In Kindling Flame: The Story of Hannah Senesh, 1921-1944

by Linda Atkinson

Book Overview

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award when it was first published in 1985, In Kindling Flame tells the impassioned story of a young woman who left Europe for Palestine in 1939, when she was just... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688027148
• ISBN13: 9780688027148
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

In Kindling Flame, she sparked a fire

When I read this book, I had no idea what to expect. The assidnment was to read a book from the WWII/Holocaust period. There were shelves full, but this one caught my attention. I took it home and started to read, but was so sucked in I didn't want to stop! Hannah Senesh had such a wonderful story, and I could easily compare her to Anne Frank. She had such a wonderful personality; she was poetic, determined, and courageous. Unlike Anne, Hannah didn't go into hiding. She escaped to Palestine and trained for a parachuting mission back to her homeland of Hungary. She was captured and beaten, and eventually killed, but remained a beacon to her fellow women in jail, making dolls for children and teaching Hebrew to the adults. Hannah was such an inspiration, I think everyone should read her story.

An excellent story of a girl fighing for her rights

When I first read this book, I had just finished touring the Holocaust Museum in Wash. D.C and I picked this out at the bookstore. I am amazed by this book. The reader immediatly falls in love with Hannah, for her strength and courage. The reader finds themselves reading on wanting to know if she succeeds the Nazis or not. If you enjoy reading about the Holocaust, you will love this book! Thank You for reading my review.

The most inspiring book I have ever read.

I read this book in the 6th grade and it was very heavy, but it is my favorite book. I did a project on Hanna Senesh and I learned so much about the Holocaust. I would recomend this book to anyone who needs to be inspired. Hanna Senesh was a brave young lady.

Excellent, inspirational reading!

This biography for young adults uses the diary, letters, poetry, interviews with her mother and brother, and official documents to tell the story of Hannah Senesh. Atkinson begins Hannah's story by describing her happy life before anti-Semitism took hold in Hungary. She uses Hannah's own words to describe her need to make something of her life. Hannah's decision to immigrate to Palestine shows that she clearly appreciated the potential for danger in remaining in Hungary too long. The reader quickly comes to admire Hannah, for she is described as a flesh-and-blood creature. She is forceful, determined, and youthful, but not without self-doubt. It is her self-doubt that makes her want to "do something" by returning to Hungary from the relative security of Palestine to help Jews escape to freedom. Although Hannah's mission was not successful, her willingness to act decisively makes her a symbol of her adopted homeland. By reading the story of Hannah Senesh, young readers will gain a clearer understanding into the national character of Israel.