Alias Anna

Susan Hood is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Alias Anna, Lifeboat 12, Ada’s Violin, Brothers in Arms, The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics, Shaking Things Up, and Titan and the Wild Boars. She is the recipient of an E. B. White Read-Aloud Picture Book Honor, the Christopher Award, the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, the Golden Kite Award, and the Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award, given annually for “a distinguished work of nonfiction.” Visit her at susanhoodbooks.com.Greg Dawson has been a journalist for over 50 years, winning awards for his work as a TV critic, columnist and feature writer at magazines and newspapers including The Boston Herald, Indianapolis Star, and Orlando Sentinel. He is the author of two books on the Holocaust, Hiding in the Spotlight and Judgment Before Nuremberg, and Busted in Bloomington, a collective memoir of the ‘60s written with his wife, Candy Dawson. To learn more go to www.gregdawsonbooks.com.

This lyrical book is one of the most truthful survivor stories I’ve ever read. I think this book will be a page-turner for adolescents.  — Jack Kliger, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish HeritageA profound and powerful story of the Holocaust, told with heart, soul, and music. — Kathryn Lasky, Newbery Honoree and winner of the National Jewish Book AwardA harrowing and remarkable story of strength and survival.  — Kirkus ReviewsAppended with generous back matter, this offers a revealing look at an underreported Holocaust chapter. — BooklistHood tells Zhanna’s sto­ry through both free verse and a rich array of forms. The use of poet­ry is effec­tive, echo­ing in its com­plex­i­ty the music of a sin­gu­lar life caught in the chaos of history. This high­ly rec­om­mend­ed book includes exten­sive back­ground mate­r­i­al, pho­tos, sources, lists of musi­cal com­po­si­tions, and poet­ic forms. — Jewish Book Council[A] hard-hitting nonfiction biography told in verse. [An] accessible portrait of two talented and determined teens. — Publishers WeeklyOn the Audio Edition: "A touching story of art, struggle, and overcoming persecution, with a narration that is a testament to survival."   — BooklistA tribute to the power of girls. — The Sydney Taylor SchmoozeThis compelling book of loss and perseverance will stay with readers long after they have finished. . . This lyrical biography (written with Dawson, Zhanna’s son) features significant back matter, including discography, original photographs and correspondence, further reading, and more. The verse format and harrowing narrative make this a quick read for reluctant and striving readers. This powerful work of persistence and hope is highly recommended. — School Library Journal