Martin and Erica's Journey / Martin and Erica’s Journey is based on the memories of Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor now living in the UK. Martin was a young child living in the Netherlands when Nazi troops invaded in 1940. He went on to survive the Westerbork transit camp in Holland, and the Theresienstadt camp-ghetto in then Czechoslovakia.
The book gives students a human perspective on this catastrophic period of history by focusing on Martin’s testimony. The language used is appropriate for younger students and does not dwell on the horrific descriptions of events in the camps. Martin gives moving descriptions of his experiences as well as the actions of adults who put their own lives at risk to help him and his younger sister. There are also various images and photographs in the book which make the events described accessible to all students.
