Paul’s Journey is based upon the memories of Holocaust survivor, Paul Oppenheimer. Paul is a survivor of the infamous Bergen-Belsen Camp and the book describes his experiences from his early years in Germany, his family’s emigration to Amsterdam and his deportation to Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen. Paul’s story ends with his journey to England as a refugee in 1945.

The book focuses on Paul’s personal testimony and gives students a human perspective of this catastrophic period of history. The language used is appropriate for younger students and does not dwell on the horrific descriptions of events in the camps. There are moving descriptions from Paul about his early memories and family life which students may be able to relate to. There are also many images and photographs in the book which can help students to understand the events described and the individuals mentioned.