Synopses & Reviews
Paul B. Janeczkos stirring new collection of poems goes inside the walls of the notorious camp to portray the indomitable spirit of those incarcerated there.Hitler hailed Terezín (Theresienstadt) as a haven for artistic Jews, when in reality the Czech concentration camp was little more than a way station to the gas chambers. In his second book inspired by devastating history, acclaimed poet Paul B. Janeczko gives voice to this heartrending creative community: its dignity, resilience, and commitment to art and music in the face of great brutality. The many memorable characters he conjures include a child who performs in the camps now famed production of Brundibár, a man who lectures on bedbugs, and a boy known as "Professor," who keeps a notebook hidden in his shoe. Accented with dramatic illustrations by prisoners, found after WW II, Janeczkos spare and powerful poems convey Terezíns tragic legacy on an intimate, profoundly moving scale.
Synopsis
"Moving and brutal, a poetic remembrance of a tragedy too vast to forget." -- Kirkus Reviews Acclaimed poet Paul B. Janeczko gives voice to the indomitable creative community of the Czech concentration camp of Terez n (Theresienstadt), emphasizing its dignity, resilience, and commitment to art and music in the face of great brutality. Accented with dramatic illustrations by prisoners, found after World War II, Janeczko's spare and powerful poems convey Terez n's tragic legacy on an intimate, profoundly moving scale.
About the Author
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.