Yellow Star

Yellow Star (2006) by Jennifer Roy is a chapter book for young adults told through the voice of a 4 1/2 year old girl named Syvia who lived in the Lodz Ghetto in Poland during the Holocaust. The story continues until Syvia is 10 years old when the ghetto is liberated with only 800 survivors. This book not only teaches about history, the Holocaust, and World War II, but it also is a story of survival and hope.

The best part of this book, I think, is the fact that the entire book is written in free verse. It is almost lyrical when you read it, like a song. For me, reading a book written in a style like this allowed my imagination to really take over. The flow was beautiful, even when the story was heart-breaking. The chapters of the book also mature with Syvia. As she gets older, you can tell because the writing changes with her. I believe that this book would be incredibly relatable for all children because it is written in the words of a child. Also, exposing students to this type of free verse poetry would also be beneficial.