Hana's Suitcase

This is the saddest and most encouraging book that I have ever read. I have read many books about the Holocaust but never one so moving as this. It contains the true story of a beautiful little girl, Hana Brady, and of a remarkable young Japanese woman who pieces together Hana's tragic story. The Japanese woman is attempting to educate Japanese children about the lives of children affected by the Holocaust, a topic which is new to these children. By sharing history's most depraved occurrence, the hope is that children will learn compassion and tolerance, and that they can make a positive difference in their world by standing up for what is right. This wonderful book chronicles the happy prewar lives of Hana's family living in a small town in Czechoslovakia. Hana loves to ice skate and ski and play the piano. Her parents are loving and warm and their home is filled with visiting artists and musicians. She and her older George are close companions. But there is a fatal flaw-Hana and her family are Jewish. The book describes the young child's increasing bewilderment and anger as she is forbidden to participate in a growing list of childhood activities and finally must wear clothing on which a star of David is attached. Then her parents are arrested and finally the little girl, age 11 and her brother George are deported to the concentration camp Thereseinstadt. They are each allowed one suitcase. . It is here that Hana participates in secret classes where she sings and draws. Eventually, George is deported to Auschswitz, followed by Hana, who brings her suitcase. The child's life ends in a gas chamber the day that she arrives. But her story is far from over. She becomes a symbol of all the lost young lives, her story spreading around the world in a whole series of improbable events. Hana had dreamed of being a teacher. It is through her suitcase, drawings and photos that this little girl, one among the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered by the Nazis, tells the world of unspeakable tragedy and sorrow and of unanticipated joy and triumph. This story proves that the worst evil of which humankind is capable can be turned into something amazingly special and beautiful.

Hana’s Suitcase: The Quest to Solve a Holocaust Mystery is by Karen Levine. It is a true story which Karen heard about and told. The forward by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is heartwarming and yet heartbreaking.In 1999, a Children’s Forum was held in Japan. Holocaust survivor Yaffa Eliach met with two hundred students in the Tokyo area at the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center. After telling her story, the students studied the artifacts and were then challenged to spread the word about the Holocaust. They did this. The suitcase marked with Hana’s name was especially interesting to them and they wanted to know more about Hana. Research began.The research they did paid off. They got the background, including pictures they drew of Hana and sent them to her brother George. George was not expecting something like this. He had felt guilty for not being able to protect his little sister, now she was being remembered and he was being honored. He had been liberated at the age of seventeen. He returned to his hometown to find an aunt, uncle and cousin as well as the news that his parents died and that Hana had been killed upon arrival at Auschwitz. George had photograph album and, in his letter back to the children in Japan, he included some pictures of Hana for them.The book is fairly short but is packed with information. In the back are suggestions for future reading and projects.

This book was recommended (and was available) at the gift shop in Terezin in the Czech Repulic when I was on a trip. I did not purchase it then. After I returned home, I wished I had purchased it. So I found it on Amazon and quickly downloaded it. True story. I would recommend this book. It is a quick read but very thought provoking.

I had the privilege of visiting Terizen the summer of 2017. I walked through the museum looking at the children's art. I walked through the children's dorm rooms. It was an incredibly humbling experience, but to read about a specific child who was actually there, brought the experience to a whole new level. May we never forget.

This is a children's book, but it is a well done children's book. In March of 2000, a suitcase arrived at a children's Holocaust education center in Tokyo, Japan. There was the name of a young girl painted on it, and from there the mystery progressed. The children in the center wanted answers about the suitcase. Where had it come from? Whose name was on it? This prompted the director of the center, Fumiko Ishioka to set out on a search across Europe, a search for information that was almost 70 years old. I though this was a great book, I never really thought about how to teach Japanese children about the Holocaust. Seeing as they are physically so far removed from Europe would present real challenges. A good book for children to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust, but, in an age appropriate way.

Hana Brady was 13 when she was sent to Auschwitz. She was immediately put to death, but her story didn't end there. With her she'd carried a suitcase which had followed her from her home to her aunt and uncle's house to a Jewish ghetto in Czechoslavakia and finally on to her final destination. Many years later, Fumiko Ishioka decides to open a Holocaust Museum in Japan in order to teach young people about the horror. One of the items she is sent to display is the suitcase which bears the name of Hana. Her children become adamant that they must know more about this girl, so Ishioka goes to work. She tenaciously goes to the prison camp where Hana lived for 2 years and discovers much more than she'd planned. This is the story of undying human spirit told in a way that children as young as 8, 9, or 10 can understand. Levine does a unique job of presenting the facts in a moving way without becoming mired down in gruesome details. This story will touch your heart and you will be unable to forget the story of Hana and her suitcase.

A suitcase belonging to a Hana Brady gets to the children's Holocaust education centre in Tokyo in the year 2000. It immediately propels students and teachers alike to find out more about this mysterious girl. Thanks to their invaluable work, they are able to retrace Hana's story. This book is the result of their search for the truth.A clear, simple narrative delivers a vivid picture of what happened. It was touching to see the dedication and interest of the children and of Ms. Ishioka to find out as much information as possible with just a name to start with. Well done.I believe that this book is also suitable to readers aged 12+.

I couldn't put this book down from the moment I opened the first page. Two and a half hours later, book finished, I surfaced! It is fascinating and gripping.If you are interested in reading true life stories about holocaust victims, this book is a must. It is also inspirational in showing how to make the holocaust events meaningful to a new generation.

THIS BOOK WAS BOUGHT AS A YR6 RESOURCE BOOK AS THE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING A BOUT THE SECOND WORLD WAR. MY DAYGHTER REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND FOUND IT MOVING IN PARTS. THE BOOK ARRIVED IN GOOD TIME AND MY 10 YR OLD DAUGHTER WOULD RECCOMMEND.

I learned about the holocaust at school, I enjoyed reading this book for the second time. I just adore learning about Hanas story! No other holocaust tribute comes close, I have read it before and I will definitely read it again. The story maybe sad at times but as long as the holocaust is remembered, no book can ever be too sad. Goodbye Hana Brady

Billed as a children's book. I thought this was an exceptional read that shared an emotional story of a jewish family's experience at the hands of the Germans during the war following the discovery of a child's suitcase and the investigation that followed to discover the owner's journey.