I GAVE THIS BOOK TO MY FAMILY IN CA..THE GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE 9 AND 11...THEY LOVED IT! MY DAUGHTER SAID THEY ALL CRIED..IT IS NOW A COFFEE TABLE BOOK FOR ALL TO SEE AND READ..
DARLENE J. SELL FAIRFAX, MN.

"Angel Girl" is a wonderfully illustrated book for kids who are of age to understand that life isn't all about themselves or getting what they want. This is a children's book for more mature kids I think, probably near the age of 10 or so, but definitely 5 and older.

The story is based on the experience of true to life couple Herman and Roma, the boy and the angel girl. While being a simplistic story of surviving a Nazi camp, it doesn't leave alot to imagination as there are mentions and detailed illustrations of starvation, work camps and soldiers with guns.

I'm not sure what age group this is for, but there definitely needs to be an adult present when reading this book, to further answer a kid's questions about all that is being written about and shown in the pictures. Although the book is an easy to read format with beautiful but haunting illustrations, much of the flow of the story cuts short to be happy ending.

It's a nice book, but kids need to know that not all stories from the Holocaust/true life are this simple or happy. I think that might need to be taught as well for kids. Sympathy is a wonderful life lesson, and that sometimes bad things happen to good people but also, that not all stories end happily.

I like the big page format, the colorful illustrations and simplistic style, but overall, a story that needs to be told with adult supervision and with an open, expected mind that any child who reads this will have alots of questions about what the story doesn't say and what some of the details in the illustrations imply.

ANGEL GIRL is a uniquely original and true story about a young Holocaust survivor. Herman was only eleven years old when he was separated from his mother. He worked for years in a concentration camp in a small town in Germany. Night after night he missed his life and his family. After a visit in a dream from his mother, she assured him that an angel would save him. Two days later she arrived - staying on the other side of the fence holding a delicious red apple. Herman's angel girl showed up everyday for months, always bringing an apple. That daily food supplement helped him live to tell the tale. Upon his release he returned to their meeting place and thanked her. Believing that was the last time he would see her...

Friedman creatively told the tragedy of the Holocaust while ending with a love story. She was able to describe the harshness of the concentration camps without the brutal and disturbing details. When I read this story aloud to elementary students, they asked poignant questions about the horrible genocide. Parents and teachers should be ready to carefully explain this time in our history. The illustrations are moving and help to convey the rhythmic prose of the storyline. The book is written for children 4-8 but older kids and adults will see the unbelievable ending as a romantic love story. I strongly recommend, ANGEL GIRL.

This book is a poignant one that will cause the reader to ask more questions and seek out answers about this era in world history. I found that after reading this with one of my childre--we had a longer honest discussion about WWII and the Holocaust.

This book is for kids, but I think that grade 3 or older children would be the best audience for the book given the subject matter. The youth reader can read this first, and then move on to Anne Frank's work.

This story proves that even in the midst of hell,humanity comes visiting.
This book would be a good introduction to the Holocaust for those young readers able to comprehend just how horrible this kid's life was.
It is touching,stark and the decency of the Angel Girl can take your breath away.

this would be a great book to use to introduce kids to the hoyulocaust without scaring them too much.very well written/illustrated.

This book tells a sad story of a Jewish boy who got separated from his family during World War Two and nearly starves to death in a concentration camp until an "angel" girl starts bringing food to him. Several years later he finds himself a grown man and is set up on a blind date, who happens to be the same angel girl that rescued him from death, and he eventually goes on to marry the girl. Such events during the war were not uncommon but most stories like that don't have as happy of an ending as this one. The story was nice, and the drawings were amazing, but I felt the book was rather short. I realize it's aimed at kids, though, and kids couldn't handle long books, so this would be perfect to read to any child while showing them the pictures. I recommend this book to parents and teachers of first or second grade students.

As a parent in an interfaith marriage, I've been on the lookout for material that will help my child understand both the positive and negative aspects of her heritage. I'm sure I'm not alone in being faced with the inevitable questions: "When will she be mature enough to understand the atrocities of the Holocaust, and how do I approach it?"

Sadly, I don't think Angel Girl will be much help in that endeavor. The story itself is rather touching, and has a bit of a poetic cadence to it -- however, I think the cadence itself may be a bit difficult for younger children to pick up on.

All things considered, I think "...a remarkable story of love, hope, and the strength of the human spirit" is overselling a bit. The story is extremely simple, but from a child's perspective, brings very little to the table. We know the narrator has been taken to a concentration camp, but a child would have no idea why. Of course, if you have an inquisitive child and take an "I'll tell him / her when he / she asks" approach, this may be exactly what you're looking for.

While a few critics label this work "depressing" (what must these readers think of Spiegelman's Maus: A Survivor's Tale or Kosinski's The Painted Bird ), I find it life-affirming.

Why I would not hesitate to share this text with a child ...

-Foremost, the more explicit details of this atrocity are omitted. On the first page, we learn of the death of Herman's mother (in the camp), but much like Herman, we only know that she "disappears." Likewise, starvation and claustrophobia are alluded to (one illustration in particular effectively implies the "crush" of the camps) but emaciation or "collections of bodies" are not shown. The focus of this work remains on one glimmer of love and benevolence rather than on the immeasurable cruelties. (Simply put: here are no illustrations that may cause nightmares).

-The language of the text is simple. The sentences (often fragments) are also simple and (frequently) staccato. There are no words for a tragedy of this magnitude, so this "quick-communication" works well.

