Books to Borrow Claysburg Area Public Library Recommends

Rosie lived with her mother, her sister and her brother in Crasna on the border of Hungary and Romania. Her father died when she was five years old. She got her beautiful red hair from her father. Her mother supported them by cooking for the Yeshiva (an orthodox Jewish school). Sometimes Hungary claimed them as part of their country and sometimes Romania claimed them. On May 10, 1944, Hungarian soldiers marched into their Town Square. All the Jews were called to hand over their valuables, pack their bags and be ready to move out. Rosie was 18 years old. Her sister, Leah, was 17. Her brother, Yecheskel, was 13. They were ushered into cattle cars and sent away. At the end of the journey, the hordes were separated into two groups. Rosie, Leah and Yecheskel were sent to the right and Mama was sent to the left. Yecheskel wouldn’t leave his mother alone so he left his group and joined his mother. Their mother shouted to Rosie and Leah to never lose sight of one another. Rosie and Leah’s heads were shaved. They were stripped of their clothes and made to wear flimsy dresses. They soon joined thousands of others in a large building with wooden planks for their bed.

It was not long before Rosie realized that they had to work hard to survive in spite of having only a sip of “coffee” for breakfast. They had to move heavy loads from one place to another. Their friends from home were with them. They spoke of leaving Auschwitz and going to heaven. Rosie would not. Rosie was going home. There were several times when Rosie came very near losing her life. There was so little food and such hard work. It was her fierce spirit that kept her alive.

Every other chapter of the book gave us glimpses into the everyday life of Rosie and her family before that dreadful day. Rosie was a good dancer. Leah could make beautiful dresses. While Rosie couldn’t sew well, she could iron pleats better than the dry cleaners. Though poor, Rosie and her family had each other and were very happy. The girls had dreams of marriage and family. Would they ever see their dreams come true?