For readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Choice : this is the story of the smallest
library in the world - and the most dangerous. '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...
The Sunday Times bestseller for readers of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas The Tattooist of
Auschwitz and The Choice . From the author of The Prince of the Skies based on the incredible
and moving true story of Dita Kraus holocaust survivor and secret librarian for the children's
block in Auschwitz.
