The End of the Line by Sharon McKay

A: Bibliography

McKay, Sharon. 2014. THE END OF THE LINE. Toronto, ON: Annick Press. ISBN 1554516595.

B: Plot Summary

Beatrix is a seven year old Jewish girl, living in Amsterdam, during World War II. One day she

finds herself alone on a public tram, after her mother gets arrested by the Nazis. Luckily Beatrix

is rescued by two elderly brothers; Hans and Lars. The little girl arrives home with the brothers

and is fed and clothed, eventually being named their orphaned “niece”. As the war continues on,

Beatrix learns to love and trust these brothers that turn into family. With the war ending, and

Amsterdam recuperating from the destruction, fate arrived yet again on the same tram that found

Beatrix alone some seven years previously.

C: Critical Analysis (Including cultural markers)

This story portrays the atrocities that the Jewish population had to endure during

World War II. McKay translates culture in her novel by using the Hebrew language as a

form of communication that was banned due to fear and prejudice. The story takes

place in Amsterdam, so there are many allusions to the Dutch culture, including the

weather and how the Dutch people dressed to protect themselves from the cold,

transportation, as many people used bicycles and the public tram as a means of getting

around the city, and traditional food is portrayed, along with descriptions of the

infamous tulips that bloom annually in the city.

Although this book takes place during war-time, the reader is able to still understand

what traditions the Dutch and Jewish populations partake in. Even if certain traditions

were not being practiced in the book, characters still discussed the traditions. Because

of these discussions, the reader can begin to learn more about both cultures and

become more understanding of what these people experienced during war time.

I thought that this was a terrific book, and would love to see a sequel to this novel.

D: Review Excerpts

Kirkus Review: “This novel manages to walk that tightrope, allowing children to learn some grim realities

without annihilating their sense of hope or resorting to stereotypes that undermine the

ability of the genre to increase readers' empathy.”

2015 USBBY Outstanding International Book Winner

E: Connections

Look for these other books for young people that include World War II survival:

Dauvillier, Loic. HIDDEN: A CHILD’S STORY OF THE HOLOCAUST. ISBN: 1596438738

Cassell, Faris. THE UNANSWERED LETTER. ISBN: 1684510171

Gratz, Alan. REFUGEE. ISBN: 9352754743

Ms. Nichols Reads