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kelkelkelhart's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death
sara_hudson's review
4.0
I picked this one up because it is on the SLJ Mock Newbery List, and it did not disappoint. Jewish mysticism, fierce sibling loyalty, eerie atmospheric setting - all there. I will admit that it took a little to get past the first chapter with its description of leprosy. But definitely worth sticking with it. Ziva devotion to her brother and to her sense of justice are the driving force in the plot, but don't overlook Almas - the ballast she desperately needs.
A desperately sad almost-ending, lightened by the hope of the actual ending. Beautiful.
A desperately sad almost-ending, lightened by the hope of the actual ending. Beautiful.
meganann's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ngreader's review
5.0
Beautiful, simple and profound. This is a book that teaches so much - about different cultures, about fairy-tales and narrative structure, about love and grief and death - I loved it. Adored it. Highly recommend
Spoiler
especially for families wanting a little religion in a story (Jewish protagonist, angels)wjb11's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
librariandest's review
4.0
This book made me cry and think about death (accepting death, fearing death, and even death as a character, which of course made me think of [b:The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522157426l/19063._SY75_.jpg|878368]). Right from the beginning, you know this book is going to be sad, but I didn't think it would make me sob. Which it did.
I'm not sure if this would be good bibliotherapy for a reader who is grieving the loss of a loved one. On the one hand, I'd say no because this book is brutal in its depiction of illness, suffering, and desperation. On the other hand, maybe yes because there is a journey that leads to peace and acceptance.
The story is told in four parts with each part introduced by a narrator whose identity isn't revealed until the end. I really liked these parts. It's sort of like what [b:The Patron Thief of Bread|39909124|The Patron Thief of Bread|Lindsay Eagar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630074755l/39909124._SY75_.jpg|61763378] did with the gargoyle, but better because of the brevity of these sections. It's also sort of like the reveal of the narrator in [b:The Ogress and the Orphans|58328436|The Ogress and the Orphans|Kelly Barnhill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644818724l/58328436._SY75_.jpg|91457082].
I also liked that this book has a message to offer readers, but it leaves some room for interpretation.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me was that there were times I felt a little lost in the narrative. Maybe if I understood history and Judaism better I would understand the whole story better. Some things seemed like important symbols but I wasn't sure of their meaning. So that's personally a 4-star book for me. Even with the glossary and afterward, I was still left feeling a little unsatisfied, e.g. the garlic (spear-leek) at the end, the significance of the ravens, and how Tengrism relates to Judaism.
Updated to add: I just got the spear-leek/garlic thing! Garlic is a powerful remedy to protect against infections of many bacteria, fungi, and viruses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458355/
I'm not sure if this would be good bibliotherapy for a reader who is grieving the loss of a loved one. On the one hand, I'd say no because this book is brutal in its depiction of illness, suffering, and desperation. On the other hand, maybe yes because there is a journey that leads to peace and acceptance.
The story is told in four parts with each part introduced by a narrator whose identity isn't revealed until the end. I really liked these parts. It's sort of like what [b:The Patron Thief of Bread|39909124|The Patron Thief of Bread|Lindsay Eagar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630074755l/39909124._SY75_.jpg|61763378] did with the gargoyle, but better because of the brevity of these sections. It's also sort of like the reveal of the narrator in [b:The Ogress and the Orphans|58328436|The Ogress and the Orphans|Kelly Barnhill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644818724l/58328436._SY75_.jpg|91457082].
I also liked that this book has a message to offer readers, but it leaves some room for interpretation.
Spoiler
What would have happened if Ziva had succeeded in stealing a magic feather and healing her brother? We'll never know. I liked that the people who live in Luz were just left there and the Milcham doesn't change. If BBBR were more didactic, I think Ziva would have given a speech intended to enlighten the residents of Luz and the Milcham. But instead, readers might ask if the Milcham is right in refusing to magically heal people. We might ask why some people are content to stay in Luz where they can't eat or read or age.The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me was that there were times I felt a little lost in the narrative. Maybe if I understood history and Judaism better I would understand the whole story better. Some things seemed like important symbols but I wasn't sure of their meaning. So that's personally a 4-star book for me. Even with the glossary and afterward, I was still left feeling a little unsatisfied, e.g. the garlic (spear-leek) at the end, the significance of the ravens, and how Tengrism relates to Judaism.
Updated to add: I just got the spear-leek/garlic thing! Garlic is a powerful remedy to protect against infections of many bacteria, fungi, and viruses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458355/