T4 by Ann Clare LeZotte
T4 by Ann Clare LeZotte is a free verse novel for about the age nine to twelve reading level that takes us inside the Holocaust but from a different perspective that we don’t see very often. That of life for a deaf child.
Although life is silent for Paula Becker she’s happy in her home with her parents and sister. But in 1939, Hitler creates T4, the program to euthanize citizens with disabilities and mental illness simply because they would be “better off” and they were not fit for life. Paula’s parents realized that life is no longer safe at home for Paula, so at the age of thirteen they send her into hiding for the duration of the war. While hiding she realizes that she’s not the only one who has reason to be afraid:
I shared my shawl and cloths
With the other children. I liked
Six-year old Nelly. She
Reminded me of Clara.
We huddled together
All nine of us.
And watched the door.
I darned my stocking
With the needle and thread
I brought along.
Nobody spoke.
We told stories
With our eyes
As we stared into
One another’s faces.
I realized
I wasn’t the only one
Who was hated.
The free verse in T4 is simple, short and to the point but it’s very powerful. LeZotte gives enough background information about the Holocaust for young readers to understand, but it’s one of those books that would be good to discuss together. T4 is a quick read (I read it under twenty minutes) that leaves a lasting impression. Although the subject matter is “no fun” this book leaves me wanting more.
T4 is Ann Clare Le Zotte’s debut novel and like her main character she is also completely deaf. I’m looking forward to more! She maintains a blog at Amazon and has a interview that you can check out at Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Middle Readers
Tags: free verse novel, Genocide, historical fiction, Holocaust, I-L Author, published 2008, Q-T Title, World War II
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I read this a few weeks ago. I wanted to have my review up last week but did not get to it.
on October 26th, 2008 at 5:59 amI thought it was a very interesting book.
This looks like a fantastic book! It should fit in nicely with the reading list that Anna at Diary of an Eccentric and I are working on for our 2009 challenge. stay tuned!
on October 26th, 2008 at 8:04 amThis does look like a must read. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!
on October 26th, 2008 at 11:08 amWow, what an interesting book. Thanks for sharing!
on October 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pmI haven’t heard of this one but it sounds fascinating! Thanks for including a bit of the writing.
on October 26th, 2008 at 7:01 pmJeanette – I hope you do review it, I look forward to reading it.
Serena – I can’t wait to see what the challenge is!
Literary Feline & Abigail – You’re welcome!
Trish – I hope you read it. It’s a good one.
on October 26th, 2008 at 11:28 pmI read this one not so long ago. I did find it simple, yet in many ways profound as well.
Becky
on October 27th, 2008 at 3:54 pmSounds like a powerful book. My daughter has expressed an interest in learning more about the Holocaust, and this would probably be a good book for me to check out.
As for the reading challenge, I hope to get it up and running for sign ups soon. I’ve just been swamped, and I’m playing catch up.
on November 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pmJust reviewed this book for WWII reading challenge. Thanks for the tip. I love free verse novels. Fantastic.
on July 9th, 2009 at 11:50 am