-The illustrations are soft and compelling. Attention is given to Roma's caring eyes and a mother's protective embrace. I particularly appreciate the care invested in the rendering of the apple. The highlights, the perfect red hue, the delicate stem ... it speaks of life, nourishment, and love.

-There is a picture of the Herman and Roma on the last page with a brief biography. For a child, this helps connect the "story" to reality.

My hope is that this text will spark a dialogue between parent/child or teacher/students. Now, I would not use this text to broach the topic (it is simply unfair to begin with a miracle for one person ... and then discuss the deaths of 15,000,000 others). However, I think Friedman and Amit's work is an appropriate conclusion to a lesson-plan on The Holocaust. (Ending a discuss/lesson with "hope and kindness" will prove inspirational).

A well-rendered, beautifully written work. Thank you, Laurie Friedman and Ofra Amit.

Let's face it, concentration camps are not what we want to discuss with our children. But, awful things do happen and there are bad things in the world and sooner or later kids find out about them. At first, I wasn't sure I would even let my kids read this.

After reading it though, I had to share it with them. The book very honestly portrays concentration camps during WWII. As negative as that sounds, it isn't. The book also shows how love and miracles can come even in the most desperate situations.

The book is very thought provoking. Although the content is horrific, so are some of the things kids see on TV, video games, etc all the media that bombards our children that we try to keep them from. The difference is this book is very tastefully done and it does have a very happy ending. History is good to know. Hopefully it will not be repeated.

Angel Girl tells the true story of an 11 year-old boy who is forced into a Nazi labor camp with his brothers after his mother is taken off to a death camp. Though the subject of this picture book is horrific and sad (I choked back tears while reading it to my son), it is a part of our history and important to share with our children. Laurie Friedman delivers a touching and age-appropriate look at the kindness of people juxtaposed against the despair and brutality of the holocaust.

An important and remarkable story, tenderly written and poignantly illustrated. Friedman sums it up in her 'Author's Note' when she said, "When I first heard his story, I cried - not because it has such an incredibly sad beginning, but because it has such an unbelievably happy ending." A must for every library.

This is a touching story with a miraculous ending. The idea that this is a true story really seems remarkable. I have read other comments that question whether it is a true story or not. I'll be very disappointed if I ever learn that it is not.
However, it would serve as a great introduction to some of the history behind the holocaust for children. It is not intended, or suitable, for younger children but probably would be okay for ages 8-12. Very good illustrations as well.

Keeps the Grim Reaper away?

I like apples. No, I mean I REALLY like apples. I like them so much that I eat one every day. Well, sometimes I miss a few days because, even though there are grocery stores conveniently located a few blocks from my home, sometimes we run out. How lucky "Angel Girl" was to have apples EVERY SINGLE DAY so that she could just toss one over the fence in the heavily-guarded concentration camp where Herman lives. Other than that, his diet consisted of "soup made from water". Well, at least the inmates stayed hydrated. BUT: how long can a human being live with no food? How much work can they do without ANY food? The others must have been dropping like flies every few days.

I shouldn't be so hard, you know, because I know that hundreds of people did starve to death, and, anyway, I did enjoy this story quite a bit. And horrific things happened. Like torture, "medical experiments" , families being split up, never to see each other again, losing one's identity, being shot, starving to death. The story does broach the heavy subject of those terrible times, but, at the same time, not delving too deeply into the details. On some level, we can relate to Herman's suffering: the horrible bleakness of his living conditions, the terrible loneliness, the deep sadness of being torn from his mother, being hungry (well, no I don't think so--we can say we do, but we can't really imagine that kind of hunger), working too hard, not sleeping well. But we all experience kindness, too, and we feel like cheering when "Angel Girl" comes to visit every day with her apples. (does she have an apple tree? Yeay!)

"Angel Girl" is a striking book that elicits strong emotion, and stands out in a way that it is hard to forget. It is beautifully made and it tells a wonderful story, even if it is pretty simplistic and too pat or convenient. My children are now grown, and believe me, when they were little I read all kinds of stories to them. We have stored up a fine collection of children's literature from those years. But I don't think that any of those books is like Laurie Friedman's "Angel Girl".

It's election time, so I took my own poll. Here's the results;
1. Husband---liked the book, but thought that the subject matter is not for children.
2. Grown son---very positive about the book
3. grown son's girlfriend---very impressed, loved the book
4. Best friend (who is a child psychologist)--good book, but best suited for 9-10 year olds, or perhaps very advanced 7-8's. She said that young children cannot yet conceptualize "history"--that they dwell in the present, and don't understand the idea of the past very well.
5. self: liked it a lot, too, though a bit skeptical about the "convenient" details.

Art Review:
The artwork is arguably the best aspect of this book. Illustrated by Israeli female artist, Ofra Amit, it is both beautiful and bleak. Like any great art, her pictures stir emotions. I haven't seen any of the other books which she illustrated, but I can say that the style she uses in this instance suits the subject matter PERFECTLY. The colors are muted, the people in the camp look very sad as they fade into a blue-gray background. Some use of muted orange shades and contrasts with grays and pitch black.
I am not an artist or art critic, but I would say that this art is a type of Expressionistism That's my impression. And I am impressed. It is very stylized. I notice this especially in how the heads are painted. I did study German literature, and some history in grad school, and that's why I know that Expressionism was really big in Germany around the time of the War. Some important arts of expressionism were Jewish. All expressionistic art was banned and deemed "degenerate" by the Nazi Regime. An example of this art that many people are familiar with is "The Scream" by Edvard Munch (though he was Norwegian). Expressionism was, in my humble opinion, a very effective style to express the "Zeitgeist", and Amit use of this style is brilliant.

