Reviews (90)

My Favorite Book of All Time
Wow. Where do I begin?
A rich, complex and vastly entertaining read
My college-age cousin told me about this book back in the summer as I was visting during vacation. I had a few books in my car (and some I told her about), but she insisted: this was an extraordinary read. That I simply had to put everything else aside and read it.
THE BOOK THIEF
Liesel Meminger, a German girl in the 1940's, survives the vicissitudes of war through two forces: the power of love and the power of words. At her younger brother's funeral, she steals The Gravedigger's Handbook as a remembrance of him. Her foster father quells her nightmares by teaching her to read, and she soon discovers that books soothe the soul. When her family hides a Jew in their basement, the young man writes to survive, often aiming his words directly at Leisel.Ultimately, it is the strength of her relationships and the reading and writing they inspire that save her life, spiritually and literally.
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Subjects:  1. Books and reading    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Death    6. Fiction    7. Historical - Holocaust    8. Historical - Military & Wars    9. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Law & Crime    12. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    13. Storytelling    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust   

Editorial Review

"The men as they rode turned black in the sun from the blood on their clothes and their faces and then paled slowly in the rising dust until they assumed once more the color of the land through which they passed." If what we call "horror" can be seen as including any literature that has dark, horrific subject matter, then Read more

Reviews (225)

The Apocalypse Occured 150 Years Ago...
...and who would have guessed it? But that is the 'subject' of this incredible book: the eternal battle between Good and Evil fought across a no-man's land of bleached desert sparsely alleviated by barricaded towns of terrified civilians forever threatened with instant annihilation.
Masterpiece
This is one of the best novels written.I couldn't put it down when I was reading it, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for months afterwards.I cannot remember characters depicted as vividly as his by any other author, and I think that is the real beauty of this book.
DEPRESSING JUMPED-UP SHORT STORY NOT WORTH YOUR TIME
BLOOD MERIDIAN is a novella or long short story streched out to make a 335-page novel. There is basically little if any plot. While Cormac McCarthy can write poetically, writing poetically about nothing is still nothing. It's like a million times zero is still zero. Most of the book is just one murder, slaughter, killing, massacre, beating, stabbing, shooting, scalping after another. It is an unrelentingly dark and depressing view of a time and place in history (Mexico and the southwest in the 19th century) without any redeeming happiness or hope. You cannot read this book from end to end without becoming depressed yourself. While I admire Mr. McCarthy's writing (see my wildly favorable review of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN), BLOOD MERIDIAN is not worth your time or the fourteen dollars the book costs. Don't contaminate your mind with this jumped-up short story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Historical    3. Historical - General    4. Indians of North America    5. Literary    6. Massacres    7. Mexican- American Border Regio    8. Popular American Fiction    9. Teenage boys    10. Westerns - General    11. Fiction / Literary   

Editorial Review

In this sequel to the Victorian fantasy Read more

Reviews (75)

becoming a movie!!!
i really adored this book and the 3rd book is taking much to long to come out! I have heard that Mel Gibson recently picked up these books as a screen play. He is making a movie out of this! I for one, cannot wait to here more about it, but since the third isnt out yet, ill have to wait even longer.

one in a million
one of the best follow up books ever written.Lies, secrets, and friendship what else could you have in a story like this. The story will keep you dancing on your toes all the way through the book. If you have read the first book A Great and Terrible Beauty you will know that this book will be as good as the first.

An Excellent Sequel
Sequels are tricky and they're famous for not living up to an original- either the writer will try to rehash what was successful in the original, in which case the result is too often boring a second time around; or she'll attempt to take thestory into a different place and risks not being true to the initial characters and situations. Libba Bray does both- she brings her story forward while remaining true to what made the first novel good.
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Subjects:  1. Boarding schools    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Fiction    7. Girls & Women    8. Historical - Europe    9. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Magic    12. Schools    13. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    14. Supernatural   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Historical - Europe    5. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Letters    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Supernatural    11. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

Like the Oklahoma dust bowl from which she came, 14-year-old narrator Billie Jo writes in sparse, free-floating verse. In this compelling, immediate journal, Billie Jo reveals the grim domestic realities of living during the years of constant dust storms: That hopes--like the crops--blow away in the night like skittering tumbleweeds. That trucks, tractors, even Billie Jo's beloved piano, can suddenly be buried beneath drifts of dust. Perhaps swallowing all that grit is what gives Billie Jo--our strong, endearing, rough-cut heroine--the stoic courage to face the death of her mother after a hideous accident that also leaves her piano-playing hands in pain and permanently scarred. Read more

