Would you risk your life to save someone else?
What if meant LIFE or DEATH?
Twenty and Ten is based on a true story that occurred during World War II. This story takes place at a refuge in France. At the time, Germany had taken over France and were destroying the Jews. In order to save the lives of ten Jewish children, Sister Gabriel and her twenty students put their own lives at stake. When the Jewish children came, the twenty students promised that they would never betray the children, "no matter what the Nazis do."
We read this book in less than an hour with just a couple of short breaks in between. After every chapter, the girls wanted more. It was full of adventure, excitement, and suspense. The book did a great job of correlating King Herod’s search for the newborn baby Jesus with the Nazi’s quest to find and destroy the Jewish children.
My girls are often riveted with true stories and this was no exception. Although this was an introduction to the holocaust, it did not go into grim detail. It was presented in a way kids could easily understand. Once again, I found myself on the verge of tears as I turned the last page and read the last sentence.
Over lunch (after briefing daddy on the book), we had some good discussion with the girls about food rations, courage in the midst of fear, loyalty, justice, prejudice, and acceptance.
At first, I thought this story would be too advanced for my kids. I didn’t think it would hold their interest, but I was WRONG! Again.
In their own 5 year-old way, they “got it”, loud and clear. Reading this book made them appreciate the little things... it made them kinder, gentler, and more thankful throughout the day. They not only “got it”, they really, really liked it, too!
Twenty and Ten- a classic that bears re-visiting, again and again.
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