David Austin

Small Miracle was published in May, 2020, one month before David retired after forty years of classroom teaching.  The book is a novel-in-verse retelling of the story of a local Holocaust survivor, Charles Middleberg, who visited David’s classroom several times to share his story with his students.  It’s intended for a middle grade/YA audience, although a lot of adults have read it as well. After his second visit, David asked Charles about the possibility of collaborating on a book which would preserve his incredible story for future generations of students.  Small Miracle is the result.  It is now part of the reading curriculum in Marlton, where David used to teach, and is required reading for all fifth graders in the Mt. Laurel School District. Unfortunately, Charles passed just before this past Christmas at the age of 94.  He is missed very much. Charles Middleberg was a Holocaust survivor. But when you heard his story in person, he preferred to be called a witness.