Reviews (759)

Be careful with this book
My daughter was allowed to borrow this book from her school library when she was 7 because she tested high on her SRI. She was sitting on the couch reading it with tears welling up in her eyes. I read the book, and it is a beautifully-written, powerful piece, BUT be careful. If your child is not ready for this emotionally, DO NOT allow her/him to read it. The baby and mom die horribly, the father withers away and the girl is racked with guilt and blame. It's not something you give lightly to a child of any age.

A Mon avis...
Though this book is well written and has a creative style I absolutely despised the story. The reason I dislike this book has nothing to do with it being "very sad" as some other reviewers have commented. Instead I dislike the book because the story is lacking and I do not think the author does a good job of creating empathy towards the characters. Usually when a reading a "sad" book I have sympathy towards the characters. In this book there was none. Also I felt the character development was lacking. I don't reccomend this book if you are looking for a good story I do reccomend it though if you are interested in learning about free verse or seeing how the author shaped the story.

Poetry
This book is AWESOME! I believe that it is simply amazing how this authour was able to portray so eloquently the joys and hardships of Billie Jo during the Dust Bowl, especially when writing it all in poetry. This a must-read for anyone really, even those who are 10, like me. I loved it because of the above reason, and, because Billie Jo is so truthful and pure about here feelings in this book, and you don't see a lot of that nowdays. My advise is to READ IT!!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929    2. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Classics    6. Depressions    7. Dust storms    8. Farm life    9. Fiction    10. Historical - United States - 19th Century    11. Historical - United States - 20th Century    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Oklahoma    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century   

Editorial Review

"It's funny how ideas are, in a lot of ways they're just like seeds. Both of them start real, real small and then... woop, zoop, sloop... before you can say Jack Robinson, they've gone and grown a lot bigger than you ever thought they could." So figures scrappy 10-year-old philosopher Bud--"not Buddy"--Caldwell, an orphan on the run from abusive foster homes and Hoovervilles in 1930s Michigan. And the idea that's planted itself in his head is that Herman E. Calloway, standup-bass player for the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, is his father.Read more

Reviews (408)

I wish I could give more than five stars
If you love to give your kids good literature, don't miss this book.
Review by Chris L. of "Bud, Not Buddy"
Hi!I just finished reading BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis. It's a very good book I must say and this is why I give it a 5 star rating.
Siji John's"Bud, Not Buddy" book review
"Bud, Not Buddy" was a heart-felt book. Ten-year-old Bud Caldwell was the main character of this book. His mother had died when he was six years old. He had a suitcase with his personal things in there. Nobody was allowed to look in there without his permission. He also wrote a book for himself. It was called,"Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making A Better Liar Out Of Yourself." Bud's mom never mentioned anything about his father. He had a flyer in his suitcase that had a picture of a band on it. He was pretty sure that the person who played the bass was his father. Herman E. Calloway was the guy's name. Since he had nowhere to live, he went in search for Mr. Calloway. Bud's destination was Grand Rapids. In order to get to grand Rapids, he had to get to Hooverville, Flint. He was already living in Flint. He just had to find Hooverville. Hooverville was a place for people without money. When he got to Hooverville, Bud made a new friend named Deza Malone. She later became his girlfriend. She gave him tips for living life without money. Bud's ticket to Grand Rapids was just a train ride away. Unfortunatly, Bud missed the train. He had to walk from there. He was stopped by a man named Lefty Lewis. He offered Bud a ride to his home. Since Bud didn't have a home, he had to use his book to get him out of this mess. Bud told him that he lived in Grand Rapids and that Herman E. Calloway. was his father. Lefty Lewis fell for it and took Bud to Grand Rapids. Bud was finally at his destination. He went inside the building where the band practiced. He confronted Mr. Calloway and told him that he was his Bud's father. Mr. Calloway was mad at this and replied with a no. Bud didn't believe him. At the end of the story, Bud finds out that Herman E. Callowaywas actually his grandfather. I would have never guessed this ending until I read the entire book. It was very surprising. Bud Caldwell came looking for a home and ended up being with his long-lost grandfather. He struggled through some difficult times but he succeeded in the end. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929    2. Action & Adventure    3. Action & Adventure - General    4. African Americans    5. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Classics    9. Depressions    10. Fiction    11. Historical - United States - 20th Century    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. People & Places - United States - African-American    14. Runaways    15. Social Issues - Runaways    16. Social Situations - Runaways    17. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (43)

