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Informative,
Inspiring,
Dramatic

5 reviews

Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project
by Jack Mayer

Published: 2011-03-28
Paperback : 396 pages
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23 clubs reading this now
4 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 5 of 5 members
During World War II, Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker, organized a rescue network of fellow social workers to save 2,500 Jewish children from certain death in the Warsaw ghetto. Incredibly, after the war her heroism, like that of many others, was suppressed by communist Poland and ...
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Introduction

During World War II, Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker, organized a rescue network of fellow social workers to save 2,500 Jewish children from certain death in the Warsaw ghetto. Incredibly, after the war her heroism, like that of many others, was suppressed by communist Poland and remained virtually unknown for 60 years. Unknown, that is, until three high school girls from an economically depressed, rural school district in southeast Kansas stumbled upon a tantalizing reference to Sendler's rescues, which they fashioned into a history project, a play they called Life in a Jar. Their innocent drama was first seen in Kansas, then the Midwest, then New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, and finally Poland, where they elevated Irena Sendler to a national hero, championing her legacy of tolerance and respect for all people. Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project is a Holocaust history and more. It is the inspirational story of Protestant students from Kansas, each carrying her own painful burden, each called in her own complex way to the history of a Catholic woman who knocked on Jewish doors in the Warsaw ghetto and, in Sendler's own words, "tried to talk the mothers out of their children." Inspired by Irena Sendler, they are living examples of the power of one person to change the world and models for young people everywhere. * * * * * 60% of the sales of this book are donated to the Irena Sendler/Life in a Jar Foundation. The foundation promotes Irena Sendler's legacy and encourages educators and students to emulate the project by focusing on unsung heroes in history to teach respect and understanding among all people, regardless of race, religion, or creed.

Editorial Review

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

What do you think would have happened if Irene had no longer been alive?
What do you think would have happened if this had not been a group project in class?
Why do you think this had so much resonance all over the world?
by basiro (see profile) 05/18/15

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

This is the story of 3 Protestant girls from Kansas who do a history project that unearths a story about a Catholic social worker in Poland who saves over 2500 Jewish children during the Holocaust.
by basiro (see profile) 05/18/15
Research bringing the play to town and/or raising money to donate to the foundation started by the girls.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Dee S. (see profile) 11/14/19

 
by Becky Z. (see profile) 10/17/19

 
  "How do we not know about Irene?"by Jamie H. (see profile) 06/22/17

We found this book hard to read, because if the graphic descriptions of life in the Warsaw ghetto. However, we need to know what happened so all of us were glad we read it. To think that Irene story... (read more)

 
by Judith L. (see profile) 09/12/16

 
  "The Power of One"by Marsha H. (see profile) 09/09/16

Not just another book about the Holocaust. Ranks right up there with Schindler's List in portraying the events of life in the Polish Ghetto. Although Irena Sendler didn't feel that she had done enough,... (read more)

 
by Betsy S. (see profile) 04/13/16

 
  "Life in a Jar"by bonnie l. (see profile) 10/20/15

A great story of a forgotten hero

 
  "Life in a Jar: The Irene Sendler Project"by Barbara R. (see profile) 05/18/15

This is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. It should be a community read book. Although it reads like fiction this non-fiction book keeps you riveted from beginning to end and beyond. I thought... (read more)

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