Independent Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Awards: Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2023)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2015)

Independent reading level: Grades 4-6
Awards: 2015 Golden Archer Award-Intermediate (Nominee)
Wisconsin Education Media & Technology Association

This was my first time reading a book from this well-loved series. I chose this event from history because I was curious about how an author would handle the Holocaust and World War II in a book geared toward 2nd-5th graders.
The book begins in the middle of a bombing and the main character has a flaming tree fall on him. No time is wasted jumping into the action and Tarshis is able to hook readers right away before going back in time to a few days prior. The story follows Max and Zena who are on their own trying to escape Nazi soldiers after the rest of their family was taken away. While on the run, they discover other Jewish partisans, including their missing aunt. They work together to help fight against the Nazi soldiers and survive until they are reunited with their father, who escaped from a train.
While the successes and survival stories contained in this book are fairly unlikely for a Jewish family during WWII, this book would be a great introduction for kids to start learning about some of the trials Jews faced during this time, without detailing the horrors of Concentration Camps. The information contained at the back of the book provides further insight for readers wanting to learn more about this time. I thought the author handled the topic well for the audience. She spent some time in the book explaining who the Nazis were but didn't explain at all what it meant to be Jewish. I wish this information had been provided before the book or woven into the story because I think it is essential for kids to understand when learning about this time in history. A teacher or adult could provide this background knowledge, but a child reading this book independently might not understand the context of what is happening.

Solid short adventure set in an escape from one of the Polish Ghettos. Intense history, appreciate the centering on the Jewish partisans waging a guerrilla war from the forest, and the moment of connection to the young nazi soldier that speaks to the ambiguity of war. ( )

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 is the 9th book in the I Survived series. This series is a great educational tool for kids (and adults, too!). Each book tells a fictional account of children at the scene of a historical event or disaster. Facts about the event are included in the fictional eyewitness account. After the story, the author has an afterward where she gives more facts, her thoughts on the event and information on how she researches her books. I can see how these books would be an awesome classroom resource for reading, learning history and discussion.

In this book, Max and Zena are Jewish children living in the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland. Nazi guards patrol, shooting anyone who goes past the walls. Max tries to get some fruit from beyond the wall and gets caught. He and Zena flee into the forest, joining partisan rebels who are fighting the Nazis. The children survive all sorts of harrowing events and eventually end up immigrating to America. The author is Jewish so her afterward is very heart-felt.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story. The book is quick listen at just short of 1.5 hours. Jonathan McClain narrates. His voice is clear and easily understood. He reads at a nice steady pace with good inflection. I have hearing loss, but was easily able to hear and understand the entire book.

This series is informative and enjoyable. I'm definitely going to read more of this series! There are 17 books in all. Topics range from more modern events like the Joplin, MO tornado to long-past history such as the destruction of Pompeii. While thinking about children in a disaster situation is scary and sad, I think this series can bring historical events alive for kids because the stories talk about the events from the view point of other children. Great educational tool! ( )