It is 1941. Hedy and her family are Jewish, and the Jew-hating Nazi party is rising. Hedy's family is no longer safe in their home in Hungary. They decide to flee to America, but because of their circumstances, sixteen-year-old Hedy must make her way through Europe alone. Will luck be with her? Will she be brave? Join Hedy on her journey-where she encounters good fortune and misfortune, a kind helper and cruel soldiers, a reunion and a tragedy-and discover how Hedy is both lucky and brave. Hedy's Journey adds an important voice to the canon of Holocaust stories, and her courage will make a lasting impact on young readers.
"Michelle Bisson uses her mother's first-person voice to tell the tale of escape from Nazi-occupied Hungary to Vienna, Barcelona, Lisbon, and the United States. . . . Illustrations track Hedy's journey and the use of a muted palette is effective. The story is filled with real-life conflict and determination to reach safe haven..."
Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews
"Bisson writes with great immediacy about Hedy, who was her mother. The author's note on Holocaust history is a personal one of learning her family's story over time. The attractive artwork suggests the time period while dramatizing the characters' emotions effectively. This handsome series both dramatizes and personalizes history through the experiences of individuals."
Booklist
"Bisson effectively communicates the high level of stress and danger, while also emphasizing the value of love and family. The illustrator's color palette of gray, sepia, and a subdued dusty pink (for Hedy's clothing) suits the historical time period. . . .should work well in a small group or one-on-one setting."
School Library Journal, "9 Nonfiction Series for Back-to-School Reading"
