A podcast I recently listened to featured the author Gary Schmidt. He recommended this book.
Yiddish scholars created an autobiographical essay contest where Jews, ages 13-21, would explain what it means to be a Jew. Two stipulations were set: the autobiography had to be truthful, and it had to be anonymous. One essayist broke all of the rules (including the age range). Her photograph is included in the back. More than seven hundred entries arrived. On the day the grand prize was to be awarded, the Nazis invaded Poland. Brave librarians hid the essays. These essays were hidden one more time from the KGB in organ pipes! In 2017 they were discovered and preserved. This book contains six of those entries.
I found the essays interesting and very well-written. I was surprised how many Jewish young people were drawn to socialism and how divided they were concerning Zionism.
Warnings/points to consider/discuss- some swearing, adultery (an essayist's father), a young man enjoys a girl's breast resting on his chest, communism
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