Ruth and the Night of Broken Glass: A World War II Survival Story

This historical fiction chapter book follows ten-year-old Ruth Block as she experiences the escalating persecution of Jewish people in Frankfurt, Germany, leading up to Kristallnacht in 1938. Readers witness Ruth's growing anxiety as her father's store is shut down, her school is closed, and she and her best friend are belittled. The narrative culminates in the terrifying "Night of Broken Glass," when their apartment is invaded and Ruth's father is arrested. The book sensitively portrays the family's struggle for survival and the profound uncertainty that follows, offering young readers a personal entry point into a critical moment in World War II history. It includes nonfiction support materials for deeper understanding.

In the late summer and early fall of 1938, ten-year-old Ruth Block, along with her father, mother, and best friend, Miriam, must navigate the increasing pressure placed on the Jewish population in Frankfurt, Germany. Ruth grows more worried by the day. Her father's stationery store is shut down; she and Miriam are belittled on the street; their school is closed. Then one night in November, the family's apartment is broken into. Ruth's father is dragged into the square and arrested, along with hundreds of other Jewish men. Ruth, her family, her friends, and her community struggle to survive the fiery night and the terrifying, uncertain future ahead of them.