a powerful story, powerfully told.
David Tabatsky has captured the fear and fortitude of a young Jewish boy forced to survive in hiding in the Netherlands, alone. It is told in a dramatic manner that can be appreciated by readers of all ages and accessible to younger readers who can only dare to imagine what this child had to endure. And yet because he survived and found temporary shelter in the homes of several Dutch Jews and non-Jews, it reminds us how narrow the distance is between life and death, between rescue and betrayal. and how significant elemental human decency and compassion can be.
—Michael Berenbaum
Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies
Director Sigi Ziering Holocaust Institute
American Jewish University, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Winner: Readers’ Favorite Gold Award for Young Adult Action Books
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ABOUT THE BOOK
The Boy Behind the Door is historical fiction, inspired by the true story of Salomon Kool, a Dutch teenager who evaded the Nazi dragnet and survived the German occupation of the Netherlands from May 1940 to the end of WWII.
Sal had just celebrated his Bar Mitzvah when the city of Amsterdam was invaded and his life began to unravel. As a Jew, he must first stop riding his beloved bicycle. Before long, he cannot go to school, and finally, all Jews must wear the Yellow Star, branding them as “undesirables” in their own country. Then, one by one, six members of his family disappear, until Sal must fend for himself in the occupied city of Amsterdam. After hiding behind the door of his bedroom as Nazis searched his house, he was soon on the run, terrified and never sure who we could trust or if he was safe. Sal survived the war through a combination of wit, guts, good luck, and the help of resistance fighters and a few courageous Dutch Christians. But like millions of others, his parents and three siblings disappeared and later died in concentration camps before the Allies liberated the Netherlands. Sal had to grow up and adapt without a role model and had to learn to control his emotions in the midst of a turbulent and hazardous situation full of life and death decisions. His story is a powerful and moving document of a period in world history we must never forget. It can be difficult to find Holocaust literature that will interest and enlighten young readers, especially boys, but The Boy Behind the Door is appealing and accessible to emerging adults of all reading levels. The Boy Behind the Door is entirely based on real people and events.
https://amsterdampublishers.com/books/the-boy-behind-the-door/
Advance Praise
The Boy Behind the Door recounts events that transpired in the Nazi occupied Netherlands from May 1940 to the end of WWII. It involves the reader in the life of an orphaned 15 year old Jewish teenager named Salomon, who is dealing with the normal emotional angst of maturing in an abnormal world. Salomon's family had been captured during a Nazi roundup. He escaped and is alone. Holland had a large population of Nazi party members and collaborators making Solomon's need to avoid capture, as well as find food and safe shelter, especially dangerous. He does not know who he can trust or who might recognize and betray him for a reward. Yet, in order to survive he must trust someone. Even when Solomon does find a safe haven, it is only temporary, in order to protect the harboring family. Solomon had to mature in the absence of a role model or mentor. He had to learn to control his turbulent emotions and come to terms with his ever-changing and hazardous situation. His decisions were a matter of life or death. The character of Solomon is portrayed with sensitivity and realism, and details his struggle to survive. It is often difficult to find young adult Holocaust literature that will interest teenage boys, but this book is up to the task. Further, it is appealing to a good reader and accessible to a below-grade reader. For ages 11 and up.
––Naomi Kramer, Jewish Book World Magazine
About the Author
David is a writer, editor, and performing artist, based in New York City. His memoir, American Misfit, was released in 2017. He is the co-author of several books about cancer, including Rx for Hope, Reimagining Women’s Cancers and Reimagining Men’s Cancers, The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support and Love and the author of Write for Life: Communicating Your Way Through Cancer. He coauthored The Intelligent Divorce, The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Guide to Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money, and was consulting editor for Marlo Thomas and her New York Times bestseller The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn. David has performed as an actor, clown and juggler, at Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre and throughout the United States and Europe, most notably at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where THE STAGE wrote, “He is a supremely skillful performer and fine actor, reaching levels no other comics have matched at this Fringe.”
Please visit www.tabatsky.com.
