The Boy in Buchenwald

Unfortunately, this book is a timely reminder of the final consequences of intolerance and hatred. In this inspirational and true survival story, Steffan, a Polish teenage boy, finds himself imprisoned during World War 2 in Buchenwald, a Nazi concentration camp. Steffan’s recount of the things he did to stay alive seems both incredible and unbelievable. This story also explains the terrible suffering endured by people simply because of their views, their faith, or their birthplace.

An important contribution to stories of people who suffered terribly through no fault of their own. Today, a new wave of intolerance sweeps the 'civilised' world again. In ugly forms of antisemitism, stupid populist thinking and many other prejudices. In some ways, while technological progress has been transformative, the primitive nature of hate and ignorance has found fertile ground in its new digital domain. This book is confronting but authentic and gives a historical account of what happened in a concentration camp. To hear this story first-hand over a long day was a truly privileged experience that left an urge to tell the story. Students will firstly be focussed on literacy, but the historical perspectives and discussions are endless within this story. Topics could be on World War 2, Germany, antisemitism, Poland, concentration camps and the Holocaust.

Beautifully illustrated with original art inspired by archive images and a brutally frank recount – it will allow your students to have an insight into the impact of prejudices and ignorance overtaking civil society.

Warning! The content contains violence and is possibly distressing for primary-age students without an initial discussion on the Holocaust. For secondary students, it is an important topic to be discussed within a group before free-reading.