Which Way Is Home?

This is a lovely and well written account of the experience of a young girl and her familys escape from post WW2 Czechoslovakia. The story would be appropriate for probably 5th grade and up. The writing is enjoyable and story telling is delightful. Although the story is set over 60 years ago the themes of escape, refugees, immigration live on every day. You step away from the book remembering the importance of simple acts of kindness and compassion.

This book holds a special place in my heart. It is an unforgettable and moving tale that will have you captivated until the end. It will bring tears to your eyes and then wipe them away with joy from unexpected places. It is a story of family and what it takes to escape the place you call home. It perfectly balances the emotional trials of leaving behind everything you know when you\’re only 11 years old with the different way in which Anna sees the world because of the wonderful imagination that lives in every child. From beginning to end, Anna\’s journey will have you thinking about powerful issues through the eyes of growing up. The details will have you walking right beside her, and the story will stay in your mind and heart long after you\’ve turned the final page.

This is a beautifully written account of a grandmother\’s experience as a child, written for her grandchildren to read at more or less the same age that the grandmother was when the story took place. It is oral history passed from mother to daughter, first through story telling, and this time in print and shared. It is timely in that it tells the story of migration, so much in the news in the United States in the 21st century. This story is from a different continent in a different century. While it is a personal family treasure, it speaks to readers about the trials of being forced to leave home behind.

Our Young Author\’s Club (grades 6, 7, 8) read the book this year. We enjoyed reading about Anna\’s conversations with soldiers, the mystery of her mother speaking to strangers about gloves, and Anna\’s feelings about her family and the world around her. I recommend this as a middle school read aloud or as a class text to ground book clubs about young people overcoming adversity and facing political strife. Would pair well with any Alan Gratz\’s novels, Ann Blankman\’s Blackbird Girls, Monica Hesse\’s The Girl in the Blue Coat and others.

Such a great story and so well written. Its uplifting which is very welcome lately. The story of refugees is especially important to tell and remind people of the perilous journeys people are forced to take for their safety and freedom in the 1940s and today.

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