The Year of Goodbyes (MG)

The Year of Goodbyes. Debbie Levy. 2010. Hyperion. 144 pages.

Don't Make A Mess
January 1938

Behold my album's cleanliness,
and when you write don't make a mess.

I write these words on the very first page of my brand-new book,
my wordless,
untouched,
blank-new book
with sturdy brown covers,
like heels of bread
spread with smooth butter pages inside--
my favorite sandwich.
It's what we all write
(in German)
at the front of our books,
our empty, inviting
poesie books,
before we ask friends
to fill up the pages
with poems and promises,
wishes and warnings,
names and dates.

It is January 1938
I am Jutta Salzberg,
a Jewish girl
in the city of Hamburg,
between the Elbe and Alster rivers,
in the north of Germany.

The Year of Goodbyes is a verse novel based on a true story. The book contains actual entries from Jutta Salzberg's autograph book, her poesiealbum. (I believe a few journal entries are included as well.) In between entries, the narrative is in verse. Debbie Levy is sharing her mother's story. These 'poems' give the reader background into what life was like--for a Jewish family--in Germany in 1938. These poems deal with worries and fears about Hitler. But they also deal with a girl's ordinary life: school, friends, etc.

I definitely recommend this one for those that like historical fiction set during this time period.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews