"Many of the children here are Jewish. But the people who hide us and keep us safe, they know about the danger outside these walls. They risk their lives to help us."
"It is written in the Quran. Allah says that to save one man's life is to save the whole of mankind."
Having read these text quotes now take a look at the Book Trailer - it is chilling.
Publisher Blurb: Inspired by the true story of Muslims who saved the lives of Jewish children in the Second World War. In 1942, in the Grand Mosque in Paris, 11 year old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis. Already thousands of Jewish children have disappeared, and Rubens parents are desperately trying to find his sister. Ruben must learn how to pass himself off as a Muslim, while he waits for the infamous Fox to help him get to Spain to be reunited with his family. One hint of Rubens true identity and he will be killed. So will the people trying to save him. But when the mosque is raided and the Fox doesnt come, Ruben is forced to flee. Finding himself in the south of France, he discovers that he must adjust to a new reality, and to the startling revelation of the Fox's true identity.
Read these reviews for more plot details:
Dim's Write Stuff : White has crafted Ruben's quest for freedom with care and insight. Rather than taking centre stage historic and cultural facts are infused into the hearts of her characters so that their pain and suffering, their simple joys and expectations are felt vicariously through every page turn.
The Book Muse: Learning these stories enriches our understanding of the history we know, and the history we do not know.
Beyond Belief is a CBCA Younger Readers Notable book for 2021. As you would expect from a holocaust story, this book does contain some very harrowing scenes but it is also an important story about an aspect of the holocaust which you may not know. I would give this book to mature readers aged 11+. There are two books on the Notables list this year with a World War II setting (We are Wolves) and both have allowed me to discover different aspects of this period in history.
Background reading:
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Street Spirit - The Mosque That Sheltered Jews
Yadvashem - Hidden Children In France During the Holocaust
Here is the web site for Dee White where you can hear her talking about her book. Here is a set of teaching notes for Beyond Belief and a set of activities. If you are sharing this book with an older Primary group - I would suggest Grade Six, or a High School class - I would begin with this book The Children we Remember and you could read text extract using Chapter 36 of Beyond Belief:
Companion reads to follow Beyond Belief:
1 comment:
Haven't read this one yet. Haywire is also set during world war 2, but with a focus on Australia.
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