‘Tomi’ is a true story, based on Tomi Riechental’s childhood experiences of the horrors of the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the time in World War 2 when Jews were treated like criminals and brutally murdered simply because of their different religion.
Many people would know of the great injustices committed against the Jews but reading this book really puts you in Tomi Riechental’s shoes and will bring tears to many a reader’s eyes.
Tomi Riechental lost 35 members of his family during one of the most tragic periods in human history and this book will make sure the younger generations will never forget this needless loss of life.
I would be lying to say I enjoyed this book but it is a story that needs to be told and I think it would be an amazing class novel.
By Naoise
Tomi lives a happy life on a farm. His granny and grandad (Omama and Opapa as he calls them) live beside him and they own the only shop in the village. Most of the people in the village are Catholics except Tomi and his family, who are Jewish. But nobody really cared until one day everything changed and suddenly Tomi and his brother have to live with their aunt so they can go to school. Everything changes so they can’t go to school at all!l
Tomi’s life changes so quickly and not for the better. Tomi’s story is a fantastic one – though it is sad, it is fabulous. I admire Tomi so much and would be so privileged if someone like him came to my school.
I would rate this book a 10-10 and would recommend this book to anyone 10 and over.
By Orla
Reviews by Naoise and Orla, 6th Class, Ransboro National School, Sligo.
“Tomi” by Eithne Massey, published by O’Brien Press, is now available to purchase for €9.99
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher, O’Brien Press, free of charge to Seomra Ranga for the purposes of this review
