"Is It Night or Day?" by Fern Schumer Chapman
WWII will forever fascinate me and this book introduced me to another aspect of the war that I had never given much thought to. This is the true story of a 12 year-old girl whose family chose to send her to America, alone, in 1938 as part of the "One Thousand Children" mission started by Christian groups in America. The sad realization is that only 1200 children were accepted into the country over a decade because there were people appalled by taking in refugees so organizers kept to only ten children per month to avoid resistance. Sound familiar?
When I read a book, especially a true story, I feel such empathy for the story teller. I could not imagine, as a parent, making the decision to send my child halfway around the world as their only choice for survival. In this story, Edith talks of other children aboard the ship that brought them to America. One child was only six, also on his own. Six. That's my son's age. It broke my heart.
Hearing the story of events that brought her parents to this decision are also heart-wrenching. Neighbors, friends that had always been close to Edith's family suddenly saw them as "dirty" and "worthless". How powerful Hitler's words had to be to turn friends against each other is inconceivable to me. The devil was truly working through that man.
This book also made me realize the horror that our brothers and sisters in Christ must be going through in the Middle East. How long will we sit back and allow this to happen? I feel a WWIII is coming and none of us should be surprised when it does. The choices families have been forced to make, what would I do to protect my own family if it hits us here?
This is a great book and I strongly urge you to read it, if only to recognize the true pain of war through the eyes of the refugee. Through the eyes of a 12 year-old girl. Enjoy!
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