The Baby Experiment

Anne Dublin

Jun 2012 · Dundurn

About this eBook

When 14-year-old-Johanna learns that her orphanage is experimenting on babies, she kidnaps one of them and sets off for Amsterdam.

Johanna is a 14-year-old Jewish girl who lives in Hamburg, Germany, in the early 18th century. She feels stifled by the daily drudgery of her life and dreams of seeing what lies outside the confines of the Jewish quarter. Johanna lies about her identity and gets a job as a caregiver at an orphanage. Until it’s too late, she doesn’t realize a secret experiment is taking place that results in the deaths of babies.

Deciding to kidnap one of the orphans, Johanna sets off for Amsterdam. She faces many dangers on her journey, including plague, bandits, storms and, not least of all, anti-Semitism. Johanna has a lot of courage and determination, but will it be enough to save the baby and reach her destination? Will she finally find a place where she can be free?

Ratings and reviews

Jews have long been blamed for everything from plague to anything bad that happened. They have been persecuted for centuries. We know from our recent history how Hitler made a point of trying to wipe them out. But, did you know that in the early 1700’s they were just as persecuted and looked down on? I didn’t. Anne Dublin has crafted a story set during this time, in Hamburg, Germany. It is here we meet a young girl by the name of Johanna Eisen. She had seen a sign advertising for girls to work in an orphanage. She lies about her name to get a job to help her mother. She lied about her name because she was sure that with a Jewish name she would not be hired. Although her mother is against it, she lets Johanna go. It is immediately clear that there is something wrong in this orphanage. They are not allowed to speak to the babies and they are not allowed to hold them beyond changing their diaper or tending to their physical needs. Soon the babies begin to die. Johanna overhears a conversation between the concerned doctor and one of those in charge. It is shortly thereafter she decides she must rescue one of the babies she has fallen in love with. She makes the arrangements to escape and is caught by one of the other girls who wants to go with her. From this point on the tension is taken up a notch. Will she succeed in escaping? What about her mother? What about her friend Cecile? What will happen when Cecile finds out Johanna is a Jew? Read the book to find out answers to all of these questions and more. I would gladly recommend this book to my students and anyone who loves historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by this author.

About the author

Anne Dublin is an award-winning author of historical fiction and biographies for young people. Her books include Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything, winner of the IODE Violet Downey Book Award and the Canadian Jewish Book Award, and The Orphan Rescue, finalist for the U.S. National Jewish Book Award. She lives in Toronto.