Hood, Susan, with Greg Dawson. Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis. HarperCollins, 03/2022. 352pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 6 – 9. $16.99. 978-0-06-308389-9. OUTSTANDING.
When an eighth grade girl writes her grandmother as part of a school project, asking about her home life and world events when she was thirteen, she uncovers a gripping tale of two young Ukranian sisters, musical prodigies, caught up in the nightmare of the Holocaust. In short, poetic chapters, the irrepressable personality of her grandmother, the older sister Zhanna (alias Anna), comes through clearly. There is inherent drama in Anna’s situation. A world-class musician at age thirteen, she is responsible for the survival of herself and her ten-year-old sister, hunted by Nazis in a world torn apart by war. The sisters’ talent both helps them survive and endangers their anonymity. Yet it is the wit, charm, and resilience of Anna’s personality that make this book a pleasure to read. The two authors each bring remarkable strengths. Dawson is the eighth grader’s father and Anna’s son. His close relationship and intimate knowledge of the Holocaust ensures readers learn the answers to their every question. Hood’s superb pacing and her choice to write each chapter in varied poetic forms connects to Zhanna’s love of music and meter. While there is no shortage of Holocaust memoirs, the drama and dynamism of this story, and the fact that it is set in a country currently experiencing war crimes, make it a gripping and topical read. Extensive back matter includes author’s notes, copious photographs, musical specifics, context, field trips, poetry notes, sources, websites, and a bibliography.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired