Dear Canada: Pieces of the Past

About this book

As Rose begins her diary, she is in her third home since coming to Winnipeg. Traumatized by her experiences in the Holocaust, she struggles to connect with others, and above all, to trust again.

When her new guardian, Saul, tries to get Rose to deal with what happened to her during the war, she begins writing in her diary about how she survived the murder of the Jews in Poland by going into hiding.

Memories of herself and her mother being taken in by those willing to risk sheltering Jews, moving from place to place, being constantly on the run to escape capture, begin to flood her diary pages. Recalling those harrowing days, including
when they stumbled on a resistance cell deep in the forest and lived underground in filthy conditions, begins to take its toll on Rose.

As she delves deeper into her past, she is haunted by the most terrifying memory of all. Will she find the courage to bear witness to her mother's ultimate sacrifice?

Reviews

"Once you start reading it you can't put it down." —The National Post (Diana Brimbecom, age 10)

"Matas's book is a moving work of historical fiction." —Jewish Tribune

"Historical fiction may tell of the past — but for prolific novelist Carol Matas, it must be applicable to the present. That's why it's important for school-age students to encounter such stories as her newest novel for young people, Pieces of the Past: the Holocaust Diary of Rose Rabinowitz." —The Winnipeg Free Press

"[Pieces of the Past is] a work of art that is sure to resonate with an older audience as well as a teenaged one. The prose is crisp and well constructed, the dialogue is authentic, and she demonstrates a willingness to delve into sometimes painful subjects." —The Jewish Post and News

"This is a powerful, deeply affecting book . . . an outstanding addition to the series, and I recommend it highly." —Resource Links