We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazi on the Kindertransport

Reach for this book when your child starts asking difficult questions about global headlines, refugees, or how children find the strength to face massive life changes. It serves as a gentle but honest bridge to discussing historical trauma and the resilience required to start over in a new country. Through the real life stories of the Kindertransport survivors, children learn about the 10,000 Jewish youths who were evacuated to Great Britain just before the outbreak of World War II. The narrative balances the heavy reality of separation from family with the incredible bravery of the children and the kindness of the strangers who took them in. It is an essential choice for families looking to cultivate empathy and historical literacy in middle grade readers who are ready for nuanced discussions about social justice and survival.