Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto

"Poet Janeczko (Worlds Afire) imagines life inside a Czech concentration camp in this collection of grim but forceful poems, written from the perspectives of fictionalized prisoners (with the exception of one 'found' poem from a real-life inmate's journal), as well as their persecutors. Actual b&w sketches by prisoners that were recovered from the camp are also woven throughout. Janeczko allows his subjects to express their despair, confusion, and rage with unvarnished clarity. A musician, Anna Teller, acerbically describes how the Nazis permitted the prisoners to play music, wanting 'the world to see/ the civilized and charming ghetto/ Hitler gave the Jews.' Another prisoner envisions seeking revenge for the murder of a loved one: 'I would like to feed him my Sarah's ashes/ one spoonful after another/ without pause/ until he could no longer breathe.' Janeczko offers no easy explanations or closure where none can be found, but his powerful collection points to the troubling dual role that the arts played at Terezín — both as a chilling form of propaganda used by Nazis and an undeniable source of respite for their victims. Ages 12 — up. (Aug.)" Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Poet Janeczko gives voice to the heartrending creative community of the Czech concentration camp known as Terezin in this stirring new collection that goes inside the walls of the notorious camp to portray the indomitable spirit of those incarcerated there. Illustrations.

Paul B. Janeczko is the author of WORLDS AFIRE, a collection of poems about the 1944 circus fire in Hartford, which was named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. Among his award-winning poetry anthologies are A POKE IN THE I, A KICK IN THE HEAD, and A FOOT IN THE MOUTH, all illustrated by Chris Raschka. He lives in Hebron, Maine.