Finally, I think that it is a really nice little story, and would probably be a good introduction to Holocaust themes for children who are ready to deal with it. Particularly for Jewish children, or others whose lives and families were touched by the Holocaust or perhaps other oppressions. With the caveat that the story is likely over simplified and with the daily apples and the incredible and convenient "Happy End". I am glad that chose this book from "The Vine" offerings, and I recommend it to other readers.

Based on the true story of Herman and Roma Rosenblat, "Angel Girl" is a wonderfully written and illustrated book about love and hope in a labor camp during the Holocaust. Herman was just eleven years old when he and his brothers were separated from their mother and sent to a labor camp in Germany. His "angel girl" gave him the will to live.

"Angel Girl" is a children's book and author Laurie Friedman does an excellent job of capturing the horrors of the Holocaust without it being too harrowing for younger readers. She does a good job of describing what happened without going into graphic detail. She also does a good job of describing the various emotions Herman went through as he went from bewilderment to fear to anger to almost losing the will to live. With just a few words and the help of Ofra Amit's wonderful illustrations, Friedman manages to portray just how horrifying the conditions of the Labor Camp were. While the book does have a happy ending, readers will still feel sorrow and anger for Herman and anyone that had to endure the Holocaust.

"Angel Girl" is a book that parents and children should read together. It is not an easy subject for children to read and children will no doubt have a lot of questions after reading it. It is a heavy subject to read about, but an important one.

As a Jewish girl growing up in Texas, with a family a little uncomfortable about talking about the past, I learned a lot about the Holocaust from literature such as "Number the Stars" and "The Devils Arithmatic." "Angel Girl" is another book that will join the two I read as a child in teaching young Americans about the Holocaust. My one criticism of it is that the book seems to emphasize the love story instead of focusing on the Holocaust. However, I recognize this book is for children who are fairly young, and this might be a good way to introduce the topic of the Holocaust to them in an age-appropriate manner. The story was well-written, and the illustrations were incredible. I would recommend it to anyone, Jewish or not, wanting to read a story to their children with a little history behind it.

Angel Girl is a well written but accurate introduction to World War II and the Holocaust for young children. I read this aloud to both my children (5 & 7) and it provided a starting point for a brief talk on this event in history. I would be wary of reading this to children younger than 6 or 7 in general though. It does not hide the fact that children lost their parents, and the pictures, while beautiful and not horrific, are not romanticized. My five year old just listened and asked no questions, except wondering where his mom was. My seven year old was more engaged, asked more questions. Stories of the holocaust are always heart-wrenching, but this one manages to present a terrible event in history with a hopeful and "happy" ending without lessening the importance of what occurred.

Simple but powerful. This is a brilliantly written book based on a true story of a young boy, Herman,and his family, being uprooted from the comforts of their home to the horrors of the Holocaust. I won't devulge any more details but let me tell you I was moved to tears reading this book. It very simply makes you experience his pain and sorrow and all the other emotions he is feeling and the miracle that happens at the end. The illustrations are striking! I would highly recommend this book as an introduction to discussing the Holcaust with your children....when you think they are ready to tackle this sad part of our history.

A children's picture book about the Holocaust, set in a concentration camp. Wow, what a downer. But still, it's an amazing story, beautifully illustrated, about a young Polish Jew who was only eleven when he was sent to a work prison (and the rest of his family was sent to a death camp) and how his struggle to survive was given an unexpected boost by the appearance of a young girl from the nearby village who started to bring him an apple every day to supplement his starvation diet. He survived the was, then emigrated to America where he started life over. Unexpectedly, years later, he met the same girl again -- they were set up on a blind date -- and after they realized who each other was, they fell in love and married.

Although the picturebook medium seems a bit brief to fully encompass the horrors of the Holocaust, this is still a fairly unflinching story. The first half of the book, showing the narrator's agony and desolation living inside a concentration camp, is quite powerful, although by comparison the second half, in which he is liberated, repatriated and finds the love of his life, flies by too fast and seems a bit fantastic. (Apparently there is some controversy about this story's accuracy -- nonetheless, there are plans to adapt it into a feature film.) Regardless, this book would be a good way to introduce the themes of the Holocaust to young readers of an appropriate age -- it's a good starting point, although you'd certainly want to follow it up with other resources. Probably not best for readers who are too young, though. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

The art is beautiful, the story is concise and obviously written, from the vocabulary choice and short sentence structure, for ages 6 to 10. I read through it before deciding whether to share it with my children. I enjoyed the story, got teary eyed when the mother has to leave, and smiled when the boy survives and makes it through the war. The art work is dark and depressing, as it should be. This is not a happy book. The story of history from this stand point is important, and this book is quite well done.

But I don't intend to introduce the depravity of man to my children at such a tender age. It's a terrible and sad thing, and I expect that my own children will not know of the atrocity and evil one person can inflict on another until they are a bit older.

So, although very well done, this heart-wrenching, happy ending, story would make a very nice novel for teens or adults. Not for elementary students.

