Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia (1)
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (5)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Friday, November 10, 2017
Based On a True Story, MG Holocaust Novel Touching, Eye-Opening Tale of Survival
4:20 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When the Nazis invade Krakow, the life of Jacob "Yanek" Gruener changes forever. Jews are no longer safe in Poland. Not even a harmless 10-year-old boy. Crowded into a city ghetto with other Jews, Yanek and his family must eke out a life with little privacy, scant food, and no freedom. Despite the hardships they endure, the Grueners are grateful to be together while all around them, friends and neighbors disappear daily.
One day, the inevitable happens and Yanek is left all alone. When the Nazis finally capture him, he's sent to a concentration camp. His youth and relative strength mark him as "lucky"—as long as he can work, he can survive. Moved from camp to camp, Yanek does everything he can to survive. The more he suffers, the more he wonders if living is even worth it. As hope dwindles and his "health"—the only thing keeping him alive—seeps out of him, Yanek longs to give up. Will he continue his fight for survival, for freedom? Will liberation come soon enough to save a young boy who's rapidly losing hope?
Based on a true story, Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz tells an amazing tale of survival. Like all concentration camp novels, it details the unbelievable horrors suffered by people who actually lived. It's fiction, yes, but it's grounded in harsh, shocking reality. It's an eye-opening novel, one that's both eye-opening and touching. As haunting as it is, the novel is a perfect one to hand to kids who want to learn more about the Holocaust. They'll definitely root for Yanek to persevere; in turn, they might just be inspired to push through their own challenges with courage and determination.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other Holocaust books for children, including The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and Making Bombs for Hitler by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
6 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Time Travel Thursday7 hours ago
-
THE ROMANOV BRIDES Blog Tour9 hours ago
-
American Zion10 hours ago
-
Review: Trespasses by Louise Kennedy10 hours ago
-
Digging Up Trouble by Kitt Crowe11 hours ago
-
-
Love on Camera14 hours ago
-
-
-
-
The Highgate Cemetery Murder by Irina Shapiro18 hours ago
-
Mistimed Meal: A Review of Vampire Fly18 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
Thank you1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
One in the Chamber by Robin Peguero2 days ago
-
Top 5 Tuesday ~ Female Authors2 days ago
-
What's up?2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Review: Beartown1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?5 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra9 months ago
-
-
-
Sundays with Sam – The Sunday Post11 months ago
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ▼ 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
Oh, I loved this book! I read it a couple of years ago and have never forgotten it. What he went through...it's a true miracle that he survived it all.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe ANYONE could survive such a harrowing experience, let alone a little kid. His story is amazing!
DeleteWhile I myself could never read this one (just can’t handle Holocaust stories) I think it’s great that this book exists and is written for kids. They need to know about this historic event.
ReplyDeletePlus, MG Holocaust books aren't nearly as graphic as YA or adult ones. They tend to get the horror of the experience across without going into the worst details.
DeleteThis sounds like a powerful story. I don't read a lot of MG but might need to add this one. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love MG fiction for fast, easy reads. Although this one deals with a heavy subject, it's still a quick read, but definitely one that resonates!
Delete