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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A heavy yet fascinating read about the horrors of the Holocaust. I did not know much of this before, and I'm glad I got to understand this piece of history more through Jane Yolen's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, War
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cursing, Excrement, Pregnancy
Please look up content warnings before reading this book! It deals with many dark themes and I may have missed some tags
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn't really like where it went. I thought the relationship between Becca and her boss was strange as they had no chemistry. I didn't like how Potocki presented the story, I thought it was too different in style from the rest of the book. I thought it was a letdown that we never found out the true history of Becca's grandma. I also disliked how Becca was in Poland with this burning desire to find answers, but spends so much time having a "holiday". Those pages about Poland were a little unnecessary. I did think having it about the holocaust was an interesting adaption, but on a whole I didn't really enjoy this book.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Under no circumstances can you refer to a book on the Holocaust as an "easy" read but Briar Rose somehow sucks you in and you simply devour this pseudo-fairy tale. Very graphic imagery, some language and mature concept.
Highly, highly recommended for grades 9 and up.
Highly, highly recommended for grades 9 and up.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Apparently I'm on a WWII kick right now!! This book was recommended to me through Amazon or Barnes&Noble after reading "The Book Thief". Jane Yolen superimposes the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty on WWII and the Holocaust - a weird combo to be sure, but extremely well done. I don't want to say anything else and ruin it, but it was excellent. A quick read.
The fairy tale is set against the back drop of the holocaust. This particular novel is a reminder that although they definitely suffered in the greatest numbers, the Nazis targeted more than Jews for cleansing and murder.