Thought of High Windows, The - Hardcover

Lynne Kositsky is an award-winning poet and young adult author whose work includes The Thought of High Windows, Claire by Moonlight, and the Rachel books for the Our Canadian Girl series. Lynne lives in Toronto with her husband and two shelties.

Grade 8 Up-Esther describes her life as one of a group of Jewish children taken from Germany to France by the Red Cross during World War II. The novel begins when she is 15 and living in a French castle; her childhood in Berlin is described through flashbacks. After France's surrender to Germany, the situation becomes more dangerous for the refugees. Afraid that the Nazis will arrest her, Esther leaves the castle and eventually becomes involved with the Jewish Underground. Based on true events, this is an immediate, painfully honest story. Since she is from a more traditionally Jewish family, Esther is an outcast among the youngsters in her group, many of whom consider themselves to be "modern Jews." They also tease her about being overweight. Her relationship with her only friend, Walter, is complicated by his interest in another girl. Esther's longing for her family and feelings of depression make her a very real character and her increasing losses and loneliness draw readers into her experiences. The title comes from her many attempts to jump through windows, whether to hide from teasing or to save her life. An enigmatic ending brings closure without being overly optimistic. Kositsky has created an engaging, introspective narrator, and she uses detail to define even minor characters clearly. This is a mature novel, honest about the dangers and uncertainties of life for Jews during World War II. The inclusion of French, German, Yiddish, and Hebrew words adds authenticity, but there is no glossary to define them.
Beth L. Meister, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Flushing, NY
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