This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite
We each have a story, history or culture which helps to identify who we are. Some families are experts in keeping family traditions alive while others are not because they wish to forget. Mendel: A Holocaust Story for Children by Anita Lavi tells the story of her father, Manny ‘Mendel’ Steinberg, who along with his father and brother, Stanley, were Holocaust survivors. This children’s book details the journey that Mendel and his family undertook - from his mother and little brother, Jacob, being separated from him, Stanley and his father, and being thrown into various concentration camps to maintaining a glimmer of hope, faith and persistence through it all. With each level of separation, Manny’s faith that he would one day see his family again got stronger. He was eventually able to reconnect with his father and brother, Stanley, which led them to the U.S. for a new life and a new beginning.
This book is important because Anita has taken this story, which is based upon a conceptual excerpt from her father, Manny’s book, Outcry, and provided some basic nuggets for children to be able to read and understand about the history of the Jewish community. It's hard to forgive someone or a system that is continually seeking to oppress you, but with their faith in God and prayer they were not only able to overcome these challenges, but continue to instill God, love, respect for others and elements of protection in their kids. These factors will not only keep the elements of the history of the Holocaust alive within their family, but it will also teach the future generations and others to come.
