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Magic can be found in the darkest of places... It is the time of the Second World War, and Werner is a boy alone in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Separated from his family, he doesn't have a friend in the world. He shares his bunk with a quiet man named Herr Levin, who seems too gentle for this terrible place. One night Werner is woken by the sound of prison guards yelling. But it's not Werner they want, it's Herr Levin. "Do your magic!" they order him. Magic? In Auschwitz? Werner never expected to meet a magician in such a sad and frightening place. Nor did he expect that his life could be changed, not just by Herr Levin's gift of magic, but by his gifts of hope and friendship. Includes a special section, with photographs, about the real-life Werner and the Great Nivelli.

The history was interesting, and the art was fine, but the story didn't really stay with me and I only have a hazy recollection of the facts a few days later. Admittedly, this might be my mood rather than a problem with the book. ( )

In my opinion, this is a wonderful, eye-opening book. I liked it for three reasons. First, the book contains descriptive language. As Werner describes his bunkmate, he remarks, “This fellow had a soft voice, unlike the harsh bark of the guards with their growling German shepherd dogs.” From this statement, the reader gains a sense of imagery that allows him or her to picture what is happening within the text in order to understand it on a deeper level. Second, the book pushes the reader to think about tough issues and broadens perspectives about the horrors the Jewish people faced during the Holocaust. Werner recalls remembering standing in a long line to be counted as the text reads, “The days were filled with endless hours of standing in lines… Many fainted from exhaustion as the hours passed. The guards ordered us to do push-ups for hours on end.” From reading this, the reader will imagine what he or she would do in Werner’s situation and feel grateful to never have gone through such a traumatic experience. Third, the illustrations in the book enhance the story. The picture in the book shows hundreds of men crammed into tiny bunks in poor living conditions while the text states, “Wooden bunks lined the sides of the timber building. No pillows, no blankets, no mattresses…. As many as six men were crammed into each bunk.” The picture in the book supports what is being said in the text, and the reader sees the conditions the Jewish people actually faced. Overall, the main idea of the book is that it is important to have hope even in the hardest times. Hope is something that keeps people alive and motivates us to keep going. ( )

Reviewed for professional publication. ( )