Parents' Guide to

Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust

By Mary Krawczyk, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Courageous sisters persevere in powerful Holocaust memoir.

Book Renee Hartman , Joshua M. Greene Biography 2022
Two girls speak to each other in sign language on a street with Nazi flags handing on the buildings.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Emily6456
Emily6456 Parent of 12-year-old
October 10, 2022
age 10+
This is an amazing true story with great characters. There is violence however, like mentions of the gas chambers, people being beat, etc. but nothing is over dramatized. Great book for kids learning about the Holocaust.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In SIGNS OF SURVIVAL: A MEMOIR OF THE HOLOCAUST, 10-year-old Renee is the only hearing member of her Jewish family living in Bratislava in 1943 during World War II. As Jews are forced to wear stars and move to certain areas of the city, Renee must help her family in more ways than one. She and her 8-year-old sister, Herta, are eventually moved to a farm outside the city for safety. They later lose contact with their parents and end up in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where the sisters must rely on each other not only for communication but also for survival.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is an important Holocaust memoir, with the sisters' firsthand accounts as childhood survivors providing immediacy and relatability for young readers. At the center of Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust is the loving relationship between Renee and Herta as they struggle to survive. The fact that Herta is not only the younger sister but also deaf compels Renee to be a courageous caretaker. The book is based on oral testimony from the sisters and is told in short chapters and simple, straightforward language. Although the book is not graphic in the details, the sisters are separated from their parents, experience horrible conditions at Bergen-Belsen, and witness violence and death. Their family members die in the Holocaust.

The book gives a glimpse at the sisters' lives in the United States, including photographs. They reflect on their experiences and even return to visit Bratislava. In the epilogue, Joshua M. Greene provides historical context and details related to the Holocaust and World War II. Although the subject matter maybe be difficult for younger or more sensitive readers, this is a good book to introduce the subject of the Holocaust and why it's important to keep telling these stories. Readers will be inspired by the sisters' courage, compassion, and perseverance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Renee is the only hearing person in her family in Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust. Renee, Herta, and their parents communicate using sign language. How and why does Renee become her family's "ears" during the war?

  • Renee and Herta return to their childhood home, Bratislava, as adults. Bratislava is now part of Slovakia. Can you find it on a map? Renee thinks that she and Herta should say goodbye to the childhood that was taken from them. What do you think she means?

  • Renee says that when she and Herta arrived in the United States, she wanted to tell everyone what happened at Bergen-Belsen, but that "my relatives couldn't bear to listen." Why do you think it was hard for Jewish people in the U.S. to hear about what had happened during the Holocaust?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate