Comments on: The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/ Maw Books - book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more! Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:38:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Diona http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-5660 Diona Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:27:31 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-5660 In this novel, Yolen attempts to answer those who question why the Holocaust should be remembered. Hannah, 12, is tired of remembering, and is embarrassed by her grandfather, who rants and raves at the mention of the Nazis. Her mother’s explanations of how her grandparents and great-aunt lost all family and friends during that time have little effect. Then, during a Passover Seder, Hannah is chosen to open the door to welcome the prophet Elijah. As she does so, she is transported to a village in Poland in the 1940s, where everyone thinks that she is Chaya, who has just recovered from a serious illness. She is captured by the Nazis and taken to a death camp, where she is befriended by a young girl named Rivka, who teaches her how to fight the dehumanizing processes of the camp and hold onto her identity. When at last their luck runs out and Rivka is chosen, Hannah/Chaya, in an almost impulsive act of self-sacrifice, goes in her stead. As the door to the gas chamber closes behind her, she is returned to the door of her grandparents’ apartment, waiting for Elijah. Through Hannah, with her memories of the present and the past, Yolen does a fine job of illustrating the importance of remembering. She adds much to children’s understanding of the effects of the Holocaust, which will reverberate throughout history, today and tomorrow. In this novel, Yolen attempts to answer those who question why the Holocaust should be remembered. Hannah, 12, is tired of remembering, and is embarrassed by her grandfather, who rants and raves at the mention of the Nazis. Her mother’s explanations of how her grandparents and great-aunt lost all family and friends during that time have little effect.

Then, during a Passover Seder, Hannah is chosen to open the door to welcome the prophet Elijah. As she does so, she is transported to a village in Poland in the 1940s, where everyone thinks that she is Chaya, who has just recovered from a serious illness. She is captured by the Nazis and taken to a death camp, where she is befriended by a young girl named Rivka, who teaches her how to fight the dehumanizing processes of the camp and hold onto her identity. When at last their luck runs out and Rivka is chosen, Hannah/Chaya, in an almost impulsive act of self-sacrifice, goes in her stead. As the door to the gas chamber closes behind her, she is returned to the door of her grandparents’ apartment, waiting for Elijah.

Through Hannah, with her memories of the present and the past, Yolen does a fine job of illustrating the importance of remembering. She adds much to children’s understanding of the effects of the Holocaust, which will reverberate throughout history, today and tomorrow.

]]> By: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-2839 Briar Rose by Jane Yolen Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:03:09 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-2839 [...] is not a author that’s new to me, in fact I read and reviewed The Devil’s Arithmetic (my book review here) earlier this year. So I found it quite interesting that she wrote not one, but two Holocaust [...] [...] is not a author that’s new to me, in fact I read and reviewed The Devil’s Arithmetic (my book review here) earlier this year. So I found it quite interesting that she wrote not one, but two Holocaust [...]

]]> By: cool http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-2685 cool Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:05:26 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-2685 Number the stars is a thrilling story, it is a guide to all readers Number the stars is a thrilling story, it is a guide to all readers

]]> By: Tracee http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-1648 Tracee Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:21:08 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-1648 I love it when I watch a movie and only later realize that it was a book. The only thing I find is that usually the movie doesn't live up to the book. I love it when I watch a movie and only later realize that it was a book. The only thing I find is that usually the movie doesn’t live up to the book.

]]> By: brent http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-1334 brent Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:47:44 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-1334 ayo dis book suked until the nazis came, then all the violence started, the olocaust iz super depressioning ayo dis book suked until the nazis came, then all the violence started, the olocaust iz super depressioning

]]> By: LisaMM http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-1318 LisaMM Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:08:07 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-1318 This sounds really good. I also like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This sounds really good. I also like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-455 Natasha Maw Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:14:16 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-455 Little Miao - I'm glad you found your way over here! You can always subscribe to my RSS feed or by email to stay up to date on all of my latest posts. This book was great. The more I think about it, the more I like it. The movie is well worth checking out as well. Little Miao - I’m glad you found your way over here! You can always subscribe to my RSS feed or by email to stay up to date on all of my latest posts. This book was great. The more I think about it, the more I like it. The movie is well worth checking out as well.

]]> By: little miao http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-429 little miao Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:36:32 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-429 I'm glad you enjoyed it. I read this book when I was little - I remember it was very a difficult read, not because of the language, but because putting a modern-day girl into a Holocaust death camp just made it all so... immediate. It's about time to reread it, I think. I didn't realize it had been made into a movie. (I found this review through Saturday Review of Books, which I found through a friend's book blog...) I’m glad you enjoyed it. I read this book when I was little - I remember it was very a difficult read, not because of the language, but because putting a modern-day girl into a Holocaust death camp just made it all so… immediate. It’s about time to reread it, I think. I didn’t realize it had been made into a movie.

(I found this review through Saturday Review of Books, which I found through a friend’s book blog…)

]]> By: Natasha Maw http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-362 Natasha Maw Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:43:31 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-362 Trish - I loved <em>The Book Thief</em>! If you haven't done so you can read <a href="http://http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/01/20/the-book-thief-by-markus-zusak/" rel="nofollow">my review here</a>. I haven't heard of <em>Number the Stars</em>, I shall have to look into it. Trish - I loved The Book Thief! If you haven’t done so you can read my review here. I haven’t heard of Number the Stars, I shall have to look into it.

]]> By: Trish http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-359 Trish Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:21:12 +0000 http://blog.mawbooks.com/2008/02/25/the-devils-arithmetic-by-jane-yolen/#comment-359 I haven't heard of the book or the movie, but it sounds interesting. I just read The Book Thief and loved it and really liked Number the Stars (Lois Lowry) when I was younger. Thanks for the review! I haven’t heard of the book or the movie, but it sounds interesting. I just read The Book Thief and loved it and really liked Number the Stars (Lois Lowry) when I was younger. Thanks for the review!

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