Rescue: The Story of How Gentiles Saved Jews in the Holocaust

Milton Meltzer's Rescue examines the acts of non-Jewish individuals and groups who worked to save Jews during the Holocaust. The book draws from historical records, personal accounts, and survivor testimonies to document rescue efforts across Nazi-occupied Europe. The narrative follows multiple threads of resistance and humanitarian aid, from the Danish fishermen who transported Jews to safety, to diplomats who issued life-saving visas against their governments' orders. Meltzer presents the stories of both organized networks and individual citizens who chose to take action despite grave personal risk. Rescue challenges assumptions about human behavior during times of crisis and investigates what motivates people to act with moral courage. The work stands as a crucial historical record of resistance and compassion during one of humanity's darkest periods.

Readers found this book presented clear, engaging accounts of how non-Jews helped save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. According to multiple Goodreads reviews, the personal stories and individual acts of courage resonated strongly with students and younger readers. Readers appreciated: - Accessible writing for middle/high school level - Focus on lesser-known rescue stories - Primary source documents and photographs - Clear historical context Common criticisms: - Some passages move slowly through historical background - Limited coverage of certain geographic regions - Basic writing style that can feel repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) One teacher reviewer noted: "Excellent introduction for students studying Holocaust resistance and rescue efforts. The personal accounts kept my class engaged." A parent wrote: "Good resource but needed more stories from Eastern Europe. Writing is straightforward but lacks depth in places."

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom A first-hand account of a Dutch Christian family who created a secret room to hide Jews from Nazi persecution.

The Righteous by Sir Martin Gilbert This compilation documents hundreds of rescue missions across Europe where non-Jews risked their lives to protect Jewish neighbors during the Holocaust.

Village of Secrets by Caroline Moorehead The residents of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon in France worked together to shelter Jewish refugees and help them escape to Switzerland.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally The true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over 1,000 Jews by employing them in his factories during World War II.

The Heart Has Reasons by Mark Klempner Ten Dutch rescuers share their stories of protecting Jewish children through an underground network during the Nazi occupation.

🔹 Author Milton Meltzer wrote more than 100 books for young readers, focusing primarily on social justice, civil rights, and historical topics. He was nominated five times for the National Book Award. 🔹 The book features accounts of rescuers from 14 different countries, including Denmark, where citizens helped transport nearly 7,000 Jews to safety in Sweden during a coordinated nationwide effort. 🔹 Many of the rescuers featured in the book were later honored as "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to Holocaust victims. This recognition is the highest honor Israel bestows upon non-Jews. 🔹 The rescue efforts described in the book often involved entire communities and networks, such as the village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon in France, where residents saved approximately 5,000 Jews by hiding them in homes, farms, and schools. 🔹 Despite the extreme risk of death for helping Jews during the Holocaust, it's estimated that between 50,000 and 500,000 non-Jewish Europeans were involved in rescue efforts to save Jewish lives.