Sra. Gose
Author of Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 6-9: Level 1 (Book + Audio CD)

The art is beautiful, the story is concise and obviously written, from the vocabulary choice and short sentence structure, for ages 6 to 10. I read through it before deciding whether to share it with my children. I enjoyed the story, got teary eyed when the mother has to leave, and smiled when the boy survives and makes it through the war. The art work is dark and depressing, as it should be. This is not a happy book. The story of history from this stand point is important, and this book is quite well done.

But I don't intend to introduce the depravity of man to my children at such a tender age. It's a terrible and sad thing, and I expect that my own children will not know of the atrocity and evil one person can inflict on another until they are a bit older.

So, although very well done, this heart-wrenching, happy ending, story would make a very nice novel for teens or adults. Not for elementary students.

Sra. Gose
Creator of Flip Flop Learning Series:
Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 6-9: Level 1 (Book + Audio CD)
Spanish Fun Activity Calendar
Flip Flop Spanish Flash Cards: Verde (Cards)

(+)
I loved the artwork (this is what drew me in to begin with)
Great premise (a children's book based on a true story)
Some beautifully stark and concise words
Surprisingly adept at garnering an emotional response
Strong repeatable thematic elements

(-)
Sparse story line
The book leaves a lot for the parent (or reader) to explain
May be a bit heavy for a children's book

Admittedly, I have no children. However, I did read this book to my wife and we both agreed that it contains some heavy content. Being the case, I think that the weight of what Friedman writes about might be more than what a child understands. With this in mind, if you are a parent, be prepared to answer some of the questions that might arise when reading this book (ex. why didn't Herman ever see his mama again? We know the answer but a child might not be as familiar with Nazi death camps). I walked away feeling like there were wide gaps left to warrant explanation (parents be warned).

The artwork in this short work is brilliant - it's half of what drew me in to begin with. The other half is the fact that this is based on a true story. This, my friends, is the other side of the heaviness of this story as our future generations need to remember the reality of what evil produces in this world and the miraculousness of new beginnings despite that evil. Friedman, in so few words, helps to remind us that there can be beauty found through pain and that hope can exist in the darkest of places. Ofra Amit's illustrations hold so much weight in their unembellished beauty - retaining the beauty of creation while also exemplifying an honest humanness. The repetition of words helped to define what was most important in the character's lives and relationships.
Altogether, I really did enjoy this and think it a credit in remembering those who have passed before us. May their plight be never forgotten - thank you Laurie Friedman and Ofra Amit.

Angel Girl
Laurie Friedman, Illustrations by Ofra Amit

Based on a true story

This is a beautiful hard back book with colored pictures head to toe. The story is short and will have a tear in your eye after the first few pages. It is touching and based in truth makes it incredible.

Angel Girl is based on a true story. Those books already have a heightened level of interest. This one did not disappoint. The story is about a boy that was separated from his mother during the year 1942. They were placed into separate prison camps. This was sad enough (being a mother myself), but the terrible circumstances of these camps are barbaric. The boy was starving to death (literally) and all he could do for comfort was dream about his mother. His mother told him an angel would come to help him--this happened, so to speak, in the form of a little girl who lived on a nearby farm. Everyday she would bring him an apple.

I don't want to give the ending away, but life takes a very interesting turn of events. This was a neat story and actually made me cry when I read the end because it was so neat.

The illustrations are great. I thought it may be a little deep for the age for which it was written, but it is a solid, thought-provoking story. My four-year-old enjoyed it in a somber way. Overall, a worthwhile book.

When raising kids you have to balance protecting them from harsh realities that you don't think they are ready to handle and creating a false sense of reality by overprotecting them.

This book gives you an opportunity to talk to your child about bad things (war) that happen to people but how people can survive and overcome hardships. The book is well written and illustrated and will hold the interest of the adult and child.

Based on the real story of a young Holocaust survivor, the subject matter of this story is significantly heavier than is often found in children's books. While the story does have an almost unbelievably happy ending, there is much potentially disturbing content in this story. The author has blunted much of the most graphic details of these events, but the story still provoked probing questions from my daughters (ages 7 and 10) that lead to a discussion of the Holocaust and the reasons its important to learn about it. Parents should be prepared for similar responses from their children if they read this book.

The book itself is powerfully written. The staccato rhythm of the single word "sentences" serve to powerfully convey the emotional content of the story. The illustrations also work well with the story content, without being overly graphic. I approached this book with some trepidation, not sure how this material could be presented for children this young, but the author and illustrator have done a terrific job. Provided that parents are ready to help the children understand the context of this story, I would highly recommend it.

This book delivers on the promise of the ad copy. The short, evocative text and soft colors on the pictures lead to a very poignant story. The only problem is, it may be a little *too* poignant for many sensitive kids. Yes, many of the horrors of the concentration camps are left out, Still, my 6 year old would have a really hard time with this. The forcible separation of the child from his mother (and the fact that he never saw her again) would upset her right from the start, and for her, the horrors in the camp would not be offset by the hopeful ending. On the other hand, I think it's a good choice to share with my older children, along with more narrative accounts. So even though it's a picture book, I would opt to save it for slightly older children. Maybe 8+. I would personally not give this to a 4-6 year old, and I would have to consider the individual child at around 7. Still, though, it's a keeper, and a valuable addition to my homeschooling library.

What an excellently written story of such a terrible event, but it has such a wonderful happy ending! I cried tears of sorrow and then of joy. I am so glad they have shared their story with the world. It is a testimony of how a brave act of kindness can reach so far and have such a huge impact.

