Ein Stück Himmel

"A Piece of Heaven" is a moving young adult novel that recounts the memories of the author Janina David about her childhood as a Jewish girl in Poland during World War II. The story begins in 1939, when the Germans invade Poland, abruptly shattering the idyllic world of the David family. Janina, who is only ten years old at the time, must flee with her parents from the bombs and is eventually taken to the Warsaw Ghetto. The narrative powerfully conveys the challenges and fears she experiences during this time, while the sky for her becomes just a distant blue over the backyards. This book not only provides insight into the horrors of war but also into the strength and will to survive of a child in a world gone awry.