THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

About the Book

"This is a beautifully written, insightful chronicle of a young girl's Holocaust survival. Though very private and personal, it nevertheless captures the common torments of children living through this disastrous civilizational breakdown.

What makes this book unique is that the author pulls the reader into the story. We get to know her parents and other memorable characters for the kind of people they were. There is an immediacy in the writing that almost makes the reader a participant in the daily struggles to keep alive. We get an honest look at the relationships between men and women on the edge of annihilation and how children coped with these unusual alliances.

This emotionally powerful yet intellectually lucid work stands out within the Holocaust literature. Students and others will greatly benefit as the author guides the reader, setting forth the political and historical context in which the action unfolds."

"The story of the relentless hunt of a Jewish child in Nazi Europe haunts the reader long after the last page has been turned This gripping memoir illuminates the fearsome experiences of a Holocaust child survivor with the intelligence and wisdom of an adult's retrospection."

About the Author

After narrowly surviving the Holocaust, Gerda Bikales came to America as a teenager. Studying part-time while raising a family, she earned two advanced degrees. She has worked as a writer, lobbyist, and association executive for non-profit organizations. Among her professional interests has been the promotion of English as the official language of the U.S. She and her husband live in Maryland.