Customer Reviews
Fantastic book! 
2007-10-15
I read this book years ago, when I was about 10 years old and didn't even understand fully the depth of the Holocaust. But even then I enjoyed this tale of a girl surviving against the odds. Great book for everyone; helps even the young to understand the plight of millions during that dark era and got me interesting in the Holocaust.
A Heart Breaking Story of Survival 
2007-10-01
This book will leave you speechless. Just when you think humanity can
go no lower, the author describes acts that leave you amazed that
humans can be so cruel. A story of survival that needs to be told so that
we never forget the loss of so many innocent lives.
one of the best 2007-07-10
I have been reading many Holocaust memoirs in search of one that would be appropriate to use in teaching junior high English; this memoir is the best I have found for teens because it is written from the perspective of a young adolescent girl. The voice in the memoir is so different because even though she is trapped in the death camp, she still has many of the same cares and worries of a normal teenage girl. When she talks about how she had a crush on a young Jewish boy in the ghetto, feeling ugly after her hair is shorn off, her frequent fights with her critical mother, or her excitement about being told she was pretty, she could easily be one of my students. But her will to live is anything but normal, as she talks about surviving in the filth of Auschwitz and risking her life to save that of her mother. The most gripping scene of the novel is when American forces mistakenly fire on her transport car as they are being shipped from Auschwitz juts days before liberation. Many of the young girls around her literally blown apart while she sits in horror. Somehow she manages to survive and move on in her life, and even return to German to confront her past many years later. She has truly lived a thousand years.
Must Read 2007-05-30
We must never forget the Holocaust. There are many lessons learned in works about the Holocaust. This book is about a 13 year old girl fighting to survive in a concentration camp. Imagine your child being thrown out of school, can no longer keep your possessions. Not be allowed to talk even to a neighbor. Have little food, and then thrown into a nightmare beyond belief! Not to be a gloomy gus but I think we must learn from the holocaust. We never know what tomorrow may bring.
This book was heartbreaking 2007-05-17
For some reason this book was harder for me to read than the others. I guess because it was written from the view point of a young girl. She even calls her mother -'mommy' throughout the book so at first I thought it might be relatively tame compared to the other accounts. Especially because the book was recommended for Young Adults. It was not! The things she describes seemed more horrific than the other books I've read. You dont want to believe this young girl would go through all she did and survive. Honestly who would want to? I went to bed dreaming about her story. It really makes all our problems seem so laughable and insignificant. And to think that -we- the human race did those things to one another is an unbearable truth to bear. It is another testament to faith and the Human will to survive.
I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust Review 2008-06-11
The book shows plenty of emotions of their loved ones being lost. Livia wrote her memory into a book, like most Holocaust survivors did. Most people are unaware of the presence of the Holocaust or just were uninterested. Like most Holocaust books they show the nightmare they experienced. Elli gives the reader an idea that they have hope to survive.
Some people read certain Holocaust books that fits their writing style and her Livia gives the reader the first person point of view.
We chose this book for our English class and we presented how they were killed like if one person in the barrack did not cooperate with the SS officers, the entire barrack was sent to gas chambers.
I recommend readers read this book.
Shocking 2008-01-04
This book is so powerful. I have read many stories of Holocaust survivors, but few if any have presented such a vivid view of the horrors the Jews faced. Some parts were disturbing, but they describe true history, so they are definitely important to read. If you're interested in the Holocaust, this is a great read.
A First Holocaust Book for the Teen Reader 2007-12-09
"I Have Lived A Thousand Years" is a personal and gut-wrenching story of how a 13-year old girl survived the German Holocaust in the death camp of Auschwitz. The book is fairly short with short chapters. It is obviously written for adolescent readers, but can certainly be appreciated by adults as well. This is a very good first book for teens to learn about the Holocaust. It is written in the first person, and we "see" the horrifying conditions through the author's sensitve eyes.
The story is gripping from page one to the last page. It should be read and then discussed with the adolescent reader, as many questions will be raised as to the horrific nature of the Holocaust.
There are many good Holocost books, but the stark reality presented in this book, along with the narrative style, makes this an excellent introductory first-person account to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
Jim Koenig
Breathtaking I bawled and bawled ! 2007-11-09
Fantastic book, I recommend it to many of my students at work. I cried and cried at the end. We certainly have no idea in our cosy 2007 world. A brave, graphic and well written book.
A Beautiful Story...An Ugly Piece of History 2007-10-29
She was one in thirty five that returned...Originally, five hundred left. Into the ghetto then into cattle cars, off to fend for their lives. Thirteen year old Elli (later, changing her name to Livia. Yes, this is a true story!) was one of many young, Jewish, innocent, Holocaust victims. Elli and her family lived a comfortable life. They owned a local gocerey store, they were successful and had many close friends and family...that is, until Germany took over. In March 1944, the Nazis invaded Hungary. Privledges were taken away slowly but surely, no more school, giving up prized possessions and their store, having to wear yellow stars. What was this? No one knew. SUddenly, Elli finds that all will be lost. Elli's family is moved into a crowded ghetto, and they lose all the privledges and possessions that they hadn't already lose. It took everything they had to survive, yet little did they know, this was only the beginning. Soon, they were put on cattle cars. Ellie's family was spilt up among concentration camps; although, Ellie and her mother managed to stay together and survive some of the harshest punishments the Nazis dished out. This is a remarkable memoir of a teenage girl who no doubt had, lived a thousand years, she had no chouce. Her hope and faith along with her suffering and fears, you won't beleive a thirteen year old would've realized and out smarted the Nazis in such ways. Not only is this a beautiful story of survival but an ugly piece of history. Having background on WOrld War II helped me understand a bit more but also this book taught me a great deal of history, another reason to read. This book, was definitely a fast read, I couldn't put it down. You're constantly wondering..."Will she survive?! How will she out smart them this time?! Will she escape?!" You would definitely need to enjoy survival and history to get through this novel and also know that some chapters are a bit graphic. This woman went through the unthinkable and she doesn't hold back on letting you know that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an amazing story with some history behind it. Livia Bitton-Jackson is a part of our history and survived as one of thirty five returning of an original five hundred. This woman did the unthinkable.
-Kaitlyn Toner
