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The novel "The Book Thief" is narrated by Death. He tells the story of a young German girl saving books from Nazi bonfires to read to the Jewish man hiding in her home. But the novel was actually written by author Markus Zusak. In this public radio story, he explains his choice of Death as the narrator, and the message he hopes teenage readers get from the novel.
Historical Fiction Fiction World War II Young Adult Literature war Censorship Religion
Story Length: 4:52
© 2006 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
AIR DATE: 12/02/2006
A rising tide of anti-Jewish sentiment has the German government chastising Germans for their prejudice. Anti-Semitism is a particularly volatile topic in Germany because of the Nazi-led Holocaust during World War II. Some blame the rising anti-Semitism in Europe on the conflict in Israel. Others believe it’s because of an influx of Muslim immigrants. This public radio story takes you to a protest against the attacks on Jews in Germany and explores how the present-day incidents refer to a dark past.
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There are few Holocaust survivors still living today. In this public radio story we hear from one woman who escaped a Nazi death camp. She tells the story about being led out of the camp with many other women to an open field to be killed. Thankfully, she escaped, but has lived for over 70 years with survivor’s guilt.
Note: This story contains disturbing details about a Nazi concentration camp.
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Just one day after President Obama urged citizens of the United States “to reject discrimination against Muslim-Americans,” Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2015 suggested that all Muslims be blocked from entering the U.S. He later softened his position. But some say that Trump’s idea was no different than when Japanese-Americans were detained by the U.S. government in internment camps during World War II. Xenophobia, a fear or dislike of people from other countries, may be triggered by real events, such as crime or terrorist attacks, but is often shown to be irrational. Listen to hear how the power of fear and anger can lead to hate and discrimination.
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Jews were expelled from Spain during the Inquisition and reparations were made just recently. Until 1492, Spain had a thriving Sephardic Jewish community. In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish King and Queen, expelled or killed Jews, or forced them to convert to Catholicism. More than 500 years later, as a form of reparation for that historical wrong committed, Spain is offering citizenship to the descendants of Jews who were impacted during the Inquisition. The reaction of Jewish descendants has been mixed. The story raises issues about historical legacy, reparation and modern-day issues around Israel’s relationship with Europe.
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