January 10, 1945

Dear Diary,
My name is Carson Kotchavitz. I am 13 years old and living in Auschwitz, Germany, the largest concentration camp. Somehow I've lasted this long. I mean, the Holocaust started in 1933 and now it's 1945. I was only 9 when the Nazi soldiers invaded my home and took my family and me. Three years in this dark grimy Hell hole sucks. Luckily, my mother and two brothers ended up here with me, although I don't see how that's really lucky. My grandmother was killed before she was even taken out of my home, because she was Jewish, disabled, and elderly...All three a trait Hitler hated. As for my father, I didn't see him after we were liquidated to Auschwitz. My older brother, Nicholas(15), shared the same bunker with me and six other kids. My mother and younger brother, Jacob(4 months), have a bunker down the hall. It makes me angry that so many people were put here, so many killed, because of their religion, age, or disability. I want to escape this evil place.
-Carson

January 11, 1945

Dear Diary,
I'm a bit scared...No. I am VERY scared. Well, for one, a boy that lives in my bunker came back from work with a huge bloody bruise on his head. Maybe they won't beat me when it's time for me to go work. The last thig I need is broken bones and bruises. They would literally kill me if I couldn't work. We are in a sad time...I hope this torture ends soon.
-Carson