Herman, an eleven-year old boy, is separated from his mother. Confused and alone, he wonders how he will survive in his new world, a concentration camp (although the reality of that he does not seem to understand). Living and seeing, yet not quite understanding how evil people can be, he finds hope in the form of a young girl (called Angel) who gives sneaks him food.

After the war, Herman comes to America and discovers that it offers everything he can imagine and hope for, as well as an opportunity to reconnect with his "Angel".

After reading this story, I decided to let my sons (7 and 10) read it. Of course, they didn't know or understand a lot of it, but it did give us the opportunity to discuss a time and era when some of the most horrendous crimes were committed (WWII and Nazi Germany).

What a beautiful book! The illustrations are so artistically moving, the text is poetic and meaningful, using minimal words to convey a lot of feelings and experiences. The book isn't long and could easily be read aloud to children. And the story is real. That has been called into question, but whether or not someone remembers the dates correctly, they would not both imagine the same story, not long after experiencing it. Those details do not matter to the overall appeal of this book.

Really, it's not easy to approach such a serious topic with children. You want them to understand, but not be too afraid. This book might give them some concerns, but the beauty of the story takes them from feeling bad to feeling relieved. Highly recommended.

This children's book is a haunting account of a young boy (Herman) who is taken to a nazi concentration camp during WWII. Separated from his Mother and brother he ends up at a labor camp where work days are long and hard and food is scarce. Until he sees his "Angel Girl" - a girl who shows up outside the fence of the camp and every day throws him an apple. After the war he and his brother reunite and travel first to England and then to the United States where, coincidentily he is set up on a blind date with his "Angel Girl."

My only complaint is that the story seems a little too convenient. Also I am not sure its a story that really young children will understand or get. It is however beautiful.

This is an incredible true story that brought me to tears, but like the author says, the tears were of joy for the happy ending. The setting for the book is a Nazi labor camp in 1942. Even with the harsh setting, the book is written in a manner that makes it appropriate for elementary children. Even a young child will understand and appreciate the risks the angel girl takes to save the young boy in the camp. Although the story never says directly that the boy's mother dies, it does tell of the two times that she comes to her son in dreams to let him know that he will be saved by an angel. A truly powerful story, this one will stay in your mind for a long time. There is nothing fluffy or silly about this book for children.

First, let me say the illustrations by Ofra Amit are unbelievable. Profoundly telling in their depth. With this depth you can feel and see pain, hopelessness, sorrow and fear. Along with Hope. There is always a shred of hope and Ofra Amit paints it. The story is not unfamiliar in the fact of a young Jewish boy having to endure what can't even be described other than undescribeable. I can't even beging to understand the horrors this boy must have felt in that filthy work camp during such an inexusable time. But, as I believe, with every pound of pain there is an ounce of hope. This young, courageous boy was befriended by an equally young, courageous girl who saw his pain, forgot hers, and gave him hope. As with all of my book reviews I choose not to talk about the plot and definately do not wish to speak of the ending. I will however, praise this remakable true story written by Laurie Friedman about two amazingly strong, beautiful, courageous and yes, inspiring people, Herman and Rosa Rosenblat. Thank you for sharing with us such a poignant story.

Even though the real-life details of this story are summarized in the back of this children's book, the story is so amazing that you'll scarcely believe it.

But, it's true. In fact, as a journalist checking out details of the story, I can tell you that the real story is even more dramatic -- and certainly more horrifying -- than this book portrays.

I think it's great that Friedman and Amit decided to soften some of the gruesome edges of the main character's life in a death camp. It's gripping and honest, as it stands, and the real focus of this particular story isn't the horrors of the Holocaust. The theme that will make you read this book over and over again is the courage and persistence of goodness and love.

The book tells the story of a mysterious little girl who risks her life to toss food to a little boy in a death camp. Years after the war, they meet again. You won't believe the final pages, but they're true.

And, I say: Thank God for that.

Real life truly does produce the best stories. This book in many ways is more powerful than the best fiction. The story is amazing, the struggle and the human pathos is deep and the conclusion hopeful and satisfying. An amazing addition for collectors of nicely-illustrated childrens' books.
Highly recommended.

Trying to find the right tone to educate young readers about horrific events in our history, isn't easy. But Laurie Friedman finds the perfect pitch to tell the true story of Holocaust survivor Herman. The words are clear and the images are simple -- without being so graphic that might unsettle a young, impressionable reader. This story educates about humanity and of a devatating time; the images and interest evoked in the subject will likely, as in our 8 year old's reading, generate much discussion forewith. Even in the ugliest of times, we find humanity and heroes. The illustrations are beautiful. Highly recommended --for 7 years and up.

When checking the question above that asks are you more than 13, I realized I'm a lot older than the intended audience of this book. Designed as a medium sized coffee table type book, and to have somewhat of an attraction to children who can read. Large contrasting color print, with overlaying illustrations many pages, or side by side to an illustration on most pages. I tried to imagine if I would read it as a kid, and the answer was yes. I recall a similar book in my family on a different subject called the "Little Match Girl." I read that at an early age, and had to ask my parents to understand the tragic ending.

The subject of this book is equally tragic, but the story is thankfully not. While I think the story is still a bit too short, even for a child's book, I was grateful they had not put in the kind of detail I know was present in abundance at the time it took place. The book ending is surprising, and I'm someone who is rarely caught off guard. I think the child in me liked it too.

