Shadow of His Hand: A Story Based on the Life of Holocaust Survivor Anita Dittman (Lawton, Wendy. Daughters of the Faith Series, Bk. 6.)

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Summary: Shadow of His Hand
Review: As the Nazis' power grows in pre-World War II Germany, Anita Dittman's childhood falls apart, one piece at a time. Her father abandons the family because her mother is Jewish. Anita, her mother, and her sister are forced to move into a crowded, run-down brownstone. School becomes a place of taunting, and Anita must give up her beloved ballet lessons. As the war begins, food is scarce, and soon the Nazis begin taking away friends and family. Despite the desperation around her, Anita's newfound faith in God blooms. Author Wendy Lawton doesn't shirk from the horrors of Hitler's "final solution" but tells her story with sensitivity and respect both for her readers and for the people whose lives she recounts. Middle readers will be captivated. This book, perhaps the best in the "Daughters of Faith" series, would also make an excellent supplement to study units on World War II.

Rating:
Summary: Shadow of His Hand
Review: There are lots of books for kids about Europe under the Nazis, most having similar plots about a Jewish kid who escapes to another country. In this unique book Anita, who actually endured the suffering in the story in real life, ends up in a concentration camp, but her developing faith in God makes Shadow of His Hand very positive. The writing is excellent and helps us to understand what life must have been like for kids in that time and place, and to appreciate our own blessings.

Rating:
Summary: Shadow of His Hand
Review: This heartrending tale set during Nazi Germany tells the real life survival story of Anita Dittman, who was born to a Jewish mother and German father. Writing the story of the Holocaust in a clear and sensitive enough manner for young readers is no easy task. Wendy Lawton handles the subject matter with great sensitivity.

I don't see how anyone who reads this book can remain untouched or uninspired by Anita's triumph through unimaginable horrors of prejudice at its absolute ugliest. She has every opportunity and many reasons to deny her faith and yet she stands firm. I have certainly been challenged to put my own trials into perspective. I highly recommend it for both children and adults.