When The World Was Ours: A book about finding hope in the darkest of times

Product Information

The Tail of Emily Windsnap was the first of her series of books for 8 – 12 year olds about a half-mermaid girl, which have now sold over five million copies worldwide, appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers list and been published in over twenty five countries. With their lives taking them across Europe—to Germany, England, Prague, and Poland—will they ever find their way back to one another? Max’s fourteenth birthday evokes memories of an earlier birthday shared with Elsa and Leo – captured in a precious photograph – and a rare moment of self-awareness. She also explores the almost unanswerable question, how did normal, ordinary people become part of an evil regime. A list of resources with more information on the Holocaust and this period in history can be found at the end of this book.

I hurt for Max, and Elsa, and Leo, and his family and everyone who was affected by all this wretchedness. Because while people can change, a picture can't, and that picture reminded them, reminded all of them, who they truly were. Max has always been desperate for his father’s approval, and his need to belong and gain admiration makes him susceptible to the indoctrination of the Nazi party.A contributor to newsletters and journals, children’s books remain just as important to me in retirement as they did when working.

I frequently cried while I read it, and often sobbed between readings, thinking about what took place a mere decade before I was born. It's listed as YA, but I could see myself giving this to my daughter who reads middle grade as well. This is especially evident in the case of Max, who emerges as the most complex character and the only one of the three children whose thoughts are communicated in the third person. A powerful and heart-breaking novel about three childhood friends living during the Second World War whose fates are closely intertwined, even when their lives take very different courses. At the same time, books like When The World Was Ours are an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the kindness of strangers.You can grow and develop as you age, but your inner self, everything that makes you you, is based upon all your previous years of living. This review was written by Anne Thompson I am a retired school librarian with twenty years’ experience in school and public libraries. It just hurts so badly to know that there are still people dying and losing everything they love and care about all over again. The fact the book is written from the perspective of the three children makes it both accessible and educational for teenage readers.

The writing was probably for an average middle grade reader, but the stories and themes (friendship, acceptance, perseverance, persecution, anti-semitism) were definitely for an older audience. These provide a counterpoint to some of the truly chilling scenes in the book: the school assembly at which Jewish children are singled out; the day Max accompanies his father to work and its location is revealed; and, later, Max’s feeling that it is “his destiny” when found a job at his father’s new posting.While on the ride, Leo’s father, a professional photographer, takes a group photo of the three friends at the top of the wheel. I was a primary school teacher in my past life and would have definitely read this amazing book to my class of eleven year-olds, and then used it as a springboard for discussion.

I think it is easy to imagine that World War 2 is ancient history and that we live in a much more enlightened society.

Initially the story is told with all the joy and innocence of childhood, but slowly the voices change to ones of suspicion, confusion, and fear. Und das ist etwas, das ich bislang in noch fast keinem ähnlichen Buch zu lesen bekommen habe und ich deshalb nicht nur mutig, sondern auch beeindruckend fand.