The Girl From Over There: The Hopeful Story of a Young Jewish Immigrant by Sharon Rechter
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Illustrator: Karla Gerard
In the aftermath of the Holocaust and World War II, a young Jewish immigrant struggles to fit into her new home as she combats bullying and jealousy from the other children
Israel—A group of young schoolgirls is sitting together when a stranger appears. They take in the girl’s ragged dress, long hair, and tattered purple teddy bear. And they immediately hate her. Who is she? Why is she here? Is she from over there?
Follow this captivating historical fiction story, where we are introduced to the children living in a small kibbutz, a type of community in Israel, soon after the events of World War II and the Holocaust. When Miriam, an immigrant from Poland, arrives, the other children are immediately suspicious and wary—none more than Michal, the class queen, who is immediately jealous of the new girl when her boyfriend befriends her and the adults rally around her.
The Girl from Over There follows the relationship between Michal and Miriam, as the latter struggles to fit in with the other kids. Meanwhile, Michal struggles to come to terms with both her jealousy and the horrors that Miriam, as well as friends and other newcomers, faced during the events of World War II.
Written by the Israel-born author when she was just 11 years old, this story pieces together both fiction and actual testimonies and memories of her Holocaust-survivor family members. Despite detailing the horrific treatment of Jews in war-torn Europe, this compelling narrative will leave you hopeful for a better future.
Year first published: 2020
