"Really, it's a very ordinary looking suitcase. You could fit quite a lot in it. Books, games, treasures, toys. But nothing is inside it now. Across the front, there is a girl's name, Hana Brady. A date of birth: May 16 1931. And 'Waisenkind'. That's the German word for orphan." When Hana's suitcase arrives from Germany at the small Holocaust education centre in Japan, all the children who visit want to know about Hana. Where did she come from? Where was she going? What did she pack? When Fumiko Ishioka, the centre's curator, decides to find the answers, she embarks on a journey of discovery across Europe and North America, and 70 years of history. What Fumiko finds in Hana's suitcase is a true story of terrible sadness and great joy.

Prizes

Canadian Library Association, Best Book of the YearAmerican Jewish Libraries, Best Book of the YearGovernor General's Literary Awards, Canada 2002, FinalistJewish Book Award, Best Children's Book of the YearOntario Library Association

Reviews

Gr 4-7-Based on a Canadian Broadcasting radio documentary produced by Levine, this book tells the story of Hana Brady, a girl killed at Auschwitz, and how her suitcase came to be a part of the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center. A CD recording of the radio program is available and adds to the impact and power of the book. The story ends on a positive note by ultimately uniting Japanese schoolchildren fascinated by Hana's story with her brother George Brady, the only member of their immediate family to survive the war. The book alternates between past and present, one chapter telling the story of Hana's childhood in the Czechoslovakian resort town of Nove Mesto, and the next relating the experiences of Fumiko Ishioka, a teacher dedicated to educating the children of Japan about the horrors of the Holocaust. Black-and-white photographs of Hana and her family and Ms. Ishioka and her students accompany each chapter. As Hana's narrative draws her to Auschwitz and to the end of her life, Fumiko's story brings her closer to the solution of a puzzle that began with only a suitcase and a name. The narrative moves quickly, though the writing is often oversimplified. One can assume that direct quotes come from the memories of Hana's brother, George Brady, and Fumiko Ishioka, since they were the original narrators of the radio program, but there are no notes to that effect. Unfortunately, the stilted writing and lack of source notes mar an otherwise gripping story of a family's love and a teacher's dedication. An additional purchase for Holocaust collections.-Martha Link, Louisville Free Public Library, KY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

'Levine's simple style of writing and the beautiful photos and reproductions of Hana's drawings encourage readers to connect with Hana as a real human being rather than just another Holocaust statistic.' Launceston Examiner'Hana's Suitcaseis an excellent way for parents and teachers to introduce [a] tough subject. This book is to be shared and discussed.' Canadian Living'The author writes with such a flair that you are reminded that a book doesn't have to be fiction to be a page-turner.' Social Studies for Kids

The author toggles between a group of students in contemporary Tokyo and young Hana Brady in 1930s Czechoslovakia for what PW called a "unique approach to learning about the Holocaust." Ages 10-13. (Mar.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.