The art is an important component of this book, and I thought the author chose the artist quite well. The illustrated characters are not comic, nor overly real, overly colorful or overly bland. They are pastel in appearance and fit in well with the current phrasing in the book. This is not something you'll read to your four-year-old at bedtime. It is equally not something your teenager will care much about. I think the goal was to spark an interest in the holocaust for young people, perhaps those who are just developing an interest in various books.

Does the book have educational material for children? Very little, it is about a specific, undetailed instance during WWII. Would it be disturbing to children? It depends on how much they can read between the lines, and how curious they become about the subject. The myriads of horrors in a Nazi concentration camp are not in view here. Hunger, death, loneliness and cruelty are in view, as is hope and perhaps divine guidance. Some children may stop there and take it at face value. The ones that don't may learn too soon the evil that exists in some men. Let your own family values guide you here.

This is a children's book, in that it has large, page-filling illustrations and very little text, only a few sentences per page. But it has a very serious subject matter.

The story is about a young Jewish boy in Nazi Germany during World War II, who is separated from his parents and sent to a work camp. Like the other children in the camp, he endures hunger and cold and overwork, but he is sustained by a kind little girl who appears outside the fence every day and gives him an apple. He calls her his "angel girl."

By the time the war ends, the boy is still alive, and he says goodbye to his friend. Years go by and he grows to be an adult. But he is not done with his angel girl.

Amazingly, it is based on the true story of Herman Rosenblat, and according to the liner notes, when the author Laurie Friedman heard the story, she was so moved that she was driven to tell the story to children.

The book is sad but ultimately uplifting. It does not shine a glaring light on the plight of the Jews. For example, Herman's parents are probably executed, but the book doesn't mention that. Nor does it mention the other Jewish children who froze, starved to death or were shot in the camp. But the illustrations, by Israeli artist Ofra Amit, of the harrowed, pinched faces of the children reveal their suffering.

The illustrations are especially lovely. Executed in delicately colored oil pastels, they convey the sadness, the pain, the fear and the pity of the camp and Herman's life afterward, but in a way that telegraphs that it is a story, and this is a story book. They both communicate and encapsulate, as it were. It is as if a very melancholy and sweet music were playing in the background, reminding you that it is not reality but a story. In that way they act like "Once upon a time..." and "Happily ever after." Those fairy tale conventions create a kind of distance that makes allows young readers to swallow fantastic, even violent events.

That is probably the key issue for me. Though it has a very delicate hand, it does tell a harrowing story. Very thoughtful or sensitive children may be left with troubling questions, happy ending notwithstanding.

And that raises the question of who the book is intended for. The book is moving for adults, even though it takes perhaps 15 minutes to read, and is a "children's book" besides. Young children might find it more than moving.

Adults who buy this book for their young loved ones should decide what they might have to say about that most troubling of human questions: not merely awkward issues like sex or divorce or homosexuality, but human evil itself. The story itself is uplifting, but it takes place against a background of racism, mass murder, and attempted genocide. The book leaves that background entirely unexplored, as it probably must. But that doesn't mean young minds won't want to explore it.

When I was a child, I once cried for hours when I realized that fishermen might stand for hours waiting for a fish to bite. That struck me as overwhelmingly sad and hopeless. Perhaps I was unusual, but I am probably not unique.

Ultimately, the sad thing is there is even such a story. Children deserve to hear the truth about human nature, even when it is inhuman. But when should they hear it?

On the other hand, perhaps some children will hear the story impassively, or just be cheered when everything turns out okay (within the parameters of the story, which again, leaves out the larger story of the Holocaust and the ultimate fate of over a million Jewish children.) Is that what we want?

But the Holocaust itself is almost inconceivable already, and maybe incomplete, personal stories like this one are the only way we can understand it. Maybe that speaks to our own limitations more than anything else.

Without being gory or graphic, this sweet story of Herman -- a young man in a concentration camp who is befriended by a young "angel" from outside the barbed wire -- is suitable for young children while introducing the concepts and iconography of the Shoah. All the elements are present, with the frightening ones -- guards, guns and guard towers -- muted, and the most frighting ones -- dogs, dead bodies and gas chambers -- left out.

"Angel Girl" tells a story of courage, love and compassion that outlived the war. It is drawn with competence and gentleness; it is told in spare words that are matter-of-fact, yet compelling and emotional.

Parents wishing to expose their young children to the Holocaust should not fear reading this book to their kids. But a number of strange elements -- striped prison uniforms, for instance -- might prompt older children to ask questions (Is Herman in jail because he is bad? Why do the people have stars on their clothes? ) that parents should be ready to answer.

"Angel Girl" is a rare story of hope based on actual events in Holocaust-era Germany. A wonderful and gentle story that brings difficult, frightening and important events into the consciousness of the very young.

Angel Girl is a remarkable tale about a young Jewish kid who survives the horrors of concentration camp life during World War II through the kindness of a local village girl. Everyday, she comes by and tosses an apple to the kid. Through this simple act of kindness, the kid manages to stave off death by starvation and manages to survive the ordeal. But the best part of this story has yet to be told. I would like to give away the ending but you'll have to find out for yourself. I would recommend it to children. It tells the story of the Holocaust but in away that's educational and not filled with gratuitous shock value or overtly preachy about the subject matter. A short, simple and sweet tale about survival and hope.

The book is illustrated quite well. The expressionist style captures the mood and tone of the story. I can't wait to find more works from the writer and illustrator.

Highest recommendation possible.

