Welcome to Litsy!

Shusterman & Martínez present a series of stories set in WWII in which figures from Jewish folklore empower resistance to the nazi Holocaust. Shusterman notes in comments that there is a high degree of wish fulfillment in the stories, and I think he is successful in balancing the fantasy elements with the awful truth of history. It's a YA GN, so the horrors are not explicitly shown, while honouring the impact and consequences.
The final story 👇

"Doors had closed all over Europe to Jews and other groups that the nazis deemed "undesirable."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Next sentence: "But it is said that when God closes a door... He opens a window."

Ironic that one of the main countries of refuge for Jews and others persecuted by the nazis is now governed by a man whose policies and pronouncements indicate that he is broadly in sympathy with the nazis.

Jewish author Neal Shusterman incorporated Baba Yaga, a golem & other Jewish folkloric elements in 4 tales inspired by true stories of compassion & bravery that took place during Holocaust. A fifth tale shows an alternate future, if Hitler hadn‘t come to power, yet warns of antisemitism today. Artist Andres Vera Martinez was inspired by Marvel comics in creating the fast-paced action sequences, with a muted palette that evokes the past. #YA

“The Fools of Chelm” is said to be the inspiration for The Three Stooges, all of whom were sons of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and knew the tales.

The French village of Le Chambond-sur-Lignon is mentioned in the tagged book as a place where thousands of Jewish refugees were hidden or helped to escape to Switzerland. I know a Jewish French man who wrote about his experiences in 1942-43 in that village.

Step into these stories with both eyes open, and a third eye turned inward…
Because we each have the capacity to be the hero…
Or the villain.
Or the bystander who takes no action.

first two prompts off the rank. #ISpyBingo @Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks