Chance: Escape from the Holocaust: Memories of a Refugee Childhood

This searing, evocative memoir chronicles the wartime experiences of Caldecott Medalist Shulevitz, whose family fled 1939 Warsaw to avoid persecution when he was four years old, only to suffer starvation and other tribulations in the Soviet Union, Poland, and Germany before eventually settling in Paris. The spare, keenly observed narrative offers a harrowing look at a Jewish family's plight during WWII while documenting the birth of an artist with a great capacity for creativity: Shulevitz draws stick figures in profile before the war, sketches "with my finger in the air" to distract himself from hunger in Turkestan, and hones his craft to win a citywide drawing competition in Paris. Stark and powerful black-and-white drawings by the author underscore gritty realities: people forced to carry water after Nazi planes bomb Warsaw, tension and fear in a truck bound for Bialystok, confrontations with Soviet officials, and a crowded bed the family inhabits in a settlement work camp. This affecting memoir of Shulevitz's childhood as a war refugee provides a deeply personal testament to the power of art. Ages 8-14. (Oct.)■

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 5-8--Shulevitz, a Caldecott Medalist and celebrated author of children's literature, offers a profoundly honest memoir that chronicles his childhood during the time of the Holocaust. The work details eight difficult years of survival; Shulevitz and his parents lived as refugees, fleeing Warsaw to many parts of the war-torn European landscape, including the Soviet Union, the city of Turkestan, and France. Shulevitz's relationship with art, as a means of genuine expression and as a constant companion, is apparent not only in the memories he shares but also in his drawings. His illustrations showcase a great deal of emotional resonance. The drawings are a testament to his mastery of line manipulation; he deftly captures movement and facial expressions. His contemplative narrative voice observes his younger self and his parents, recalling personal uncertainties, regrets, and hopes. His recollections unfold in scenes or moments. The chapter lengths vary from treasured insights to full retellings of his father's stories, unfolding in response to the pace of constant, sometimes jarring, changes he experienced. It is a privilege to hear this renowned artist reflect on his past, where hunger, loneliness, and fear battled with resilience, family strength, and the power of imagination. VERDICT Middle school readers will find Shulevitz's darkly captivating memoir hauntingly impressive and extraordinary. He admirably recollects how art became his guiding light in the darkness.--Rachel Mulligan, Pennsylvania State Univ.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Harrowing, engaging and utterly honest." —Elizabeth Wein, The New York Times Book Review

"A captivating chronicle of eight turbulent years." —The Wall Street Journal

"Shulevitz's relationship with art, as a means of genuine expression and as a constant companion, is apparent not only in the memories he shares but also in his drawings. His illustrations showcase a great deal of emotional resonance . . . It is a privilege to hear this renowned artist reflect on his past, where hunger, loneliness, and fear battled with resilience, family strength, and the power of imagination . . . Middle school readers will find Shulevitz's darkly captivating memoir hauntingly impressive and extraordinary." —School Library Journal, starred review

"The first-person narrative, which continues through his teen years in Paris, is inviting and filled with absorbing details of everyday life, from playing games to facing bullies and fearsome dogs. The many illustrations—scary, imaginative, and humorous—are a brilliant accompaniment to the text, bringing into sharp focus stark images of civilians caught up in war. Despite the horrors, however, there is a strong sense of intimacy between the author and his readers . . . A memorable journey of survival and artistry." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The spare, keenly observed narrative offers a harrowing look at a Jewish family's plight during WWII while documenting the birth of an artist with a great capacity for creativity . . . Stark and powerful black-and-white drawings by the author underscore gritty realities: people forced to carry water after Nazi planes bomb Warsaw, tension and fear in a truck bound for Bialystok, confrontations with Soviet officials, and a crowded bed the family inhabits in a settlement work camp. This affecting memoir of Shulevitz's childhood as a war refugee provides a deeply personal testament to the power of art." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Distinguished Caldecott Medal-winning author-illustrator Shulevitz creates an arresting and affecting memoir of terrible privation . . . The book's spare, straightforward text is liberally illustrated with Shulevitz's black-and-white Expressionist-style drawings plus the occasional photograph that has survived the war. Together, the images brilliantly capture the often-somber story of Shulevitz's early life, which he ultimately survived, as he says, by chance." —Booklist, starred review

"Though touching on many dark and serious topics, this story is totally focused on the fears, triumphs, and sensibilities of a child. It is truly a portrait of an artist as a young man thrust into a maelstrom of a world gone mad and relying on chance to decide his fate." —The Horn Book, starred review

"Shulevitz's artwork provides a wealth of varied visual commentary on autobiographical episodes . . . The author pauses at several points to contemplate events that seem to have made the difference between his family's survival and the grim fate of other Jews unable to flee Nazi genocide, tacitly encouraging readers to ponder the great mysteries of providence and chance." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books