Esfir Is Alive

Esfir is an extraordinary girl who has escaped death many times. Esfir’s family–mother, father, two sisters, and brother–live in late 1930s Poland. Suddenly, the Germans have taken control of Poland. Jewish and Polish people can’t own shops or work. Esfir suffers great loss and tragedy, but that was nothing, for what is to come was far worse.

This book overall was a great book. It was very well written, but the beginning was very slow. I feel like the main part of the story didn’t come until half the book was over. This book is depressing, but it was the reality of World War II. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in World War II. Children under the age of twelve might find this book too sad. The book is a great size and has an awesome storyline. I like the other languages occasionally thrown in the book. In the second half of the book I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put the book down.