Decency & Determination by Sophia Brooks. I received this book as a gift, and it truly was a valued present. It tells the story of Nicholas Winton, a man who did much more than just think about the atrocities happening during the German invasion of Czechoslovakia. He could have reacted like many others who chose to look away from the suffering of the Jewish people. He could have stayed detached from what was happening around him. Instead, he joined his friend Martin and others in creating a plan to rescue children from certain death. Nicholas's selflessness and resolve saved hundreds of children. This story encourages those of us who sometimes doubt that one person can make a difference. I especially appreciated the ending, which shared the individual stories of some of those precious children who were spared and the remarkable lives that might have been lost without brave people like Nicholas. I believe that sharing stories like this helps us better understand and empathize with those around us who are suffering.
