Broken Strings

This is a middle school novel that touches on the Holocaust in a simple but poignant way.
Authors, Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer tell the story of a young girl and her grandfather's relationship to present what can be a hard topic to address for young readers.

Seventh grader Shirli Berman is cast as Golde for the school musical, Fiddler on the Roof.  One of her school responsibilities is to go over to her grandfather's house to bring him groceries and check up on him.  Her Bubbe has recently died and everyone in the family misses her.  Shirli especially because she always listened to her sing and came to all her performances.  Until now no one in the family knew why Zayde forbid music in the house and did not seem interested in Shirli's performances.  He has never spoken about his experiences during the war years, event to Shirli's father, Zayde's own son.

Looking for costumes, for her play in Zayde's attic, Shirli comes across a poster and an old violin which open up something long closed off in Zayde.  Though he has never spoken about his past, now that the door has opened he is ready to share all the hard memories he has kept bottled up for decades.

I even shed a tear or two as I read this novel.  Bringing a grandfather and his granddaughter closer, and bringing an old man out of his shell and keeping him feeling vital even in later age, is what this book explores.  There are a few times when the authors seem to stretch the edge of reality, but the story and the message is well presented so you can let go of the questions.  I can picture this Zayde as my grandfather, but I am not sure someone 14 years old would currently have a grandfather of this description.  Also this book is set right after the World Trade Towers were attacked, which relates the those emotions to the Holocaust, though I am not sure if these are equivalent, but the the storyline is so engaging.