Paper Hearts

August 15, 2015
The Holocaust: a time of unimaginable horror, with moments of incandescence. Following her picture book with Josee Bisaillon, Benno and the Night of Broken Glass (2010), Wiviott's debut for teens, a novel in (largely excellent) verse, tells the fictionalized but carefully researched story surrounding one of those incandescent moments. In Auschwitz-Birkenau, Zlatka and Fania, Polish, Jewish, and determined to survive, become friends and replacement sisters. In each other, and in their small group of friends, they find strength. The titular heart is a tiny thing: a folded and stitched card penciled with birthday wishes that Zlatka creates for Fania for her 20th birthday, two years after she was captured trying to pass as Aryan. It is also a massive act of rebellion for every girl involved. It is, in the end, "A reason to take risks. / A reason to keep living." If the heart were not an actual artifact (on display in Montreal), its metaphoric aptness might seem schmaltzy, but it is real, as are the transcribed wishes interspersed among the poems. Even in the darkness, light and love can survive, as Wiviott makes abundantly clear by picking a single thread from the millions of stories that occurred and stitching in context and facts to make both the larger horror and the smaller grace shine through. An incredible story, told with respect and love, this deserves a wide readership. Just have the tissue box handy. (glossary, historical note, bibliography) (Historical fiction/verse. 12 & up)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 6-8-Wiviott begins this affecting novel in verse at the gates of the Auschwitz death camp. The fictionalized story is based upon true events and focuses on a group of young women who were forced to work at the munitions factory at the camp. Readers meet Zlatka and Fania, the two main characters, who become best friends. Along with them are many other young girls caught in this dehumanizing web. It is a small but incredibly courageous act of kindness and defiance that gives the book its title; Zlatka and the girls create a card for Fania's 20th birthday. Though the girls lose their families, identities, dreams, and youth, each finds through the others comfort and the will to survive. Along with the depiction of the daily horrors of the camp, there are memories of a past, rich Jewish life filled with caring families, religious traditions, words from scripture, and other reminders of a time when normal life was joyful. In a postscript, the author details what is historical fact and what is fictionalized. A glossary gives the meanings of Yiddish and Jewish words. A beautifully told true story about brave young women who refused to be victims and walked out of Auschwitz with their heads unbowed. VERDICT A strong addition to all YA collections.-Lillian Hecker, Town of Pelham Public Library, NY

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