The Librarian of Auschwitz

The Librarian of Auschwitz

• Genre: Fiction; young adult historical
• Originally Published: 2012 (in Spanish), 2017 (English translation)
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 940L; grades 9-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 32 chapters; approximately 425 pages; approximately 13 hours, 39 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist is Dita Kraus, a 14-year-old girl in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp who takes charge of the few books smuggled in and becomes the “librarian.” The central conflict revolves around Dita's struggle to maintain hope and a semblance of normalcy through books amidst the horrific conditions of the camp.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Graphic descriptions of the Holocaust; violence; death; themes of genocide and racism; profanity; sexual content

Antonio Iturbe, Author

• Bio: Spanish author and journalist; his work often explores stories related to the Holocaust; based The Librarian of Auschwitz, originally published in Spanish, on the real-life experiences of Holocaust survivor Dita Kraus
• Other Works: Días de Sal (1996); Rectos Torcidos (2005); A Cielo Abierto (2017)
• Awards: Prix Jan Michalski Nominee (2019); Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2020)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Power of Books to Give Life Meaning
• Love Is Stronger Than War
• In War, Nothing Is as It Seems

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and historical contexts that impact the central conflict of Dita, Fredy, and others including the setting of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Holocaust.
• Study paired texts and other resources to make connections to the text’s themes of The Power of Books to Give Life Meaning, Love Is Stronger Than War, and In War, Nothing Is as It Seems.
• Use physical movement and resequencing to review plot structure and key events.
• Analyze and evaluate the author’s craft to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding characterization, hope versus fear, symbols, and other topics.