I love the poetic style which Laurie Friedman uses to delicately convey tragic and repulsive events of the holocaust. Yet, this children's book does not tell all the ugliness of Nazi prison camps in words. It is discreet and lets the pictures quietly fill in where words end.

I do not want my young children to know the full force of the ugliness that some children throughout history have endured. I tell them what I feel their minds are ready to hold. I appreciate the author's understanding that a parent must discern if their child is strong enough to process certain facts of life. As they mature I will expose them to more, but for now I must be careful.

Before reading this book to my children, I told them specific historical facts that I felt they needed to know so they would have a basic understanding of Hitler's Germany. One child has troubles hearing about the ugliness in the world, so I mentioned that they might find the story difficult. But this particular child ended up reading the book twice on their own.

This is a story of the bravery of two young people. It is the story of hope in the middle of mind-numbing fear and starvation. It is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. These are the kind of people I want my children to look up to and be inspired by.

Coupled with the illustrations, this book is a magnum opus in its genre. Thank you Laurie Friedman and Ofra Amit.

I did not realise this is a childs intraduction to the horrors of the Nazi death camps. Anyway it is carefully written and designed not to shock but to teach and is an excellent start for any young student.

"Angel girl" is a book about a Jewish boy, Herman, who is brought as a prisoner to a camp. A girl, Roma, on the other side of the fence of the camp brings him food and hope.

The story is based on actual events. At the end of the book, there is a page about the real Herman and Roma. They got married and have celebrated their 50th anniversary. According to the book, "Herman still calls Roma his angel girl". So sweet that their love story has lasted this long.

Amazon lists the age group for this book for ages 4-8. I'd say that 4 is a little young for this subject matter unless your child has been introduced to the subject of the Holocaust. I do think it's a good book for children who have started to learn about what happened during the Holocaust and would like to learn more. Or if you want to introduce the subject to your child, I think this book is a good way for children to start to learn about it. You may have to prepare your child first because the book does not gloss over the horror that happened during the Holocaust. The book does end on a happy note though.

In a terrible situation, an 11 year old boy is put into a concentration camp in Germany during World War II. His mother taught him to lie about his age and is given a job because he alleges he is 16. The only food he is given for the hard labor, is a soup that is mostly water. He will starve if he can't get more food. A dream allows his mother to speak to him and tell him that an angel is coming to help him. The angel comes in the form of a girl who comes to the fence of the camp and throws him an apple. She returns every day for months, even though both his life and her life are in danger. He knows and she knows that the apple is a way to help him survive. Later after liberation, a miracle occurs. And this is a true story! And this is a very, very good book.

Okay, I am man enough to admit that even though this is a children's book designed for children (obviously), that it tells a very powerful story that had me a little misty eyed by the end of it. Alright, so maybe I did have a small tear in my eye, but you will too once you've read this story.

To start off with, this is a true story of love and hope in a time when the only thing a lot of people experienced was death and despair. Set against the horrors of Nazi Germany during World War II, this book tells the story of a young Jewish boy who survived the concentration camps with some divine intervention in the form of his, "Angel Girl."

This is a children's book and therefore can be read in just a few minutes, and that is all that it will take for this story to literally tear your heart out. I myself have a very hardened heart when it comes to the things that adults do to one another, but it is as soft as a marshmallow when it comes to children and animals.

The illustrations in this book are quite moving, but not too much for children to see. I commend the illustrator for her ability to "paint a picture" of the horrors without being to scary for their target audience, which of course is younger children.

I won't give too much more of the story away other than to say that I found the last page of the book with the two very important and memorable photographs to be the most touching pieces for me out of the entire book, other than the story itself of course.

I would highly recommend that parents get this book and read it to their children not only for the historical and humanitarian purposes, but to also help explain the infinite power of love and hope during times when there perhaps isn't any signs of them at all. But then again, maybe there is, if you have faith and know where to look.

And don't be afraid to share a tear or two, I know I did when reading the story, and then again when I composed this review.

May GOD continue to Bless Herman and Roma and their family!

Shawn Kovacich
Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

Wow! This is a very powerful book. This book touched my heart and brought a tear of joy after reading the Epilogue. The only other children's books that gripped me so emotionally was The Giving Tree and Love you forever.

The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD

Love You Forever

This story is probably best for a young child with a degree of maturity and appreciation for valuing human life and accepting the differences/similarities of cultures. I prefaced reading this book by putting the context of the persecution of the Jewish people during the World War (to my 7 year old) and prior to their liberation. Her familiarity with the civil rights movement through learning about Martin Luther King, Jr, and Rosa Parks put this book into perspective. The stark reality of the hardships during the Holocaust is set with the first scene in the book where a young Jewish boy gets into a box car...never to see his mother again.

Herman is a young boy who is imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, separated from his parents never to see them again. He survives the trials as a prisoner through the memories of his mother and family life. This is a touching story about a how the young man is saved by a wonderful angel that aids in his survival until the end of the war.

It is a touching book that sets the stage for teaching a child about one of the darkest times of World History. My daughter truly appreciated the book, as did I.

I highly recommend this book for such a sensitive topic.

