A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Levi, Lia. 2020. JUST A GIRL: A TRUE STORY OF WORLD WAR II. Ill. by Jess Mason. Milano: HarperCollins Italia. ISBN 978-0-06-306508-6.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Lia Levi tells the story of her life in Italy during World War II. Lia and her Jewish family loved each other and their life in Turin. However, when Mussolini begins to openly oppress the Jewish population, Lia is forced to leave her school and her friends and move. Eventually, Lia and her sisters are hidden in a convent boarding school. Though her world is turned upside down, Lia continues to find friendship and enjoyment through the hardships.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
In this book, the story of World War II and the culture of Italy are seen through the eyes of a small girl. At the end of Chapter 2, she relays that she thought Mussolini had done something good for her by no longer allowing her to go to her school in Turin. In her narration, Lia stays true to her younger self by only conveying the very limited understanding of the war she had at the time.
Lia’s family was wealthier than most, even though at a young age, she didn’t realize it. Nevertheless, because of their resources, they were able to move around to find opportunities that others did not have. Lia was able to continue her schooling in Milan and then Rome. She characterizes each Italian city. One of my favorite quotes is on page 46, where Lia says, “It feels as if my other schools were in black and white and this one is in color.”
Food is a cultural marker in this story. Lia talks about Cesarina’s eggplant parmesan, but she declares that the best lunch she ever had was the homemade spaghetti for Saint Joseph’s Day at the convent. Delicious food is a characteristic of Italian culture, but it was even more significant when enjoyed during a time of food scarcity.
Lia Levi incorporates small bits of the Italian language throughout the book. Simple references like Signora and Piazza and Duce give the reader a taste of the beautiful language, without impeding understanding. The text was originally written in Italian, but it is nice that they left a few of the Italian words in the English translation.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist starred, February 2022, “This highly readable first-person recollection is peppered with asides in which Lia directly addresses the “dear readers,” and her confiding tone reassures and gently informs an audience that may yet be unfamiliar with the inhumanity of that war.”
Horn Book Magazine, May 2022
Kirkus Reviews starred, February 2022,
Mildred L. Batchelder Award, 2023
School Library Journal, May 2022, “Levi's story is perfect for young children who want to learn more about the Holocaust, but aren't ready for the more horrific details. VERDICT An excellent addition to elementary memoir and World War II collections.”
E. CONNECTIONS
Like Just a Girl, there are other Holocaust and World War II stories from the perspectives of young children. As heartbreaking as they are, these stories are told from a perspective to which contemporary students can more easily relate. My Survival: a girl on Schindler’s list by Rena Finder, Signs of Survival: a memoir of the Holocaust by Renee G. Hartman, and Boy from Buchenwald: the true story of a Holocaust survivor by Robert Waisman would be excellent books to combine with Just a Girl for a time period study or to compare and contrast the different experiences.
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