The Keeper of Stories
by Caroline Kusin Pritchard; illus. by Selina Alko
Primary, Intermediate    Simon    40 pp.
2/25    9781665914970    $19.99
e-book ed.  9781665914987    $10.99

In 1966, a “trusted keeper [of stories]” (identified in the back matter as the library at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City) suffered a terrible fire, which destroyed thousands of books and other items, many not found elsewhere—including books and ritual objects that had been rescued from the Nazis. Books that didn’t burn were waterlogged and becoming more damaged by the minute. But through the help and persistence of the surrounding community, all was not lost. Idea after idea was proposed, but the ultimate solution was a simple yet elegant one that saved 170,000 volumes: layering paper towels between the pages of each sodden book. This story focuses equally on the effort that brought a community together, on the importance of libraries as repositories of stories, and on the books themselves as representatives of history and culture. Evocative illustrations combine painting and collage, including words in multiple languages, with occasional references to specific titles and others to language and content more generally. The narrative ends with the resonant refrain “our stories were not consumed.” Back matter includes information about the Jewish Theological Seminary Library, a brief bibliography, and period photographs of the fire and its aftermath. An author’s note provides additional historical context and draws contemporary connections between the fire, the importance of books, and the divisiveness of our current society.

From the March/April 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.