Transport to Eternity
The novel “Transport za věčnost” was written by František Tichý, the director of the Přírodní škola Gymnasium, in 2012. Initially, we published it only in a limited edition as a samizdat, but in 2017, the work was successfully published by Baobab Publishing with beautiful illustrations by Stanislav Setínský. Thanks to that, you can now order the book from all good bookstores.
The winner of the “Litera for Children and Youth Book” in 2018
Magnezia Litera
Jenda’s father has just been arrested by the Gestapo, and the twelve-year-old boy can’t imagine what lies ahead: the expulsion of his Jewish friends from the gymnasium, yellow stars on their coats, transportation to Terezín… František Tichý’s book is inspired by real events and the stories of boys who lived in Prague and Terezín. It doesn’t shy away from adventure and imagination, but at the same time, it is so truthful that it sends chills down your spine.
Reviews
How can we convey the wartime experiences of Jews to children and young adults without overwhelming them with the boundless darkness that the Holocaust entails, and without painting an overly rosy picture that would disregard the harsh reality and potentially crush their spirits with explicit horrors? It seems that František Tichý, who has long been dedicated to teaching the history of the wartime period as an educator, has managed to achieve this delicate balance. He has successfully engaged his students in exploring these multifaceted fates by avoiding extreme portrayals. Tichý’s approach allows young minds to comprehend the historical events without being burdened by the full weight of the Shoah. His commitment to facilitating an understanding of this complex era has earned him the trust and participation of his students.
Jiří Dvořák
It is written in a clear, engaging, and suspenseful manner, and I would even dare to say it has a touch of Foglar’s style. I admire the author for the work and meticulousness he put into crafting the story, researching information, and also for his dedication to children.
databazeknih.cz
In my eyes, this book is extremely important. It adds something that is not present in other books or films about the fate of boys in Terezín: What about US, those of us who were not facing death in the horrific mass killings – what does it mean for us?
Chava Pressburger (Eva Ginzová)
How can we convey the wartime experiences of Jews to children and young adolescents without overwhelming them with the boundless darkness contained in the Holocaust, and without sugarcoating the reality to the point of neglecting the profound horrors? It seems that František Tichý, who has been dedicated to teaching the history of wartime as an educator and has managed to engage his students in exploring these multifaceted destinies, has succeeded in doing so.
Eva Lorencová
Other reviews
- iLiteratura: Vzkaz narozeným do šťastnějších časů
- shekel.cz: Kniha Tranport za věčnost. Podaří se jí zlomit nezájem mladých o temnou historii?
- bubakov.net: Pokud desetileté děti čtou, zajímají je často dobrodružné příběhy…
- memento-libri.cz: Nečetla jsem žádnou podobnou knihu…
- tvar – obtýdeník živé literatury: Získal Transport za věčnost Magnesii Literu zaslouženě?
- Spolek bubákov.net: Způsob podání je adekvátní věku a možná díky tomu…
- Janinyblog.com: čteme/Transport za věčnost
The novel returns to the period of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in the years 1940-1943. It portrays the power of inseparable boyhood friendship, which develops despite prohibitions and restrictions, the barriers and walls of the Terezín Ghetto, and the boundaries between life and death. The author achieves effectiveness by blending literary fiction with authentic documentary materials, offering a perspective on that time through the eyes of twelve-year-old Prague gymnasium student Honza Kratochvíl, who matures under the influence of his family, his father’s courageous stance, and his friendship with Petr Ginz and other boys gathered around the Terezín magazine Vedem.
The author has long been dedicated to the lives of Jewish children in Terezín, and this time he has transformed his knowledge into a compelling narrative that includes not only adventure but also elements of discovery, morality, and ethics. The novel, primarily intended for teenagers, shows that even today stories with strong moral or historical-social themes can be written in a way that sends shivers down your spine. The book becomes more than just one among many—it gets under your skin and stays in your memory.
The subtle gray-blue illustrations by Stanislav Setinský not only provide a visual reconstruction of the plot in a realistic manner but also capture different perspectives and utilize digital image processing techniques.
Author: František Tichý
Publisher: Baobab
EAN: 9788075150523
ISBN: 978-80-7515-052-3
Illustration: Stanislav Setinský
1x book, paperback, 244 pages, in Czech
Dimensions: 15.8 x 22 cm
Year of publication: 2017 (1st edition)