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list price: $11.95
edition:Paperback
also available: Hardcover eBook
category: Children's Nonfiction
published: Mar 2020
ISBN:9781771473965
publisher: Owlkids Books Inc.

The Last Train

A Holocaust Story

by Rona Arato

tagged: holocaust, judaism, historical, siblings
Description

The Last Train is the harrowing true story about young brothers Paul and Oscar Arato and their mother, Lenke, surviving the Nazi occupation during the final years of World War II. Living in the town of Karcag, Hungary, the Aratos felt insulated from the war — even as it raged all around them. Hungary is allied with Germany to protect its citizens from invasion, but in 1944 Hitler breaks his promise to keep the Nazis out of Hungary. The Nazi occupation forces the family into situations of growing panic and fear: first into a ghetto in their hometown; then a labor camp in Austria; and, finally, to the deadly Bergen Belsen camp deep in the heart of Germany. Separated from their father, 6-year-old Paul and 11-year-old Oscar must care for their increasingly sick mother, all while trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy amid the horrors of the camp. In the spring of 1945, the boys see British planes flying over the camp, and a spark of hope that the war will soon end ignites. And then, they are forced onto a dark, stinking boxcar by the Nazi guards. After four days on the train, the boys are convinced they will be killed, but through a twist of fate, the train is discovered and liberated by a battalion of American soldiers marching through Germany. The book concludes when Paul, now a grown man living in Canada, stumbles upon photographs on the internet of his train being liberated. After writing to the man who posted the pictures, Paul is presented with an opportunity to meet his rescuers at a reunion in New York — but first he must decide if he is prepared to reopen the wounds of his past.

About the Author
Rona Arato

Rona Arato

RONA ARATO is a former teacher and an award-winning author of over fifteen books for children and young adults, including fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction. Her books have won numerous awards including the Norma Fleck Award for best Canadian children's non-fiction book of 2014, the Red Cedar, Red Maple, and Rocky Mountain Awards (for The Last Train), and the 2011 Golden Oak Award (for Courage and Compassion: Ten Canadians that Made a Difference). Her book, The Ship to Nowhere, was designated a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Older Children by the Association of Jewish Libraries. Rona is a frequent speaker at schools and community organizations. Rona lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Contributor Notes

RONA ARATO is an award-winning author with a strong interest in human rights. The Last Train is the story of her husband Paul’s Holocaust experiences and the twist of fate that reunited him, 67 years after liberation, with the American soldiers who saved his life. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, where she is a frequent presenter in schools and community organizations.

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
Age:
9 to 18
Grade:
6 to 12
Awards
  • Winner, Rocky Mountain Book Award (Alberta children's choice)
  • Winner, Saskatchewan Diamond Willow Award
  • Short-listed, Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award
  • Winner, Ontario Library Association Red Maple (Non-Fiction) Award
  • Winner, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction
  • Winner, British Columbia Library Association, Red Cedar Book Award
  • Long-listed, Canadian Children's Literature Roundtable's Information Book Award
  • Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Best Books for Kids and Teens
Editorial Reviews

[This] personal account with many photos will stir readers to find out more Holocaust history.

— Booklist

The Last Train is a harrowing account of the Holocaust...a somber and quiet story that though it brings tears to the eyes, still manages to send a message of hope and survival.

— New York Journal of Books

a powerful story worth reading.

— Jewish Book Council

…[in] moments of simple, profound human contact the story finds its real power.

— Publishers Weekly

Arato tells the story matter-of-factly, but it is of itself a gripping story for young readers, of a young boy's memories of a time in human history that should never be forgotten.

— Books for Kids Blog

The book is emotionally honest, with moving details ... a well-written smooth read.

— Association of Jewish Libraries

A good introduction to a difficult topic-give it to readers for whom a 'true' survivor's story will carry more weight than a wholly fictional account.

— Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will be amazed at the everyday persistence of children and parents to stay together and support each other."

— Resource Links

... this is an important story for anyone to read ... The Last Train is an accessible, yet heart-wrenching, account that will hopefully help to educate a new generation.

— Canadian Review of Materials
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