THE TENTH CHILD

About the Book

This is a powerful story of Julianna, the tenth child of poor Hungarian peasants, whose life spread through the most challenging and tragic historical milestones of twentieth century Europe: Second World War, Nazi occupation of Hungary, Communist Crackdown, and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Julianna's courage and determination will inspire and touch the hearts of the readers as she shares with them the wonderful, fascinating details of her life which was completely different from those of most Americans.

She conveys those historical events through her own experiences, the way they had affected and altered her childhood and eventually her entire life.

Through her voice the reader will find Julianna's heart and soul that endured all the explosions of bombs, hunger and nerve-breaking fright when Hungary became the battleground between withdrawing Nazis and the Red Army.

Her courage was really put to the test when after the Russian tanks brutally crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 she crawled through a minefield in the dark, then on her stomach inched across a bridge, and under a hail of border guards' bullets ran for her life to reach Austria, and finally the land of her childhood dream, America.

About the Author

Julianna Withey was born in Hungary, taught school there until 1956, then escaped to Austria and immigrated to America. She became a citizen, earned a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education, a Masters degree in Psychology, and a Supervisory Certificate. She taught and was chairperson of the foreign language department in a New Jersey high school.