Adam and Thomas

De: Aharon Appelfeld, Jeffrey M. Green - translator

Narrado por: Neil Hellegers

Adam and Thomas is the story of two nine-year-old Jewish boys who survive World War II by banding together in the forest. They are alone, visited only furtively every few days by Mina, a mercurial girl who herself has found refuge from the war by living with a peasant family. She makes secret journeys and brings the boys parcels of food at her own risk.

Adam and Thomas must learn to survive and do. They forage and build a small tree house, although it's more like a bird's nest. Adam's family dog, Miro, manages to find his way to him, to the joy of both boys. Miro brings the warmth of home with him. Echoes of the war are felt in the forest. The boys meet fugitives fleeing for their lives and try to help them. They learn to disappear in moments of danger. And they barely survive winter's harshest weather, but when things seem to be at their worst, a miracle happens.

©2013 Aharon Appelfeld (P)2020 Tantor

Wise words in time of despair

Adam and Thomas are too wise and mature to be 9 years old. It's refreshing and inspiring to hear them share encouraging words of wisdom between each other. I love how they discuss God, war, life, and how sometimes the lessons their parents taught them were different way but similar. Through their differences they never argue, they know they'll see their familys again and they never loss hope.
I love how this book show how education and the importance of learning then and now is vastly different. Nowadays many of us don't know anything, and these boys up us to shame. Technology should have made learning easier but it has made many of slow to learn and properly understand.