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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
A female journalist solves the mystery of her grandmother's fairy tale in Poland.
The modern part of the story was a little cringey because a woman kept trying to date her boss, and the jokes were cheesy.
The historical part was emotional.
The modern part of the story was a little cringey because a woman kept trying to date her boss, and the jokes were cheesy.
The historical part was emotional.
I enjoyed this book, and I liked that the Holocaust story was a story told within a story. It was also the most well-written part of the book. The rest of the story had me frequently either rolling my eyes or feeling removed from the story (sort of how bad acting will remind you that you’re watching a movie, rather than feeling immersed in the story). I was especially repulsed by the ‘love story’ that felt half-baked and forced and the sisters with their furs and Louboutins - that felt like cheap character development.
But I enjoyed the twists and the grandmother’s love and the whole premise of a fairy tale being the only way to make sense of tragedy. I’m still glad I read it, and it was a very fast read.
But I enjoyed the twists and the grandmother’s love and the whole premise of a fairy tale being the only way to make sense of tragedy. I’m still glad I read it, and it was a very fast read.
Masterfully rewritten fairytale with deep, deep roots.
I haven't read Yolen in years because she's pretty consistent with the devastation. Fortunately with this one, the contextual cue of Jewish refuge in the US was enough of a hint at the thorn in the rose.
Tha anyone survived sounds like a fairy tale, but as Yolen herself says in the books, things happen that way. Someone misses the bus and it crashes.
And sometimes all the bodies in a mass grave aren't all the way dead yet.
I feel like it pairs nicely with a recent read of Shamim Sharif's 'Despite The Falling Snow'.
Also mad props for the amount of LGBTQIA+ rep in this book since it was written in the early 90's. This is why I read Yolen, even as she tears everything apart and puts it back together with a little more compassion.
I haven't read Yolen in years because she's pretty consistent with the devastation. Fortunately with this one, the contextual cue of Jewish refuge in the US was enough of a hint at the thorn in the rose.
Tha anyone survived sounds like a fairy tale, but as Yolen herself says in the books, things happen that way. Someone misses the bus and it crashes.
And sometimes all the bodies in a mass grave aren't all the way dead yet.
I feel like it pairs nicely with a recent read of Shamim Sharif's 'Despite The Falling Snow'.
Also mad props for the amount of LGBTQIA+ rep in this book since it was written in the early 90's. This is why I read Yolen, even as she tears everything apart and puts it back together with a little more compassion.
6/6
This story made me both sad and happy. I honestly wish it had been a little longer. It says "ages 13 and up" on the back of my copy, but I think it's better off read by high school students than middle schoolers. To start, the main character is 23 and she goes on a trip to find her grandmother's origins across the world on nothing more than a hunch and hope. She winds up in Poland and is told a graphic story about one man's experience with the Holocaust, and her grandmother's part in it. The only reason I wouldn't suggest this to a middle schooler is because of the "mature" themes. the words "fag" and "make love" are used many times. In fact, there are many references to gay/lesbian relationships (which is fine, I just don't know if every 13 year old is mature enough to read about those topics).
All in all, I really liked it, and I'm sure I'll read it again eventually. As usual, Jane Yolen doesn't disappoint!
This story made me both sad and happy. I honestly wish it had been a little longer. It says "ages 13 and up" on the back of my copy, but I think it's better off read by high school students than middle schoolers. To start, the main character is 23 and she goes on a trip to find her grandmother's origins across the world on nothing more than a hunch and hope. She winds up in Poland and is told a graphic story about one man's experience with the Holocaust, and her grandmother's part in it. The only reason I wouldn't suggest this to a middle schooler is because of the "mature" themes. the words "fag" and "make love" are used many times. In fact, there are many references to gay/lesbian relationships (which is fine, I just don't know if every 13 year old is mature enough to read about those topics).
All in all, I really liked it, and I'm sure I'll read it again eventually. As usual, Jane Yolen doesn't disappoint!
I enjoyed this story.
It is about a young woman whose grandmother passes away which leads her to discover her family's past. It was easy to read (because it is a young adult novel) and it only took me about a day to finish the story. It also composes a fairy-tale element throughout the novel which I found to be a particularly interesting writing style.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is intrigued by historical tragic events (such as the Holocaust) and anyone who wants to do easy reading.
It is about a young woman whose grandmother passes away which leads her to discover her family's past. It was easy to read (because it is a young adult novel) and it only took me about a day to finish the story. It also composes a fairy-tale element throughout the novel which I found to be a particularly interesting writing style.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is intrigued by historical tragic events (such as the Holocaust) and anyone who wants to do easy reading.
This is not at all what I thought it would be. I was really looking forward to reading this for years. I love a good fairy tale retelling but this was not as fantastical as I thought. It was related back to WWII and Polish camps. It was not an enjoyable read for me.
Jane Yolen weaves the tale of "Briar Rose" or "Sleeping Beauty" into a haunting tale about the Holocaust and heroes. There's a castle and a sleeping princess and barbs keeping the prince from her. It's all there and beautifully written and crafted. If you haven't read this, stop what you're doing and go read it. Now.
I'm not kidding, just go read it. It won't take you long but it will make you think and marvel at the wonder of the world and wish that fiction were indeed fact.
I'm not kidding, just go read it. It won't take you long but it will make you think and marvel at the wonder of the world and wish that fiction were indeed fact.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War
Popsugar 2023: a book published the year your were born (1992).
A brutal retelling of Sleeping Beauty during the Holocaust. Becca is trying to figure out who her grandma was based on her stories and a few contradicting scraps of documentation. Her grandma was obsessed with Sleeping Beauty, but told her own version of it. This is what took me out of the story- how dumb Becca and her family had to be to not recognize what the story was really about. She mentions the evil fairy in black boots with silver Eagles on her hat, and the great mist that put everyone to sleep. Not exactly a mystery, especially since they knew she was a refugee in the 1940’s.
Apparently this was written YA, which could excuse it, but the graphic descriptions of war, death, and sex in the second half seem to refute that. It certainly didn’t write down to children except in the one aspect.
All in all, an important if not a pleasurable read.
A brutal retelling of Sleeping Beauty during the Holocaust. Becca is trying to figure out who her grandma was based on her stories and a few contradicting scraps of documentation. Her grandma was obsessed with Sleeping Beauty, but told her own version of it. This is what took me out of the story- how dumb Becca and her family had to be to not recognize what the story was really about. She mentions the evil fairy in black boots with silver Eagles on her hat, and the great mist that put everyone to sleep. Not exactly a mystery, especially since they knew she was a refugee in the 1940’s.
Apparently this was written YA, which could excuse it, but the graphic descriptions of war, death, and sex in the second half seem to refute that. It certainly didn’t write down to children except in the one aspect.
All in all, an important if not a pleasurable read.
An interesting take on the sleeping beauty story. I don't think I'll ever read it again, but I'm glad I came across this book!