“Courageous; achingly honest." ―Michelle Alexander; New York Times bestselling author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness“A compelling; incisive and thoughtful examination of race; origin and what it means to be called an American. Engaging; heartfelt and beautifully written; Lythcott-Haims explores the American spectrum of identity with refreshing courage and compassion.â€â€•Bryan Stevenson; New York Times bestselling author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and RedemptionA fearless debut memoir in which beloved and bestselling How to Raise an Adult author Julie Lythcott-Haims pulls no punches in her recollections of growing up a biracial black woman in America.Bringing a poetic sensibility to her prose to stunning effect; Lythcott-Haims briskly and stirringly evokes her personal battle with the low self-esteem that American racism routinely inflicts on people of color. The only child of a marriage between an African-American father and a white British mother; she shows indelibly how so-called "micro" aggressions in addition to blunt force insults can puncture a person's inner life with a thousand sharp cuts. Real American expresses also; through Lythcott-Haims’s path to self-acceptance; the healing power of community in overcoming the hurtful isolation of being incessantly considered "the other." The author of the New York Times bestselling anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult; Lythcott-Haims has written a different sort of book this time out; but one that will nevertheless resonate with the legions of students; educators and parents to whom she is now well known; by whom she is beloved; and to whom she has always provided wise and necessary counsel about how to embrace and nurture their best selves. Real American is an affecting memoir; an unforgettable cri de coeur; and a clarion call to all of us to live more wisely; generously and fully.
#72493 in Books Krystyna Chiger 2012-02-28 2012-02-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 207.77 x .87 x 5.66l; .55 #File Name: 1250018986304 pagesThe Girl in the Green Sweater A Life in Holocaust s Shadow
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Astonishing and Unbelievably True StoryBy KJ WilsonAs I have been researching the Holocaust; I saw "The Girl In the Green Sweater" had just been released. I believe that was in 2008. Since I had other survivor stories to read; I put off the purchase of this book until recently. Finally; I could wait no longer. The cover of the book has been calling out to me ever since I first saw the title and cover of the book.What an incredible read of history about the Holocaust years. With each Holocaust survivor story I have read; I gain invaluable wisdom; lessons; and more insight for the will to live. I learn that no matter insurmountable odds against the Jewish people; there were those who conquered and overcame those odds. I also continue to learn about the heroes in the Jewish people's lives who risked everything to save and preserve them. This story is really a story within a story. One component of this story reveals the character one of the heroes; Leopold Socha. His continued street smarts and ingenuity was instrumental to keeping his Jewish family alive in underground world called the sewer. Socha's quick thinking along with his survival skills locked him into a protective mode over those that were under his care and psychologically began a redemptive lifestyle from his past that was jaded and full of unlawful actions. The second component is about the people he selected to rescue and begin a long journey to save; protect; and risk his own life. Ultimately; there will be 11 survivors. In those survivors; is one nuclear family. A family of four; the Chiger family; that made it through the Holocaust in tact and alive. This family of four would go on to become one of three nuclear families in their town to survive. Incredible odds against them. Yet; because of the actions of Socha and his team of sewer workers; this family survived.As a teacher; this story and other Holocaust stories have provided me with such rich teaching material about the human complexities. Those who choose to speak out. Those who choose to remain silent. Those who have compassion. Those who ridicule. Those who hate. Those who love. Those that feel a sense of entitlement. And those who continue to love through it all. In this story and others; I have witnessed through the words of the survivors the importance of creating a sense of normal despite such incredible chaos. Ignacy Chiger; a very educated and wise man; continued to teach his children while living in the sewers. Absolutely amazing. His desire to educate outweighed any obstacles he was living through; faced with; and having to overcome while simultaneously dealing with those obstacles.The book first gives the history of their area of Lvov; Poland. A place that is first Russian occupied before the German occupation. The reader will be given history of this land and how it affects the people living in it. Great information to understanding the history of this time period. Once the German occupation occur; there has to be quick thinking and planning in order to even have a chance at survivor. In planning; life in the sewer begins. Such a historical piece of writing and never a boring spot in the storyline.I highly encourage all to read. A life lesson in this story; "Where there's a will there's a way." A timely piece for today's culture that no matter what wrong has been done to you in your life; you can choice to take your life back without revenge.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A young girl's vision of hellBy TomKrystyna Chiger has written a moving memoir of her family's struggle to stay alive during the Holocaust. The Chigers enjoyed a relatively prosperous life in pre-war Lwow in Poland. Their fortunes turned when first the Soviets occupied the city and then the Nazis. The Chigers; like all of Lwow's Jews; were forced into the ghetto where they awaited certain death. Krystyna's father joined other Jews in burrowing down into the city's sewers where they were met by Leopold Socha; a Polish sewer worker who promised to help them for a price.When the Nazis liquidated the ghetto in 1943; the Chigers and other Jews escaped into the sewer. They spent the following fourteen months underground in the filthy; wet; rat-infested sewer. Krystyna's father served as the ad hoc leader of the Jewish group and played a major role in their survival. Socha faithfully provided them food and supplies; even purchasing them with his own money after the Jews' funds ran out. The group gained their (relative) freedom when the Soviets "liberated" the city in 1944.I enjoyed reading this book immensely. It presents the same events as Agnieszka Holland's film; "In Darkness" (2011) (see my review); but Krystyna Chiger provides many; many details of the group's underground struggle which could not possibly have been included in the movie. If you must choose between the book or film; choose the book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An Incredible StoryBy ArlyneThis is a story of a family and several others who survived under the most adverse conditions one can imagine. I am sure; none of us can imagine living in a sewer for all those months. Even if you think you can; you can't. Not only the courage; but the mental stability to keep going and caring for one another. A true testament to the spirit of surviving and the decency of the men who risked all to keep them alive. I cannot imagine the pysche of the two children who had little to pull them through these dark hours in the way adults can live in their heads from memories for a period of time. Well written and spellbinding.
