To Hope and Back: The Journey of the St. Louis (The Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers 2011, 11)

The true story of the ship St. Louis, which left Germany in May 1939 full of Jewish passengers seeking refuge in Cuba. Denied port in Cuba, the US, and finally Canada, the St. Louis was forced to return Europe, where many passengers later died in the Holocaust. Through the eyes of two children, Sol and Lisa, both of whom survived the war and shared their experiences, we see as their journey begins with excitement and hope, only to end in frustration and fear. The children's chapters alternate with those of Captain Schroeder, who reveals the full history of the journey. Lisa and Sol board the luxury ship St. Louis in Hamburg, Germany, on May 13, 1939. Lisa and her family are in first class; Sol and his parents are below in tourist class. The children have mixed feelings—they're excited to be beginning this voyage to a better life and sad to be leaving their old lives behind. They are Jewish, as are almost all of the 937 passengers on board, and although war has not been officially declared in Europe, the Nazis have been persecuting Jews for years. As they set sail for Cuba, the atmosphere on the ship is optimistic, led by the German captain Gustave Shröder, who is determined to see his passengers to safety. But as they learn that Hitler's propaganda has turned the country against them, the mood changes to despair. They are turned away—first from Cuba, then the United States, and then Canada.

The story of Lisa and Sol is set against the tragic true history of the St. Louis. Denied entry from port after port, the captain was forced to return his Jewish passengers to Europe, where many died in the Holocaust. Through the eyes of Sol and Lisa, we see the injustice and heartbreak that were caused by the prejudice and hatred of so many.

The tragic true story of the ship St. Louis. It left Germany in May 1939 full of Jewish passengers seeking refuge in Cuba, but was denied port in Cuba, the US and Canada before returning to Europe. where many died in the Holocaust. Through the eyes of two children, Sol and Lisa, both of whom survived the war and shared their experiences, we see the journey begin with excitement and hope and end in frustration and fear. The children's chapters alternate with those of the captain, Schroeder, a German who was sympathetic to the Jews. Through his eyes we get the facts that are kept from the children. "The St. Louis, a luxury ocean liner, leaves Germany in 1939, taking its almost one thousand passengers to a safe haven across the ocean. They will be making a fresh start in countries like Cuba and the United States, away from the Nazi regime that is trying to destroy them. But the ship is not allowed to dock in Cuba; the chance for refuge is in jeopardy, and a darker future might lie ahead for the Jewish passengers on board."--Page 4 of cover A true account of two Jewish children on the ship St. Louis who while attempting to escape Nazi Germany were turned away from port after port.