Last Known Address: The Stumbling Stones of Europe (The Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers 2026, 21)

Last Known Address: The Stumbling Stones of Europe (The Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers 2026, 21)

Embedded into the cobblestones of Europe are Stolpersteine―stumbling stones. Carefully hand-chiseled with names and dates, these small, brass plaques make up the largest monument to the Holocaust in the world. Today, you can find over 100,000 stones across Europe. The Stumbling Stones Project was begun by artist Gunter Demnig as a way to remember that each victim of the Holocaust had a life that was terribly and tragically stolen. Each memorial plaque is placed outside the last voluntary address of the person―the homes from which they were arrested and often taken to concentration camps. Not all were Jewish, some were persecuted for being Romani, disabled, or queer, and not all shared the same fate. These stories include that of a resistance fighter, an art conservator, an Olympian, and the young Anne Frank. Take a journey around Europe to learn their stories. ★"The stories effortlessly create context and communicate the fear and bewilderment these victims felt as their ordinary, everyday lives were turned upside down and they were torn from their families. Kacer also provides ample historical background. The result is a profoundly moving tribute to both the Stolpersteine Project and the victims themselves, lest their names be forgotten. Libraries will definitely want to add this title to their Holocaust collections." ― Booklist, starred review “The combination of fact and fiction works particularly well, with each entry beginning with a true account of the person’s life and work followed by a fictionalized story that humanizes the figures and dates. Tone varies from piece to piece, with first-person narratives providing an urgent intimacy…and others echoing a more storytelling formality that nonetheless carries emotional weight. It’s a series of honest portraits that doesn’t pull its punches about its subjects’ collective fate, reminding readers that while the project’s memorializing sentiment is lovely, its necessity is a tragedy." ― Bulletin of the Centre for Children's Books Award-winning author Kathy Kacer tells thirteen stories of victims of the Holocaust and the modern memorials that mark their last known address. Kathy Kacer ’s many books have won numerous awards, including the Silver Birch and the Jewish Book Award. A former psychologist, Kathy travels the globe speaking to children and adults about the importance of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive. Kathy lives in Toronto with her family.