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The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood
The Mascot Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood
Author: Mark Kurzem
One man's struggle with memory and prejudice on the way to recovering his past — Mark Kurzem was happily ensconced in his academic life at Oxford when his father, Alex, showed up on his doorstep with a terrible secret to tell. When a Nazi death squad raided his village at the outset of World War II, Jewish five-year-old Alex Kurzem escaped...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780670018260
ISBN-10: 0670018260
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Pages: 416
Rating:
  • Currently 4.8/5 Stars.
 9

4.8 stars, based on 9 ratings
Publisher: Viking Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This book was quite interesting in that there truly is a mystery. The author's father isn't quite sure how much he should trust his memories from when he was 5-years-old 60 years ago. He does know that he was born Jewish, but had to hide it or possibly be killed by the soldiers who made him a 'mascot.' With the help of his son's encouragement the father decides he wants to find out what his real name is, and where he is from. All he has to to go on is two words that may be names or places or nothing at all. I would have loved to pass it on, but I'm afraid it's a keeper.
ellzeena avatar reviewed The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood on + 149 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating account of a young boy who evaded the horrors of the camps in an extremely unique (although frightening) way.
oscarthegrouch108 avatar reviewed The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
this is a great cross between history and modern times, and reads like a fiction book (a plus for me since i never enjoyed reading text books). the basic story is that a little Jewish boy is separated form his family, found by Nazi soldiers, and made a mascot of sorts. The description is a little vague, but i cant say much more without giving some of the story away. If you enjoy WWII history, you'll definitely enjoy this.
Read All 6 Book Reviews of "The Mascot Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Fathers Nazi Boyhood"

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lynnn1112 avatar reviewed The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood on + 51 more book reviews
A real page-turner, but I kept wondering if everything in it was quite true. After all, the old gentleman was considered to be quite a "story-teller".
reviewed The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood on + 32 more book reviews
Spellbinding! Although it reads like a novel, when you think about the life of a man who never revealed his past until recently, you have to wonder what went through his mind as he was raising his own family.

Research and reporting are excellent retelling of a horrible time.

A must read, even this long after the war.
reviewed The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood on + 42 more book reviews
This book is easy to read and understandable. It also made me think about a different set of events that could happen surrounding the holocaust. There are so many stories, and this is just one aspect. It is also the first book I have read that didn't take place in a concentration camp, but is one of survival. If you like books regarding history of WWII, then you will like to read this book.


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