One family's story of survival in postwar Hungary, 1948. In Budapest after the war, when Kata's family first returns from hiding, they are glad to be alive and hopeful that life will improve. But the secret police is questioning everyone about their loyalty to the Hungarian Workers Party, and conditions seem to be worsening. The eleven-year-old doesn't understand why her brother Bela is acting so differently or why he hasn't come home from his recent excursion. Her father used to own the factory, but now, as an employee, his wages continue to fall. She helps her mother sew the bears they will sell on the black market, but when Kata learns that Bela has escaped the country, she grows angry and sad. In time, she hopes that Bela will make it to America and will send for his family.
While Kata's family has survived World War II in Budapest, there is still fear of arrest from the Secret Police and living conditions remain difficult. Papa's factory has been confiscated, his salary has been drastically reduced, and he slips deeper and deeper into depression. Mama secretly sews bears and handbags on the black market to bring in extra money. And, Kata's beloved older brother Bela disappears on an "excursion" and no one knows when they will see him again. It is unlikely that readers will have the necessary background knowledge about the ideology of the Worker's Party, socialism, and the impact of the war on the Hungarian Jewish community to understand the context of Kata's life. The narrative, while well-written and compelling, does not provide enough information and an author's note or afterward is missing. Readers will certainly relate to Kata - her love of the stuffed bears that her mother makes and her determination to help with the sewing, her conflicts with her best friend, and her apprehension about singing a solo - but outside of a classroom or book club discussion, the context of the Jewish experience in post-War Hungary will unfortunately be lost. For ages 9 - 12. Rachel Kamin
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