T4: a novel by Ann Clare LeZotte

Summary/Review:

T4 by Ann Clare LeZotte is a novel in verse that describes events in Paula Becker's life during the Holocaust. Paula is a deaf girl who lives with her family that includes her mother, father, sister and dog. Although her mother attempts to cure her deafness, Paula adapts to surroundings by seeing with her ears. Regardless of her success, she is living during the Holocaust and is subject to T4, a program under Nazi direction, which euthanizes disabled people including children and adults who are deaf. Father Josef, in order to save her from this fate, hides her with a lady named Stephanie Holderin. While staying with Stephanie, Paula learns to fingerspell and sign language. However, once again Paula finds herself in danger of being found, and Father Josef moves her to another safe shelter. During her time away from home, Paula meets others who are in danger including a Jewish family. She also meets Poor Kurt, who appears to be an old man. Unbeknownst to Paula, Poor Kurt is actually a young Gypsy who disguised himself to avoid persecution. T4 may appear to be a simple novel in verse about a young girl’s Holocaust experience, but it also introduces the many types of victims of the Holocaust.

The strength of T4: a novel is the educational message that it sends. In a great deal of Holocaust literature, readers learn about the persecution of Jews. However, LeZotte highlights the others communities that were victims of the Holocaust. While this is a short read, the verse is powerful and provides enough details to move the story along. However, this book will spur the reader to want to know more about this aspect of the massacre.

Links:

Learn more about the murder of the disabled during the Holocaust: http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/disabilities/