The Little Lion: A Hero in the Holocaust

by Nancy Wright Beasley

Overview

In 1941 Laibale Gillman was a typical teenager living in Kaunas, Lithuania, when Nazi troops forced his family and thousands of other Jews into Kovno Ghetto, where they endured persistent threats of beatings, starvation and death. Laibale, showing courage beyond his years, lived up to his nickname of "the Little Lion," and devised a plan that helped several family members escape to freedom--at a time when some 40,000 individuals (the vast majority of them Jews) were being executed within a few miles. "The Little Lion" is the remarkable story of this selfless teen's heroism and chutzpah during the horrors of the Holocaust.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780986182822
Publisher:	Posie Press
Publication date:	01/01/2016
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Nancy Wright Beasley's journalistic career spans 36 years, beginning with seven years as a state correspondent for The Richmond News Leader. She was personal columnist and a contributing editor for Richmond magazine for over 16 years. Ms. Beasley has written national award-winning columns and articles for that magazine, as well as several other publications. The Virginia Press Women named her as their Communicator of Achievement in 2005 and the Richmond YWCA chose her as one of Ten Outstanding Women in Central Virginia in 2006. The Library of Virginia named Beasley's first book, Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity in the Holocaust, as one of five outstanding nonfiction books written by Virginia authors in 2005 and nominated it for the People's Choice Award. The book tells the story of how a three-member Catholic farm family saved 13 Jews during the Holocaust in Lithuania. All survived the war and four are alive today. Her second book, Reflections of a Purple Zebra: Essays of a Different Stripe, was published in 2007. It is a compilation of 60 columns which have previously appeared in Richmond magazine. The author earned a graduate degree (MS) at the School of Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000 and taught in that department for several years. She earned a second graduate degree (MFA) in children's literature at Hollins University in 2011. For her thesis at Hollins, Beasley wrote a young adult historical novel, The Little Lion: A Hero in the Holocaust, based on a Jewish teenager who lived in Lithuania during the Holocaust and helped family members escape Kovno Ghetto. It has been adapted for the stage by Irene Ziegler, a Richmond playwright. The play will debut January 28, 2016, and run through March 5, 2016, at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. Tom Width, artistic director at Swift Creek, had this to say about Beasley's publications: Upon first reading of Nancy Wright Beasley's book, Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity in the Holocaust, and then her unpublished manuscript for The Little Lion: A Hero in the Holocaust, I was stirred by the potential for using the power of theatre to bring these important stories to a wider audience. The Little Lion, in particular, is capable of resonating with everyone from teenagers to Holocaust survivors, driving home the messages of courage, tenacity, irony and horror that it dramatizes. Bringing this story to the stage, where the author, playwright, designers, technicians and actors can use their wide-ranging skills to enhance the story telling has been a privilege. In today's frightening world, we must not forget that evil is still very real and very powerful, and these stories must be told. Tom Width, Artistic Director, Swift Creek Mill Theatre / Director, The Little Lion.

Table of Contents

Introduction . 1
Chapter 1: The Race . 7
Chapter 2: Laibale and Nese . 15
Chapter 3: Joel Visits Germany. 23
Chapter 4: School Problems . 31
Chapter 5: Pending Doom. 39
Chapter 6: The Ghetto Formed. 45
Chapter 7: Leaving Home. 53
Chapter 8: Entering Kovno Ghetto. 61
Chapter 9: Unexpected Trouble. 69
Chapter 10: Resistance. 79
Chapter 11: Demokratu Square. 85
Chapter 12: The Family Lives. 93
Chapter 13: Quiet Prevails. 99
Chapter 14: Escape Plan . 107
Chapter 15: Laibale's Luck Changes. 111
Chapter 16: Nese Needs Medicine. 115
Chapter 17: A Welcome Respite. 121
Chapter :18 Sheina and Sara. 125
Chapter 19: Father John . 129
Chapter 20: Sara's Departure. 133
Chapter 21: Surprise Search. 137
Chapter 22: Run For Life. 141
Chapter 23: Father Bruno. 147
Chapter 24: A Stranger Helps. 151
Chapter 25: Unable To Hide. 155
Author's Note. 159
Epilogue. 161
Photos. 163
Book Club Questions. 171
Standards of Learning/Virginia . 173
Activities. 175
Recommended Resources. 177

Editorial Reviews

Nancy Wright Beasley has written the poignant and haunting story of Laibale Gillman, an unassuming and ordinary teenage boy who found strength, courage, and purpose when faced with the evils of Nazi Germany, which threatened the survival of his family and community. Stoked by the flames of her earlier book, Izzy's Fire, Nancy returns to her passion through The Little Lion, an in-depth character study of one young man's role in saving his people. - Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of Big Stone Gap During the Holocaust, Laibale Gillman, nicknamed "the little lion," was a hero to the people of Kovno Ghetto. He showed concern for others under the worst conditions and helped those weaker than him even when it put his life in danger. In telling Laibale's story, Nancy Wright Beasley, author of Izzy's Fire, once again shows the humanity that remains after everything else is taken away. The Little Lion is a wonderful book that I'm certain will be widely read. - Martin Goldman, retired director of the Office of Survivor Affairs, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum This story keeps the reader captivated and is a great choice for schools to use when teaching Holocaust education. - Abigail Reasor, sophomore, Atlee High School Set in the Kovno ghetto during World War II and based on a true story, The Little Lion is the gripping tale of a Lithuanian boy's courage in the face of unspeakable Nazi horrors. The story sheds light on the risks Jews took to survive and is sure to spark discussion about the choices individuals make when pushed to the limit. - A.B. Westrick, author of Brotherhood In the tradition of Aharon Appelfeld (Baddenheim 1939 and The Age of Wonders), The Little Lion exposes the insidiousness underlying the Holocaust cancer and emerges as an astounding testament to man's brutality toward his fellow man. A synthesis of despair, devastation, luck, hope, ingenuity, and triumph out of death, Beasley's witness-novel is a must-read for the Holocaust curriculum. - Melvin L. Macklin, PhD, assistant professor of English, Ferrum College In The Little Lion, Nancy Wright Beasley presents the Holocaust in simple language that will speak to adolescents and adults alike. A motorcycle race jumpstarts the book with action and sets the pace for the plot that reveals heart-wrenching historical correctness. Author of the powerful Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity in the Holocaust, Nancy masterfully helps fill the void in Holocaust novels for the less-motivated reader. She wins the race in her first venture into historical fiction. - Paula Marshall, librarian, Chesterfield County Public Schools Laibale Gillman, a larger-than-life hero, will instantly grab the attention of middle school readers, especially the boys. Kudos to Mrs. Beasley for writing a book that will not only help students as well as adults learn about the Holocaust, but will also help them in making their own life decisions. - Rebecca Quesenberry, retired reading specialist In the prophet's dream the lion and the lamb dwell together in peace, but in Kovno Ghetto it took all the courage, skill, and imagination of a little lion-Laibale Gillman-to enable his family to endure. Nancy Wright Beasley has told his powerful story with sensitivity and skill. It makes for riveting reading and for a unique insight of life in Kaunas before and of daily life within the ghetto. I recommend it highly. - Michael Berenbaum, PhD, project director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (1988-1993); author of The World Must Know: The History of the Holocaust as Told in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

From the Publisher