Hauntingly beautiful poetry crafted by the author to represent the perspective of individuals living and working in the Terezin ghetto. As much as I have read about the Holocaust, I was totally unaware of the artistic culture occurring at Terezin and am fascinated to read more (and find out what else was going on that I was unaware of!). To know how the guards would allow lectures, musical performances, and plays then ship the same performers to Auschwitz the next day adds an entire new depth to their cruelty. Janeczko's poetry is outstanding and visually and emotionally stimulating; the poem about the ovens will haunt me. I also love the structure of the book - most poems are identified by a person's name and his/her registered number; the poems are interspersed with vivid illustrations and other short poems that certainly prompt solemn reflection from the reader. ( )

A slim volume of astonishing power, Requiem's poems give impressions and ideas of the experiences of both Jewish prisoners and Nazi guards at the Terezin Ghetto, which was considered a "model" camp. A few poems from the points of view of the town's original inhabitants help flesh out the narrative and give a balanced feel to the work, although the emphasis is on the prisoners. Certain themes run constant throughout the volume, the most noticeable and disturbing being the idea that this camp was Hitler's "gift to the Jews." The quality of the poetry and the balance of view points is absolutely superb and this book is not only well-written and historically accurate, but also incredibly moving. Requiem will appeal to teens with special interest in the subject matter or those who are already fans of Paul Janeczko's other works.
I personally was very moved by the volume, perhaps more so than by other works with similar historical content. Janeczko's poems render the emotions of the prisoners very real and tangible to the reader, and included heartbreaking moments like the separation of a long married couple. I will admit to no particular interest in the subject matter, but the human experiences were incredibly relate-able, haunting, and emotionally painful. This is a work I will be thinking about for quite some time. ( )

Janeczko's poems evoke an impressive range of emotions and thoughts concerning the Terezin Ghetto--from the Nazi guards who managed the captured town; to the children and artists living within it, waiting and hoping for life. I'm not keen on poetry but I did find Janeczko's work fascinating and relatable. I don't know enough about poetry to adequately judge his writing quality but I have a feeling it's very high.

Because basic history of the Holocaust is taught nationwide, everyone is at least a little familiar with it. This short work of poetry makes the horrors and hopes of that time and place personal and close enough to touch, see, smell and taste. For this, I believe this book rates a 5P. Not to mention, it is also brief which is helpful for readers with very busy lives.

Here's what drove me crazy though: there's no contextual information for the illustrations besides the less helpful explanation "Accented with historic illustrations by the inmates, found after the war ended, Paul B. Janeczko's spare and powerful poems convey Terezin's tragic legacy . . ." and the very thorough copyright credits at the end. I would have appreciated a map of Terezin, some modern-day photos, a description of Terezin before it was used as a ghetto, a description of what it is like today--that kind of thing. While I was taught about the Holocaust in school in a general sense, this book of poetry is the first mention of this place that I have run across. It would have been nice to get a bit of background context for Janeczko's poems in the same volume. I wouldn't expect it to become a reference work with a side of poetry, just a collection of poetry in a frame of historical context. ( )

4Q 3P. Holocaust literature, even wonderful poems like these, is not something that everyone is interested in. This book will need pushing to gain a teen audience.

Janeczko gifts us with 35 poems told from a variety of perspectives but all illustrating one thing: the Holocaust was devastating. Through these poems we become a ghetto resident, a Nazi officer, a Terezín resident before the ghetto was established and hear their tales of despair, triumph, and confused displacement. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. Even in it's simple prose lurks the ability to break your heart or light the flame of hate. ( )

5Q, 3P. This book was amazing in terms of writing quality, but I think that it would be a harder sell because the subject matter doesn't really connect with teens lives. If it was introduced while teens are studying WWII I can see it being of more interest. I thought that it was really good. All of the poems really sounded like they could have come from the people in the ghetto. It was heartbreaking but really powerful. ( )