The Librarian of Auschwitz is ideal for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice
this graphic novel is the story of the smallest library in the world - and the most dangerous.
Based on a true story it is an extraordinary novel of courage and hope by Antonio Iturbe and
Loreto Aroca. ?It wasn't an extensive library. In fact it consisted of eight books and some
of them were in poor condition. But they were books. In this incredibly dark place they were a
reminder of less sombre times when words rang out more loudly than machine guns . . .'
Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken along
with her mother and father from the Terezín ghetto in Prague Dita is adjusting to the
constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take
charge of the eight precious books the prisoners have managed to smuggle past the guards she
agrees. And so Dita becomes the secret librarian of Auschwitz responsible for the safekeeping
of the small collection of titles as well as the ?living books' - prisoners of Auschwitz who
know certain books so well they too can be ?borrowed' to educate the children in the camp.
But books are extremely dangerous. They make people think. And nowhere are they more dangerous
than in Block 31 of Auschwitz the children's block where the slightest transgression can
result in execution no matter how young the transgressor . . . Based on the incredible and
moving true story of Dita Kraus holocaust survivor and secret librarian for the children's
block in Auschwitz.
