Yellow Star-by Jennifer Roy is a novel told in free verse based on the true story of Sylvia Perimutter who was one of 12 Jewish children (out of 250,000) that survived the Lodz Ghetto in Poland after WWII. The Nazis invaded Lodz Poland in 1939, when Sylvia was 4 ½ years old and her family tried to escape to Warsaw, but had to return for lack of work to Lodz. The Jewish families were segregated and walled off in what would become known as the Lodz Ghetto. The Nazis ordered all children to be sent away on the trains to the “work” camps, but Sylvia’s father knew how to pay attention, watch and observe every move the soldiers made so he could outsmart them, and find ways to keep his family safe. Over the years Sylvia’s parents smuggled the children from cellar to cellar, hiding not only Sylvia, but her sister Dora and their cousin Isaac, until 1945 when the Lodz Ghetto was liberated, just one day short of Sylvia’s 10th birthday. In 2006, after 50 years of keeping the story to herself, Sylvia recounts the events to her niece Jennifer Roy, who tells the story from a young Sylvia’s perspective, using a voice that matures with the years and is both realistic and relatable to young readers. The little girl braves hunger and faces with courage the hardships of hiding for years, losing friends, a favorite doll, and practically everything else, but persists by using her imagination to help her withstand the moment and all it entails.

In the book " Yellow Star", the niece of Syvia Perlmutter, who is one of the twelve children survivors from the Lodz ghetto located in Poland. She soon. shares her aunt's experiences from the Holocaust in a free verse. Relating to heartbreak and courage which she lived during this time of terrible circumstances. Having this book brought to the students attention, helps them understand the concept of the hard times many people had to face during the era of the Holocaust. ( )

This is a true story about Sylvia Perlmutter and her experience with surviving the Holocaust. This chapter book is great for 8th graders because they are well at that level of reading, as well as it is good to learn about such a significant event that changed the world forever. This book shows all the emotions and fast-thinking process of Sylvia and what she did to survive. The important thing to remember was the Jews held their faith over everything and those who were able to survive held on to their faith. "This book is very informative; it's great for learning about a world history significant event." ( )

This was a second-hand retelling of events which happened to a child, presented as first person truth. While it's definitely emotionally moving, it's hard to tell how accurate it really is; I would have found a straightforward factual account more interesting and compelling. ( )

The author heard this story from her aunt. It is based on the story her aunt told her, but the dialogue and characters are invented to better help the flow of the story. It follows a young Jewish girl during WWII who, with her family, is placed in the Lodz ghetto. It follows their journey throughout the war and the struggles they go through. The title refers to the yellow stars that Nazi guards put on the Jews to lessen them. However, the Jewish people rally around this and hold their faith above all else. This book is a great look at one of the worst times in human history. Historical Fiction. ( )