Destined to Live: A True Story of a Child in the Holocaust

by Ruth Gruener

Pretty, carefree Aurelia Gamser (known today as Ruth Gruener) had an idyllic life in 1930s Poland -- until violent acts of anti-Semitism and the deportation of Jewish families to concentration camps... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 043989204X
• ISBN13: 9780439892049
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
• Length: 156 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Amazing story, beautifully told!

An excellent account of the life of this amazing survivor of the holocaust. Twice I have attended symposia at which the author was a guest-speaker, and she appears as genuine and real in this autobiography as she is in person. "Destined to Live," even though its subject matter is extremely serious, is an easy-read for young, as well as older, adults. Highly recommended for use in the classroom, as well as on your own! What an honor and a priviledge to learn history as told to us first-hand!

Well Done

Every year I try to read a book or two about the Holocaust, not because I like to but because I think we need to. This book is great for the age group for which it was written. Written from a child's perspective and with a child's insight, it is different from many of the other first person accounts, in that aspect. Many that I have read are written with an adult voice or a looking back. In telling Ruth's story in her own words, it moves from event to event. It is not as raw and cutting as some of the other survivors' stories. Yet it captures her terror and life in a very moving way.

This is a great book

If you are looking for a good book, you should read this one. You will enjoy this story and you will not want to put it down because you will want to find out what happens. This is the true story of Ruth Gamzer, a brave Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis for two years during the war. It was amazing to find out how Ruth and her parents were able to survive the Holocaust. At first, Ruth went into hiding with another family by herself. She had to hide in a trunk for so long that later she had to learn how to walk properly. She had to leave her parents behind, and she didn't know if they would be OK. Later, she was reunited with her parents and continued to hide with them and another family. All of their family and friends that lived in Poland before the war were killed by the Nazis. Ruth and her family were finally able to come out of hiding after the war ended. You will enjoy this book and you will want to do something brave after you read it.

Amazing book and story!!!

This was one amazing book. I read this book with my 5th graders, and they never wanted to put it down. There is suspense, mystery, humor, everything a great tale has, and to make it even better- it's all true! Go buy this book now!!!