Criss Cross
Criss Cross by Lenna Rae Perkins is a Newbery Award winnig book. i think that I really liked this book because it had a lot to do with friends and since i'm a social person then it was the right book for me. I rated this book a our because it had very good details as i was expexting from the author. i would recommened that you read this book if you're really patient with waiting on for the climax of the story to happen. it ahs a lot of great personalities mixed in with the characters. i thik that they all formed together to make the book really interesting. my favorite character of the book would have to be Jenny. Ithink that she was the best character out of all of the characters in the book. so if you have the patience to read a book and you're not worried about getting to the end, then i think that you'll havegood time with it. R.Copeland

Good BUT Pointless
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins is the story of kids who travel down different paths in life while growing up. Debbie wishes something would happen. Hector tries new things. Lenny, Phil, and Patty kind of feel the same. It talks about people coming and going, crushes and such between the younger crowd. Some parts are boring. Others are confusing. Some parts are interesting and you'll want to know what happens next. But the book just keeps going on about these friends - which is pointless. I recommend reading it, however.

A disappointment
Perhaps it's just me, but I read a lot of books, both for young readers and adults, and I have had a very difficult time getting into this book.The writing seems forced, rather than lyrical. And I can certainly see why young readers would feel distanced from the main characters.I will keep trying but so far this is a disappointment, especially for a Newbery award. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Historical - United States - 20th Century    7. Identity    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Nineteen sixties    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Social Issues - Friendship    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (189)

The Education of Little Tree By: Forrest Carter
This book is about a boy orphaned very young who is adopted by his Cherokee Grandmother and half Cherokee Grandfather in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennesse during the Great Depression. He Grandparents named him Little Tree. He is taught how to hunt and survive the mountains the Cherokee way, taking only what is needed by his Grandfather. He is taught the joys of reading and education by his Grandmother. He also learns the way of white businessmen and tax collectors and how Grandfather scared the away. Little Tree is sent off to an indian boarding school run by whites. We learn of the cruelty of indian children. Little Tree learns how the world differs from the Cherokee way.
The WORST book I ever recorded...
When I was first chosen to narrate this book, I knew nothing of the racist past of it's author -- I knew only that it was the single worst book I'd ever been assigned.The negative AudioFile Magazine review of my recording (quoted here on Amazon) is completely fair.Reading the book to myself in order to prepare to record it, I found it annoying in the extreme -- the so-called prose is precious and poorly written, and the allegedly authentic colloquialisms are grating.When it came time to say it all aloud, for the first time ever (and I've narrated upwards of 200 audiobooks) I found it impossible to invest this piece literary flotsam with any emotional content whatsoever.As declining the job was no longer an option, I merely tried to stay out of the way and give it as simple and logical a performance as I could, but I was unable to compensate for the God awful writing, and unable to disguise my contempt for the entire enterprise.It remains the worst recording I have ever done, and I was, for a time, quite ashamed of it.Now that I discover more about it's hate mongering author, I'm actually pleased that the recording stinks.I now believe I gave this garbage exactly the reading it deserved.(I must add that I learned a valuable lesson: never record a book you loathe.I was subsequently offered the execrable "Left Behind" series for young adults, but having suffered through "Little Tree," knew better than to lend my voice to the spewing of "Christian" hate.)

Disappointing
This book was assigned school reading.I found it rather boring and the language used in the story became annoying after a while.Not recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. Classics    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Readers - Chapter Books    6. Biography: general    7. Historical fiction    8. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    9. Tennessee   

Reviews (10)

Loving this series.....
I wasn't going to get this title for my nine year old.I thought she was too young.But she REALLY wanted it, telling me, "Mom, I've had tons of crushes already!"I bought it and read it first.While I still think she's a little young for some of the information (especially the "going together" section toward the end), a lot of it was very age appropriate.Rather than just give it to her, we are reading it together.(Thankfully I have a very open and trusting daughter who doesn't get embarrassed by "growing up" issues.)I explained to her that reading about these things does not give her permission to do them.
Excuse Me
Ummm to the lady who said not to buy this I have a question for you; why do u care how its worded? This is a book for girls to be comfortable with, not something from a psychology book! consider that! and your knitpicking! U must have no life to complain about wording. Anyway the book is awesome! It helped my daughter become comfortable enough to talk to me about her crushes! She is totally ready!~

