
Playing for the Commandant
Suzy Zail(Author)
Candlewick Press,U.S.
Published on 14. October 2014
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-0-7636-6403-9 (ISBN)
Description
A young Jewish pianist at Auschwitz, desperate to save her family, is chosen to play at the camp commandant’s house. How could she know she would fall in love with the wrong boy?
These are Hanna’s father’s parting words to her and her sister when their family is separated at the gates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Her father’s words — and a black C-sharp piano key hidden away in the folds of her dress — are all that she has left to remind her of life before. Before, Hanna was going to be a famous concert pianist. She was going to wear her yellow dress to a dance. And she was going to dance with a boy. But then the Nazis came. Now it is up to Hanna to do all she can to keep her mother and sister alive, even if that means playing piano for the commandant and his guests. Staying alive isn’t supposed to include falling in love with the commandant’s son. But Karl Jager is beautiful, and his aloofness belies a secret. And war makes you do dangerous things.
These are Hanna’s father’s parting words to her and her sister when their family is separated at the gates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Her father’s words — and a black C-sharp piano key hidden away in the folds of her dress — are all that she has left to remind her of life before. Before, Hanna was going to be a famous concert pianist. She was going to wear her yellow dress to a dance. And she was going to dance with a boy. But then the Nazis came. Now it is up to Hanna to do all she can to keep her mother and sister alive, even if that means playing piano for the commandant and his guests. Staying alive isn’t supposed to include falling in love with the commandant’s son. But Karl Jager is beautiful, and his aloofness belies a secret. And war makes you do dangerous things.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Massachusetts
United States
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Seventh Grade and over, Interest Age: From 12 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Paper over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 208 mm
Width: 144 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
368 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7636-6403-9 (9780763664039)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Suzy Zail is the author of numerous books for children and adults, including The Tattooed Flower, an account of how her father survived the Holocaust. Playing for the Commandant is her first work of fiction for young adults. She lives in Australia.