• Age: 9 to 13
• Grade: 4 to 8
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Edith’s story is remarkable not only for her own bravery, but for the bravery of those that helped her: an entire village, including its mayor and citizenry, heroically conspired to conceal the presence of hundreds of Jewish children who lived in the safe house. The children went to the local school, roamed the streets and ate good food, all without having to worry about concealing their Jewish identity. And during Nazi raids, the children camped out until the coast was clear.

Hiding Edith details not only the amazing courage and struggles of one young girl, but the inspiring spirit of the people she met. Shatta and Bouli Simon, the couple who ran the house, taught the children everything they needed to survive, including how to change their identities in new hiding places once conditions in Moissac became too risky. Sarah Kupfer, another Jewish child in hiding, became Edith’s closest friend, sharing both birthdays and bomb attacks, losses and love. And Muti, Edith’s mother, sacrificed everything she could for her children — even the comfort of having them close at hand.

Intensively researched and sensitively written, this book both comforts and challenges a young reader’s spirit, skillfully addressing both the horrors and the hope that children experienced during the Holocaust.

 

Kathy Kacer est une auteure primée qui a écrit de nombreux livres sur l'holocauste pour les jeunes lecteurs, dont The Magician of Auschwitz, L'histoire d'Edith, Le journal de Sara et Les espions de la nuit. Elle s'estime honorée de contribuer à faire connaître l'histoire familiale de Jenny Kay Dupuis. Kathy vit avec sa famille à Toronto.

 

Kathy Kacer has won many awards for her writing, including the American Jewish Library Association Award. In 1999, she wrote the first book in Second Story's Holocaust Remembrance Series, The Secret of Gabi's Dresser. Since then, she's penned four other books in the series. Kacer now writes about the Holocaust for young readers and travels the country speaking about it. Kacer lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family.

Kathy Kacer's profile page

• Short-listed, Ontario Library Association - Golden Oak Award
• Winner, Yad Vashem Prize for Holocaust Literature
• Winner, Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award
• Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award: Alberta Children’s Choice
• Commended, Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award – A Notable Book for Older Readers
• Winner, Olive Branch Book Award (Non-Fiction)
• Winner, Ontario Library Association – Silver Birch Award (Non-Fiction)
• Short-listed, Canadian Library Association "Book of the Year for Children"
• Commended, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-fiction

"The story is told in an engaging style and manages to present this dark period of history in a clear, interesting manner."

Geist

"It is a tale that needed to be told, and told it is."

The Globe and Mail

"Edith's story stands out for its child-eyed perspective recounted in an easily readable, intriguing narrative."

Kirkus Reviews

"Kacer expands upon her brilliant use of the Holocaust theme, found in The Secret of Gabi's Dresser and Clara's War."

Voice (Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario)

"Kacer makes a difficult topic manageable for young readers, avoiding graphic horrors without trivializing the events."

Resource Links

"Winning the Yad Vashem prize is a huge honor for Kathy and a source of great pride for Second Story Press and the Israeli publisher of the book, Schocken."

Lifestyletom.com

"This book is quite interesting and the photos provide another layer of education. The author did an excellent job in telling the story of Edith Schwalb Gelbard."

Holocaust Resources Blog

"Kacer has made an engaging, intelligent story out of many hours of interviews with Edith Schwalb."

Toronto Star

"Facts about the Holocaust are presented deftly for young readers and are supplemented with black and white photos."

Kliatt

"…this account of survivors uses the truth of a young child's viewpoint to move readers and bring history close."

Booklist

H Hiding Edith: A True Story

A young Jewish girl is caught up in the Nazi invasions of World War II, and always hiding. Who can help her? This is a touching, inspiring and heartbreaking true story.