.jpg)
by: Meg Wiviott
Recommended Age: YA Readers (12+ and above)
Lexile: 600L
Content Warning(s): Execution, torture, anti-Semitism, some descriptions of gore, etc.
"Amid the brutality of Auschwitz during the Holocaust, a forbidden gift helps two teenage girls find hope, friendship, and the will to live in this novel in verse that’s based on a true story.
An act of defiance.
A statement of hope.
A crime punishable by death.
Making a birthday card in Auschwitz was all of those things. But that is what Zlatka did, in 1944, for her best friend, Fania. She stole and bartered for paper and scissors, secretly creating an origami heart. Then she passed it to every girl at the work tables to sign with their hopes and wishes for happiness, for love, and most of all—for freedom.
Fania knew what that heart meant, for herself and all the other girls. And she kept it hidden, through the bitter days in the camp and through the death marches. She kept it always." (book summary)
My Thoughts:
I was assigned to read Paper Hearts as part of an English book club assignment in which we would focus for three weeks on historical fiction novels in poetry. I was surprised to find out that I enjoyed reading Paper Hearts, as I don't tend to read verse novels. Since I had to focus more closely on all the details and elements Wiviott incorporated into her writing, I was able to enjoy the writing and the evident effort put in so much more. I enjoyed how Wiviott presented her poetry in various forms and shapes because it made for a more interesting read overall. The poetry itself was captivating, and she expertly conveyed the various emotions that Fania and Zlatka were experiencing.
Comments