Bibliography Janeczko, Paul B. 2011. Requiem: Poems of the Terezín Ghetto. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763647278 Review & Critical Analysis In his moving, historical poetry collection, Requiem: Poems of the Terezín Ghetto, Paul B. Janeczko recreates the lives of the Jews living in Theresienstadt. Hailed by Hitler as an artistic haven for Jewish artists, it was actually little more than a Czech way station for its residents as they made their way to the concentration camps and gas chambers. Janeczko recreates the lives of the people who lived there with moving poetry, beautiful illustrations (by the residents themselves), and characters who bring this place and the times in which they lived to life. Each poem, told from the perspective of different residents of Terezín, leaves a lasting emotional impact in very few words. Janeczko is able to bring the feelings and emotions of each character to life in a realistic and impactful way. You feel their sorrows, their anger, their joy, and their hope. You also feel the bone-crushing despair and fear that grips them as they see their friends and loved ones die or leave, never to return. The simple poems create a vivid picture full of language, rhythm, and sound that stick with the reader. The poems included in this book take on the perspective of multiple characters, most of which are based upon Janeczko’s research and are mostly fictional. Even so, each character is incredibly realistic, and in just a few lines, connects the reader to new experiences and emotions. The experiences of the characters, though foreign to most readers, are powerful, moving, and create connections to the feelings of oppressed peoples all over the world. The historical connections to the Holocaust and World War II, along with the intense emotional imagery are insightful and appealing to readers of many different levels. The overall quality of the poems and the book are very high and consistent. Each poem introduces a new perspective or event from the Terezín Ghetto. The poems cross many moods and emotions, leaving the reader feeling sad, angry, scared, defiant, sick, restless, and even hopeful. These poems truly bring to life what it was like for the people who lived and died in this place. Janeczko does a wonderful job of keeping alignment in the purpose of the poems while moving through the emotions and experiences of the characters. Even with the deep and emotional subject matter, a glimmer of hope and resilience shines through, leaving a lasting emotional impact on the reader. Each poem is titled with the character’s name and their identification number. The character then tells their piece of the story in a short, free verse poem. Along with the poems, Janeczko includes black and white illustrations, many of which were drawn in the Terezín Ghetto by the artists that lived there. These illustrations, credited at the end of the book, depict life in the Ghetto and the emotions the residents felt during their time there. Janeczko also includes an afterword with further information about the Terezín Ghetto, an author’s note with information about his research and motivation, and a list of selected sources for further reading and research. Also included is a list of foreign words and phrases used throughout the book with their origin and meaning, as well as art credits for the illustrations. The table of contents at the beginning of the book guides the reader and provides a quick glance at the characters in the book. This collection of poetry was an incredibly moving and memorable read. I especially loved how Janeczko was able to include such an array of emotion in so few lines. I was also impressed in the amount of research he conducted, as well as his inclusion of events and characters with deep cultural meaning. Janeczko did not shy away from a subject that can be dark and heavy. In doing so, he created a piece of poetry that gives light to the plight of oppressed people through the voices of the Jewish men, women, and children who lived, died, and hoped in the Terezín Ghetto. Spotlight Poem Marie Jelinek / 17789 The doors of the cattle car rumbled, opened. We spilled onto the platform, eager even for snow and wind. We found floodlights barking dogs vile shouts from SS soldiers. Shoves and commands – “Line up! Hurry!” – were met with screams crying names called in darkness. Crammed through the Schleuse, where papers were issued and most of our belongings stolen, replaced with promises. Beasts of burden, we shouldered bundles of what pieces of the past we were allowed to keep as we joined the river of fear a current of shuffling feet, sobs, and whimpers that crept past dark mouths of archways and windows to Terezín. This poem, found on pages 7-8, depicts Marie Jelinek’s arrival at Terezín. The desire to feel fresh air is replaced by the fear and chaos of being herded toward the camp that would become her home, and very likely a gateway to the gas chambers. The emotion in this poem, from having belongings taken away, to possibly being separated from loved ones is palpable. This poem (and this collection of poetry) would be a wonderful complement to a social studies unit on World War II and the Holocaust. I would introduce this poem by first reading it aloud. After reading, I would ask students to share what emotions the poem depicted. What words did the author use to create an image in the reader’s mind? After reading and sharing, I would share other poems written about World War II and the Holocaust with the students, including poetry written by those who experienced it. As a follow-up activity, I would ask students to select a poem about this time period. Together, we would create an anthology of poems depicting the people, events, and emotions, as well as the effects each had to share with our school community.
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AuthoRMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own. Archives
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