Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope.
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope. Read Less Description
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope.
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope. Read Less Description
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope.
Rosanne Tolin was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is the author of More Than Marmalade: Michael Bond and The Story Of Paddington Bear. An experienced and respected journalist, her work has focused primarily on children’s publications. She was the creator of an ALA-notable website for kids, the managing editor of a children’s magazine, and a Hoosier State Press Award-winning features writer. Rosanne lives in Chesterton, Indiana, with her husband. When not working, she can be found hiking with her dogs in the Indiana Dunes or Colorado’s Tenmile Range.
Reviews
“Freedom’s Game is so many things: an astounding true account; a tense thriller; a testimony to the evil- and the good- of which humans are capable; and, most of all, a story of friendship, hope and kindness in the midst of despair. Rosanne Tolin captures her young protagonists’ voices beautifully, imbuing Ziggy and Elka, Jewish children living on the razor’s edge in World War II France, with raw, authentic emotion and strength. Readers will gasp, cry, and cheer their way through this wonderful historical novel!” —Stacy Nockowitz, National Jewish Book Award-winning author of The Prince of Steel Pier
"I held my breath as Elka and Ziggy defied the Nazis and escaped to freedom. A beautifully told, important story. Not to be missed." —Anne Blankman, author of THE BLACKBIRD GIRLS, winner of the National Jewish Book Award
"Tolin's thrilling, well-researched historical tale of heroism and hope is sure to touch young hearts as it takes readers into the tense world of Jewish children whose survival during the Nazi regime depends on learning who to trust." —Nancy Churnin, author of National Jewish Book Award winner for Dear Mr. Dickens
In 1942, two Jewish children in a French orphanage dream of escaping to safety across the border in Switzerland.
Twelve-year-old German Jews Ziggy and Elka meet in Annemasse, France, near the Swiss border. Both have traumatic memories of seeing their families for the last time, but Elka, at least, is hopeful of being reunited with her parents and sister, Ruth. Georges Loinger—a real person whose story inspired this novel and who appears as a character in the book—accompanied Ziggy and other children on the train to Annemasse, and now he’ll be their new gym teacher. But Ziggy is unsure: Based on his close observations, he suspects that Georges is a spy. The question is, for whom? Elka, however, is sure that Georges is no Nazi collaborator and is determined to prove it. The story alternates between Ziggy’s and Elka’s close third-person perspectives. The early chapters are somewhat bogged down by the backstory, but the pace picks up as the children discover more about Georges’ true identity. Ziggy has a limp due to a bout of polio; sporty Elka reflects on how he’s been “so selfless….Spooning extra oatmeal in her bowl, staying up late to keep watch while she ran” (in preparation for their sports festival). Although Ziggy’s faith in his own future wavers, at a crucial moment Elka has enough hope for both of them. The epilogue ends on an optimistic note.
A solid World War II story that features quiet heroes.
—Kirkus Reviews
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope.
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope. Read Less Description
Details:
SKUWW-NL6158
ISBN9781478876205
Series
Reycraft Books
Lexile level700L
Genre
Historical Fiction
Language
English
Juvenile Fiction / H
Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust Juvenile Fiction / Religious / Jewish Juvenile Fiction / Social Issues / Friendship
Full Description
Ziggy doesn’t know what to expect when he arrives at the Annemasse orphanage. It is 1942, and the Nazis have taken northern France. Annemasse is supposed to be a secret haven for Jewish children separated from their families, but Ziggy can’t help feeling that they are all just waiting for the worst. Anyone around them could easily be a Nazi spy. Elka has lived at Annemasse for three years, dreaming of when she will be reunited with her family in Dresden. Ziggy’s arrival brings the excitement of a new friendship. But even more intriguing is the mysterious, blond-haired new gym teacher, Georges Loinger. Is Georges a friend who can lead them to safety in nearby Switzerland? Or a spy luring them towards the Nazis? When any mistake could be deadly, Ziggy and Elka are never sure who to trust. Inspired by real events, Freedom's Game tells a courageous story of friendship, sacrifice, and the resilience of hope.
Author & Illustrator
Rosanne Tolin
Rosanne Tolin was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is the author of More Than Marmalade: Michael Bond and The Story Of Paddington Bear. An experienced and respected journalist, her work has focused primarily on children’s publications. She was the creator of an ALA-notable website for kids, the managing editor of a children’s magazine, and a Hoosier State Press Award-winning features writer. Rosanne lives in Chesterton, Indiana, with her husband. When not working, she can be found hiking with her dogs in the Indiana Dunes or Colorado’s Tenmile Range.
Reviews
“Freedom’s Game is so many things: an astounding true account; a tense thriller; a testimony to the evil- and the good- of which humans are capable; and, most of all, a story of friendship, hope and kindness in the midst of despair. Rosanne Tolin captures her young protagonists’ voices beautifully, imbuing Ziggy and Elka, Jewish children living on the razor’s edge in World War II France, with raw, authentic emotion and strength. Readers will gasp, cry, and cheer their way through this wonderful historical novel!” —Stacy Nockowitz, National Jewish Book Award-winning author of The Prince of Steel Pier
"I held my breath as Elka and Ziggy defied the Nazis and escaped to freedom. A beautifully told, important story. Not to be missed." —Anne Blankman, author of THE BLACKBIRD GIRLS, winner of the National Jewish Book Award
"Tolin's thrilling, well-researched historical tale of heroism and hope is sure to touch young hearts as it takes readers into the tense world of Jewish children whose survival during the Nazi regime depends on learning who to trust." —Nancy Churnin, author of National Jewish Book Award winner for Dear Mr. Dickens
In 1942, two Jewish children in a French orphanage dream of escaping to safety across the border in Switzerland.
Twelve-year-old German Jews Ziggy and Elka meet in Annemasse, France, near the Swiss border. Both have traumatic memories of seeing their families for the last time, but Elka, at least, is hopeful of being reunited with her parents and sister, Ruth. Georges Loinger—a real person whose story inspired this novel and who appears as a character in the book—accompanied Ziggy and other children on the train to Annemasse, and now he’ll be their new gym teacher. But Ziggy is unsure: Based on his close observations, he suspects that Georges is a spy. The question is, for whom? Elka, however, is sure that Georges is no Nazi collaborator and is determined to prove it. The story alternates between Ziggy’s and Elka’s close third-person perspectives. The early chapters are somewhat bogged down by the backstory, but the pace picks up as the children discover more about Georges’ true identity. Ziggy has a limp due to a bout of polio; sporty Elka reflects on how he’s been “so selfless….Spooning extra oatmeal in her bowl, staying up late to keep watch while she ran” (in preparation for their sports festival). Although Ziggy’s faith in his own future wavers, at a crucial moment Elka has enough hope for both of them. The epilogue ends on an optimistic note.
A solid World War II story that features quiet heroes.
