One Eye Laughing, The Other Weeping

Julie Weiss lives a privileged life in 1938 Vienna with her parents and older sister. Her days are filled with school, music lessons, and time with friends until political changes in Austria begin to affect her Jewish family's way of life. Through diary entries, Julie documents the increasing persecution of Jews after the Nazi annexation of Austria. When her family must make difficult choices about their future, Julie faces leaving behind everything she has ever known. The story follows Julie's journey as she adjusts to dramatic changes while trying to maintain hope and hold onto her identity. Her diary entries capture both moments of darkness and unexpected brightness as she navigates an uncertain path forward. This historical novel examines themes of resilience, family bonds, and coming of age during a period of profound social upheaval. The diary format provides an intimate window into how large-scale historical events impact individual lives at their most personal level.

Readers note this Holocaust-themed diary entry in the Dear America series handles difficult subject matter appropriately for its middle-grade audience. Most found the first-person perspective through Julie Weiss's eyes helped young readers connect with the historical events. Liked: - Clear explanation of historical context - Strong character development - Educational value for teaching about WWII - Authentic portrayal of a Jewish family's experience Disliked: - Some found the ending rushed and abrupt - Several readers wanted more resolution to certain plotlines - A few noted the diary format felt forced at times - Multiple reviewers said the second half of the book moved too quickly Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,700+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (48 ratings) Scholastic.com: 4/5 (22 ratings) "The personal narrative made history come alive for my students" - Teacher review on Scholastic "Ending felt incomplete after investing in the characters" - Goodreads reviewer

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry This story follows a young girl who helps her Jewish friend escape Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Death narrates the tale of a German girl who steals books and helps hide a Jewish man in her basement during World War II.

Anne Frank and Me by Cherie Bennett A modern teenager travels through time to Paris in 1942 where she experiences the Holocaust as a Jewish girl.

The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen A contemporary Jewish girl opens a door during Passover Seder and finds herself transported to a Polish village in 1942.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr A nine-year-old Jewish girl and her family flee Berlin in 1933 as Hitler rises to power.

🔹 The book is part of the "Dear America" series but unique in that it focuses on events in Austria during Hitler's rise to power, rather than American history like most books in the series. 🔹 Julie Weiss, the main character, is forced to flee Vienna in 1938 after Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass), mirroring the real experiences of many Jewish children who escaped to America during this period. 🔹 Author Barry Denenberg conducted extensive research at the Leo Baeck Institute in New York, which houses the largest collection of German-Jewish historical documents in the world. 🔹 The diary format used in the book was inspired by actual journals kept by young Holocaust refugees, including Anne Frank's famous diary, which Denenberg studied while writing. 🔹 The book's title reflects the Austrian saying "Ein Aug' lacht, das andere weint" (One eye laughs, the other weeps), which describes the bittersweet nature of life's experiences.