Through a large cast of interesting, sympathetic characters and universal themes that convey important truths for all readers, Torn Thread touches on many of the central facts and issues of the Holocaust and engages readers in learning and caring about this important historical period. Isaacs based the novel on the experiences of her motherin-law, Eva Buchbinder, and Eva's sister Rachel in a slave labor camp in Parschnitz, Czechoslovakia from 1943 to 1945. By telling this story through engaging characters, Isaacs not only records the story of her family, she also recreates the painful experiences of the Holocaust for young adult readers in a way that they can understand and appreciate.

Eva Buchbinder is the central character in Torn Thread, and she grows and matures throughout the novel. As the story begins, she learns that even though she is only twelve years old, she must leave her...