Post by Charlynn on Jul 12, 2011 12:35:51 GMT -5
The Devil's Arithmetic
~ by: Jane Yolen
“As long as we can remember, all those gone before are alive inside us” (p. 113). This – more than the haunting images of despair and death endured under the cruelty of the Nazi regime – is the lasting impression of Yolen's powerful novel. In it, young Hannah opens a door to complete a portion of her family's Seder dinner only to step into 1942 Poland where she lives as the girl who saved her beloved aunt's life and finally learns the importance of remembering. Yolen's use of contrast between the festive wedding celebration and the relocation and concentration camp scenes is jarring, accentuating the horrific nature of the Holocaust, while her emphasis on the importance of observing family traditions is culturally unrestrictive, a unifying theme. Finally, her inclusion of so many Jewish customs and Yiddish words adds validity to the tale, though the language barrier can be frustrating.
4 out of 5 Stars
~ by: Jane Yolen
“As long as we can remember, all those gone before are alive inside us” (p. 113). This – more than the haunting images of despair and death endured under the cruelty of the Nazi regime – is the lasting impression of Yolen's powerful novel. In it, young Hannah opens a door to complete a portion of her family's Seder dinner only to step into 1942 Poland where she lives as the girl who saved her beloved aunt's life and finally learns the importance of remembering. Yolen's use of contrast between the festive wedding celebration and the relocation and concentration camp scenes is jarring, accentuating the horrific nature of the Holocaust, while her emphasis on the importance of observing family traditions is culturally unrestrictive, a unifying theme. Finally, her inclusion of so many Jewish customs and Yiddish words adds validity to the tale, though the language barrier can be frustrating.
4 out of 5 Stars