Book Review

                                               Book Review

The story begins with 13 year old Hannah not wanting to attend the Seder.  (Jewish feast). She doesn’t see the reason to remember her family’s history nor she wants to spend time with grandpa Will.  But when the time comes to open the door to the prophet Elijah, she is transported to the past; Poland 1942, specifically to her family’s shtetl, in Viosk.

When she is in the past and gets closer to the Shul and sees the  Nazi trucks,  she knows the Holocaust  is coming. The author doest a great job representing a worrisome child that as she worries she is also maturing into a less selfish person.

It’s a historical fiction story   where author Jane Yolen does a fantastic job describing how time changes from the present to the past making the scenery virtually come alive.

Jewish children will enjoy this thrilling story, however, the author’s research is so well done that non-jewish readers will learn about history as well as of Jewish culture making sure that the average reader doesn’t get confused with all the Yiddish words like for example: yarmulke, pilpul and, sherele. Malach ha-mavis. Also, the reader gets to learn about some traditional entertainers like the badchan, and the klezmer.

In some places, the author misses some information like what Gitl and Shmuel are to Chaya.  Also everyone calls Gitl, tante, so its more confusing to the reader. 

The author also didn't explain how the concentration camp was so that kind of bad especially when she tries to escape with Gitl you don't know where they are or anything.

Reading the book is like eating a herring, a little oily at the beginning but quite spicy as you go on.

I would rate this book with a 7/10. However, some topics are intended for a minimum age of 12 years old.

What is in red is what I changed