just as I did and have become) and of marrying an Englishman (just as I did and eventually did,) or maybe it was because her death could very likely have been avoided if only her mother had protected her. Whatever the reason, every time I read Eva's words, I'm overcome with heartache and determination.

Eva's story could have ended much differently, but fate didn't allow it. Eva wanted to live. Every word she wrote is a testament of how much she wanted to live, and her spirit never failed. Nightmares of being shipped to Poland plagued Eva while she was cramped in a small room with her family in the ghetto. Her best friend, Marta, had been murdered by the Germans, and Eva feared the same fate. Eva survived life in the ghetto then the Nazis decided to empty it, sending all its residents to concentration camps. Two were among the handfuls that managed to stay behind: Eva's mom and her stepdad. Eva's mom was determined beyond all else to save her beloved husband from the horrors of the Germans while Eva was left to fight on her own. (In my own research, I've found that this evidence has been disputed, and sources have said Eva was involved in the original plan for escape. What the real truth is, I don't know. From reading this book, I was under the impression that she was left behind.)

She almost made it. Eva survived the despair, the starvation and the terror of concentration camp life, but she was literally pushed by Josef Mengele onto the final transport to Auschwitz, despite a nurse who tried to hide her. In the end, Eva's death caused unspeakable pain and guilt for her mother, who had been liberated from Bergen-Belsen, and who would go on to commit suicide.

The Diary of Anne Frank is a required book in most schools today, and reading her story alongside the stories of four other teenagers, who lived vastly different lives but who suffered the same fate, is well worth every moment. "We Are Witnesses" does more than inspire. It begs the question: how could this have happened? I don't know if anyone will ever be able to answer that question. But, if we educate ourselves then maybe we can insure that another Holocaust never happens again.

"We Are Witnesses" is a gift. It allows us to not only get a glimpse into the thoughts and lives of five teenagers, but it's a reminder (as cliche and dramatic as it may sound) of how lucky we are that we have the chance to live today, and we owe it to not only ourselves--but to everyone who didn't have that chance--to make every moment of our lives count. That's what Eva taught me. I'll never forget her words, and I'll never forget her. Meet David, Yitzhak, Moshe, Eva and Anne and you really will understand what I mean.

Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: We Are Witnesses: Five Diaries of Teenagers Who Died in the Holocaust

Copyright © by Beth Williams, 2003










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