Book Talk: Parallel Journeys

Parallel Journeys, by Eleanor H. Ayer

When people think of Holocaust accounts, most think of Anne Frank and her journey. However, there are many others whose accounts of their lives during the war provide a moving portrait of the war's devastation and reach. Through a recurring feature called "Book Talk," I'd like to highlight what I think are other interesting and inspiring books on the Holocaust that are available through our library, starting with Parallel Journeys.

The Story

Parallel Journeys is a nonfiction book that contrasts a first person account of Helen Waterford, a young Jewish woman trying to survive the Holocaust, with that of Alfons Heck, a boy who rises through the ranks of the Hitler Youth. Through their personal stories, they illustrate World War II's destructive effects from two different perspectives.

Helen was a university student, recently married, living in Frankfurt, Germany. Because of the new laws preventing many Jews from working, her husband lost his job, and Helen was kicked out of the university. Eventually, they were forced to flee Germany for Amsterdam, Holland, where their daughter was born. When the Nazis invaded Holland, they went into hiding, only to be discovered and sent to Auschwitz. Ultimately, Helen survived, and began the long trek back to Amsterdam to reclaim her life and reunite with her daughter. Through her first person account, Helen provides a window into the horrors of the war, and the suffering of its victims.

Alfons was a very young boy, indoctrinated into the Nazi's Hitler Youth at age 10 in Wittlich, Germany. By age 15, he was an expert glider pilot in the war, eventually achieving the highest rank within the Hitler Youth and commanding 6,000 troops at only 16. Throughout his story, Alfons sees the death and destruction of the war, and he eventually watches as his former bosses go on trial at Nuremberg. His story explains how children were particularly vulnerable to Nazi indoctrination.  

Through this book, the audience becomes aware of two distinct perspectives of the war, and the toll it took on both Helen and Alfons. The book alternates chapters of Helen's and Alfon's experiences to better compare and contrast their lives, as they progress through the war on two different paths. Through Helen and Alfons, the book explores themes of conformity and obedience, as well as genocide, nationalism and human behavior. 

Parallel Journeys has won a number of awards, including ALA Best Books for Young Adults, CBC/NCSS Notable Children's Book in Social Studies, and the Christopher Award. It is aimed at children, grades 7+.

Resources Available

There are a number of resources available to supplement Parallel Journeys, including a discussion guide from its publisher, Scholastic, and a lesson plan, available from South Carolina. A study guide, explaining important terms, people and concepts is available from Brandon Wang. Additional resources concerning both Helen and Alfons' stories are available from the Washington State Holocaust Library's collection.

About Me

Leah Kuriluk is the Holocaust Education Resource Center's Library Intern. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Library and Information Science and a certificate of Information Management at Wayne State University. Leah also has a BA in History.