• Age: 12
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12

It is 1941. Fourteen-year-old Ben Friedman flees the horrors of Nazi Germany with his parents and his sister, leaving behind his grandparents, his friends, his home. They make a difficult journey over land and sea all the way to Japan and then to America. In Seattle, Ben dares to hope that he will finally be safe. He finds a friend in John, a Japanese-American boy, but then comes the attack on Pearl Harbor and everything changes. Fear begins to grow in Ben, fear that it is all happening again. Where can he be safe? What should he do? He dreams of Canada, thinking it a haven, only to find that he has nowhere to turn, nowhere to run. Perhaps safety is not where or even what he thinks it is. Perhaps life is not what he imagined at all.

Carol Matas is an internationally acclaimed author of over thirty-five novels for children and young adults. Her best-selling work, which includes three award-winning series, has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Taiwanese, Turkish, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, German, French, Indonesian and Russian.
A graduate of the Actor's Lab, in London England, Carol first earned a B.A. (English) from The University of Western Ontario. Her teaching experience includes Artists in the School, Manitoba Arts Council;visiting professor at Bemidji State University, Minnesota; and a Creative Writing instructor, Continuing Education Division, The University of Winnipeg. Carol is an inspiring and passionate speaker who is frequently invited to address children and adults alike across North America.
Carol writes contemporary and historical fiction, as well as science fiction and fantasy. She first began writing historical fiction when her Danish husband told her stories about his parents' experiences fighting the Nazis in World War II. She has often written about Jewish themes, and is well known for her books concerning the Holocaust, writing Daniel's Story at the request of The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Over the years, her knack for successfully infusing serious and thought-provoking issues into an action-driven format has kept readers of all ages engaged.
The list of awards for her books is long, and includes two Sydney Taylor awards, The Geoffrey Bilson award, a Silver Birch award, The Jewish Book Award, as well as the inclusion of her books on many honour lists, such as the ALA notable list, The New York Times Review notable list, The New York Public Library list for the Teen Age, and the Voya books in the middle, Best Book list. She has also been nominated for the Governor General Award twice.
More information is about Carol is available on her web site: http://www.carolmatas.com.

 

Carol Matas' profile page

• Nominated, Stellar Book Award
• Commended, Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) Sydney Taylor Book Award
• Short-listed, Manitoba Book Awards / Les Prix du livre du Manitoba - McNally Robinson Book for Young People (Younger Category)

"Written in an engaging style...the novel introduces well-developed characters faced with compelling issues."

AJL Newsletter

"Confronts a shameful part of World War II history—American's prejudice against German Jewish refugees. ...Effectively moves from fury and blame to understanding and love."

Booklist

"An issues novel as well as an historical one and the issues aren't easy...A timely look at the treatment of foreign nationals...Aims to be easily accessible."

The Globe and Mail

"Matas does a good job of compressing a complex story into not very many pages...Every library that caters to junior high readers show know about this book."

Resource Links

"An excellent example of Holocaust literature for young adults...Whether read as an action/adventure novel or as a gateway to learning about a boy's first-hand experiences in World War II. Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine

"Part an adventure story, part a story of descent into obsession [it] is also very much a simplified but sophisticated debate on religion and ethics...The Whirlwind attempts a lot and accomplishes a lot."

Kid Lit

"A poignant look at what it means to come of age in a world of uncertainty...An excellent choice for teachers...the kind of book adults and adolescents alike will be glad to have read."

KLIATT

"Another winner from the talented Matas."

Jewish Book World

"A quiet examination of one boy's struggle to understand the terrible circumstances that have fallen on his family."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Teaches an underlying message of tolerance and acceptance through a friendship rare for its time...A well-written, easy read for any level."

Atlanta Jewish Times

"This bold, painful book focuses on controversial issues and darker Pearl Harbor era facts and emphasizes complicated gray areas over simpler black/white scenarios, creating balance and insight for any level reader."

VOYA

"This unique and thought-provoking story shows what prejudice and indifference to suffering and wrongdoing can lead to."

School Library Journal

The Whirlwind

For fourteen-year-old Ben and his family, life in Nazi Germany in the time of Kristalnacht was a nightmare. When the family moves to Seattle to escape persecution, Ben is confident that life will improve. However, after Pearl Harbour is attacked by the Japanese, Ben is sure that his previous experiences are happening again. In his struggles to make sense of wartime and how God could let these awful things happen, Ben learns there aren’t any simple answers and Ben comes to some surprising conclusions. The treatment and internment of American and Canadian citizens of Japanese, German and Italian descent is revealed. An historical note is included to help explain Canadian and American policies at home during the war.

Matas has written thirty-five novels for children and young adults. She has won the Geoffrey Bilson, Silver Birch and Jewish Book Awards, and was nominated for the Governor General’s Award.

Caution: Some violent scenes are described.