About the Author

Ruth Jacobsen emigrated to the United States in 1953. She began creating collages and constructions in the mid sixties and for the last three decades, she has exhibited them in solo and group shows. Her work is represented in 30 private collections in the United States, Canada and Europe. She works from her home in Southhampton, New York.

Reviews

[Color collages are] the most emotionally engaging aspect of the book, combining frightening wartime images with pictures of the author as a child, her family, and her dolls.--Linda R. Silver "School Library Journal" (1/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

An unusual blend of memoir and image that reveals the horror of war and the transformative power of art.--Randy Meyer "Booklist" (1/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Book of the Year, Silver Medal, Young Adult Nonfiction-- "Foreword Magazine" (1/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Jacobsen writes with intelligence and unusual frankness.-- "Publishers Weekly" (12/10/2001 12:00:00 AM)

Jacobsen's memoir of the Holocaust represents a unique perspective -- one that should be included on school library shelves.--Susan D. Yutzey "Book Report" (3/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Notable Children's Book in the Field of Social Studies-- "National Council for the Social Studies and The Children's Book Council" (1/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Parents' Choice Gold Medal-- "Parents' Choice Foundation" (1/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Stands out for its moving marriage of art and text and as a chilling reminder that the effects of the Nazi regime extend far beyond the barbed-wire fences of concentration camps and gnaw at the lives of so-called survivors.--Kate McDowell "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books" (2/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

Succeeds in bringing past experiences back to life... Jacobsen uses autobiography to voice experiences silenced by history, to speak back to oppressive structures, and to claims new positions of power.--Manuela Costantino "Canadian Literature" (6/1/2004 12:00:00 AM)

What makes this survivor's collection of vignettes unique are the collages and artwork by professional artist Jacobsen that are intermingled with the text. Written simply, the book brings the reader into the insecure world of the author as a ten-year-old girl.--Beth Gilbert "VOYA [Voice of Youth Advocates]" (2/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)