Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen

by: Luba Tryszynska-Frederick; Illustrations by Ann Marshall

Published by: Tricycle Press

Reviewed by Yuka Mizushima

(Non-fiction--As told to Michelle R. McCann)

This is the true story of Luba Tryszynska and the Diamond Orphans. In 1942, she was living in Poland with her husband and son. The Nazis came and sent the family to Auschwitz. Luba was separated from her family and sent to Bergen-Belsen to take care of wounded soldiers because the Nazis thought she was a nurse.

Two years later, Luba is still questioning why her life was spared. She hears a child's voice in the night and follows the sound. She finds 54 children who were abandoned and left for dead. (These children were Dutch and their fathers were diamond cutters.) Luba takes the children back to the barracks. At first the other women don't want to become involved because the penalty is death. Luba reminds them that these children have lost their families and are scared and cold. She enlists the aid of several people in the camp by being creative and appealing to their empathy. They are able to keep the orphans safe and fed throughout the winter.

This is a wonderful book for adults and children that focuses on compassion and the potential for great deeds that we all have within us. There is a quote from Luba, "I never thought of myself as a particularly brave person, certainly not a hero. But I found that inside every human being there is a hero waiting to emerge. I never could have done what I did without the help of many heroes."

The epilogue has pictures of Luba and her orphans and tells a bit of what happened after World War II. There is also an explanation of World War II and the Holocaust. The bibliography contains books, articles, videos and websites that readers can go to for more information. Even though this book deals with a horrific time, the illustrations and story will not be too scary for younger readers.

With its beautiful illustrations and inspirational story, it is easy to see why this book has won numerous awards. This is a story that should definitely be read, remembered and discussed.

Armchair Interviews says: This inspirational story of courage and compassion should be part of everyone's library.