From School Library Journal
Grade 5-10-A moving account of an unlikely hero. Sugihara single-handedly saved thousands of Jewish lives during the Holocaust. With the support of his wife, he issued exit visas while stationed as a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania. Risking his own life and those of his family members, he responded to the call to help fellow human beings. Ignoring the orders of the Japanese foreign ministry, he handwrote thousands of documents so that Jews could flee Lithuania to travel through Russia to get to Japan and freedom. Sugihara was eventually transferred out of Eastern Europe but not before he and his own family experienced the internment camps of Russia. Eventually, he was fired from the foreign service for his bravery and had to find work elsewhere. At the end of his life, he wondered if his act of compassion had any impact. He was rewarded by learning that many of the survivors had been searching for him to thank him for his gift of freedom. Although Sugihara passed away in 1986, Gold was able to interview his widow as well as two people who were saved by his act. Thus, the many details of the book are authentic. The narrative alternates between Sugihara's story and those of the two survivors, rendering the sacrifices and suffering of each person all the more poignant. This thought-provoking title joins the growing number of fine Holocaust titles for young people.Carol Fazioli, formerly at The Brearley School, New York City Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
It's one of the great Holocaust rescue stories. Chiune Sugihara, Japanese consul in Lithuania, defied his government and personally wrote transit visas for about 6,000 desperate Jewish refugees, visas that allowed them to travel across Russia and escape the Nazis. Ken Mochizuki's Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story (1997) was an immediate account for younger readers but left them wanting to know more about the man and the history. Gold's biography fills in the details. She draws on interviews with Sugihara's wife and other witnesses. She also weaves in the stories of two Jewish refugee families. Unfortunately, the awkward, plodding style almost buries the drama. A map would also have helped: where exactly did the refugees go, and how did they get there? Still, the exciting facts will hold readers' interest in the heroic story of one man who did so much. A moving epilogue describes how, after years of grief and disgrace, Sugihara was finally honored in his own country and in Israel. Hazel Rochman


Book Description
Award-winning author Alison Gold presents the little-know story of Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), a Japanese diplomat who risked everything to save the lives of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Sugihara chose to issure visas to Jews escaping Lithuania, despite the fact that his superiors strictly forbade him to do so. For the first time ever, his unforgettable story, as well as the stories of those he saved, are made accessible to adolescent readers.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Children's Literture

In 1940, at his consulate post in Kaunas, Lithuania, Chiune Sugihara was besieged by thousands of refugees desperate to flee Europe. They sought Japanese transit visas, which would allow them to escape via the Soviet Union. Vice Consul Sugihara and his wife, Yukiko, jointly agreed that they could not abandon so many innocent men, women, and children. For days, Sugihara remained fixed at his desk, tirelessly writing visas. It is estimated that he handwrote 6,000 visas, knowing that his actions would probably result in his dismissal from the Japanese embassy. During the war, Sugihara decided that the risk was acceptable even if only one refugee's life was saved. Sugihara lived by the code taught in Japanese schools--take care of others, and do not expect rewards for goodness. Years later, it is estimated that over forty thousand people, descendants of survivors who were saved by Sugihara visas, owe their lives to this courageous man. This fascinating biography reads like fast-paced fiction. Gold has ingeniously intertwined the stories of two Jewish families whose lives were touched by Sugihara. In the pages of this book, readers will find a hero who proves that one person can have a tremendous impact against evil. 2000, Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Jackie Hechtkopf

VOYA

As Japanese Vice Consul in Kaunas (Kovno), Lithuania, Chiune Sugihara was aware of the increasing number of Jewish refugees seeking to escape during the Holocaust. Placing himself and his family in danger, particularly after the Japanese Foreign Ministry refused him permission to grant visas, he decided to issue thousands of permits on his own. This decision enabled fleeing Jews to travel across the Soviet Union to Japan, where they might extend their journey to Shanghai, Cura￯﾿ﾽao, Canada, or the United States. He wrote visas right up until the closing of the consulate by the Soviet Union, going so far as to throw the documents from the window of the train as he and his family left the country. The result of the six thousand papers Sugihara issued is that forty thousand descendants of the visa recipients survive today. Sugihara's story is made real and interesting by the many anecdotes and bits of information that could only come from interviews. Details of houses, food, and Japanese culture; specific horrors of the Holocaust; and the survival of Mrs. Sugihara after a bombing attack behind enemy lines will engage young readers. Gold also traces the very different experiences of two young Jews and their families, further enlightening readers about World War II. The author clearly demonstrates how much good one person can do. Photos. Acknowledgments. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P M (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2000, Scholastic, Ages 12 to 14, 208p, $15.95. Reviewer: Susan H. Levine

School Library Journal