Don't Give This to Your Kids
This is a poorly worded and confusing book. This is a good way to get them to be shallow, dumb them down, get them into hellish relationships, and send them running to therapists who themselves need therapy. Giving this to them as a gift is also a good way to insult their intelligence.
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Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Children's 12-Up - Love / Sex / Marriage    3. Children's Books/Young Adult Social Situations    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Girls    6. Girls & Women    7. Historical - United States - 20th Century    8. Interpersonal relations    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Psychology    12. Social Issues - Dating and Sex    13. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    14. Social Situations - Dating and Sex    15. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings   

Reviews (7)

Not Under 13, But Whatever This is a great read
This book only received four stars because on its own it's not spectacular, but as an extension of the Bloody Jack series it does hold its own. This book is a good follow-up to the other Bloody Jack books.It's not the most rollicking tale of the bunch, but gives readers a more subtle adventure.Although I found the the main body of the book a tad tedious, I still enjoyed it as a whole.Jacky's colorful cahracter carries the story along when it starts to drag, as do the personalities of the other girls.One of my favorite parts of the book is when Jacky tells stories of her life on the streets in London.It gives you a better glimpse at her past and how far she has come from the little beggar of her childhood.I will warn you though, the ending is a killer cliff-hanger.

Once again, Jacky Faber kicks pirate booty...
I am a huge fan of the Jacky Faber series -- just like everyone else who has discovered these awesome books by L.A. Meyer. I've read every one of Meyer's previous books, and loved all of them. Each time, I figured there was absolutely no way he could top the previous one. And each time, I'm stunned to find that he has. 'In the Belly of the Bloodhound' is no different. Once again, Meyer has written a heck of a story that's even better than his last. Like all the others, 'In the Belly of the Bloodhound' was an incredibly fast read -- a book that I could not put down. It's entertaining and definitely won't put you to sleep like some other 'teen' books assigned in school. I have no doubt that this book is headed for a blockbuster movie, once Hollywood discovers Jacky Faber. I'm sure actresses will be lining up to play her. In the meantime, I'm hoping L.A. Meyer is back home writing his next pirate tale. Aye, Cap'n, he's good as gold.
Waiting for No. 5...
Being that there are so many enthusiastic reviews already submitted with which I wholeheartedly agree, all I will add is that Meyer better hurry up with number 5 or I'm gonna die in suspense!Bravo on another wild and imaginative misadvetnure of Jacky Faber, Mr. Meyer! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Fiction    6. Girls & Women    7. Historical - United States - 19th Century    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Kidnapping    10. Orphans    11. Seafaring life    12. Social Issues - Friendship    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Reviews (4)

A Fight for Freedom
This book has a very powerful message to it.This made me think about all the things that I take for granted.With Amari beingfifteen, I can relate to her.Usually you can not find books like this now a days. This book makes me think more about how lucky I am and how there are kids in the world that aren't as fortunate as I am.Sharon knows how to grab the readers attention. My friends and I are not big readers and we thought this book was good, and it is one of the very few books that we can stand to read.Drapers knows how to catch your wondering eye because whenIsaw this book on the amazon website I wanted to read it and I was not really interested in reading any other books.
VEEEEEEEEEEERY Good!
Copper Sun was an exceptional book.I completely fell in love with it.The characters were well developed, the plot wasn't very predictable, and it gave me a sense of awe and wonder when I finished it. The book is under the genre of historical fiction and is about a 15 year old slave girl who was captured and sold into slavery from her native home in Africa.However, this isn't your typical fly-away-to-freedom slavery book.Amari, the maincharacter, was raped and brutally beaten before she escaped to freedom with her white friend and a young boy.Sharon Draper offers two perspectives-that of Amari and of her white comrad Polly.Ironically instead of escaping to the North, they escape to the South where a non-discriminatory fort exists.There all are free and equal which is extremely uncommon during the year 1738.I won't tell anymore-you have to read it for yourself!

