Here is the review of Is it Night or Day? by the Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), the library magazine servicing those who serve young adults:

In 1938 Edith Westerfeld is twelve years old when her family puts her on a ship in Bremen,Germany that carries her to the Deutchland, an oceanliner that transports her to New York City. From there, all alone, she is put on a train to Chicago, Illinois where she lives with her father’s brother, his wife, and their teenage daughter. Edith is treated more like a servant than part of their family, but she strives to learn English, do all of the work demanded by her aunt, do well in school, and save money to send her parents in the hope that they will be able to join her. From having to start with first grade at school, to the anti-Semitic attitudes that abound even in America, Edith struggles in this new country but finds solace in walks to the shores of Lake Michigan, in baseball’s Hank Greenberg, and in the public library where she escapes into books. Shattered by a letter informing her of the deaths of her parents, she realizes she must carry on with life despite her losses. Author Chapman tells readers in an introductory note that this historical fiction work is based on an American rescue operation named “the One Thousand Children,” which her own mother was a part of, in order to give voice to another group of Holocaust victims. Edith’s story is compelling and interesting, shedding light on a young immigrant’s fears, confusion, and loss. This is a superb addition to any Holocaust or American History collection. Students will be moved by Edith’s story.

To listen to the interview, go to http://www.theauthorsshow.com/

My new web site showcasing my school presentations has gone live at AIVS (Authors and Illustrators who Visit Schools). Please visit: http://www.authorsillustrators.com/schumer_chapman/schumer_chapman.htm

Profile of FSC (second from left) from Make It Better/North Shore Magazine

It’s impossible for us to know who we truly are without knowing something of our mothers.

That’s why Fern Schumer Chapman, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune and Forbes, has spent years unraveling the enigma that is her mother, who was orphaned by the Holocaust.

Fern’s first book, “Motherland: Beyond the Holocaust: A Mother-Daughter Journey to Reclaim the Past,” became a cult favorite with North Shore book clubs and was a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards in 2000. The book tells the story of her mother-daughter trip to Germany to visit the town where her mother, Edith, lived until she was 12. In 1938, Edith’s parents sent her to the U.S. to live with relatives in Chicago. Four years later, Edith learned that her parents had died in a concentration camp.

“Much of my adult life has been this slow discovery of my mother’s life,” Fern says. “Trauma is transmitted through families. I was very defined by her experience. Writing was my attempt to understand what shaped her—what shaped me.”

After the publication of “Motherland,” Chapman learned that her mother came over with a small group of children as part of an American rescue effort now known as The One Thousand Children Project. Researching the 1,000 children and talking to her mom prompted Chapman to write a book of historical fiction for young adults, “Is It Night or Day?” She assumes her mother’s voice to tell Edith’s story of immigration and survival. The book, which was published this spring, was recognized as one of Booklist’s Top 10 Historical Fiction Books for Youth for 2010.

And, Fern’s writing brought her closer to her mom. “I am my mother’s voice,” she says. As part of their journey, Fern has talked openly with her mom about the difficulties in their relationship as a result of the trauma. Fern’s mother grew as a result, and Fern forgave her for some of her behavior.

Today, Fern regularly speaks about her mother’s Holocaust experience in schools, museums and for groups. She says of her mom, who attends all of her speaking engagements, “She hears me, she supports me, and she loves me more for speaking the truth.”

WGTD's Greg Berg

Greg Berg interviews author Fern Schumer Chapman on Monday, July 12th, ‘The Morning Show,” 91.5 WGTD.

Here is the link:

http://media.gtc.edu/morningshow/871210.mp3

JLG selected Is It Night or Day? as its June book for Advanced Readers. Here are some comments from the JLG reviewers about the book:

* World War II and Holocaust stories like Edith’s are scarce in children’s literature; unlike many European Jews, she manages to flee her homeland and become an American immigrant. Readers will be intrigued by Edith’s unique perspective.

* A powerful and moving story. It is easy to relate to Edith and her emotional struggles, such as her devastation when a friend from her passage to America later rejects her because he now considers himself an American and denounces any associations with “the old country.”

* The time period is clearly rendered, with evocative descriptions and telling details about topics including race relations, popular music, fashions and the cost of living.

Author school visits

I am beginning to schedule school visits for 2010-2011. Here are my offerings:

A Child’s Immigration Story (Grades 4-12) What if your parents told you they are sending you all by yourself to live in a foreign country? I take students on her mother’s frightening immigration journey from Nazi Germany to America. (powerpoint)

The Legacy of the Holocaust (Grades 4-12) I explain how trauma is transmitted in families, fulfilling state requirements to teach the Holocaust.

Writers Workshop: (Grades 3-12) I teach the craft of writing, inspiring students to develop their own sense of identity through story.

Please email me at fernschumer@aim.com to make arrangements for presentations.

