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Author: Jerry Spinelli
Title: Milkweed
Genre: historical fiction
Publication Info: Random House, New York, 2003
Recommended Age: 11 and older
Plot Summary: A pocket-picking orphan who thinks his name is “stopthief�� tells of his experiences during the Holocaust. The story begins when he is about eight years old. A redheaded older boy named Uri finds Stopthief and takes him under his wing, introducing him to a whole group of young thieves. Uri gives Stopthief a new name and makes up his background, telling him he came from a large Russian gypsy family and was kidnapped and brought to Warsaw. He told him to remember that he was not a Jew. Despite Uri’s efforts to keep Misha (Stopthief’s new name) safe, the Polish and German soldiers relocated both the Jews and the pickpockets to the ghetto. Food was scarce and the soldiers were cruel. Misha’s small frame, quickness, and experience stealing came in handy for him and his friends. Each night he snuck out of the ghetto through a small, two-brick gap in the enormous wall that separated the Jews from the Polish. He brought back whatever food he could find and fit through the small hole. In this manner, he saved his friends from dying of starvation. Uri became a soldier and made sure Misha did not get on the trains headed for the concentration camps. Young and naive at the time all this was going on, Misha did not understand the gravity of the situation. His version of the Holocaust is innocent, cute, and horrifying at the same time.
Personal Notes: I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about history or the holocaust. There are definitely violent, morbid, and disgusting parts to the story, which I think is appropriate given the topic. I think it is wonderful that authors are writing these kinds of novels. Youth should be able to get a good picture of what happened during the Holocaust so that it never occurs again, even on a smaller scale. After reading this book, I would hope that young people would even try to treat each other a little bit better.
Evaluation: I think this book is on par with Elie Wiesel’s Night. It is not as forward or upfront, but when you read between the lines and make sense of Misha’s perspective, it is just as heart wrenching. What makes it really interesting is that readers catch a glimpse of Misha as an adult. He is still very innocent, but knows that what he went through was terrible. His life is totally affected by it. This is the first adolescent book I have read recently that has brought me to tears more than once.
Other Comments: This book is a nominee for the Utah Young Adults�� Book Award and recipient of the Golden Kite Award. I think adults should read this one…it is definitely worth the time.