Monday, March 03, 2014

The Boy on the Wooden Box (2013)

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 240 pages. [Source: Library]

Definitely loved this memoir! I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in reading about the Holocaust. The story begins in the late 1930s in Poland, and continues on through the war to liberation. It is the story of a young boy and his family--many members were saved by Schindler, however, not all of them, for not all lived in the same community and had the same opportunities to come and work for Schindler. Still, it seems miraculous that so many of his immediate family WERE saved, and did survive the war despite all the horrors and hardships and unknowns. Leon Leyson's memoir is powerful and compelling, just what you'd expect. But it was also thoughtful and age-appropriate. It did a good job in providing details and experiences, grounding this very human story into history.

There was just something about it that I LOVED. 
He could reflect with love and affection on the people he loved and respected; he seemed to hold onto the good of his past, the little things and the not-so-little things that made his childhood what it was. He did this without negating the things that were painful and bitter and just as true. The narrative voice was so strong and wonderful in this one.

© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

1 comment:

Ms. Yingling said...

Have you ever read Moskin's I Am Rosemarie? It was published in the 1970s but is still my favorite Holocaust book. I'm definitely buying two copies of this one.