Regardless of the veracity of Angel Girl, it's a darling story of a terrible time told in a way that kids can easily understand and digest without totally freaking out at the sometimes grim realities of history and life.
It's written with a matter-of-fact (as opposed to hysterical) tone:
"Herman," she said. "The time has come for you to be a man."
That's Herman's mother, admonishing him to go with his brothers - a choice sending him to a labor, as opposed to death, camp. Things are bad there, very bad, and the serendipitous appearance of a young farmgirl at the fence gives him something to look forward to, both physically and emotionally - she promises to return every day with an apple.
The ending, while surprisingly unexpected, is magical.
Ofra Amit, the illustrator, is from Israel. With what I think are pastels, she has captured the essence of the story in a style reminiscent of Maira Kalman. Her depictions of the text are appropriately spare, conveying both the gravity of the text, and the hope of the outcome.
Lerner Publishing Group, the overseeing publisher of Carolrhodabooks, has made available on their website downloadable pdfs for teachers, or others interested in using Angel Girl as a jumpstart to discussion of the Holocaust. There is a thoughtful discussion guide, and a Q & A with the author.

The Holocaust is such a difficult subject to address to children--the horror, the monstrosity of the vile baseness that infected humanity in the early 20th century is beyond comprehension. However, many of us feel an urgent need to continually keep at the forefront of societal consciousness what happened. What happened, how it happened, how some few evil people snowed the masses into allowing evil to rule.

In this story, children can appropriately be introduced to this tragedy. Friedman and Amit create an affecting picture story that impacts with words and with images. The subject matter is dealt with truthfully without being horrific. Parents need not worry about it being too much for grade schoolers to handle. However, the awful reality is not glossed over.

What makes this story so incredibly effective is the brightness and hope offered by one family risking everything to help one little boy. The story brought tears to my eyes--in the midst of horror and tragedy, there is still light. And this is a powerful illustration of that.

I also adored Amit's illustrations; I don't think it's coincidental that the facial styling is strikingly similar to the animation of The Prince of Egypt. This is a highly recommended work for parents and libraries, and it will be a special book at our house.

I have read many books on the Holocaust, mostly for adults, and a few children's books dealing with the theme and have always been amazed that though the events of those dark days have been repeatedly written about, dramatized etc - each story is always unique in that it gives one a fresh perspective about the Holocaust or Shoah.

This latest Holocaust-themed book for children is definitely a keeper - the story centers around Herman Rosenblat, an 11-year-old boy who is separated from his mother and sent away with his brothers to a work camp in Germany, all because they are Jewish. This is during World War Two, a dark period in human history, and especially so for those of Jewish origin in Germany. Many are sent to their deaths, especially the weak, women, children and the elderly. In the camp, Herman finds life very hard, desperately missing his mother's comforting presence, whilst yearning for a lost childhood and simple pleasures. The lack of food makes the threat of death by starvation very real but Herman finds an 'angel girl' who brings him food to keep up his strength. Does Herman survive the camp and war, and will he be reunited with his 'angel girl'? The answers are revealed in the book.

The text is simple yet engaging, perfect for introducing such a disturbing topic to young children [ages 7-11]. Author Laurie Friedman has managed to simplify a story about a horrific period in history,based on the actual experiences of Herman Rosenblat and make it accessible to younger readers. Even as an adult I found myself tearing up many times as I read through the 32 pages. The story is further enhanced by the wonderful color illustrations by gifted artist Ofra Amit who has also illustrated "A Girl from There", an adult Holocaust memoir.

All in all, "Angel Girl" is a poignant Holocaust-themed story of love, loss, survival and hope with an inspiring message that will surely engage readers both young and old.I would also recommend another children's book, The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco, also set during the Nazi era, but in France

Angel girl is a beautiful childrens book with a beautiful story. It is also remarkably short but it is afterall a childrens book and despite being short it manages to evoke many emotions. I couldn't help but cry while Herman struggles through life in the concentration camp living on memories of better times and his family and then again when he meets Roma again in America.
The illustrations add much to the book as well. It is dark and grey when appropriate and bright when recalling happier times. Every picture portrays and captures perfectly each emotional moment in the book.
For such a little book is extremely moving and powerful. Forgive me though if I have been unable to explain with justice how lovely a book this is. The quality of this sotry is only truly felt when personally read.

I have read many books on the Holocaust, mostly for adults, and a few children's books dealing with the theme and have always been amazed that though the events of those dark days have been repeatedly written about, dramatized etc - each story is always unique in that it gives one a fresh perspective about the Holocaust or Shoah.

This latest Holocaust-themed book for children is definitely a keeper - the story centers around Herman Rosenblat, an 11-year-old boy who is separated from his mother and sent away with his brothers to a work camp in Germany, all because they are Jewish. This is during World War Two, a dark period in human history, and especially so for those of Jewish origin in Germany. Many are sent to their deaths, especially the weak, women, children and the elderly. In the camp, Herman finds life very hard, desperately missing his mother's comforting presence, whilst yearning for a lost childhood and simple pleasures. The lack of food makes the threat of death by starvation very real but Herman finds an 'angel girl' who brings him food to keep up his strength. Does Herman survive the camp and war, and will he be reunited with his 'angel girl'? The answers are revealed in the book.

The text is simple yet engaging, perfect for introducing such a disturbing topic to young children [ages 7-11]. Author Laurie Friedman has managed to simplify a story about a horrific period in history,based on the actual experiences of Herman Rosenblat and make it accessible to younger readers. Even as an adult I found myself tearing up many times as I read through the 32 pages. The story is further enhanced by the wonderful color illustrations by gifted artist Ofra Amit who has also illustrated "A Girl from There", an adult Holocaust memoir.

All in all, "Angel Girl" is a poignant Holocaust-themed story of love, loss, survival and hope with an inspiring message that will surely engage readers both young and old.