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bedroominarles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
Follows the epic story of one family living in Jerusalem during the 1940s. Each of the five kids have very different experiences of living in a revolutionary zone, there are fucked up relationships between the characters, and the family (especially when we include the extendeds) is incredibly dysfunctional. There are scenes of war, and it's an interesting lens through which to view this period of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
I find Bertozzi's illustrations very interesting - almost all of his characters look "mean," and it took me a big chunk of time to warm up to some of the characters. He uses a nice variety of page layouts, and this is definitely and example of when greyscale is just fine.
Heartbreaking and fascinating all at once.
I find Bertozzi's illustrations very interesting - almost all of his characters look "mean," and it took me a big chunk of time to warm up to some of the characters. He uses a nice variety of page layouts, and this is definitely and example of when greyscale is just fine.
Heartbreaking and fascinating all at once.
sarahonthecoast's review against another edition
3.0
While a great reference for teens interested in this time period, this rather large graphic novel is not going to interest most readers. However, the reference aids and family tree will certainly aid any reader who picks it up. The black and white drawings range from startling to heartbreaking, but the large cast of characters had me constantly flipping to the front of the book to identify.
kipahni's review against another edition
3.0
I think if I had a more background understanding of Judaism and Israel war of Independence and the British era Palestine I would appreciate the story more. I appreciate the story though and also the comic layout artistry.
chelseamartinez's review against another edition
2.0
I'm pretty sure I read this twice but I can't recall when the first time would have been. The book doesn't give a lot of context, and rather focuses on the protagonist families in Jerusalem 1940-1948; if my historical knowledge was better, I may have gotten more out of it. I could see it being made into an epic film, possibly because I watched the Godfather 1 & 2 this weekend; it has the same overflowing cast of characters that a long movie could take the time to flesh out.
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
2.0
I was very confused throughout my reading of this, which makes me realize that I am very ignorant about this topic. I need to do research in order to understand this story. Hopefully, when I read it a second time, I will enjoy it more.
ashlylynne's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 rating. Why are there no half stars on Goodreads? This is such a problem.
cetaylor05's review against another edition
4.0
Set in the British Mandate of Palestine on the eve of its independence, it would be all too easy to ascribe historical or political meaning to every plot point in the story about an extended family torn apart by jealousy and ideology. While Yakin almost certainly intends for the reader to consider such interpretations, any mapping of this narrative to another is bound to reveal less about the author's opinion than it does about the audience's point of view. Halaby family patriarch Yakov is dedicated to immiserating his younger brother Izak because their father favored his youngest son in his will. As a successful businessman and rabbi, he certainly has the means to do so, and does not hesitate. The ravages of instability and poverty take a heavy toll on Izak’s family, driving its sons to seek empowerment via the two major underground movements of the day: international communism and militant Zionism. The interplay between historical events and family dynamics is at once sophisticated and intimate. While a working knowledge of the era is useful to understanding the forces at play, the powerful story is itself a powerful inducement to learn more about the historical context. CHRISTINA E. TAYLOR