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Oct 09, 2018savtadina rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I am a 71 year old grandma and retired teacher. I read this book after it was recommended by a 5th grade teacher as an introduction to teaching the Holocaust to her class. I had not heard of the book, so decided to read it. It is a powerful story with many themes. The book begins simply enough with 5th grader Paris, the youngest of 5 siblings and the only girl in an African-American family. Her parents pay an elderly Jewish woman to give Paris piano lessons, and Paris's brother Michael accompanies her. We soon meet friends at school and another girl seemingly with an attitude problem. The book deals with complexities of relationships in Paris's family, at school, and with Mrs. Rosen. It is an excellent book and a good one for a parent to read together with a child. I can understand why a teacher would read it to her class and can imagine the guided discussions that would result.