The Upstairs Room

by Johanna Reiss

Book Overview

A Life in Hiding When the German army occupied Holland, Annie de Leeuw was eight years old. Because she was Jewish, the occupation put her in grave danger-she knew that to stay alive she would have to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590440675
• ISBN13: 9780590440677
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Must Read

Such an eye opening account from the perspective of a young survivor. I would definitely recommend this for adults and kids.

My favorite Book!!!

I read this book the first time when I was in third grade. (...) It is an amazing book and a true story. It truly shows the greatness of the human spirit. I've read this book 5 times at the least and still could read it another 100 and enjoy it. I truly recomend this book!

You'll Be Hooked Too.........

This book is about 2 girls, Annie and Sini de Leeuw. Because they are Jewish and live in Holland they have to go into hiding from the Germans during World War II. If they don't they will be taken to a concentration camp and be killed. Both of the girls leave their parents and older sister to go to safety with the Hannicks. Mr Hannick is known for helping Jews get to different home to hide in. When someone sees Mr Hannick helping a Jewish family to another home, it becomes unsafe for the girls so they have to go somewhere else. They end up going to the Oosterveld's. The girls end up living in an upstairs room of the farmhouse. During the day they must quietly stay upstairs in their room and never go near the windows. In the evening, after dinner,the girls come down to listen to the radio. Mr.Oosterveld's makes a special hiding place so if the soldiers come to check the house the girls won't be caught. Do the soldiers come? Do they get caught? What happens to Sini , Annie and the Oosterveld's? Do Annie and Sini ever get to see their parents and sister again? You must read the book to see for yourself what the answers are.. So many exciting things happen throughout the book that I couldn't put it down and I bet you won't either. It's not another boring war book. It's hard to believe that it is based on fact. I can't wait to read the sequel - The Journey Back...........This book is a five star read

The Upstairs Room

The Upstairs Room is a wonderful book by Johanna Reiss. I first started reading the book in Language Arts class. We were assigned groups to read books about WWII. I thought to myself oh man. We have to read a boring book about the war. When I got the book, I started to read it, and I got hooked. I just couldn't put it down. I was thinking at the time that the book was great. It's not like other boring WWII books. I really loved it. The book made me feel alive, as if I was there. There's a lot of emotions and suspense, because you don't know what's going to happen. I was sad when I finished reading it. So my mother said that we should look for some other books that the author made. I really think that people should read The Upstairs Room,becuase they'll love it.

The Upstairs Room

In class I was assigned to read The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss. The story takes place during the Holocaust in the city of Usselo, Holland. The main character is Annie. She is a small girl with dark hair. She has two sisters and her mother gets very sick. I have also read the book Parallel Journeys by Eleanor Ayer, with quotes from Alfons Heck, a German soldier, and Helen Waterford, a Jew. Both Parallel Journeys and The Upstairs Room are about the Holocaust and what it was like to be a Jew. I feel that the message of The Upstiars Room was to treat all people equal. During the Holocaust, Hitler hated the Jews and was killing them. The Jews had to hide so that they would not be killed, but if they were found, they would be sent to work or extermination camps. Hitler established the Hitler Youth in which there were ranks. If you got to the top of the ranks, you would then be moved to the German army. I think The Upstairs Room is an excellent book. It was very exciting. It made me imagine myself as Annie. I think Johanna Reiss did a good job telling the story as Annie. I would recommend this book to girls from grades six and up because there was some language inappropriate for young childrenand some boys that read The Upstairs Room told me that it was a girl's book. I hope this book review helps you decide if you want to read The Upstairs Room.

you have to read this!!!

This book was fabulous! It's definately one of the best Holocaust books out there. It has great character development and a very suspenseful plot. Also the first person perspective tells the story in a whole new way. The book is about a Jewish family, the deLeeuws, from holland, who tries to go into hiding. While the germans are throwing people out of their homes, Annie who is six and her older sister Sini hide. at the same time their mother is terribly sick and their other sister Rachel stays to take care of her. Later in the book Annie and Sini hide in the Oostervelds, a simple Gentile farming family. the story unfolds into a wonderful relationship between the deLeeuws and the Oostervelds. this book is a must! Read it and learn what some people will do to save a life. I couldent put it down and i'm sure you wont either.