My name is Odette.
Book Summary:
Odette is a young girl who lives in Paris during World War II. The beginning of the book describes Odette’s life in Paris before the Nazi occupation. When the Nazis come to Paris life begins changing for Odette and her family. Her father joins the French Army and has become a prisoner-of-war. Odette’s mother becomes secretive because she has joined the French Resistance. Paris has become a frightening place for Odette because she is Jewish. She is forced to wear a yellow star on her clothing. She can no longer play in the park or go to the movies. Odette is sent to live in the countryside after Odette’s mom is almost caught by the Nazis. When in the country Odette must lie about who she is and why she has come to live there. She is no longer a Jew. She is now a Catholic country girl who does chores, goes to school, and goes to mass every Sunday. Odette is challenged with living with these secrets in order to save her life. Based on the true life of Odette Meyers, MacDonald writes a wonderful free verse story that will captivate you.
APA Reference:
Macdonald, M. (2014). Odette’s secrets. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Impressions:
I truly enjoyed this book. I read the entire thing in less than two hours. Odette’s story was truly captivating. She began the book an innocent child who did not even really realize she was Jewish because her family did not practice the religion. The only reason she believed she was different is because she did not celebrate Christmas. As the book continues, Odette’s innocence slowly disappears and she is forced to keep more and more secrets. It is griping, well-paced, and easy to read even though it is written in verse. This book would be a great way to introduce students to free verse and poetry because it is well-written, flows well, and is not intimidating. The author’s note was really neat as well. I did not realize going into the book that it was based off a real person. MacDonald talks about how she researched Odette Meyers, met with her family, and made she did Odette’s story justice.
Professional Review:
Booklist (April 15, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 16))
Grades 5-8. Set in France during WWII, Odette’s Secrets is a novelization, in verse, of the life of Odette Meyers, whose autobiography, Doors to Madame Marie (1997) was an inspiration for this book. When life in Paris becomes too dangerous for Jews, including Odette, the young girl is sent to the countryside, where she must disguise herself as a French peasant and Christian, keeping her true identity a closely guarded secret. After many months, Odette’s mother, who has worked with the French Resistance, joins her and, like Odette, must lose her own Jewish identity. Two and one-half years later, Paris is liberated, and Odette and her mother return to the city, but can Odette resume her true identity as a Jew or has her assumed Christianity become too much a part of her being? Though sometimes lacking in drama, this quiet story will nevertheless offer readers new insights into considerations of being a Jew during WWII and the complex ways that we define our identity.
[Review of the book Odette’s secrets, by M. MacDonald]. (2013, April 13). Booklist, 109, 16. Retrieved from http://www.titlewave.com
Library Uses:
I would use this book as an introduction to Poetry Month in April. I would use the first few pages as a poetry reading in the library. I would also show a book trailer for it. Students would then participate in the Dear Poet project for National Poetry Month. They would watch a series of videos from Poets.org. Then I would have the students write a poem about something that happened in their life and send it into the Dear Poet project. For more information, please check out the following website: Poets.org
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