To Hope and Back : The Journey of the St. Louis

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Praise & Recognition

"A tragic story about an historical event that deserves to be told, and which should provoke thoughtful discussion about a difficult subject."

Quill & Quire

"With Lisa and Sol as the voices in To Hope and Back, Kacer wrote on how each child saw the voyage through the expectations of their families, resulting in two gripping accounts of the same event."

The Canadian Jewish News

"Lisa and Sol’s stories, related with poignancy and immediacy, will touch young readers. An unfortunate lesson on the complicity and international complexities that made the Holocaust possible."

The New York Times

"[T]he historical significance of the St. Louis and the compelling photos make this a worthwhile supplementary purchase."

School Library Journal

"A thoughtful and much recommended read, highly recommended for youth history and Holocaust studies collections."

Library Bookshelf

"This is another excellent book to help young people remember the Holocaust. While it presents the injustice and prejudice in a very realistic way it is not overly graphic and thus would be appropriate for students in upper elementary and junior high school. They will certainly be able to relate to Lisa and Sol as they are forced to leave their homes to make a new life in a foreign country."

Resource Links

"The author tells this true story through the eyes of the innocent, building the suspense to a level where readers almost feel they are on the ship themselves. Emotions run high, and the logic of the children seems to be so obviously correct that readers cannot comprehend why the adults do not act appropriately."

CM Review of Materials

"The novel does an excellent job of mixing fictionalized history with actual events...it achieves its goal of presenting the St. Louis tragedy in a way that young readers can relate to."

VOYA Magazine

"This is a very well done nonfiction book."

Jewish Book World

"In this very realistic account, readers will feel as if they are actually on board the ship. They will share the families’ feelings of despair and will share in the great relief that was felt by all when safe havens were finally found."

The Book Shelf

Ontario Library Association Silver Birch Award (Non-Fiction) 2013 - Short-listed

National Jewish Book Award 2011 - Short-listed

Jews trying to escape Nazi Germany who were turned away by country after country, told from the perspective of two children.

Based on the true story of the ship St. Louis, which left Germany in May 1939 full of Jewish passengers seeking refuge in Cuba. Denied port in Cuba, the US, and finally Canada, the St. Louis was forced to return Europe, where many passengers later died in the Holocaust. Through the eyes of two children, Sol and Lisa, both of whom survived the war and shared their experiences, we see as their journey begins with excitement and hope, only to end in frustration and fear. The children's chapters alternate with those of Captain Schroeder, who reveals the full history of the journey.

Resources & Media

Kathy Kacer on To Hope and Back

Author Kathy Kacer introduces To Hope and Back: The Journey of the St Louis

Details

Publication Date: September 1, 2011

Reading Age: 9 - 12

Genre: Children's Fiction

Product Format: Paperback

Pages: 204

ISBN: 978-1-897187-96-8

Kathy Kacer

About the Author

Kathy Kacer

Kathy Kacer’s books have won a number of awards, including the Silver Birch and the Jewish Book Award. A former psychologist, Kathy now travels the globe speaking to children and adults about the importance of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive. Kathy lives in Toronto with her family.

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