Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis

Description: "Zhanna Arshanskaya: a biography in verse."

Brief description:

Susan Hood is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Alias Anna, Lifeboat 12, Ada's Violin, Brothers in Arms, The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics, Shaking Things Up, and Titan and the Wild Boars. She is the recipient of an E. B. White Read-Aloud Picture Book Honor, the Christopher Award, the Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, the Golden Kite Award, and the Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award, given annually for "a distinguished work of nonfiction." Visit her at susanhoodbooks.com.

Review Quotes:

This lyrical book is one of the most truthful survivor stories I've ever read. I think this book will be a page-turner for adolescents. - Jack Kliger, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage

A profound and powerful story of the Holocaust, told with heart, soul, and music. - Kathryn Lasky, Newbery Honoree and winner of the National Jewish Book Award

A harrowing and remarkable story of strength and survival. - Kirkus Reviews

Appended with generous back matter, this offers a revealing look at an underreported Holocaust chapter. - Booklist

Hood tells Zhanna's sto-ry through both free verse and a rich array of forms. The use of poet-ry is effec-tive, echo-ing in its com-plex-i-ty the music of a sin-gu-lar life caught in the chaos of history. This high-ly rec-om-mend-ed book includes exten-sive back-ground mate-r-i-al, pho-tos, sources, lists of musi-cal com-po-si-tions, and poet-ic forms. - Jewish Book Council

[A] hard-hitting nonfiction biography told in verse. [An] accessible portrait of two talented and determined teens. - Publishers Weekly

On the Audio Edition: "A touching story of art, struggle, and overcoming persecution, with a narration that is a testament to survival." - Booklist

A tribute to the power of girls. - The Sydney Taylor Schmooze

This compelling book of loss and perseverance will stay with readers long after they have finished. . . This lyrical biography (written with Dawson, Zhanna's son) features significant back matter, including discography, original photographs and correspondence, further reading, and more. The verse format and harrowing narrative make this a quick read for reluctant and striving readers. This powerful work of persistence and hope is highly recommended. - School Library Journal