The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin

The Cat with the Yellow Star follows Ela Weissberger's experiences as a young Jewish girl in the Terezin concentration camp during World War II. As a prisoner in Terezin from age 11-15, Ela performed in the children's opera Brundibar, playing the role of a cat who helps defeat a cruel organ grinder. The book combines Ela's first-person recollections with historical photographs and documents from Terezin. It details daily life in the camp, including the secret classes taught by imprisoned teachers, the artistic activities that helped children cope, and the bonds formed between the young performers of Brundibar. This Holocaust narrative focuses on art, music and creativity as tools for resistance and survival in the darkest circumstances. Through Ela's memories and perspective, readers gain understanding of how children maintained hope and found moments of joy despite imprisonment and loss.

Readers appreciate this Holocaust memoir for presenting difficult historical events in a way that children ages 10-14 can process. Many note that Ela Weissberger's personal story and involvement in the children's opera "Brundibar" provides an accessible entry point to learning about Terezin. Specific praise focuses on the photographs, artwork, and primary source materials that help bring the history to life. Multiple teachers mention successfully using the book in middle school classrooms. Some readers found the narrative structure jumps around too much between time periods. A few noted the book feels brief at 64 pages. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (124 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (21 ratings) Sample review: "This book handles the subject matter with sensitivity while not shying away from hard truths. The inclusion of original drawings and photos helps students connect with Ela's experience." - Middle school teacher on Goodreads

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🌟 Ela Weissberger, the book's subject, performed in all 55 performances of the children's opera "Brundibár" while imprisoned at Terezin concentration camp, playing the role of the cat. 🎭 "Brundibár," the opera performed at Terezin, was written by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása in 1938, and became a symbol of hope and resistance for the children in the camp. 📚 Author Susan Goldman Rubin has written over 35 books for young readers, many focusing on art and social justice, including "Fireflies in the Dark: The Story of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the Children of Terezin." 🎨 The children at Terezin created over 4,000 drawings and paintings under the guidance of artist Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, many of which survived the war and are now displayed in museums worldwide. 🕊️ Ela Weissberger spent decades after her liberation speaking to schools and audiences around the world, often performing songs from "Brundibár" to honor the memory of the children who didn't survive Terezin.