The Librarian of Auschwitz

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The Librarian of Auschwitz

By: Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites - translator

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

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About this listen

*Recommended by Parents' Choice*

This program features an author's note read by Dita Kraus.

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, The Librarian of Auschwitz is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.

Written with touching sensitivity by Antonio Iturbe, and translated by Lilit Thwaites, this audiobook provokes every emotional response and will not be forgotten.

Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz.

Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

This title has Common Core connections.

Antonio IturbeLilit Thwaites - translatorMarisa CalinMacmillan Young Listeners

Historical Fiction

Literature & Fiction

Holocaust

Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Holocaust

Critic reviews

"This powerful young adult novel introduces listeners to 14-year-old Dita Kraus, a Czechoslovakian Jew who, with her parents, was sent to Auschwitz in December 1943. Through meticulous research, including multiple correspondences with Dita, Antonio Iturbe paints an accurate picture of life in Auschwitz in all its horror. Marisa Calin's narration straightforwardly tells this chilling but ultimately inspiring story with an unemotional delivery that emphasizes the amazing strength, hope, and courage that sustained the prisoners of Auschwitz in the face of incredible inhumanity and deprivation." -AudioFile "Marisa Calin does a fine job narrating a heart-wrenching story told entirely through the observations of an innocent young girl. And [Antonio] Iturbe's proclivity for creating suspense will keep you listening. The book also qualifies as riveting and valuable reading for young adults." - Inside Jersey "Narrator Marisa Calin provides an understandable, yet well-accented dialogue of Jewish, Polish, and German voices for the participants in this novel. A shocking, moving, unforgettable, yet wonderful story, this book carries a powerful message of a dark period of world history. The Librarian of Auschwitz should be required reading for every high school student and adult." -SoundCommentary "an unforgettable, heartbreaking novel." —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on The Librarian of Auschwitz "Like Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, it’s a sophisticated novel with mature themes, delivering an emotionally searing reading experience. An important novel that will stand with other powerful testaments from the Holocaust era." —Booklist, starred review, on The Librarian of Auschwitz "This novel is one that could easily be recommended or taught alongside Elie Wiesel’s Night and The Diary of Anne Frank and a text that, once read, will never be forgotten. VERDICT A hauntingly authentic Holocaust retelling; a must for YA collections." —School Library Journal, starred review, on The Librarian of Auschwitz "Though no punches are pulled about the unimaginable atrocity of the death camps, a life-affirming history." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on The Librarian of Auschwitz

Most relevant

This is a fantastic piece of historical literature that neither pulls punches in regards what happened at Auschwitz-Birkenau nor spares the emotions of a teen girl and her observations of what happened to her and around her.

From the Prologue by Dita Kraus, our Librarian and now obviously an elderly lady, to the handling of the after math of the death camps this book flows with information and has a tidal wave of emotion to deal with.

If you have read/listened to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, you may feel, like I did, heartily disappointed in the gaps and quality of writing in the story or if indeed you may be holding the novel up high as a must read - either way, read / listen to The Librarian of Auschwitz and you will not be disappointed.

I wasn't sure about the narration at the start, very slow and methodical, within 15 minutes this is forgotten as Marisa pulls you into Dita's world and you don't want to leave her side until it is all over.