In Sarah's Key, the reader will learn about the French participation in the holocaust through two parallel stories. The first story takes place in Paris during the Nazi occupation with Sarah, a ten year old French Jewish girl who attempts to protect her little brother by locking him into a secret closet during the round up of Jews in France by French police officers. She has promised to return with her key to rescue him when she returns. Will she be able to keep her promise? As Sarah is forced to endure the harsh living conditions of the camps and treatment of the officers, she changes from an innocent naive child to a wise, strong, brave and determined young girl.
The parallel story is about Julia, an American journalist living in Paris who is assigned to write a story commemorating the 60th anniversary of the French Vel' d'Hiv round up in 1942. She is shocked by the lack of public knowledge about the event and the reaction she receives when she discusses the topic with her French husband and extended family. At the same time, Julia discovers that the apartment her family is moving into was once occupied by one of these unfortunate Jewish families taken during the round up. Who were these people and what happened to them? These questions take Julia on a sad, unforgettable journey into the past that changes her perspective on life, love and reverence for history that must not be forgotten.
The message: life is precious and mistakes of the past, no matter how horrific, must be remembered so they are not repeated.(less)
Recommended for grades 11 & 12.
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