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A group of Naperville students got the surprise of a lifetime last week when two women they reunited earlier this spring showed up at Madison Junior High School. Edith Westerfeld and Gerda Katz met aboard a ship called the Deutschland more than 73 years ago as they were sent to America by their parents to escape the Nazis. As young girls traveling alone, they quickly bonded and became best friends ...

Descendants of Nazis delve into past to try to understand By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER Associated Press Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/When-grandpa-was-a-monster-1380108.php#ixzz1Op8zGYs9 BERLIN -- Rainer Hoess was 12 years old when he found out his grandfather was one of the worst mass murderers in history. The gardener at his boarding school, an Auschwitz survivor, beat him black and blue after hearing he was the grandson of Rudolf Hoess, commandant of the death camp synonymous with ...

5 Most Interesting Biographies & Memoirs I'm a tough crowd when it comes to biographies and memoirs. Unless the books are about people who have the most mind-blowing, fascinating stories to tell, I'm not going to take the time out of my day to read about another "real person's" life (because seriously, I have my own life to live!). With celebrity biographies, I usually find that either the subjects brag ...

Fern, Thank you so much for joining our book club today.  We loved the book and I am looking forward to reading Motherland.  I am also hopeful that your Mom can have a wonderful reunion with Gertie.  I'm sure it will be wonderful for the two to reconnect.  I imagine that would make an interesting book also.  I am attaching the picture I took of you with the girls.  You ...

Author Fern Schumer Chapman Speaks at MTHS The following are student-written comments about a visiting author, Fern Schumer Chapman, who recently spoke to students at Manchester Township High School.  Her visit was sponsored by the Manchester PTA. "Recently at Manchester Township High School, a very famous author, Fern Schumer Chapman, came to talk about her books. Fern Schumer Chapman wrote two famous novels, Motherland and Is It Night or Day?, ...

Madison Junior High School teacher Catie O’Boyle’s comments at Friday’s event By fern On May 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment Madison JHS welcomes Edith To follow all of the events leading up to the reunion, please visit http://literactivity.com/reunion/

Edith answers questions at Madison Junior High School By fern On May 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment Edith answers questions at Madison JHS

Naperville students reconnect women who fled Nazis in 1938 Girls struck up friendship on Germany-U.S. trip but lost touch for 73 years By Mick Swasko, Tribune Reporter It was a brief email that rekindled an equally short childhood friendship 73 years ago. "I have thought of you often and am so thankful that you found me," Gerda "Gertie" Frumkin wrote from Seattle on April 28. "Can't wait until we speak ...