Two touching books

I've mentioned before that I read a lot of literary fluff. But I do try to read at least one thought provoking book each month. In the past few weeks, I've been on a deep literature kick and wanted to share two nonfiction books that profoundly touched me.

The first is Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine. This book is written for the middle grades, approximately grades 4 to 9. A teacher friend loaned me this book to read and I am definitely adding to to my classroom library. It is the story of a young girl killed during the Holocaust and how her suitcase ended up in a Holocaust remembrance museum in Japan. It is a quick, easy read. You come to know Hana through the stories and pictures in the book. You also learn about the journey this museum in Japan took to find out about Hana and her life. It is very touching story of one little girl and a good overview of the Holocaust. Although I knew Hana would die during the course of the book, I came to know her. She was a beautiful young girl exposed to awful acts and the worst of man kind. The book is not detailed in terms of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, but is good for middle grade readers who want to learn more.

The second book is Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. This story is much too intense for a younger audience and is definitely meant for adults. It is the true story of Imaculee's survival during the 1993 Rwandan genocide. Imaculee's family was horribly slaughtered during this genocide, along with 1 million other Tutsi tribal members. Imaculee miraculously survived by hiding in a bathroom with seven other women in a pastor's house. More than just a story of the genocide, it is her story of faith and how she came to have a better relationship with God and forgive the killers. Although I am of a different faith than Imaculee, I was very moved by her story and her faith. She taught me important lessons of forgiveness and faith without fear.

I didn't intend to read two books related to separate holocausts when I started out. I picked up the second book on a whim while at the library this past weekend. I had watched the movie Hotel Rwanda a few months ago, and seeing a book on the same subject as that movie caused me to read it. I didn't expect how profoundly reading these two books on similar subjects in a short amount of time would affect me. I came away questioning human nature, but resolved even more to teach my son and any future children to love people of all races, religions, creeds, and nationalities.

Both of these atrocious holocausts happened because of hate. One would think the Holocaust and the killing of 6 millions Jewish people would be lesson enough. I would think it would teach people not to hate a group of people based on their skin color, their religion, their heritage, their life style, or anything else. But that is not the case. Less than 50 years later, another million people are killed in Africa for no other reason than the tribe they belong to. I am sickened and amazed at how quickly hatred can spread. I cannot comprehend how people can turn on another group of people and justify, whether to the public or in their own minds, the annihilation of a group of people. I do not understand how human kind can treat another person in such wicked ways. And I hope I can never comprehend or understand, because then I might be able to become like the people who commit such horrors.

What I can take from these books is knowledge. A knowledge of what hatred and prejudice can do when embraced and spread throughout a society. I hope that if ever faced with such pervasive hatred, I can stand up to it, not turn a blind eye and let it happen. Although I teach English, I actually majored in history. History is one of the best teacher's there is. I hope I can take these lessons from history and stand up for what is right. I hope I can raise Camden and any future children to love all of humankind, despite their differences. I hope that by having read these two books, I can become a better person, more filled with faith and a love for all of God's children.

Do you have a book that has touched you or taught you something important? Share it with me. I want to keep up with this deeper reading for awhile!