Sharon Draper's Newest Won't Disappoint
I bought this book because
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Books - Young Adult    3. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Historical - United States - Colonial    9. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    10. History    11. Indentured servants    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. People & Places - General    14. People & Places - United States - Asian American    15. Slavery    16. Social Issues - Friendship    17. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    18. South Carolina    19. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / General   

Reviews (362)

A suprising twist!
When the reader starts Chapter 1, they think this is going to be another, long, dull pirate ship with lame "adventures." (Trust me, that is what I thought)
Absolutely Delightful!!
I first heard about this book when my son was in 3rd grade back in 1994 and the teacher was reading it aloud to the class. I then, this year (2006) remembered it and took it out of the library. I was mesmerized by the story (even as an adult) because I am a sailor! I could just imagine Charlotte donning her sailor's garb and climbing the rigging!I love how she started out prim and proper, then she became Captain of the ship! I too am a Captain, and this story (although fiction) is a great role model for young girls today. I especially loved the ending where she leaves her stuffy life behind, arrives at the dock and the boat "sails with the morning tide". I imagined the boat pulling out of port at first light and watching the sun rise over the horizon.The writing is so vivid, and the story is so alive, that I could almost smell the salt air!I loved the book!

Great Story
I loved this book because it drew you into the 19th century lifestyle at sea.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Girls & Women    8. Historical - Other    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Sea stories    11. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (308)

boring, plotles, dull
I, Like many other unfortunate youth, had to read this book for school and do journal responses for each chapter. I did the assingnment with little difficulty without finishing the book. It was that predictable! I only read the first two chapters before I could do the responses with little trouble.
My brother sam is dead
Over the summer I read My brother sa is dead by James luneden Collier and Christopher Coliier. As one of my favorite books, there was many things i liked about I found interesting. When reading this book, you forget about reality and you start to feel as if you were in the story yourself.
Great Book to Spark an Early Interest in History
James Lincoln and Christopher Collier's story "my brother Sam is dead" begins at the dawn of the Revolution, a time when Loyalists felt much the same as Mr. Beach's remark to Sam in Chapter 1: "I think men of common sense will prevail. Nobody wants a rebellion except fools and hotheads." Doubtful or unaware of just how focused and set on independence from the Crown of England the Rebel militia actually were, the loyalists or tories of Colonial America were caught off guard when they realized "Live Free or Die" was more than a motto is was a commitment.
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Subjects:  1. 1775-1783, Revolution    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Military & Wars    6. Historical - United States - Colonial    7. History    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Revolution, 1775-1783    10. Social Issues - Death & Dying    11. Social Situations - Death & Dying    12. United States    13. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (1)

INCANTATION
The burning of Jewish books in the town square is the first portent that life for sixteen-year-old Estrella is going to change.Set in Spain during the Middle Ages, the story is about secrets and self-knowledge.Estrella's family are Conversos, who practice Judaism in secret at home and in a church where all of the congregation plus the priest are like themselves.As the persecution of Jews draws ever closer to Estrella's own family, she is told about their secret, given a ring to buy herself safe passage to Amsterdam if need be, and taught the rudiments of kabbalah by her learned grandfather.This unlikely act is undoubtedly a gesture toward the current popularity of kabbalah and it does little to mar the credibility of the plot, consisting only of a few "kabbalistic" customs like wearing a red thread and learning the names of the ten gates of Paradise.More central to the story is Estrella/Esther's development from a carefree girl to a young woman fated to pass on her family's heritage virtually alone. As in other of Hoffman's books, nature and magic are intertwined.Estrella's mother is a dyer and a healer; her grandfather is a surgeon and a scholar.The witchcraft of which they are accused is practical magic, the kind that works not through the supernatural but through knowledge heightened by insight.Throughout the book, Estrella's mother teaches her about the natural world and how humans use it for good or evil. At the conclusion, after some horrific scenes of torture and burnings, she flees, having learned that "a Jew can never be attached to a place...We cannot have roots in the earth of any country, only in the garden that we carry inside us."This is a somber message for the teens of today and it is offset by other conflicts that they may find more appealing: the true nature of a false friend, and rivalry over a boy friend.Admirers of Alice Hoffman will enjoy her evocative writing style but Incantation is one of her lesser works.For teens and adults.Reviewed by Linda R. Silver ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Fiction    4. Girls & Women    5. Historical - Europe    6. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    7. Identity    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Legends, Myths, & Fables - General    10. Marranos    11. Prejudices    12. Religious - General    13. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    14. Juvenile Fiction / Girls & Women   

Reviews (243)

Read This Book!!!!
The Devil's Arithmetic was one of the best books I have ever read.It is very descriptive, and I learned so much about that time.It was very sad and I even cryed at the end , It also was very suspensefull.I really recomend this book to anyone who enjoys touching stories and suspensefull twists.

