Hidden with her mother during World War II, Nelly S. Toll reveals her childhood story in her book, Behind the Secret Window. Toll's family is Polish Jew who lived in Lwów. The Tolls have been very successful in Lwów and were better known by their business. The story begins as the Russians are leaving the country and the Germans march in. Everyone is worried about Germans, but they comfort themselves that since the Germans are educated people, peach will become back to Polish lives as it had been before the Russians came. Toll recalls how her life had been affected by living with Russian soldiers and how her father vanished into the darkness. When the Germans came, the Tolls had to move to a ghetto, a little house on Kleparowska Street. The Tolls were trying to make a secret hiding place, like other Jews did, hiding children from the German and Ukrainian police. Toll recalls that every time the police would come, the streets were quiet, as if they were empty. The town was like a ghost town. The author was sent away to a Christian family where she will be safe from the Germans for a while. Later, she learns that her cousins were taken away and have not been heard from since. After that, the Tolls attempt to keep the author away from the ghetto as much as possible. They try to escape to other neighboring countries. As all their attempts fail, the author and her mother live with a Polish family who hide them in their bedroom, in a secret place behind where there used to be a window. The author and her mother live in this secret place until the Germans leave Poland and the Russians once again march in. People may think of this book as just another World War II story where Jews were affected greatly by the Holocaust. Most of these stories are recalled through a diary that the authors have written, and this book is no exception. Nelly S. Toll was a young girl when she wrote the diary, which later because her published book. The book also contains her artwork. It is very rare to find children's watercolor paintings during wartime. This book has a happy-ending. Anne Frank's diary ends as soldiers' march in one day to their hiding place and all of the family members, exception of her father, are killed at the concentration camp. In this story, even though most of Nelly S. Toll's family members are killed or dragged to concentration camps, she and her mother survive and come to America. The book, Behind the Secret Window is published by the author herself, rather than published by a member of her family. This book will make the readers think of their surroundings and recognize once again how lucky they are to live in the world where no on feels threatened by one's race.

Nelly Toll's story is very passionate and descriptive. She really allows the readers to visit her emotions. This book is an excellent choice of literature for classroom use on the Holocaust--one that probably is overlooked.

We were given a World War II book report in English. I chose this book over Anne Frank. The way Nelly Toll told her story, it made you feel as if you were there, hiding in a small room, waiting for the Gestapo to leave, and praying that they don't find you. Even though her family was hunted by the German army, the Nazis, she continued to read, and write, and paint. Though the story has a sweet, and happy ending, sadness does lurk behind it. I highly recommend this book!