The Fourth Muskateer blog: Reviews and more about historical fiction for children and teens

Blogger Margo Tanenbaum wrote a thorough review of Is It Night or Day? on her site called “The Fourth Musketeer.” She offered an excellent suggestion for the Afterword of the book. Originally, I had considered including a brief discussion about the 1930s immigration policies in the U.S. However, I decided that I wanted to underscore that there has been a history of child immigration to this country. But now I think it would be valuable to add some information about the U.S policies at the time of my mother’s immigration. I hope to make that change in the paperback edition, which will be released in 2011.

Thanks, Margo. Here is an excerpt of her review:

“Edith was one of 1,200 children sponsored by an American rescue organization composed of Lutherans, Quakers, and Jews that took place from 1934 to 1945. Approximately a dozen children from one to sixteen years were brought in monthly through this program, a pitiful figure compared with what the United States could have done during that period.

“Although young Edith was admitted through this program, the United States’ record on admitting Jewish refugees during this period is shameful. While 1,200 children may sound like a lot to some of the novel’s readers, this represents a tiny number compared to the number of refugees desperately seeking asylum in the United States and elsewhere. Although not mentioned in the author’s Afterword, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt lobbied diligently for the Child Refugee Bill, which would have allowed 10,000 Jewish children a year for two years to enter the United States above the usual German quota, but Congress refused to pass the bill, despite the fact that families had already been found to take in the children. I would have liked to see the author mention in her afterword how little was actually done by the U.S. regarding the refugees, including perhaps a brief discussion of the Evian Conference in 1938 (the year Edith leaves Germany). During that nine-day meeting, convened by the United States to discuss the Jewish refugee question, delegates offered sympathy for the Jews, but only one country, the Dominican Republic, offered to grant large numbers of Jews sanctuary. In fact, the conference was ultimately a victory for Nazi propaganda; ‘Nobody wants them,’ claimed the German newspaper Völkischer Beobachter after the Evian Conference.”

Click here to read the whole review:

http://fourthmusketeer.blogspot.com/2010/06/book-review-is-it-night-or-day-by-fern.html

Fifth Grade Summer Reading List

Kids entering fifth grade definitely know what they like and dislike about everything … including books! Getting your child to read over the summer is all about finding just the right book. “Keep your fifth grader excited about reading this summer by helping them find fun and engaging books they’ll love,” says Mildred Vasan, an editor and literary expert for GiftLit, an online retailer of hand-selected books. “Series books are great for this age or stick with a genre that they like.”

Looking for fresh reading options for your fifth grader? Look no further. We’ve combed the shelves for new titles to spice up summer reading.

Our 2010 Fifth Grade Summer Reading Picks

Raider’s Ransom by Emily Diamand.

The Shadows of Elsewhere by Jacqueline West.

The Lost Tales of Ga’ Hoole by Kathryn Lasky.

Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman.

Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman. It’s 1937, and life is harrowing for Jews in Germany. Desperate to get their daughter out, Edith’s parents send her to live with a set of American relatives she’s never met. But Chicago couldn’t be more different than her small German village. Bullied at school and worked to the bone by her aunt, she waits anxiously for her parents to arrive. There is no fairytale ending here—far from it—but this spare, well-written historical novel teems with universal themes to which all tweens can relate. Sometimes heartbreaking, always eloquent, this is a fascinating look at one girl’s narrow escape from Nazi Germany as part of the real-life One Thousand Children Project. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $12.23) Where to buy

Charlie Bone and the Red Night by Jenny Nimmo.

The Fizzy Whiz Kid by Maiya Williams.

From Teen Reads blog:

**** Highly recommended

“Chapman makes effective use of a first person, chronological narrative to develop the story. She chooses her scenes well to reveal Edith’s loneliness and isolation as she tries to adjust to her circumstances, and the reader is quickly engaged, and cares what happens to her. Edith comes across as a complex and realistic young person who has much to struggle with. Dialogue is effective and realistic, sometimes painfully so.”

**** From Briony Zlomke at Goodreads.com

“I fell in love with this book despite the heaviness of the content…I also liked how Chapman demonstrated that people, especially relatives of Jewish victims, realized the gravity of the Nazi destruction, but many refused or could not extend the help that was needed. I think the greatest part of the book was the end in the epilogue when Chapman discusses her title. I do not want to give anything away, but reading her explanation brought tears to my eyes.”

***** From J. Prather at Amazon.com

“This is a stunning portrayal of a young girl struggling to fit into American culture after fleeing Nazi Germany in the years leading up to World War II…it takes a unique look at child immigration and will be a perfect addition to a social studies curriculum for middle schoolers. There are many parallels to be drawn here between Edith’s plight and the troubles of many immigrants today. I was impressed by the author’s ability to tell such a powerful story in so few words. She portrays Edith’s growth throughout the book and it was very gratifying to see her finally obtain a sense of pride in her Jewish heritage. A big recommend for grades 5-8.”