The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler's List (No Series)

I have read many books on the Holocaust. Much of the details are hard to handle. As my daughter is coming to age that I can teach her about war and it’s atrocities, I wanted to read a book that will help me explain it in an age appropriate way.Though Leon wrote his memoir as an adult, much of the perspective is of a child. The pages about him examining himself and his family to see if he really was as dirty and ugly as Nazi propaga was especially insightful. Seeing the dark brutality of Nazism through the eyes of child has given me a different lens to view this tragedy.My children will be able to understand how his daily life changed. Not being able to ride a bike, his gentile friends suddenly calling him names, and other examples make it more relatable for children. I can convey the message of not judging others biased on religion, nationality, or political party without delving too deeply into the complexities of the war in its entirety.

The Boy On The Wooden Box: How the impossible became possible… on Schindler’s List is a memoir by Leon Leyson with Marilyn J Harran and Elisabeth B. Leyson. Leon was one of the youngest Schindler Jews. His memoir is a testament to the will of those who survived and the bravery, generosity and humanity of Oscar Schindler who gave everything to save his “Jews. The book is written in such a manner as to be acceptable reading for junior high students. They get the idea of the brutality of life under the Nazis and yet not the gruesome details. Those details are not needed to get the idea across. Leon’s tenacity to hang on just a little longer enabled his to become reunited with his parents and to become a Schindler Jew.Leon (Leib) Leyson was born in 1930 to Moshe and Chanah Lejson in Narewka, Poland. Narewka is in the northeastern part of Poland near Bialystok. He was the youngest of five children. His oldest brother was Hershel; then Tsalig; his sister, Pesza; his brother, David; and finally, Leib. Their father worked in a glass factory which was later moved to Krakow. Their father went with the factory and only came home to Narewka once every six months. Hershel eventually went with his father but rarely came home as he preferred the city. Finally, Moshe had enough money to send for his family and they thus moved to Krakow.When the war broke out, Moshe and Hershel headed back to Narewka thinking it would be safer for them back there. Chanah and the children stayed in Krakow. On the way, Moshe had second thoughts of leaving Chanah and returned to Krakow. Hershel continued on to Narewka. Moshe went to work for Schindler with David. Pesza went to work for an electrical factory near Schindler’s factory. Tsalig and Leib were left to try to find food for themselves and their mother. Tsalig and his girlfriend, Miriam, were taken in a raid and placed on a train to Belzac. Chanah and Leib were eventually taken separately to Plaszow. Here Leib was on his own. He did make contact with his Father and Mother but only briefly. His Father told him he would try to get Schindler to take them into his company. Eventually, Leib and Chanah were on the list of thirty Jews to be added to Schindler’s business. At the last minute, Leib’s name was crossed off the list.The Lejson family survived under Schindler’s protection. They lost their brothers Hershel and Tsalig as well as numerous other family members. Three of Chanah’s four siblings moved to America before the war broke out. It was with their help that Leib and his parents finally came to California. Daniel and Pesza eventually migrated to Israel after separating from their family after the war.Upon coming to America after the war, Leib (now Leon) eventually finished his education after being in the Army. He became a teacher and taught for 39 years. He eventually got his PHD as well as an honorary degree from Chapman University. It wasn’t until Schindler’s List came out that anyone knew he was a Holocaust survivor. It was then he began telling his story to any group who asked him. After raising a son and daughter and having six grandchildren, Leon died in January, 2013.This book is excellently written and is one of the better memoirs written specifically with younger children in mind. However, due to the subject matter, I do not recommend it for anyone younger than middle school read it. However, it should be on the middle and junior high school shelves to be used in conjunction with Anne Frank. Various lesson plans and novel studies are available for this memoir.

Well written memories of a traumatic time in his young life, the author resells of his ghastly experiences in sufficient detail to make it real - which it sadly is. When you look beyond the atrocities that rained down on him and his family, there's a powerful story of family love and purpose. A must read for anyone.

Loved,loved this book! Leon Leyson's narration of his early life as a Holocaust victim is, of course, fraught with sadness, depravation, and loss. It is also thought provoking and intriguing. Mr. Leyson's story provides an insider's experience of the best and worst of humanity. I am left with the conviction that each person, in their own time and circumstance, makes choices that have long term outcomes for generations to come. And then come the questions. Why was Schindler choosing to act with compassion and heroism? How could so many Nazi soldiers act with such cruelty? Why so much indifference to suffering on the part of so many? What is happening in the hearts of those who are prompted to perform small acts of kindness? How did those who endured such so much suffering go on to live loving and productive lives? As I said, a very thought provoking read and in the end you wish you could shake Mr. Leyson's hand and repeat the comment of one of his students, "Mr. Leyson, I am so glad that you made it."

This book gave me a real insight into Leon Leysons life, in fact I think it should be read in schools as it really shows what these innocent people went through in the war. At its end you realise what wonderful people the Jews were they didn’t let the Germans destroy there determination to succeed in life. They were in hell but survived. It’s a book I will forever remember.

I had read a chapter of this book in a Sunday newspaper. I pre-ordered the paperback edition of the book and was not disappointed.I’ve read quite a few ‘Auschwitz’ stories and the majority of them are quite horrible (for want of a better word).This is told by Leon Leyson whose given name was Leib Lejzon and is a compelling read of how he and most of his family survive the holocaust and are helped by Oskar Schindler. He has to stand on a wooden box to work the machinery. He was only 10 at the time and the youngest person to appear on ‘Schindler’s list’. There is a photograph of the list in the book along with family photos.He survives and that is what’s amazing. In one of the chapters Leon is whipped and you are willing him not to lose track of counting up to 25 or the whipping will start again. I found the start of chapter 9 quite hard: “ Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp, only 175 miles north west of Krakow but more than one million miles from the civilised world. October 1944. I am naked. My head is shaved. I am shivering from cold and fear. I am surrounded by total darkness. Gradually night turns to day and I am still naked ………………”It’s a shame that Leon died without knowing that his memoirs would be published.

Very much enjoyed this book of such a good and gentle family.I n spite of the horrors they livedthrough, they came out of it as the decent people they always were. They became wonderfulAmerican citizens, Mr. Leyson raised a beautiful family, and thay have all made the world abetter place by surviving the Holacaust. God bless them.

Beautiful story about survival in a time of cruelty and barbarism. Very well written. Very sad how quickly children had to grow up in those times and work through the cruel Nazi system that any adult today would more than struggle with.

A truly heart breaking account of a little boy caught up the incomprehensible, brutal and abhorrent Nazi regime. All praise to Oscar Schindler and his famous list for saving not only this little boy but one of his brothers, his sister and both of his parents.An amazing feat, since he also saved the lives of 1200 Jews who worked in his factory.