The Librarian of Auschwitz

By: Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites - translator, Dita Kraus - prologue

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

This program features a prologue read by Dita Kraus.

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, The Librarian of Auschwitz is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust. Written with touching sensitivity by Antonio Iturbe, and translated by Lilit Thwaites, this audiobook provokes every emotional response and will not be forgotten.

Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

This title has Common Core connections.

©2012, 2017 Text copyright Antonio Iturbe; translation copyright Lilit Žekulin Thwaites (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Heart wrenching and beautiful

This story is heart wrenching and promises to send you on a research binge to find out more about the actual people mentioned in this story. Dita is a true hero, I am so pleased to have read her story. Knowing that something as basic as books was seen as a treasure during this devastating time makes me feel so blessed that we have them readily available to us. Amazing read, great performance. Highly recommend.

Perfect and heartbreaking

This is easily the best audio book I've listened to this year. The narration was wonderful - her accents were spot on. The story was gripping, even better because it was based on a real person. Five stars and two thumbs way, way up.

A must read

This was a moving story that everyone should read. The understanding of this portion of history should never be lost and this story is unique from any other I have read!

Beauty in the horrors of Auschwitz

This book imbues the reader with the most evil of Nazi crimes in the Hell that was Auschwitz. Through the darkness, we journey towards hope and light in the story of the young librarian. Other lives that touch the librarian’s are closely documented augmenting the initial story with a variety of struggles and enriching the reader’s knowledge. Must read!!

The importance of books

As I was reading this book I became aware of more and more issues of book banning in our country. I found it so ironic that the librarian was so determined to share the very small number of books knowing that she would be put to death if discovered. The book is full of information about the terrible ways the Jews were treated by Hitler’s men. I especially enjoyed the end of the book when she tells about meeting the librarian herself and the accounting of what happened to some of the main characters.

Wow

This is an amazing book that tells an incredible story but the author is all over the place with the story. I Think this book is too long and even though the book seems to focus on the main character Dita the author talks about soooo many characters that its hard to keep track. I had to switch to the audiobook after the first couple of chapter because I was struggling to keep up with all the stories.

A really good story of never giving up!

I really enjoyed this story! The main character has determination and shows that you should never give up. She has led a group despite the opinion of others. It's amazing to see how all of these stories that relate to Auschwitz come together and share the same story line - which tells the reader that all of the information is the truth. Definitely a story I would recommend!

Unique Story

I hadn't heard about the family camp inside Auschwitz. This book give a detailed account of life inside, based on true people.

A well told horror story

I listened to this because it is based on real people and real events. I don't find any point in making up stories that are generalizations when there are so many real survivors.

Even Steven King couldn't come up with atrocities such as these. I pray we never ever go here again. No person is less or more than another person. But politics and power ceaselessly interfere with equity and love.

not to be missed.

desperately horrifying but a fabulous and haunting account of the greatest atrocity of mankind