Hana's Suitcase

Title: Hana's Suitcase: A true story
Author: Karen Levine
Ages: 9-12
Rating: 5/5

Plot: A suitcase arrives for display at a children's Holocaust museum in Japan, but nobody knows to whom it belonged. Fumiko Ishioka, the curator, embarks on a journey to discover the previous owner of the suitcase. All she knows is a name, Hanna Brady.

Assessment: The journey of curator Fumiko Ishioka creates suspense for the reader as only parts of Hana and her history are revealed to us, just as Fumiko only discovers a little at a time about Hana.

The photographs found throughout help readers to better appreciate that the Holocaust affected real children, who had hobbies and friends. Even though the Holocaust happened a long time ago, children recognize that Hana was a regular little girl who didn't think what was happening was fair.

The story quality of this book, as well has having a heroine that children can identify makes learning the story of the Holocaust more tangible and a more approachable subject.

Levine, K. (2002). Hana's Suitcase: A True Story. Toronto, On: Second Story Press.