The book covers a year in the life of Elizabeth “Betta” Goldfarb and her family. Raised in the Catholic faith, Betta discovers her family is of Jewish heritage as Hitler moves to “annex” Austria into the Third Reich in 1938. As the Germans take over Austria, sudden changes occur to the family as they are forced to “become Jewish”. Her father’s businesses begin to fail and they lose friends not wanting to associate with them.On November 9, 1938, Hitler’s Nazis carry out a campaign of terror against the Jews: Krystallnacht, when Nazis destroyed synagogues, Jewish homes and businesses all over Austria (and Germany). The reader witnesses the emotional identity crisis Betta experiences in the run up to this event, and fallout for the family in the short-term aftermath.
2.The antagonist
Hitler and the forces of evil he unleashes on the Jews forms the antagonist. He is able to orchestrate a campaign of fear, hate and unspeakable violence against Jews by convincing people that his mission to rid the country of Jews is a patriotic and noble cause.Betta does not understand how people can fall victim to the power of his words of hate against innocent people.
3.Possible Titles
Betta’s Secret: Forced to be Jewish for Hitler
Betta’s Story: Identified as Jewish by Hitler
Betta’s Story: Becoming Jewish During Kristallnacht
4.Comparables
I have yet not done the full research on Publishers Weekly of recent comparables for youth-oriented Holocaust novels, but as of about three years ago, these were three of the closest, and best literary novels that were of the most help in crafting my draft.None covers the exact same period of time, nor the Kristallnacht.
a.The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, 2007
A third person voiced account of the friendship between two nine-year old boys, Bruno and Schmuel, built on opposite sides of a fence which led into a German concentration camp. The book has a stunning and emotional climax that affects Bruno’s family deeply.
b.The Tobacconist,by Robert Seethaler and Charlotte Collins, 2016
A vividly written personal account of life in Vienna, seen through the eyes of a 17 year old, Franz, who moved from the countryside to Vienna, as the Nazis were establishing a footholdfor their occupation.
c.What the Night Sings, by Vesper Stamper, 2018
The story of 15 year old Gerta, who learns she is Jewish only when she is taken to a concentration camp. Compelling detail of surviving life in the camp as a musician, plus the story of what post-concentration camp life meant for a Jewish person faced with anti-Semitism.
5.Logline
Raised in the Catholic faith, Betta discovers her family’s roots are Jewish. She struggles with what this means to her, her family, good friends and acquaintances as Hitler annexes Austria into the Third Reich and persuades people to join his crusade to rid the world of Jews.
6.Inner conflict of protagonist
Betta has no idea what it means to be Jewish, nor does she comprehend the enormous power of a man bent of removing Jews from her country. She does not relate to being Jewish, and hates being stereotyped as one. Throughout the book, she struggles with the personal and impersonal impacts of this prejudice.
Through various scenes, she comes to understand the personal power of hate and fear when it affects her teacher, and then her non-Jewish friends and acquaintances who suddenly want nothing to do with her or her family.Her first encounter with this phenomenon is when her beloved teacher Herr Stein, who had been teaching his class about the impact of Hitler on Austria, mysteriously disappears.Over a weekend, Fraulein Drumpf the school’s headmistress, replaced Stein with Herr Friedrich, who enters the class with a “Heil Hitler” salute to the bewildered class.That Herr Stein would disappear without saying goodbye shakes Betta’s world.
7.Setting
The setting in Vienna allows for rich cinematic detail, with familiar buildings, landmarks, the Danube, her grandparents’ villa and other welcoming open spaces. These are contrasted with the damaged Goldfarb apartment, the curtains that Betta peeks through, and the light and dark shadows of that experience. Light and dark are one undercurrent in the book.
Algonkian Retreats and Workshops 2023 - Assignments
in Algonkian Writer Conferences - Events, FAQ, Contracts
Posted
From Allison Branscombe:
Betta's Story: Identified as Jewish by Hitler
1. Story line
The book covers a year in the life of Elizabeth “Betta” Goldfarb and her family. Raised in the Catholic faith, Betta discovers her family is of Jewish heritage as Hitler moves to “annex” Austria into the Third Reich in 1938. As the Germans take over Austria, sudden changes occur to the family as they are forced to “become Jewish”. Her father’s businesses begin to fail and they lose friends not wanting to associate with them. On November 9, 1938, Hitler’s Nazis carry out a campaign of terror against the Jews: Krystallnacht, when Nazis destroyed synagogues, Jewish homes and businesses all over Austria (and Germany). The reader witnesses the emotional identity crisis Betta experiences in the run up to this event, and fallout for the family in the short-term aftermath.
2. The antagonist
Hitler and the forces of evil he unleashes on the Jews forms the antagonist. He is able to orchestrate a campaign of fear, hate and unspeakable violence against Jews by convincing people that his mission to rid the country of Jews is a patriotic and noble cause. Betta does not understand how people can fall victim to the power of his words of hate against innocent people.
3. Possible Titles
Betta’s Secret: Forced to be Jewish for Hitler
Betta’s Story: Identified as Jewish by Hitler
Betta’s Story: Becoming Jewish During Kristallnacht
4. Comparables
I have yet not done the full research on Publishers Weekly of recent comparables for youth-oriented Holocaust novels, but as of about three years ago, these were three of the closest, and best literary novels that were of the most help in crafting my draft. None covers the exact same period of time, nor the Kristallnacht.
a. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, 2007
A third person voiced account of the friendship between two nine-year old boys, Bruno and Schmuel, built on opposite sides of a fence which led into a German concentration camp. The book has a stunning and emotional climax that affects Bruno’s family deeply.
b. The Tobacconist, by Robert Seethaler and Charlotte Collins, 2016
A vividly written personal account of life in Vienna, seen through the eyes of a 17 year old, Franz, who moved from the countryside to Vienna, as the Nazis were establishing a foothold for their occupation.
c. What the Night Sings, by Vesper Stamper, 2018
The story of 15 year old Gerta, who learns she is Jewish only when she is taken to a concentration camp. Compelling detail of surviving life in the camp as a musician, plus the story of what post-concentration camp life meant for a Jewish person faced with anti-Semitism.
5. Logline
Raised in the Catholic faith, Betta discovers her family’s roots are Jewish. She struggles with what this means to her, her family, good friends and acquaintances as Hitler annexes Austria into the Third Reich and persuades people to join his crusade to rid the world of Jews.
6. Inner conflict of protagonist
Betta has no idea what it means to be Jewish, nor does she comprehend the enormous power of a man bent of removing Jews from her country. She does not relate to being Jewish, and hates being stereotyped as one. Throughout the book, she struggles with the personal and impersonal impacts of this prejudice.
Through various scenes, she comes to understand the personal power of hate and fear when it affects her teacher, and then her non-Jewish friends and acquaintances who suddenly want nothing to do with her or her family. Her first encounter with this phenomenon is when her beloved teacher Herr Stein, who had been teaching his class about the impact of Hitler on Austria, mysteriously disappears. Over a weekend, Fraulein Drumpf the school’s headmistress, replaced Stein with Herr Friedrich, who enters the class with a “Heil Hitler” salute to the bewildered class. That Herr Stein would disappear without saying goodbye shakes Betta’s world.
7. Setting
The setting in Vienna allows for rich cinematic detail, with familiar buildings, landmarks, the Danube, her grandparents’ villa and other welcoming open spaces. These are contrasted with the damaged Goldfarb apartment, the curtains that Betta peeks through, and the light and dark shadows of that experience. Light and dark are one undercurrent in the book.