Carol

Paper Hearts [Book Review]

May 21, 2019

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott

Paper Hearts Review

Genre/Categories: WW11, Holocaust, Jewish, Young Adult, Poetry (free verse), Friendship, Survival

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary:

In Paper Hearts, two unforgettable girls find themselves tragically imprisoned at Auschwitz during the Holocaust and become friends. Through the bonds of friendship and a bit of defiance, Zlatka and Fania find threads of hope and a will to live. In this true story, Zlatka, along with the help of a few other girls, masterminds making a surprise birthday card for Fania. A secret project that would be a crime punishable by death if caught, each girl signed the paper hearts card with her hopes and wishes for happiness, love, and freedom. This heart is a symbol of defiance and is one of the few artifacts created in Auschwitz that has survived and can be seen today in the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre in Canada. (see an article link and image below)

My Thoughts:

a beautiful, memorable, and gently written story of friendship and survival…

Screenshot_2019-05-20 The Heart from Auschwitz Humanity in a sea of horror(1)

The Actual Heart Made By The Girls: Image Source; Click Here to Read Thoughts From the Museum Curator and the Auschwitz Survivor Who Saved the Paper Heart.

Format: I don’t read a great deal of formal verse poetry, but I love stories told in free verse. Some of my favorites are listed in this post. I think the format of free verse works well for this story because in one sense it softens the harsh edges of the tragedy but in another sense, it makes the story even more poignant. The simplicity of the free verse helps to emphasize the innocence of these younger victims of the Holocaust.

Target Audience: Because Paper Hearts is written for a YA (and mature middle grade) audience, it is a gentler read than some other Holocaust stories that contain more graphic adult content. I love well-written YA because readers 14-99 can appreciate and enjoy the stories.

Themes: Thoughtful themes are my favorite elements of a great read, and I love the strong themes of friendship, survival, and compassion in this story. Against all odds, these girls survive because of their determination to keep moving forward and living for one more minute. Their survival is their defiance. Zlatka and Fania become as close as sisters and help each other emotionally, physically, and mentally.

“Your kindness, Fania, makes me brave.”

“Your bravery, Zlatka makes me kind.”

Emotional: Although Paper Hearts was not filled with page after page of horrific details and descriptions, it was emotional, powerful, and poignant from the opening sentences. My eyes were teary and my heart hurt with every page … but it wasn’t an “ugly cry,” it was simply touching and profound. An example of one of the tenderest moments is when a Jewish father says goodbye to his daughter as the family is separated at the camp, and he embraces her and prays a blessing over her. I will never be able to hear this blessing again without thinking of this mental image from the story. If you were a parent in this situation, would you think to pray this blessing over your child as your family is separated? What a remarkable man and father! Her father’s blessing brought her great comfort in her darkest days and planted a spark of hope in her fight to persevere. I have tears typing this.

“May God bless you and keep you.
May God shine his face upon you and grant you graciousness.
May God’s presence be with you and grant you peace.”

Recommended: I highly recommend this beautiful story for all fans of poignant historical fiction, for readers who love beautifully written free verse, for parents who are searching for inspiring stories to read with their teens, and for book clubs. It will definitely be on my best of 2019 list. I should mention that it can be easily be read in one day….although I took my time with it. Don’t miss this memorable read! Here’s an excerpt (the complete first chapter) that I teased in a previous post.

Rating: 5 Emotional Stars

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Paper Hearts

Paper Hearts Information here

Meet the Author, Meg Wiviott

Meg Wiviott

Meg Wiviott is the author of the award-winning picture book BENNO AND THE NIGHT OF BROKEN GLASS, which tells the story of Kristallnacht through the eyes of a cat. Her young adult novel-in-verse, PAPER HEARTS, based on a true story of friendship and survival in Auschwitz, is published by Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster). Meg holds a Masters in Education from Northwestern University and an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from The Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and their ridiculously friendly cat.

http://www.MegWiviott.com

QOTD!

Have you read Paper Hearts or is it on your TBR?

Have you ever read a story in free verse?
This post has additional recommendations for free verse titles.

Happy Reading Book Buddies!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

Looking Ahead:

Come back Friday for my review of The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister, another favorite of the year!

The Scent Keeper

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Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.

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34 comments

  2. I have never read a story in free verse. After reading your review of Paper Hearts, I may have to pick this one up!

    Have you ever read Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick? It’s told half in words, half in pictures. It was a fascinating read for me.

    Reply

    • I hope you love the experience of reading a story in free verse! Inside Out and Back Again is also another favorite in free verse! Enjoy and thanks for commenting and your rec for Wonderstruck!

      Reply

  21. I have never heard of this book Carol, but am going to see if my library has a copy. Wonderful review and great share.

    Reply

  22. […] Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott (historical fiction) Salt to the Sea, The Fountains of Silence, and the entire Sepetys backlist (historical fiction) This Lovely War by Julie Berry (historical fiction) The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (historical fiction) With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (contemporary fiction) Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (contemporary fiction) The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (historical fiction) Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum (contemporary fiction) Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (contemporary fiction) The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe (historical fiction) Far From the Tree by Robin Benway (contemporary fiction) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (contemporary fiction) The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls (memoir) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (historical fiction) […]

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  25. […] Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott (historical fiction)Salt to the Sea, The Fountains of Silence, and the entire Sepetys backlist (historical fiction)This Lovely War by Julie Berry (historical fiction)The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (historical fiction)With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (contemporary fiction)Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (contemporary fiction)The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (historical fiction)Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum (contemporary fiction)Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (contemporary fiction)The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe (historical fiction)Far From the Tree by Robin Benway (contemporary fiction)The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (contemporary fiction)The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls (memoir)The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (historical fiction) […]

    Reply

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