Book excerpt: The heartaches and drama of Nazi persecution are brought to life in this Jewish family saga. Its author, Brigid Grauman, has drawn on the intimate memoirs and diaries of no less than seven of her forebears to recreate a vivid picture of that darkest of eras. Brigid's book combines the searing experiences of her family with her own compassion and affection. Her family members spring to life and step from the page. "Uncle Otto's Puppet Theatre" takes the reader through two centuries of Jewish life, spanning peasant years in rural Moravia to headlong flight from Central Europe and hard-earned new lives in America. The humanity and gifted storytelling of this book emulates the emotional impact of "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "The Hare with Amber Eyes", and is a tribute to the courage of the author's own family.