The Girl Who Sang
The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival is an autobiographical Holocaust story of Estelle Nadel (Enia) told in a graphic novel format that is illustrated by Sammy Savos. This beautiful story shares Estelle’s story as a young girl growing up in Poland during World War II. The story opens with her family’s celebration of Passover in April of 1939. During the early events of the coming war and occupation, Estelle’s father remained unwavering in that “God will protect us” and sure that “God has never steered [him] wrong” (15).
Through the events, the children do not seem to lose their faith and foundation despite the loss of life and terror they experienced. The first family that Estelle really lost was her father and older sister Sonjia. Sonjia was forced to work in a refinery by the Germans. In an attempt to keep her family safe, Sonjia was friendly with the German officers. Ultimately, while it didn’t protect Sonjia, she was able to help her mother and three siblings escape the Germans. Discovered years later, Sonjia and her father were killed by gas at Auschwitz.
Due to the warning and kind friends, Estelle, her mother, and two brothers were able to hide. However, the mother must sneak out every night to find food. This ultimately leads to her death when she is caught. In searching for her before finding what happened, they end up hiding in a barn of another family. This is where the children remain in hiding until the Russians come through and help liberate Poland. However, this is somewhat short lived. Estelle’s brother Shia is able to get the three of them false papers to travel out of the country. They make it to Romania but have to travel on foot and pay a guard to allow them to cross to Austria. While there, an opportunity arises for them to go to America which is where Estelle and her brothers eventually end up.
Once in America, Estelle’s brothers find work and are unable to care for her and put her with a foster family that eventually adopts her. This family then takes her to California where she ultimately remains for the majority of her life. Estelle’s daughter-in-law is the one who has encouraged her to tell her story which has led to many retellings in various situations as well as the creation of this memoire. Notes at the end state “Estelle continues to share her story, hoping to ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten.” A specific note from her states, “Someday there will no longer be any Holocaust survivors still living. We will be gone. I want you, the young people, the next generation, to carry our stories on and someday tell your own children that, yes, you knew a Holocaust survivor. She was real. It really happened.”
If parents are looking for true stories as companions to a World War II unit and study of the Holocaust, Estelle’s story is one that should be added. Furthermore, if you have a struggling reader, the graphic novel style can be appealing and help engage readers while not being overwhelming. Holocaust stories are important to share with young readers so that the world does not forget real people and real families were affected.
