Making Bombs for Hitler

Reviewed by: Cidney Mayes - Memorial Middle School , South Portland, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 20, 2017

Review

Lida is a nine year-old Ukrainian girl who is taken along with her sister by the Nazis. She is separated from her sister when she is knocked unconscious, and awakes to find herself on a train headed towards a labor camp. The horror of work camp life not glossed over, and Lida is subjected to incredibly cruel living conditions. She finds solace in repeating her mother's phrase "you can make beauty anywhere" and in her job at the laundry as the camp's only seamstress. Her impressive skill with a needle and thread get her noticed by Nazi officials, who then have her sent with other girls from the camp to make bombs in a factory every day, until the camp is liberated after the war.

Although Lida is a nine year-old, she speaks and acts much more maturely for her age, and the details of camp life seem appropriate for an older audience. However, the book is written for a younger reader, which makes this title tricky to assign to one specific age group. This would be a good title to give to a lower-level reader who is studying or interested in World War II fiction. Plot points and backstory, such as how Lida and her sister were taken by the Nazis in the first place even though they are Ukrainian, are glossed over, and little explanation for her parents' deaths are given. This can be slightly disorienting for a reader who does not have enough prior knowledge about the time period, but the storyline will keep readers engaged. Recommended for middle school students.

Overall Book Score: good