School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-A remarkable collection of portions from ten actual diaries written by young victims of World War II's Holocaust forms the basis for this anthology of horror and terror. Movingly presented sections of each journal are accompanied by a montage of archival film and stills as well as contemporary video segments to portray the feelings, actions, and eventual fate of the writers. The film was produced by and premiered on MTV. It is aimed at a young audience in an attempt to sensitize them to the past genocide in the hope that they will become active in opposing similar current and future campaigns. The photographs and some language are disquieting, but the numbing impact of each three to five minute excerpt isn't affected as we hear the words of young Jewish people from Germany, France, Poland, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, and Romania in a narration of their struggles. Viewers hear about life in camps, hiding in forests, searching for sanctuary, and living as partisans as their families disintegrate. Stirring music by Grammy Award nominee Moby heightens the journey. The film is based on Alexandra Zapruder's book, Salvaged Pages: Young Writers' Diaries of the Holocaust (Yale Univ. Press, 2002), and includes an interview with her as one of the special features; other extras include an overview of genocide today as well as a well-developed, printable study guide. This compelling title should be in every library collection.-Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal Review
The Nazi program of organized execution of European Jews silenced millions, but not all. Some personal diaries survived, and these words testify to the horrors of the Holocaust. I'm Still Here, produced by MTV Network Productions, brings the voices of these young people to life, with narrated excerpts, biographical information, and contextual background set against a backdrop of color and black-and-white historical footage and stills of the events described. The words are heart-wrenching and the images disturbing, but together they have an extraordinarily powerful impact. This documentary features music by Moby, narration by John Norris, and readings by Elijah Wood, Amber Tamblyn, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Hudson, and Brittany Murphy, among others. Highly recommended for junior high/high school to adult audiences.--Karen A. Plummer, Univ. of Akron Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.