This book helps children understand courage and compassion amidst profound injustice. It explores moral dilemmas of war, and the power of human connection in the darkest times.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is ready to explore the Holocaust beyond simple narratives of good versus evil. It is for older readers grappling with questions of moral courage and what it means to be an ally. Based on the author's own experiences, the story follows Marek, a fourteen-year-old boy in Warsaw who initially holds antisemitic views common at the time. When he learns his family is sheltering a Jewish man, his perspective shifts, pulling him into the heart of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The book directly confronts prejudice, fear, and the profound ethical dilemmas faced by ordinary people during wartime. It is a powerful choice for discussing how empathy can overcome ingrained hatred and how one person's actions can make a difference.
The story is centered on the Holocaust and antisemitism, which the protagonist initially exhibits.
Sad ThemesIntense
Deals with genocide, loss of family, survival, and the horrors of war. The tone is somber.
Moral AmbiguityModerate
The protagonist's family profits from smuggling, and Marek must unlearn his own prejudice.
Sensitive Topics
Deals directly with the Holocaust, antisemitism, war, violence, and death. The approach is direct and unflinching, rooted in historical reality. The prejudice is presented as a fact of the environment, which the protagonist must unlearn. The resolution is realistic and somber, not neatly hopeful; survival is miraculous, and loss is immense. The story is secular, focusing on human morality rather than religious doctrine.
Ideal Reader
A mature 11- to 14-year-old who has some foundational knowledge of WWII and the Holocaust and is ready for a more complex moral narrative. This is for the child who asks "What did the other people do?" and can handle a story that does not have clear heroes and villains at the start.
Parent Prep
Essential. Parents should preview the book, particularly the scenes inside the Ghetto during the Uprising (Chapter 12 onwards). These are intense and depict violence, death, and desperation. Context is crucial; discuss the historical setting of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Uprising before reading. This is not a book to be read cold. The parent overhears their child expressing a black-and-white view of history ("all Germans were bad," "why did not anyone help?"). Or, the child is studying WWII in school and is ready for a story that complicates the simple textbook narratives.
Age Experience
A 10 or 11-year-old will likely focus on the adventure and survival aspects of Marek's journey through the sewers and his acts of bravery. A 13 or 14-year-old will better grasp the profound moral shift in the protagonist, the historical significance of the Uprising, and the novel's commentary on prejudice, complicity, and bystander responsibility.
What Makes It Special
Its perspective. Most Holocaust literature for this age group is from a Jewish point of view. This book's power comes from its Polish, non-Jewish protagonist who starts with prejudiced views and undergoes a significant moral transformation. It complicates the "righteous gentile" narrative by showing it as a difficult, conscious choice rather than an innate quality.
Read plot summary
Marek, a 14-year-old Polish boy, learns his stepfather smuggles goods and people through the sewers into the Warsaw Ghetto. Initially holding antisemitic views, Marek's perspective changes when he helps a Jewish man, Jozek, hide. This involvement leads Marek directly into the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, forcing him to confront his prejudices and the brutal reality of the Nazi occupation. The story is based on the real-life experiences of a man the author knew.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Marek's views on Jewish people change throughout the book. What specific events or conversations cause this change? Why do you think he was prejudiced in the first place?
2
Pan Antony says, 'During a war, you can't be a little bit on one side and a little bit on the other.' What does he mean by this? Do you think Marek successfully chooses a side by the end?
3
The sewers are both a place of danger and a path to survival in the story. What do you think the sewers represent or symbolize for the characters?
4
At the end of the book, Marek reflects on the German soldier he killed. How does this moment show how the war has changed him? Do you think his action was justified in that situation?
5
This story is told from the perspective of a non-Jewish Polish boy. How does this viewpoint change the way we understand the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising compared to a story told by someone inside the Ghetto?
