Title: Little Edna’s War – See Here
Author: Janet Bond Brill, PhD
Genre: Nonfiction/Memoir
Audience: Adult
“A gripping, well-done narrative that does justice to Edna’s amazing story. The narrative is moving and vulnerable, reflecting on a terrifying time in history and examining the aftereffects of those experiences on the children who confronted them. Readers will grieve, cheer, and be inspired.”
— BookLife, Publishers Weekly
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Brill’s fast-paced, heart-wrenching account of how her late mother-in-law, Edna Stefania Brill, survived the Holocaust is a powerful portrayal of World War II’s impact, specifically on the Jewish children exposed to its horrors. This is a harrowing story of a young Jewish girl living in Warsaw at the onset of the war, and Edna comes to vivid life in Brill’s hands—from her work as a courier for the Polish Home Army to her time as a prisoner of war after the surrender of Polish forces.
Prose: Brill is a talented storyteller, capable of balancing history and the emotions of its characters. Edna’s story here unfolds in first-person perspective, rendering it all the more striking and authentic.
Originality: Edna’s experiences as a child forced to fend for herself during extreme danger—plus the lengths she and her sister Miriam had to go through when disguised as Catholic orphans—make this story stand out. Whether smuggling food, memorizing escape routes as a soldier, or being granted an audience with Pope Pius XII for her bravery, Edna emerges as resolute and unbelievably courageous.
Character/Execution: Overall, Little Edna’s War is a gripping, well-done narrative that does justice to Edna’s amazing story. The narrative is moving and vulnerable, reflecting on a terrifying time in history and examining the aftereffects of those experiences on the children who confronted them. Readers will grieve, cheer, and be inspired by both Edna and Miriam.
Overall score: 9.50 out of 10, with perfect 10s for Plot and Prose.