A powerful story, utterly gripping
This book won the National Jewish Book Award, among others. The Devil's Arithmetic is the story of young Hannah, a modern-day Jewish girl from New Rochelle, who opens a door, and finds herself living during the Holocaust.
First impression:
Sounds like a scientific social studies mixed together to create one science fiction holocost thing- am i right??
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Concentration camps    4. Fiction    5. Jews    6. People & Places - United States - Other    7. Space and time    8. Time travel    9. Horror & ghost stories, chillers    10. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (12)

A Beautiuly written story...but
I Just finished this book after a 3 day marathon read. I bought it on a whim after readng the jacket, which had no synopsis. I found that I was slightly put off by the fact that this was a Holocaust novel written from the perspective of a child. I eventually got over that and got sucked into the story. It is a very easy read, sometimes TOO easy considering the subject matter. Overall this book was very well written. It approaches a very difficult subject with compassion and sensitivity. My only caution... do not read this book if you're looking for an in depth Holocaust story.

Compare this book with "Emil and Karl" by Glatshteyn
If you are looking for a book for middle school to high school readers that challenges them to think about the real experiences of children in a brutal fascist state, I would skip this one and read instead "Emil and Karl", written by Yankev Glatschteyn in 1940 and only recently translated in English. It is also short, also features two naive 9-year-old boys, also gives multiple points of view, and also seems to be trying to send out a wake-up call to young people. The difference is that Emil and Karl is well-written, moving, accurate, and full of well-rounded characters across the spectrum of opinions and backgrounds, while "The boy in the striped pajamas" is maudlin, insulting, shallow, and inaccurate. It would be good for a literature teacher to assign both books, and let the students see for themselves the difference between quality literature and trash. Don't waste your money on Boyne's weak attempt.

This book could have offered so much more
After reading a brief synopsis of the book, I was interested enough to purchase it.The Holocaust from the point of a child would have been a truly good story, but the character of this book is made into a downright idiot.His father was a Commandant, he was taught to salute Hitler, but somehow his parents never got around to telling him about Hitler, the Jews, the "master" race???I asked the six year old across the street and he knew more about the Holocaust than the main character did.The author is a wonderful storyteller, and that kept me reading to the end.The ending, however, felt far too contrived.It's as if by making the story end this way, the author somehow equalizes things out.I was disappointed that what could have been a truly excellent book was trivialized by the ending.I have mixed feelings about recommending this book.Yes, it is a good plot, but executed in such a way that I feel the author almost played it too safe for fear of upsetting anyone, and in the process, educating no one.For children today so removed from this part of history, the author could have done so much more to make them understand.If you are looking for a book for you or your child, this makes for a quick read, but not a thought-provoking one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Concentration camps    5. Fiction    6. Friendship    7. Historical - Holocaust    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Nazis    10. Poland    11. Social Issues - Friendship    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust   

Reviews (2)

READ THIS
This book proves that M.T. Anderson is one of the most brilliant writers of our time, hands down. Read this book and know it; read this book and pass it on.

Don't miss it
Read this book and give it to everyone you know or love, whether 15 or 55. It's a stunning, extraordinary look at our own history through the eyes (usually) of Octavian Nothing, an African child slave who is, in this first of two books, the subject of experiments by a group of Boston rationalist philosophers. The purpose of the experiments? For the "philosophers" to learn whether Africans have the same capacity to learn as white children do. Because the Revolutionary War is about to break out, the characters' lives change in unpredictable ways.Every single page of this book, which is told in highly-readable and startlingly rich eighteenth-century language, is filled with brilliance and pain, and there are few characters in contemporary fiction that Icare about as much as I care about Octavian. You will, too. Furthermore, there are parallels, resonances, echoes, and consequences for all of us today---your brain will be unusually active as you read, and you won't be able to put the book down or stop thinking about it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Experiments    4. Fiction    5. Freedom    6. Historical - Other    7. Historical Fiction (Yo