Woodbridge Va. teen publishes book about Holocaust survivor

Local teenager Danielle Lyle was featured in a nationally aired television commercial for the Holocaust Memorial Museum after writing and illustrating a children’s book about the Holocaust.
 
We Are One: The Miraculous Story of Inge Auerbacher, Child Survivor of the Holocaust, and Her Doll is book number 78 in a series about the Holocaust. “It’s a book about unity, and being able to understand people’s stories and backgrounds,” said Lyle. “If we could all just put aside our differences, how much better would the world be?”

“My mom went to a conference where she met some publishers.  They were looking for young people to write stories, and she volunteered me,” explained Lyle.
 
Her mother, Rhonda Lyle, chimed in, “The publishers from A Book by Me selected Danielle to write this particular story, and they coordinated everything.”

Inge Auerbacher is a Holocaust survivor, author, and inspirational speaker.  As described in We Are One, she spent three years in the Terezin concentration camp in Czechoslovakia between the ages of 7 and 10, from 1942 to 1945.

Throughout this painful and terrifying time in her childhood, Auerbacher clung to her doll, Marlene.  This doll was a gift from Auerbacher’s grandparents. “She meant everything to me. Next to my parents, the thing I wanted to hold onto most of all was my doll,” said in an interview with the Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

She has shared her life story by writing three books - I Am a Star: Child of the Holocaust, Beyond the Yellow Star to America, and Finding Dr. Schatz: The Discovery of Streptomycin and a Life It Saved.  Of 15,000 children who were sent to Terezin, Auer-bacher is among the one percent who survived.

Despite having experienced the horrors of the Holocaust, the book’s protagonist is strong and resilient.  “She is so youthful at heart,” said Lyle of Auerbacher.  “She is a great spirited person, so easy to talk to,” she said with a smile.

The Lyle family graciously hosted Auerbacher at their home, where Lyle and Auerbacher became fast friends.

Lyle and Auerbacher visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum together, where Auerbacher shared the details of her story. “It felt especially emotional watching Inge see her doll at the museum.  I could sense the memories coming back to her,” Lyle reflected solemnly. 

It is clear that Auerbacher’s journey of anguish and triumph has had a big impact on the young student.

The museum “seeks to inspire millions each year with the relevance of Holocaust history to the challenges we face today.” 

The museum is designed in such a way that it is hauntingly beautiful.  Walking through narrow passageways, visitors can experience the feeling of claustrophobia, just as the victims of the Holocaust did when they were deported and shipped to concentration camps. 

The museum includes historical artifacts, photographs, film footage, and personal objects.  According to the website, it is an experience recommended for ages 11 and older.

After Lyle wrote and illustrated the book, she thought nothing further but that it was an experience to be treasured. 
Then the Holocaust Memorial Museum selected her to be featured in a television commercial that aired on the Smithsonian Channel, the Military History Channel, Universal HD, and CNN.

The video is one way the Holocaust Memorial Museum is honoring the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

“I got my makeup done, which was fun,” said Lyle. “It was a bit nerve-wracking, knowing what to say and when to say it, but it was a great learning experience,” she said.  The accomplished teenager humbly added, “I don’t want to take the credit because this is Inge’s story.”

Through this experience, Lyle formed a friendship with Auer-bacher that is founded on admiration and respect.

When Auerbacher’s family was liberated from Terezin in 1945, they immigrated to America.

Throughout her accomplished life, Auerbacher contracted and survived tuberculosis, learned English, graduated from high school in New York, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Queens College, and worked as a chemist.

Throughout all her trials and tribulations, her beloved doll Marlene was a comfort by her side. 

Auerbacher has received numerous awards and honors for her work in telling her story and promoting a message of acceptance and unity. She spends her time traveling the world to speak about love, peace and understanding. 

“Although her childhood story is sad, Inge is so happy all the time,” said Lyle. “She has an energy about her that is infectious, and makes you want to be happy, too.”

Lyle is a senior at Paul VI Catholic High School.  She plans to study International Studies and Afro-American Studies in college.

“I’d like to attend Spelman College, an all-women’s historically black liberal arts school in Georgia.  “I like writing, but prefer music, poetry and slam poetry,” said Lyle. “I was not that into history, but through Inge’s story, I became more interested.” 
The dedicated academic also has a passion for the Chinese language and culture.  The Lyle family hosted Chinese exchange students when Danielle was 11 years old. She studied the language as a high school freshman, and spent six weeks in China last summer through a program with the State Department.
 
Rounding out her repertoire of talents, Lyle is also an accomplished athlete.  She has participated in indoor track, volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse.

Since We Are One was published, Lyle has attended various promotional events.  She has read the book at local schools, donated books to a charitable auction, and participated in a book signing with the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. “We’re trying to get the book into libraries,” said Lyle.

The talented teenager is open to visiting schools, community organizations, and libraries to read her book about Auerbacher.  Lyle also emphasized how much Auerbacher herself enjoys traveling and speaking to others about tolerance and acceptance. Those interested can email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Lyle is inspired to write future books about other cultures, and about African Americans and slavery in particular.  “Kids receive information differently.  I want to give kids information that they might not learn in a textbook,” she explained.
We Are One is available for online purchase from the publisher for $13.99, or directly from the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
 
Lyle does not receive compensation for her efforts, as she generously donated her time and energy to this project. 
“What Inge said, that’s really happened,” said Lyle with pause. “That story was part of her life, but it was part of history.  I did a small part by writing this story, but Inge is the one who shared it.  She is amazing.”

This past January was the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the concentration camp that played a dominant role in Hitler’s plan to exterminate the Jews.
 
It is thought that this was the last time many of the Holocaust survivors would be present at memorial services and bear witness to the terrible events of the Holocaust.
 
Auerbacher emphasizes the importance of continuing to tell the story, so that the world remembers, and this never happens again.

To see Auerbacher’s doll, Marlene, and to learn more about the Holocaust, tour the Holocaust Memorial Museum and visit the website at http://www.ushmm.org