The War Within These Walls by Aline Sax and Caryl Strzelecki (Grades 9-12 Category)

Sax, Aline, & Strzelecki, Caryl (2013).  The war within these walls.  (Laura Watkinson Trans.)
Grand Rapids: Eerdsmans Books for Young Readers.

This book conveys a poignant account of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.  I find it interesting that both the author and the illustrator are Belgian (Flemish) and wonder how their teachings of the Holocaust in schools are similar to or different from the ones we have in the United States.  The book is historical fiction and is not a graphic novel, but it is heavy on visuals.  Misha, the fictional character, tells the story in poetic vignettes, and his voice is very relatable.  The story touched me on a personal level because some of my ancestors survived Dachau.  We are not sure why they were there.  They might have been part Jewish, and they might have been of gypsy descent.  It is also possible that they were political dissidents.  That would not be surprising, knowing my family, but we cannot tell by looking at the records to which we have access.  What matters most, though, is that they were affected by the Holocaust.  Also, some of my brother-in-law's ancestors went to Auschwitz, as they were Jewish.  Because of my family's history, I am developing a passion for children's literature that is related to WWII and the Holocaust.

This book made the USBBY list for Outstanding International Books in 2014.  My colleagues and I have discussed how many of the USBBY books are related to World War II, perhaps because that historical era has had a vast affect on the United States as well as Europe.  I wonder if eventually, other world events will have a stronger hold in the world of International Children's Literature, such as 9/11, the Cold War, and events in the Ukraine.  I think the paradigm will eventually shift, but I am not sure it will in the near future.

Here are questions that are worth considering for people who decide to teach this book:
1. How do both the visuals and the vignettes contribute to the storytelling?
2. The "Historical Note" at the end of the book tells us that Misha is a fictional character, but Anielewicz was a real person.  Did you have any hints to this while you were reading the story?
3. How does this story show agency for young people?
4. How does this book compare and contrast to other Holocaust children's literature you have read?
5. What are your thoughts on the narrative voice and the writing style of the book?
6. How do you think the parakeet acts as a form of symbolism in the book?