Mr. Benjamin's Suitcase of Secrets

Reviewed by: Barbara Merritt - Scarborough Schools, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 27, 2017

Review

This is a very odd book based on a true incident. The author read about it and was fascinated so wrote the story. Mr. Benjamin was a philosopher who had extraordinary ideas. He apparently lived in France (the book does not say that, but signs on stores are in French). When people began to get punished for having different thoughts (at the beginning of WWII, though only the presence of soldiers with vague swastikas on their sleeve indicate that) he decided he must leave. By then, as shown in frightening illustrations, enemy soldiers pointing guns are all over. He enlists the help of Mrs. Fittko to take a secret journey to escape. He comes carrying a heavy red suitcase, the contents of which he refuses to divulge. When he gets to the border, he is turned back. Mr. Benjamin and the suitcase then disappeared and were never found. No one ever discovered what was in the suitcase. Illustrations are collages done in black, gray, and red so are somber. People are all very serious. In the back are historical notes about Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. Fittko who really did lead refuges to escape. I cannot figure out the intended audience for this book. The story is not one that would be of interest to younger children. It is just odd.

Overall Book Score: fair