I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing Up in the Holocaust [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

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The Holocaust was a horrible time for everyone. The Holocaust began when the Germans were losing World War II. Hitler, a German dictator, wanted to feel powerful, even when his country was almost defeated. Since the Americans were too strong to be hurt, Hitler began to believe that all Jews were different and did not deserve to be treated equally. By abusing and killing them, he could get his sense of power and make another complication for the Americans. He began sending the Jews in small countries, like Hungary, to concentration camps. There they were forced to work long hours of labor with little food. In these camps there were rooms, called gas ovens, where Jews were killed if they were too weak or there wasn't enough room in the camps. Sometimes hundreds were killed at a time. Very few Jews during the Holocaust survived, but those that did can tell us how they were mistreated just because of their beliefs. Livia Bitton-Jackson is one of those survivors and in her book, "I Have Lived a Thousand Years" she retells her history of growing up in the Holocaust filled with suffering and pain.
In a small town called Somorja, a thirteen year old girl named Ellike lived with her mother, father, and her brother named Bubi. This was before Hitler invaded her town and Elli was happy. She went to school, attended her synagogue, and wrote poetry. She studied very hard in school because she wanted to enroll in a nice school in Budapest where Bubi went. Budapest was on a very nice side of town with big buildings and paved streets. On Somorja there were no fancy schools, buildings, and the only paved street was the main road and Elli dreamed of seeing it. But her dreams were shattered when the Germans invaded Budapest during the night. Luckily Elli's brother dodged the Germans and got on a train back to Somorja before they had a chance to close the train station. Most of Bubi's classmates were caught and shipped to concentration camps. Next, Hitler started to pass laws. The Jewish schools were closed. They were forced to surrender all of their jewelry and most valued possessions. They had to wear a yellow start to show they were Jews. They could not talk to Christians. Finally, they were moved to the ghetto, a small cramped area where twenty Jewish families were forced to live in the same small yard. Sometimes, there were eight different families living in the same house. A few days before the relocation of that specific ghetto, German soldiers came. They demanded that everyone bring any books, scrolls, or even pictures to them for safe keeping while the Jews were moved. They were hesitant but they had no choice, so they carried all of their books into the front yard. The Germans later burned the pile that had so many religious scrolls and bibles in it. Three days after that, they were put in cattle cars where 85 of them stayed for four days with out food or water. They were being transported to Auschwitz, the concentration camp. After the long cattle car ride and arriving in Auschwitz, all the children younger than 16 and over 50 were sent one way and the other girls were sent the other. Elli was 13 and the officer that was supervising the sorting should have sent her in the proper group. However, he saw that she had blond hair and let her go with her mother. The Germans prized long blond hair and blue eyes. If the officer had made Elli go with the younger children she would have been killed in a gas oven like Elli's aunt was. Then, the people that survived the "sorting" were shaved bald, put in showers, and given a gray dress and a pair of shoes. They weren't really anyone anymore. They were just Auschwitz workers.
This story about the Holocaust seems to sad to be true. I don't see how anyone could be that evil to another human. Hitler killed hundreds of children and adults just to feel powerful. After Elli was freed, a german woman came up to her and thought that she was 62 years old because of how weak and bruised she was. This story is really sad but it is also a warning about how much racism can hurt others. I would suggest he book "I Have Lived a Thousand Years" by Livia Bitton-Jackson to anyone who wants to learn about the Holocaust.

I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson retraces the steps of a girl, Elli, and her family during the Holocaust. The family is forced to endure extreme humiliation. They are then herded into the cramped Ghetto's. Living conditions are unbearable and there food is unsanitary. The next hurdle is concentration camps were families and friends are separated. You are now no longer an individual only a number with no possessions. Elli learns to go on even if you have no reason. Through all this Elli has been able to shed some light on a bad situation and make it worth living. She, along with her mom and brother, are able to make it against all odds.
I Have Lived a Thousand Years is a good book to read or buy. You are really taken into the time and you feel as though you are there with her. Although you may stumble on some of the words it is worth the trouble. The story is one a tragedy and of hope.

When I read this book for the first time, I first thought, "WOW!" This book is about a 13 year old Jewish girl who gets sent to different concentration/labor camps throughout Hungary, Germany, and Poland. Although many life-threatening and traumatizing things happened to her, she still had hope, and she did not give up. The things in this book that I valued most were the fact that there was great detail, and it was powerful/moving. I liked the fact that there was so much detail, because nothing was non-descriptive. When I read the author's words, a very clear picture popped up in my mind, and if it wasn't that detailed, then I wouldn't have been able to understand the book as well as I did. An example of this is when the reader sees Bubi standing on the other side of the fence, and having been abused and worked almost to death. I also liked the fact that it made me cry. When books make someone cry, they are usually very powerful or moving. The part in this book that made me cry, was the part where the Germans trick the women into getting their soup, and then attacking them. The idea of this horrified me. This book made me see that the Holocaust only happened some 70 years ago, and that the world was obviously a very different place than it is now. Having discriminations against someone because of their race or religion is no way to live life; you have to embrace things. When I first got assigned to this book, I was worried that I would not like it, but once I got into it, it was easy to lose track of time and read the night away. I Have Lived A Thousand Years is an amazing book, and I highly suggest reading it during your free time.

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5.0 out of 5 stars For all ages
An outstanding book for all ages--definitely deserves five stars. It takes up, as it were, where Anne Frank leaves off, painting a detailed and horrifying picture of what man,... Read more

Published 22 months ago by Johanna

5.0 out of 5 stars awsome!
Well I think that it was very cool that everyone gave it 5 stars. It definitley deserves it too. Its an awsome book! I love it and think Livia Bitton Jackson is an amazing person!

Published on July 13 2004 by Mike

5.0 out of 5 stars Experience
"Jew girl, Jew girl." This phrase was laid upon Elli Freidmann as the uprising of Hitler was proclaimed. Read more

Published on Jun 2 2004 by Katherine Rosas

5.0 out of 5 stars A school assignment...but still enjoyed!!!
A few weeks ago, I read the book, I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson. The book is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Elli. Read more

Published on May 27 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Summary of I Have Lived a Thousand Years
The book I Have Lived A Thousand Years is a very inspirational story about a teenage Jewish girl named Elli living in the concentration camps of Germany during World War II. Read more

Published on May 27 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars I have lived through you
I have lived a thousand years is about this girl who thinks low of herself because her mother likes her brother better because her brother has curly hair and a good figure. Read more

Published on May 13 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Why?
In this beautiful and moving novel, the life a young Jewish Girl growing up during the Holocaust is unraveled. Read more

Published on May 9 2004 by lizzy

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOULUTLY TOUCHING!! SO HEARTBREAKING!
Any books by Livia Bitton-Jackson is a must read. I am a 6th grader and we are researching somebody for a school project. Read more

Published on May 8 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
I began reading this book at the begening of eigth grade, when I was 13 years old. I have always had an obsession with World War 2 and the Holocaust. Read more

Published on April 19 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars I Have Lived a Thousand Years
This book is very inspirational because it talks about the life of a thirteen year old girl and her inspirational story about how she survived the Holocaust. Read more

Published on Nov 29 2003 by Caryn

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