Common Sense Media Review
By Joanna H. Kraus
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Harrowing tale of Gypsy film extra in World War II.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Fifteen-year-old Lilo's life is shattered when her family and all the Gypsies in Vienna, Austria, are rounded up by the Nazis and sent to an internment camp. There she meets a new friend, Django, and both are selected to be extras in a film directed by Leni Rienenstahl, Hitler's favorite filmmaker. Although they're surrounded by glamour, the Gypsies are closely guarded, locked in a barn when not on the set, and poorly fed. The director is as vindictive, egocentric, and cruel as she is physically beautiful. When Lilo asks the whereabouts of a girl who's disappeared, Lilo is instantly in danger herself. She escapes, and for a while she's safe with a puppet troupe. But then her identity is discovered and, once again, she's arrested. Only her daring and bravery and doing the unthinkable can save her.
Is It Any Good?
THE EXTRA is a powerful novel in which both suspense and stakes are high. Little is known about the persecution of the European Roma and Sinti people during the war years. Lasky's research makes the harsh story compelling, and she's created two believable and engaging young people as well as as a convincing adversary, the diabolical director upon whom their lives depend.
The descriptions of the filming are rich in detail: "There was not just one counterfeit village but entire cities and mountain ranges that had been created, facades designed and built by the scenery department. Bring up the wind! Bring up the sun! Bring up New York! Paris! Bring up anything, Lilo thought, except the real world."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about World War II and the different groups of people Hitler sent to concentration camps. What books have you read or films have you seen about the Holocaust?
How has the media portrayed the life and culture of Gypsies? Have they been fairly portrayed or stereotyped?
Have you ever performed in a home video or a school play? What did you like about the experience? Was it hard work or fun or both? Do you think you'd enjoy being a film extra?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Arts , Friendship , History , Puppets
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : October 8, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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