What Was the Holocaust? cover

What Was the Holocaust?

Author: Herman, Gail

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 5.2
Points 1.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 7750
Points per Word 0.000129
Page Count 106
Points per Page 0.009434

Description

The Holocaust was a genocide on a scale never before seen. Follow the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, whose rabid anti-Semitism led first to humiliating anti-Jewish laws, then to ghettos all over Eastern Europe, and ultimately to the Final Solution.

Quick Summary

If you've got a kid who's curious about history but might be intimidated by heavy, text-heavy books, this one's a great starting point. The "What Was?" series does a really nice job of breaking down big, complicated topics into digestible chunks, and this Holocaust guide is no exception it's factual and respectful without feeling overwhelming for younger readers. What I love is how it gives real context about how this tragedy unfolded, from the rise of the Nazis to the horrible progression of anti-Semitic laws, so kids actually understand the "why" behind what happened, not just the "what." It's straightforward and honest, which makes it perfect for middle graders who are ready for serious history but might not be ready for graphic details. Parents should know it's emotionally heavy in places but handled responsibly this isn't a scary story, it's real history that matters. If your kid devours these kinds of historical guides, they'd probably also like "Who Was Anne Frank?" for another perspective on the era.