- The Boy From Block 66: A WW2 Jewish Holocaust Survival True Story (Heroic Children of World War II)

I could not put this book down. Such an amazing story of resilience in truly horrific times.

Could not put the book down once I started it. So well written. You will remember this story. So glad he shared it. ❤️

According to the author this book wasn’t written for me - it’s “primarily for today’s young people.” That’s not me. And like other readers I struggled to keep reading in the beginning of the book. The writing is tedious and often very repetitive (which will turn off young readers). Listing the names of family members - why? Serves no purpose except maybe for Mr Kessler’s family members. At first the story isn’t compelling but for some reason I continued reading thinking “it’s going to get better.” It does! The writing still needs help but the story is compelling. Imagine you’re 13 and you purposely, on the advice of a stranger, separate yourself from your mother and younger brother while at least sensing you’ll likely never see them again. And so the horror begins. For more than a year this child is tortured but survives. The writing doesn’t help but still the reader senses the child’s agony. The pain is unimaginable. But the hope kept me reading. Knowing that the child survives kept me from giving up on reading.

I’ve read many WW2 books and this one explained the politics and circumstances in a way that I could easily understand. Another incredible survival story amidst just tremendous evil and violence. I was struck with how in the world could anyone do backbreaking work day after day 12 hours with no food or break and then walk back to stand for hours. The strength to survive during and after the war will always sadden but encourage me. Thank you for sharing your story in such a way we can understand better what you experienced so that no one will ever forget!

Has been made into a film. With a surprise ending — overall, the book is a good reason for its popularity. It is a short read.

Excellent! A must read!

This is a good book with great details.

I would like to start by saying this was a very informative read. It was decently written, not juvenile but not sophisticated. It’s what I consider “regular”. This is a narrative/recount. Going into this I very much thought it would be a “story” set up based on the synopsis on the back of the book. The author did however do a good job at writing as if Mr. Kessler were writing/recounting it. The issue I had is with the title and the synopsis. I felt it was incredibly misleading. I choose this book fully expecting it to primarily focus on Buchenwald, Block 66, and the secret resistance. They were there but they were glazed over. It was a small part of the whole when I was expecting it to be the whole. It was disappointing in that regard, nonetheless I would still recommend it. I can’t deny that it was very explanatory and factual in other aspects. It was interesting to see Moshe Kessler and Eli Wiesel cross paths, unknowingly at the time. A line that really dug it’s way into me and caused me to sit back and think was “He had to fight everyday for his inherent right to exist.” There are some pictures of Mr. Kesslers family before and after the war as well as a few of his childhood home littered throughout the book. He wrote to Eli Wiesel after the war and included a picture of that letter as well. Moshe Kessler, holocaust survivor, and Linda Regev, author, worked closely together to document his story. I always think it’s important for the two to work closely together, hand in hand to properly portray, to the best of their abilities, the brutalities that occurred and the impact it had.

A brilliant ‘ must read ‘ - sad but enthralling. Couldn’t put it down.

Bought this for my 15 year old (for school English class reading). English is not his mother language. It was well written and he liked it.

I have collected, read many books, and watched many movies concerning the horrors of the holocaust. Have seen the yellow stars, shoes and other personal items of the Jewish people that were forced to leave behind after leaving the cattle cars. Have seen the faces of those killed by the evil that consumed the Nazis, and other people, while on a visit to the holocaust memorial in Israel. Yet this book brought me to tears for him and others. The in depth history of the countries, and his life before, helped more to visualize his life. The fight to live, the deep evil and horrors of the camps, the death marches of his young life. So glad, he decided to tell others of what he and others endured through death camps. It was an honour to read this and I suggest that more people read this inspiring book.

A truth told simply and with feeling. I read it all in one sitting. It makes me wish to meet Moishe to see this humble person whose humanity shines through. I want to read about Mr Kalina as soon as I can.

Excellent book delivered ontime