Category: News stories

Krystia’s family is hiding Jews from the invading Nazis, but the risks are immense. How much will she risk for her friends? A gripping story based on true events.

During the Soviet occupation of Ukraine during World War II, some of Krystia’s family are harrassed; others are arrested and killed. When the Nazis liberate the town, they are welcomed with open arms. Krystia’s best friend Dolik isn’t so sure. His family is Jewish and there are rumours that the Nazis might be even more brutal than the Soviets.

Shortly after the Nazis arrive, they discover a mass grave of Soviet prisoners and blame the slaughter on the Jews. Soon, the Nazis establish ghettoes and begin public executions of Jews.

Krystia can’t bear to see her friends suffering and begins smuggling food into the ghetto. When rumours circulate that the ghetto will be evacuated and the Jews will be exterminated, Krystia must decide if she’s willing to risk her own family’s safety to save her friends.

A late night for this virtual visit, but what a delight. The students were well prepped! Thank you, Ms Duggal!

 

And here it is in other incarnations:

Daniel from David Douglas School District in Portland OR wrote:
Marsha, I am a big fan of the book you wrote, “Making bombs for Hitler” and, I hope you continue to make great books. Some questions that I have for you are: What inspired you to make a book about World War II? Will you be making a sequel to the book “Making bombs for Hitler”? And how long did it take you to write “Making bombs for Hitler”? In conclusion I hope you respond to these questions.

Dear Daniel,  Thanks so much for your email. I tried to respond but your message bounced. I’m delighted that you’re a fan of Making Bombs for Hitler. I have written 20 books and some of them may be available from your local library. There will be a sequel to Making Bombs coming out next year with Scholastic. It will be from Luka’s point of view. The following year, a third book will be published, told from Larissa’s point of view. It took me a couple of years to do the research for Bombs, then 6 months of solid writing, then a year of editing, rewriting, and revision. I was inspired to write Lida’s story because I met people who had lived through the war just like she had yet I’d never seen their stories in a book. All the best, Marsha

Aidon, I wrote it because no one else had written a picture book about the Vietnamese Boat People. I wanted to show how heroic Tuan and his family were.

Maggie, my publisher, Gail Winskill at Pajama Press met Tuan and when she heard his story she knew I’d want to write it. I have been interested in the Vietnamese Boat People for several decades.

Regan, I love writing coming to Canada stories. I love finding real people who came here under very difficult circumstances. These people are heroic and their stories should be told.

Abbi, Tuan’s older sister and father escaped earlier. They were all eventually reunited in Canada. Tuan’s youngest sister came to Canada several years later.